For your next stay in the Belgian capital, are you wondering about the neighborhoods to avoid in Brussels and the best places to stay?
To select a nice place and avoid choosing accommodation in a red-light district of Brussels, here is the 2024 guide and the map of the different districts of the city.
Is Brussels a dangerous city?
We can consider that Brussels is not a safe city. Indeed, Brussels is not one of the least criminal cities inEurope like Zurich, Prague, Madrid ou Lisbon.
If we study the Numbeo ranking of the 158 most criminal cities in Europe, in 2024 Brussels has a fairly high crime index. Brussels is ranked 15th most dangerous among European cities.
According to these figures, Brussels would be more criminal than Barcelona, Athens ou Milan.
However, on the site Brussels Prevention & Security, we learn that crime in general (all crimes combined) has decreased over the last 10 years while the number of inhabitants has increased.
On the other hand, the crime indices communicated in the statistics or rankings are for the entire city of Brussels. But in fact, insecurity is only concentrated in certain places in the city (see list below).
Is Brussels safe for tourists?
YES but of course on condition that you remain careful and avoid the dangerous neighborhoods of Brussels (listed below).
Indeed, tourists can visit the tourist sites of Brussels in complete safety. But, as in all tourist towns, they can be confronted with petty crime: Pickpockets, snatching, cell phone theft, scams or bank card scams.
Map of Brussels neighborhoods
Brussels is a city organized in territories which have their own districts. Here are the main areas of the city:
- The historic center (the Pentagon)
- The former municipalities adjoining and attached to Brussels (Laeken, Haren and Neder-Over-Heembeek)
- The European quarter (Leopold district)
- The North district (another business district)
- The beautiful neighborhoods around Avenue Louise and the Bois de la Cambre
- The other districts around the center.
To identify dangerous neighborhoods to avoid that I will present below, here is a map that allows you to locate them: https://goo.gl/maps/r5mHZ87swxKs1nuR7
Neighborhoods to avoid in Brussels
As in many European capitals, stations and subways are strategic points for pickpockets and petty thugs who target tourists. And this is also the case for tourist sites and party districts in large cities and in Brussels as well.
Without being dangerous neighborhoods because tourists do not risk their lives there, there are still some areas in Brussels that are not recommended for tourists, especially at night.
According to the most recent data published in 2024, neighborhoods Anneessens, Brussels North, Marolles et Molenbeek are the most dangerous in Brussels.
Public chat Wikipedia and on other web publications, it is also mentioned Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, Schaerbeek, Anderlecht, and Forest like neighborhoods to avoid in Brussels.
Red light districts in Brussels
The red light districts of Brussels which are located around the Alhambra, Avenue Louise, Place Fontainas and Rue d'Aerschot are areas to be avoided at night because of their poor attendance.
Best neighborhoods to stay to visit Brussels
Brussels has many very nice neighborhoods all with their own character and interest. It is therefore impossible for me to present them all to you.
However, I can tell you 3 neighborhoods recommended for tourists:
- the most chic district,
- the most touristic district,
- the most lively district.
Chic neighborhood Brussels
Koningswijk called the royal district is located in the center of the city around the Royal Palace of Brussels. It's a very small area which is probably the most elegant and wealthy place in the center of Brussels. See location of this area
Outside of this district, the south of the Sablon district concentrates the most beautiful fashion boutiques, designer brands and luxury boutiques (around Boulevard de Waterloo and further down Avenue Louise).
Tourist district of Brussels
Le Pentagon is the district located in the historic center of Brussels. It is located around the Grand Place in Brussels. It is the most touristy district because it is very beautiful and concentrates the majority of tourist interests in the Belgian capital. See location of this area
Lively neighborhood of Brussels
For tourists who also want to enjoy bars, restaurants and other spots to party, the Ilot Sacré district is a good plan. Indeed, this district is located right next to the Grand Place and has very good places to eat or have a drink (breweries, cocktail bars, pubs, etc.). In addition, it is also the ideal area for shopping (Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert). See location of this area
Where to stay in Brussels?
The hotel I recommend below is located in the heart of the historic center. This beautiful hotel is therefore ideal for visiting Brussels on foot and enjoying the many shops and restaurants in the area.
Here is a very well located hotel 300 meters from the Grand Place in Brussels which offers very good value for money: Cheap hotel in Brussels
To eat better there are a few towns like Ixelles, Woluwé, Uccle which have some good addresses.
The hotel occupancy rate has fallen sharply over the past 10 years in central Brussels, it is often employees or managers who are there for conferences or meetings. Statistics show that mass tourism from Asia is just passing through, they prefer a stopover in Bruges to spend the weekend there, Americans too...
Difficult parking, a city that dies too soon and a gloomy feeling in certain neighborhoods. Stores closing one after the other. If you don't have a specific goal to visit Brussels, a museum, an evening for a concert or simply to visit your family or friends, you will quickly get the hang of it. In the center of Brussels you will find little local cuisine worthy of the name. Kebab, Hamburger, Pitta etc… in abundance. Asian or supposedly Italian too. To eat better, you shouldn't rely too much on what's around the main square (which remains a magnificent square).
Thank you for this information and have a nice day.
It’s true that Brussels is no longer a city where I want to walk, especially when evening falls.
Lots of people are wandering, quite a few homeless too… some of them are begging and this often leads to street fights. Very few areas to park easily, everything has become expensive there (like everywhere) the brasseries and restaurants that are around the main square are largely tourist traps. Specialized services for
the quality of hygiene is a shame. Yes, Brussels has become a dirty city... you take a few steps and begging (used by networks) rubs up against you. Young children or infirm people approach you. Insecurity is very present
in certain towns and around train stations. It's not just in Brussels of course, but you have to know that. The Brussels of the 60s to the 80s no longer exists! The small balls, the homemade fries etc … disappeared we eat frozen food there! even more peanuts with a good beer. And above all, don't show up after 14 p.m. in a restaurant that's closed.
Same after 22 p.m. The city becomes completely deserted and it will be time to go home or to your hotel.
At the start of the afternoon the Sablon or Chatelain districts are still nice. The fish market square too.
However, prepare yourself to have to plan a certain budget for a weekend in Brussels. The quality is very low there. At the risk of repeating myself, the Brussels of the 2000s no longer has anything to do with the one before. I won't tell you about the weather because Brussels can't do anything about it, but the umbrella is often useful.
Hello
All of your comments are helpful. My daughter is going to settle in Brussels to work there as a nurse (we are French and live in France) and I needed to know the atmosphere of the different districts of the capital. Finding him accommodation is a headache (price of rent, state, district...) I wonder about an installation outside like Woluwe Saint Lambert or Ixelles
I know Brussels as a tourist and I really liked certain districts. But all cities (in France) have places to avoid… Thank you in any case for your feedback.
Hello, I am originally from Liège, but I have also been living in Brussels for 3 years and I find the city much more pleasant than Liège, because the offer is very rich in cultural, gastronomic and commercial terms. For my part, I live in Ixelles on the Chatelain side, and it really is a special place with lots of parks, markets, small restaurants and shops. However, Brussels is indeed a capital that lacks nuance in its districts: either very beautiful and very rich, or very poor and unsafe. Fortunately for tourists, the places to visit are mainly towards Ixelles, Brussels around Avenue Louise, as well as all the areas mentioned in this article. Thank you for this inspiring blog for globetrotters!
Thank you for your testimony which will be useful to Internet users who are interested in Brussels.
I've been living in Brussels for about 3 years and I can't wait to leave this city. The city is getting more and more dangerous and dirty. The neighborhoods that I advise against visiting are Rue Neuve, De Brouckère, Gare du Nord, Gare du Midi and Porte de Namur. And at the level of the municipalities: Anderlecht, Saint Josse, a good part of Schaerbeek and Saint Gilles.
Hello,
Without expressing an opinion on the city of Brussels, which remains a magnificent and interesting city for tourists, I publish your comment for the indications that you give on the districts.
I have lived here for 17 years and came from a small and sleepy Canadian city. I agree that around Gare du Midi is sketchy at night and around Gare du Nord is sketchy kind of all the time, but De Broukere, Port de Namur and even Rue Neuve is fine. There is maybe one street at Port de Namur that seems scary but really it's fine (I'm a woman and walked through the “dodgiest” part at 10pm just 2 weeks ago).
Thank you for this comment which will be useful to my readers.
"Without being dangerous neighborhoods because tourists don't risk their lives there", to live there, if you remain cautious without tempting problems, you don't risk your life. Nevertheless, I know people who have been attacked for no reason in the red light districts of Brussels, there are also sometimes settling of scores between gangs and a lot of scum. If you look for the problems it is possible to risk your life. For the rest it is a pleasant city but like any other big city. It is multicultural but much less than London, Paris and the cities in the United Kingdom.
Thank you for this useful and moderate comment.
Neighborhood to avoid MATONGE (Porte de Namur) –
Gare du Nord district and Rue Neuve center
I have been living in Brussels for 47 years and for tourists don't panic it is good to live in Brussels, some districts, municipalities are more populated but nothing more. Crime and security go hand in hand.
There are mixed neighborhoods, poor and others richer…
It is the drug that is dangerous damages our young people and the sale is everywhere in Brussels...