BEST OF BRUSSELS

Place du Grand Sablon
Treat yourself to a Sunday lunch in one of the laid-back cafés on the place du Grand Sablon. One of the capital's most beautiful spaces, it's also the scene of a lively antiques market at the weekend.

The Atomium
If the kids are driving you crazy, a trip to The Atomium in Laeken might prove the ideal solution. A building shaped like a giant molecule, you can travel around inside its metallic spheres by escalator. Outside there's a scale model of Europe, complete with Channel Tunnel and TGV.

La Fleur en Papier Doré
For a bizarre night out, head to La Fleur en Papier Doré - the old haunt of Magritte and the Dadaists. The bar hosts prose and poetry sessions and has the most surreal decor in town.

Mussée Victor Horta
For those with even a passing interest in architecture, a visit to Mussée Victor Horta in St Gilles is a must. The beautiful home and studio of the father of Belgian Art Nouveau, it is the only Horta house fully open to the public.

Flea Market at Jeu de Balle
Visit the flea market at Jeu de Balle in the Marolles quarter - it's the place to go to find bargain furniture, jewellery, clothes and records.

Cantillon Brewery
Not just for beer anoraks, the Cantillon Brewery in Anderlecht is as intriguing as it is thirst quenching - the last of its type in Brussels, it brews delicious gueze beer using traditional methods.

Blowing a Fuse
Though there are several excellent night spots in Brussels, clubbers who want to up the pace often head to The Fuse - it's the capital's hippest techno club and regularly features top-notch international DJs.

Gay Brussels
With its wide selection of gay bars, clubs and restaurants, Brussels is fast becoming one of the gay capitals of Europe. For up-to-date information about what's on, try Tels Quels, a gay and lesbian social centre with a political slant that's also a good meeting point.

À la Bécasse
For lovers of traditional beer, a visit to À la Bécasse is a must - it's one of the few remaining bars where you can sample lambic, the speciality beer of the Brussels area.