Let's Go Europe 2011: The Student Travel Guide
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In any type of crisis, the most important thing to do is stay calm. Your country’s embassy abroad is usually your best resource in an emergency; registering with that embassy upon arrival in the country is a good idea.
Local Laws and Police
Certain regulations might seem harsh and unusual (practice some self-control city-slickers, jaywalking is a €5 fine), but abide by all local laws while in Germany or Austria; your respective embassy will not necessarily get you off the hook. Always be sure to carry a valid passport as police have the right to ask for identification.
Drugs and Alcohol
The drinking age in Austria is 16 for beer and wine and 18 for spirits. The maximum blood alcohol content level for drivers is 0.05%. Avoid public drunkenness: it can jeopardize your safety and earn the disdain of locals.
If you use insulin, syringes, or any perscription drugs, carry a copy of the prescriptions and a doctor’s note. Needless to say, illegal drugs are best avoided. While possession of marijuana or hashish is illegal, possession of small quantities for personal consumption is decriminalized in Germany and Austria. Each region has interpreted “small quantities” differently (anywhere from 5 to 30 grams). Carrying drugs across an international border—considered to be drug trafficking—is a serious offense that could land you in prison.
Specific Concerns
Natural Disasters
Relatively weak earthquakes occur regularly in Germany and Austria, primarily in the seismically active Rhein Rift Valley or in coal mining areas where blasting can set them off. In the event of an earthquake, drop and take cover if indoors. If outside, move away from buildings and utility wires.
Pre-Departure Health
Matching a prescription to a foreign equivalent is not always easy, safe, or possible, so if you take prescription drugs, carry up-to-date prescriptions or a statement from your doctor stating the medications’ trade names, manufacturers, chemical names, and dosages. Be sure to keep all medication with you in your carry-on luggage.
Common drugs such as aspirin (Kopfschmerztablette or Aspirin), acetaminophen or Tylenol (Paracetamol), ibuprofen or Advil, antihistamines (Antihistaminika ), and penicillin (Penizillin) are available at German pharmacies. Some drugs—like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl)—are not available in Germany or Austria, or are only available with a perscription, so plan accordingly.
Immunizations and Precautions
Travelers over two years old should make sure that the following vaccines are up to date: MMR (for measles, mumps, and rubella); DTaP or Td (for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis); IPV (for polio); Hib (for Haemophilus influenzae B); and HepB (for Hepatitis B). For recommendations on immunizations and prophylaxis, check with a doctor and consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US or the equivalent in your home country. (+1-800-CDC-INFO/232-4636 www.cdc.gov/travel).
austria 101
CUSTOMS
North American manners are considered acceptable in Austria and most German-speaking countries. If you want to impress the locals, eat with your fork in your left hand and your knife in the right without switching. If your funny bones have been itching for a rest, relieve them—elbows on the table are OK in Austria.
FOOD AND DRINK
Food
Traditional Austrian food is a cardiologist’s nightmare, which means it has to taste good. Most meals are hearty and focus on Schweinefleisch (pork), Kalbsfleisch (veal), Wurst (sausage), Eier (eggs), Käse (cheese), Brot (bread), and kartoffeln or Erdapfeln (potatoes). Some Austrians favorites, however, are foreign, such as Knödel (dumplings) and Dönerkebabs. For vegetarians, eat your ‘shrooms, in the form of Steinpilze or Eierschwammerl. If you can’t stand fungi, look for Spätzle (homemade noodles often served with melted cheese) or anything with the world “Vegi” in it. Breakfast options include yogurt and Müsli (soaked granola). For a dessert or treat, try the famous Austrian torte in various fruit flavors, or dessert dumplings or panckaes. air that with one of the famous Austrian coffees, like a Mélange (Viennese coffee with frothed cream and cinnamon).
Drink
The most famous Austrian wine is probably Gumpoldskirchen from Lower Austria. Another good bet is the Klosterneuburger. If beer is your alcoholic beverage of choice, you’ll find some fanmtastic Austrian choices, inluding Ottakringer, Gold Fassl, and Zipfer Bier.
HOLIDAYS
As Austria is predominantly Catholic, most of the public holidays, as defined by Austria’s federal labor laws, are Catholic.
major public holidays
• NEW YEAR’S DAY: Jan 1.
• THE EPIPHANY: Jan 6.
• EASTER MONDAY: Apr 25
• NATIONAL HOLIDAY: May 1
• ASSUMPTION OF MARY: Aug 15
• NATIONAL DAY: Oct 26
• ALL SAINTS DAY: Nov 1
• IMMACULATE CONCEPTION: Dec 8
• CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS: Dec 24-25
• ST. STEPHEN’S DAY: Dec 26
• NEW YEAR’S EVE: Dec 31
BELGIUM
brussels
ORIENTATION
ACCOMMODATIONS
SIGHTS
FOOD
NIGHTLIFE
ARTS AND CULTURE
SHOPPING
ESSENTIALS
essentials
PLANNING YOUR TRIP
MONEY
SAFETY AND HEALTH
belgium 101
CUSTOMS AND ETIQUETTE
FOOD AND DRINK
FESTIVALS AND FOLKLORE
When you were planning your trip to Europe, you probably didn’t have Belgium at the top of your list of hoppin’ spots. Next to the Netherlands, or the Czech Republic, Belgium doesn’t scream party central, but um HELLO—this is the home of the French fry; they’re doing something right.
If you have a penchant for public urination, you’ll probably enjoy yourself in Brussels (that is, if you enjoy watching public urination, you creeper). Peeing statues aplenty await you, from little boys and girls, to dogs, it’s hard to turn the corner without seeing something taking a leak. It’s cute when you’re made out of bronze, but Let’s Go doesn’t recommend trying it yourself—indecent exposure charges don’t make good souvenirs.
While you’re avoiding criminal charges, you might want to swing by the EU area and Place Schuman. You’ll learn quickly why Brussels is known as the capital of Europe as you party with the ambassador from that country you still can’t pronounce (and only barely remember). Brussels is also home to dozens of museums, art galleries, and theaters for the the cultural traveler in you.
When you think of all your guilty pleasures, they’re probably all elements of Belgian cuisine. Beer? Check. Fries? Check. Waffles? Check. Chocolate? Check. You really can’t go wrong if you’re eating here, whether it be at a friterie in Brussels or a quaint bistro in Bruges. It’s time to get after it—let’s go.
greatest hits
• WAX PHILOSOPHIC. Grab a glass of strawberry wine and talk philosophy at Goupil le Fol ( GOUPIL LE FOL).
• YOU CAN HAZ CHOCOLATE? Belgian Chocolate is famous for a reason. Head on down to the Chocolate and Cacao Museum ( MUSÉE DU CACAO ET DU CHOCOLAT) in the Grand Place to debunk some of those myths you’ve heard about your favorite guilty pleasure.
• TIME TO GET SURREAL. Feed your inner art enthusiast with the works on display at the Magritte Museum ( MAGRITTE MUSEUM).
Belgium
student life
Student life in Brussels is varied and exciting but you’ll be happy to know that Let’s Go is commited to finding you the best (and cheapest) that Brussels has to offer. What are people doing, you wonder? Get lost in Parc de Bruxelles for the afternoon, but make sure you grab some frites before you go. Though you can pick them up on pretty much any corner in the Lower Town, we reccommend going to Friterie Tabora. Fries so good you’ll wanna bitch-slap Ronald McDonald for claiming his are better. If you need a beer to wash them down, the Brewer’s House offers
a great tour and history of beer—with samples!
brussels
02
After cavorting with hash and hookers in Amsterdam, most students see Brussels as a dull hub of Eurocrats, a place to go hole up and detox from Holland just long enough to pass the parents’ drug test. That’s a mistake. Scratch beneath this city’s surface, and you’ll uncover an endearingly odd local culture and increasingly relevent sociopolitical scene. Not every city in Europe is collectively enamored with not one, not two, but three centrally located statues preoccupied with urinary expulsions (we’re obsessed with you too, oh Manneken Pis). Not every city in Europe is purportedly home to the world’s best beer, chocolate, waffles, and fries. And not every city in Europe can be its capital—there can only be one, and it’s Brussels. So find a cure for that Holland hangover fast, because this city’s a lot more than a parliamentary pit stop.
Brussels is admittedly a small city, and many visitors only spend a few days exploring its cobbled streets and quirky museums. You should certainly visit the “classics,” such as the Manneken Pis and the Grand Place, but we also urge you to head further afield. Get lost in the eclectic Marolles flea market or the utterly brilliant Magritte Museum. We hope you’re not actually coming here to cool down after Amsterdam, because with all its Belgian beers and bangin’ bars, Brussels is bound to up the ante and your alcohol tolerance.
For details on Brussels map, click here
ORIENTATION
Lower Town
Most visitors to Brussels stick around the Grand Place, drawn to the dozens of beer and jazz bars in its environs. But the Lower Town has more to offer you than tourist traps and cheap booze—with local markets and museums, independent bookstores, bars, restaurants, and important sights, this area’s bubbling with activity from the side streets to Sainte-Catherine.
That being said, the neighborhood’s still centered on the Grand Place. The main Metro stop here is Bourse, which is within walking distance of the historic center. To the north is rue Neuve, a central shopping district filled with clothing outlets and fast food. East of the Bourse is Place Ste. Géry, where you will find some of Brussels’ trendy terrace bars. A walk from the Place down rue St-Christophe will take you to the seafood-heavy area of Ste.-Catherine. Boulevard Anspach runs directly past the Bourse, and can be used to reach the Marolles area in the Upper Town to the south, or Place Rogier and Le Botanique to the north.
Upper Town
The Upper Town stretches to the north, east, and south of the Grand Place and Lower Town. Renowned for its musuems, refined shopping districts, and expensive restaurants, this area was bound to have less nightlife than the Lower Town. Though it’s still home to some of Brussels’ bigger clubs, they’re not necessarily Brussels’ best, so travelers should stay closer to the Grand Place for a decent bar scene. Fortunately, the Upper Town is within walking distance of the center, and you can swing by the Lower Town for drinks after a visit the Upper Town’s churches and galleries without too much trouble.
The Upper Town is quite spread out, splits into additional neighborhoods, and is difficult to navigate on foot. Rue Royale runs parallel to rue Anspach from Botanique past the Parc de Bruxelles, and into the historic neighborhood known as Beaux-Arts. The neighborhood is chock full of museums, galleries, and grand palaces—not to mention home of the Belgian Parliament. Further east is the Avenue des Arts and Boulevard Régent, which also run north and south. South of the Beaux-Arts area is the Boulevard de Waterloo and Avenue de la Toison d’Or; the lucrative Avenue Louise is right off the main street. Bld. de Waterloo continues round and becomes Boulevard du Midi, which then takes you through the Marolles neighborhood, a run-down area that poses a sharp contrast to the opulent Av. Louise nearby.
Place Schuman, Heysel, and Outskirts
Brussels has a few areas worth exploring that aren’t directly in the center and require a longer walk or ride on the Metro. The EU centers on Place Schuman, which is home to the European Commission and the European Parliament. From Place Schuman, rue Archimède runs north to Ambiorix Square and rue de la Loi runs east to west, connecting Schuman with Arts-Loi to the west and the Parc du Cinquantenaire to the east. Rue Froissart runs south from Place Schuman, leading to Place Jourdan, a square with a few restaurants and pubs and a very European crowd. Parc Léopold is nearby; behind it is the European Parliament building, and behind Parliament is Place du Luxembourg (PLux to the EU workers), the busiest square in the EU area.
Home to the Atomium and Mini-Europe, the Heysel area consists of one large intersection that runs from Heysel to the Atomium, and through into Parc de Laeken.
Boulevard du Centenaire runs north-south through the Atomium and into Place St. Lambert and the park, and the Avenue de l’Atomium runs east toward the A12 highway.
The outskirts of Brussels covered in this guide are centered on the Simonis area and the Basilica located there. From Simonis, Boulevard Léopold II runs westwards towards the Basilica, and features a large green park area. If you continue east along the road, you will head back toward Rogier and the center of Brussels.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodations in Brussels fill up quickly, especially during the week. Many thanks to the EU Parliament, expensive and lucrative hotels have sprung up throughout the city, making a cheap hotel even harder to find. Most student-friendly accommodations are slightly north of the Grand Place; five of the city’s most prominent hostels are within walking distance of the Lower Town. Rooms in the Upper Town get much more expensive, especially if you don’t stay in a hostel. Many hotels offer cheap weekend rates, and prices are slashed by nearly 50% when the EU Parliament isn’t in session in July and August. Book in advance, especially when Parliament’s in session.
Lower Town
SLEEP WELL
23 rue du Damier
HOSTEL
02 218 50 50 www.sleepwell.be
Sleep Well has two options: hostel or hotel. Both are bright, cheerful, and cheap, but the hotel option has a few extra perks, including no lockout and ensuite bathrooms. But you might as well save the money and head to the hostel; an ensuite really isn’t worth an extra €20. In keeping with Brussels tradition, the hostel is covered in murals and caters to families, groups, and the lone traveler. The bar downstairs stays busy until closing, so even if you’re returning from a night’s bar crawl in the center you can continue to sample the local beer until the wee hours.
Rogier. Follow rue Neuve and take a left onto rue de la Blanchisserie. Rue du Damier is on your right. Breakfast included. Linens provided; towels available for rent. Wi-Fi €1.50 per 15min. Dorms €19-23. Singles €35; doubles €52. Reception 24hr. Lockout 11am-3pm.
2GO4 HOSTEL
99 bld. Emile Jacqmain
HOSTEL
02 219 30 19 www.2go4.be
2go4 doesn’t really look or feel like your typical European hostel. Its strict no-large-groups policy has made it a haven for young solo travelers and students. Shared spaces like the funky common room and the well-trafficked communal kitchen are great places to meet other travelers. Head out with your new friends for a night in Brussels’ main town, only a short walk away.
Rogier. Follow bld. d’Anvers and take a left onto bld. Emile Jacqmain. Linens provided; towels available for rent. Max. 6 people per group. No school groups allowed. Free tea and coffee. Wi-Fi and free internet corner available. Dorms €21-29. Singles €50-55. Reception 7am-1pm and 4-10pm.
GENERATION EUROPE
4 rue de l’Eléphant
HOSTEL
02 410 38 58 www.aubergesdejeunesse.be
Located in a thriving immigrant neighborhood, Generation Europe is a 10-15min. Metro ride or a 20min. walk outside the Lower Town, but the hostel’s stunningly low prices more than make up for the inconvenience. Rooms are big and spacious, and the dorms come with desks, lockers, and shelves. The lounge areas and communal kitchen provide travelers with numerous opportunities to meet other guests. The area isn’t especially dangerous at night, bu
t it’s probably best not to walk alone.
Comte de Flandre. Head east, past the police station, and turn left onto rue de l’Ecole. Keep walking along this road and turn right onto rue Chaussée de Grand. Take the first left, which leads onto rue de l’Eléphant. Breakfast included. Linens provided; towels available for rent. Wi-Fi €1.50 per 1hr. Dorms €16-20. Singles €32-34. Reception 24hr. Lockout 11am-2:30pm.
ROYAL HOTEL
8 bld. Jardin Botanique
HOTEL
02 218 32 18 www.royal-hotel.be
This small hotel slightly north of the Grand Place offers simple rooms for a lower price than many of the big chains around the Rogier area. The rooms feel a bit worn down and are in need of a new paint job, but the price and location make up for the faded decor. The bathrooms look modern and are a decent size. There are only a few rooms, so be sure to reserve in advance.
Rogier. Wi-Fi available. Singles €45-50; doubles €60. Reception 24hr.