I spent 4 days in Brussels - What is Eurostar really like?

Having never been to Brussels or a European Christmas market, I was really excited to try it out for myself but that’s not all I was looking forward to.

Usually, if I was leaving the country, I’d book return flights but for this trip I decided to try something a little different – I travelled via the Eurostar.

If you’re not familiar with the Eurostar, it’s a train that’s used for travel between the UK and a variety of European destinations including Paris, Amsterdam, Lille (France), Belgium and more.

This was my first time on the Eurostar (Image: Newsquest)

While some people might think of the Eurostar exactly as it is, others could still be wondering how many fish you see as you enter the channel tunnel and travel under the sea…those of you might be a little (very) disappointed.

Here’s what the Eurostar is really like, why I’d recommend it as a form of transport and what I loved about my trip to Brussels.

What is the Eurostar really like? How many fish can you see out the window?

My first experience of using the Eurostar was really positive and as much as I like going to an airport and flying to holiday destinations, I’d be more than happy to opt for the Eurostar again.

I travelled to London St Pancras to board the Eurostar and it was easy to find once I was at the station.

The organisation and speedy security checks were what really stood out though – I got through security in a matter of minutes and didn’t need to gather all my liquids to put in a tray because the Eurostar is much more lenient when it comes to luggage.

The seats on the Eurostar were comfy to sit in (Image: Newsquest)

You do have to put your belongings such as coats, bags and cases in trays so they can be checked though.

I happened to arrive at the Eurostar entrance just as it opened for the Brussels trip and there were hardly any passengers around because I was quite early.

People waiting for different Eurostar trains all wait in the same section so getting through security and securing a seat early seems like the best idea.

The actual Eurostar itself was clean and the seats were comfortable on my trip to Brussels – I even managed to have a seat at a table.

However, on the way back I noticed I had less room as my seat wasn’t at a table and it took some getting used to – I’m 5ft 10" and would have liked some more leg room but it’s not the end of the world.

I soon got comfortable and even drifted off to sleep.

Now for the bit you’re all waiting for: can you really see fish from the Eurostar?

@finnaskeww i might even see a great white shark! #fyp #eurostar #fish ♬ As It Was - Harry Styles

Unfortunately, when travelling through the channel tunnel, the only thing you can see is your own reflection when looking out the window.

It goes completely dark until you’re out the other side – sorry to disappoint!

Overall, I'd recommend using the Eurostar because it took around 2 hours to get to Brussels from London and this included a stop in Lille, France where passengers got on and off the train.

It's a much cheaper way of travelling compared to flying and much quicker to get through security plus the luggage rules are more relaxed than at an airport.

Moving on…here are five of my favourite things about Brussels.

5 of my favourite things about Brussels, Belgium

Food

Brussels and Bruges have lots of places to eat and drink (Image: Newsquest)

As a true ‘foodie’, I think Belgium has some stunning food options and you can’t go there without trying their local foods so I had to get a Belgian waffle and plenty of Belgian chocolate while I was there.

Chocolate shops are on most streets in the centre so if you need a souvenir for your loved ones (or yourself), there’s plenty of choice!

Day trips

Bruges is a lovely place to visit (Image: Newsquest)

One of my other favourite things about Brussels is how easy it is to travel to another part of Belgium from there.

I took a day trip to Bruges and it was very easy to get there and back via train.

In fact, I got on a double-decker train so there were seats on both the lower and upper decks with windows so you could see the countryside as you travelled between locations.

Bruges is so pretty and I actually think I preferred the small quaint town kind of feel that it has compared to Brussels which is bigger and less cosy.

Bruges had plenty of Christmas lights on at night (Image: Newsquest)

I took a canal boat ride and saw much more of Bruges that way. There are lots of nice gift shops and pretty buildings in Bruges so it made for a nice winter stroll.

If you're ever in Bruges, I recommend visiting The Old Chocolate House – they do amazing hot chocolates in the tearoom upstairs and there’s a gift shop downstairs.

I found it on TikTok and had to join a short queue for a few minutes before being invited in but the wait was definitely worth it.

The hot chocolate was delicious and just what I needed after walking around Bruges in the cold (Image: Newsquest)

I tried a hot chocolate bomb which you drop into some hot milk and stir with a tiny whisk and it was delicious.

I can imagine both Bruges and Belgium being pretty and pleasant places to visit all year round, not just at Christmas time.

Christmas markets

Belgium really does know how to bring the festive vibes!

In both Brussels and Bruges, the main streets have plenty of Christmas lights and trees.

Plus, the Christmas markets, which are the reason I chose to travel to Belgium at this time of year, did not disappoint – there were so many stalls selling gifts, food and drinks.

I went to Brussels to experience the Christmas markets (Image: Newsquest)

There were also some rides including a big wheel which I somehow got persuaded to go on!

Brussels Card

Before I travel, I like to research the place I’m going to so I can pick out some activities and places to eat.

I then make a bit of a loose plan so I know I have time to do all the things I’d like to and when doing this for Brussels, I came across the Brussels Card.

The Brussels Card has different options but the one I went for meant you paid 57 euros (£48.97) which meant I got all my public transport included.

The cost of the Metro was included in this and I used it a lot. Buses are also included but the train journey to Bruges wasn’t.

@uktoday_ I got the Eurostar to Brussels to see the Christmas markets🎄 #brussels #christmasmarket #belgium #bruges #eurostar #travel ♬ Night Themes - Emerson Augustine

The option I chose gives you free entry to 49 museums in Brussels including a beer museum which includes a taste of some Belgium beer – this was a really quick tour and sitting down to try the beer was a nice way to rest your legs as I did a lot of walking while I was there.

You also get a discount for some tourist attractions, partner restaurants and bars, shops and public transport.

I bought it via the Get Your Guide app, a good tool for booking activities for trips away. I also used it to book activities when I visited Dubrovnik in Croatia.

I then collected the ticket at the information centre in Grand Place and collected the transport tickets at the Metro station via a Go ticket machine.

Battle Kart

Battle Kart was so much fun - it's not talked about enough! (Image: Newsquest)

Finally, I booked to try Battle Kart which is essentially a real-life Mario Kart – a great way to channel your inner child.

There are different games you can play here including a race, a football game, golf and more, all while driving a kart.

Recommended reading:

• I visited Dubrovnik in Croatia and cannot recommend it more - here's why
• I stayed at my first adult only hotel and it was like Christmas came early

I also found this on TikTok and couldn’t believe it was only included in one of the many videos I watched for some inspiration of things to do before heading to Brussels.

I’d definitely recommend this as the karts were easy to drive and it was so much fun – I think I spent the whole time smiling!

Overall, I’d recommend a trip to Brussels at Christmas time because it got me in the festive mood and it was a lovely place to travel to for a city break.