Brussels enjoys warm summer weather, with temperatures averaging between 54 degrees Fahrenheit (13 C) and 72 degrees Fahrenheit (21 C), and mild winter weather, with temperatures averaging between 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 C) to 43 degrees Fahrenheit (6 C). Rainfall is heavy, particularly in the autumn months through to spring.

EuroChambers

Avenue des Arts, 19D; Tel.: +32 2 282-0850

Avenue des Arts 50, Box 5; Tel.: +32 2 513-6770

47, Boulevard Saint-Michel, 1040 Bruxelles ; Tel: +32 2 540-9030

Prins de Salmlaan 2, 3090 Overijse; Tel.: +32 2 687 67 18

Avenue Louise 287; Tel.: +32 2 644-1333

Avenue Louise 500; Tel.: +32 2 648-5002

8, avenue des Arts; Tel.: +32 2 506-8811 ; http://www.cfci.be

130, chaussée de la Hulpe ; Tel:+ 32 679 74 20

World Trade Center Building, Du Roi Albert II, 30, bte 14; Tel.: +32 2 203-2142

China

Avenue De Tervuen, 443-445; Tel.: +32 2 779 3309

Avenue Avenue Adolphe Buyl 154; Tel.: +32 2 641-8930

France

65 rue Ducale; Tel.: +32 2 548-8711

Germany

190 Avenue de Tervuren; Tel.: +32 2 774-1911

28, Rue Emile Claus; Tel.: +32 2 643 38 50

Japan

58 Avenue des Arts; Tel.: +32 2 513-2340

(Republic of Korea) Chaussee de la Hulpe 173-175; Tel,: +32 2 662 23 03

Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 94, Brussels; Tel,: +32 2 629-0777

Avenue Hermann-Debroux, 48, Brussel; Tel.: +32 2 679 17 11

The U.K.

85 Rue Arlon, 1040; Tel.: +32 2 287-6211

The U.S.

27 Boulevard du Régent; Tel.: +32 2 508-2111

Most large hotels also have business centers that offer many of the same services that independent centers provide.

Regus Stephanie Square, Avenue Louise 65, box 11; Tel.: +32 800 972 82 (Toll free) ; http://www.regus.be

Contact Business Center

19-21 Capouillet Street; Tel.: +32 2 536-86-86 ; http://www.contact-business.com

Contact Business Center

Rue Capouillet 9-21, 1060 Bruxelles; Tel.: +32 2 536 87 87

Avenue Louise 149/24; Tel: +32 02 535-7511

Levels 20 & 21, 5 Place du Champ de Mars; Tel.: +31 02 550 3500

Brussels Expo

Parc des Expositions, Place de Belgique; Tel.: +32 2 474 82 63

Heizel Esplanade Heysel box 1; Tel.: +32 2 400-7444

rue de l'Aqueduc 118; Tel.: +32 2 543-2100

Coudenberg 3; Tel.: +32 2 515-1311

Boulevard du Roi Albert II 30; Tel.: +32 2 203-0400

Accents

Tel.: +32 2 734 01 11

Adintra

Tel.: +32 2 218-0145/219-3301

Berlitz

Tel: +32 02 513-9274

Translations Tardutec Belgium

6, rue Montoyer ; Tel:+ 32 2 503 08 81

Brussels Language Service

Tel.: +32 2 223 51 54

Alias Languages

101, boulevard Saint-Michel ; Tel:+ 32 2 735 55 95

Dixit Interpreters and Translators

Tel: +32 02 340-9020

EMS Taxipost

Tel.: 078-153-343

Tel.: +32 2 733-3636

Tel: +32 2 469 39 79

DHL

Tel.: +32 2 715-5050 (within Belgium)

FedEx

Tel: +32 0800 135-55 (toll-free within Belgium)

UPS

Tel.: +32 0800 128-28 (toll-free within Belgium)

All upper-range and most medium-priced hotels are equipped with dataports that allow guests to use laptop computers. Many hotels also offer business centers equipped with computers and Internet access. Outside hotels, cyber cafes are available including:

262, rue de l'Intendant ; Tel:+ 32 2 426 38 02

1004, chaussée de Wavre ; Tel:+ 32 2 290 19 90

94, avenue Rogier ; Tel:+ 32 2 216 12 21

Citizens of Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Mexico, the U.K., and the U.S. do not need a visa for a stay up to 3 months. Citizens of the People's Republic of China must apply for a visa.

Duty-free allowances are 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 2 liter of alcoholic beverage; 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette; 500g of coffee or 100g of fee, and; other goods up to 64.45 euro. However, there are now no limits imposed on tobaccos and alcohol from one EU country to another.

The country code for Belgium is 32. The area code for Brussels is 02. Drop the zero if calling from outside of Belgium.

Medical emergency

100

101

112

All telephone numbers within Belgium must be dialed with area code, whether calling locally or to another area code. When dialing internationally, you must dial 00 before your country code. Telephone numbers without area codes contain six to seven digits. Premium phone numbers begin with '900' and '800' is used for toll-free numbers. When calling from outside of Belgium, drop the zero in the beginning of the area code. Public phones are widely available, but most take only calling cards.

Belgium's primary cellular standard is GSM, and the main mobile phone operators are Proximus and Mobistar. Proximus uses '075' and from '0475' to '0479' as the prefix to its telephone numbers; Mobistar uses '017'. If you choose to bring your cellular phone into Belgium, be sure to check with your home cellular service provider to establish compatibility of your phone with systems abroad. Rent a locally compatible cellular phone before you arrive to obtain reasonable rates and reliable service.

Euro is the official currency. Euro notes are available in denominations of EUR5, EUR10, EUR20, EUR50, EUR100, EUR200, and EUR500, while coins are in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents, and EUR1 and EUR2. The euro is divided into 100 cents. Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, post offices, hotels, train stations, airports, or at Bureaux de Change. ATMs are available throughout the country. Most businesses accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Diners Club.

Throughout Belgium, tax and tip are always included in the bill, though you may tip a euro or two to porters or coatroom attendants who give exceptional service.

Brussels is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Brussels observes Daylight Savings Time, springing ahead one hour the last Sunday of March and falling back the last Sunday of October.

VAT (value-added tax) is 21% (books and some other items are 6%). The VAT is always included in the price.

The voltage and currency is 220 AC/50 cycles. Electrical plugs consist of two round parallel prongs.

Driving in Brussels is not recommended. Taxi in Brussels is more expensive than Paris, London, and even New York. While the service is often lacking, there are not enough taxis. Taxi stops are situated near most train stations and major hotels. Your hotel concierge will generally summon a taxi by phone.Brussels has an exemplary mass transit system called the STIB/MIVB. The only drawback is that the service stops at around midnight and starts up again at 6 a.m. Brussels National Airport is located in Zaventem, a 14-minute train ride from downtown Brussels. Efficient, clean, and inexpensive, the train is often quicker to get to and from the airport than taxis.

No immunizations or health precautions are necessary for foreign travelers arriving from other countries in the developed world. Universal healthcare is considered a basic right in Belgium, thus every hospital has emergency services available to anyone, be they residents of Belgium or tourists.

• New Year's Day
January 1
• Shrove Tuesday/Carnaval
varies in February or March
• Good Friday
Friday before Easter
• Easter Sunday
Sunday usually in mid-March or April
• Easter Monday
Monday after Easter
• Liberation Day
April 25
• Labor Day
May 1
• Corpus Christi
varies in May/June
• Whitsunday
Seventh Sunday after Easter
• Whitmonday
Monday after Whitsunday
• Portugal Day
June 10
• Independence Day/National Day
July 21
• Assumption
August 15
• Republic Day
October 5
• All Saints' Day
November 1
• Veterans' Day
November 11
• Youth Day
December 1
• Christmas Day
December 25

Basque and South-western French cuisine can be tasted in one of Brussels' art deco interiors, Le Fils de Jules, a favourite for business lunches. At La Tour D'y Voir, guests are invited to choose a fish, meat or vegetarian theme from the menu, leaving it up to the chef to improvise. Decorated in Belle Époque style, Comme Chez Soi is a Brussels establishment with a world-wide reputation for excellence, while La Truffe Noire introduces clients to a range of truffle-enhanced cuisine. Les Baguettes Impériales is a Michelin-starred Vietnamese restaurant, whose specialities include stuffed pigeon and foie gras. Members of Brussels' elite dine on upscale, traditional European dishes at Wittamer's. De Bijgaarden is the territory of Chef Olivier Schlissinger who's been awarded two Michelin stars.

Belgian chocolate is a popular gift, as are Brussels lace, Belgian biscuits and Belgian beer. The best places for Belgian chocolate are Wittamer, Neuhaus, Leonidas, and Godiva. F Rubbrecht and Manufacture Belge de Dentelle are popular establishments for authentic Brussels lace. For Belgian biscuits, Dandoy and Leonidas (a chain) are good venues. Biere Artisanale is a famous establishment for Belgian beer. You can also buy international designer brand goods on Avenue Louise. For antiques, the Place du Grand Sablon features exquisite furniture, glassware, clocks, and other items.

With its ornate guild houses, impressive Town Hall and buzzing atmosphere, the breathtaking Grand Place is perhaps the most beautiful square in the whole of Europe. Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert is the oldest covered shopping promenade in Europe, with three neoclassical galleries (Galerie de la Reine, Galerie du Roi, and Galerie du Prince) date back to 1847; upscale antique jewelry shops, bookstores, and coffee shops line the skylit corridors. As the fifth largest church in the world, the Basilique of Koekelberg boasts dazzling stained glass windows, beautiful artwork, and sterling craftsmanship.

The Central Park of Brussels, Bois de la Cambre is 123 hectares of wooded areas, fields, ponds, and paths that cater to pedestrians, drivers, horse riders, cyclists, inline skaters, and more. in 1880 in honor of the 50th anniversary of Belgium's existence, Parc du Cinquantenaire is a 33-hectare park and one of Brussels' most splendid. Parc Paradisio is an hour's train trip out of Brussels, but this birds and nature reserve is well worth the journey.