Car Hire: Take advantage of the special easyJet inflight rates. Visit the Europcar desk on arrival or call +32 (0)2 721 0592. Open from 6.30am-11pm Monday-Saturday and 7am-9pm Sunday.

Airport Transfer: Pre-book your door-to-door transfer with easyJet’s transfer partner, Holiday Taxis—from home to the airport, then city or resort (easyjet.holidaytaxis.com).

Train: Trains depart every 15 minutes for the city centre. Tickets: €2.80 single; €5.60 return.

Taxi: The journey to the centre of town costs about €35 and takes 25 minutes.

Bus: Every 20 minutes, buses 12 and 11 go to Schuman metro station in the centre. Tickets: €3.

Chi-Chi’s
( 5 Boulevard Anspach. Tel. 02 223 1470 )
Take an affordable trip to South America thanks to the lunch menu (from €6.40) and buffet à volonté (help yourself, €10.50).

Phenicia
( 155 Avenue des Cerisiers Woluwe-Saint-Lambert. Tel. 02 734 8535 )
Taste Lebanese cuisine in the restful white and red surroundings of this restaurant. The €22 three-course menu is a fantastic deal.

Midtown Grill
( 4B Rue Paul Delvaux, Bruxelles. Tel. 02 516 9100 )
Grilled meat, American steakhouse-style, is the dish to order at this restaurant. The open kitchen makes it worth the visit, as you can enjoy seeing your dish cooked in front of your eyes. The sole and lobster are also good choices.

Bon-Bon
( 93 Rue des Carmélites, Uccle. Tel. 02 346 6615 )
Put your meal into the hands of chef Christophe Hardiquest, and he'll amaze and surprise you with his fine cuisine, created with fresh, seasonal products. In understated surrounds, if you prefer you can choose something from the extensive list on the blackboard.

Café Belga
( Place Eugène Flagey, Ixelles. Tel. 02 640 3508 )
This big café attracts locals and visitors to the city. Soak up the Belgian atmosphere before heading out for the night.

The Jazz Station
( 193A-195 Chaussée de Louvain, Saint-Josse-ten-Noode. Tel. 02 733 1378 )
Uniquely positioned in an old train station, this live music venue is dedicated to jazz. See www.jazzstation.be only) for what's on.

Nostalgia Club
( 49 Rue de La Fourche, Bruxelles. )
As the name suggests, hits from the 1960s, 70s and 90s are played in this centrally located and old-fashioned disco.

Mig’s World Wines sells wine from 32 countries. Pop in on a Saturday for a free tasting (43 Chaussée de Charleroi, Saint-Gilles. Tel. 02 534 7703).

If you buy your public transport tickets from the machines at metro stations, you'll save €0.40. Tickets from the driver cost €2, whereas it's €1.60 from the machines.

The Rue des Bouchers and Petite Rue des Bouchers are two picturesque streets with dozens of places to eat. Why not enjoy a starter, main course and dessert in different restaurants?

The Bruxelles, Territoire de Convergences exhibition explores the work of French artists in the city over the last 15 years (until 29 January. Musée d’Ixelles, 71, Rue Jean Van Volsem, Ixelles. Tel. 02 515 6422).

Transinne – Travel through time from the very start of the universe—the Big Bang—to future space projects at the acclaimed Euro Space Centre. Visit a copy of the International Space Station, lose some weight by trying out the Moonwalk Chair and wander round the outdoor exhibits (www.eurospacecenter.be).

In the tower of Brussels' Cathedral Saint-Michel et Gudule a family of Peregrine falcons have caught the hearts and imaginations of locals. Every year they come here to bring up their young. Until a few years ago, Peregrine falcons were considered an endangered species, but recently they've sprung up in numbers.

Compiled by Fadil Kebsi