The best neighbourhoods for students in Brussels

Ixelles

This is the student district par excellence in the Belgian capital, so it’s undoubtedly one of the best neighbourhoods for students in Brussels. It’s located southeast of the city centre, and has a bohemian, multicultural and fun vibe.

The Solbosch Campus of the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) is right here, and it's also very close to the De la Plaine Campus.

Rents in Ixelles tend to have an average price in terms of student accommodation, but their prices began to increase due to popularity and demand in this area.

One key detail: it’s one of the favourite districts for students to party. There are countless places to choose from, including well-known bars like Tavernier and Le Waff.

As for cultural visits, in the Louise area you can visit an abbey, Abbaye de la Cambre. There are also several museums in Ixelles, like the so-called CIVA (with exhibitions of culture and architecture), and art centers, such as Fondation Cab.

With regards to green spaces, in the area of Place Flagey you can walk around some beautiful ponds (Étangs d’Ixelles), and very close to it are the King's Gardens (Jardin du Roi).

The Ixelles area is well connected through tram and bus lines. It’s also very close to the train station of Etterbeek, which makes it easier to reach other nearby cities.

Etterbeek

It’s known as the “European quarter” because the headquarters of the European Commission are located there. In fact, it’s one of the most multicultural neighbourhoods in the city, with locals and people from different parts of Europe and the world living in it.

The Campus de la Plaine from the Free University of Brussels is very close to Etterbeek, so it’s ideal for its students.

For restaurants and bars, young people normally gather in streets such as Av des Celtes and Rue des Tongres, in which there are restaurants and shops for all tastes.

The Etterbeek area is full of cultural spaces to visit. Among them are: the Wetsi Art Gallery, La Maison Cauchie art museum, other museums such as the Fiftieth Anniversary Museum (Musée Royal d'Art & d'Histoire), the Parlamentarium and the Museum of European History (Maison de l'Histoire Européenne).

As for green spaces, Leopold Park stands out among the favourites. Furthermore, the famous Fiftieth Anniversary Park is very close (students gather there in spring and summer to have picnics or have a drink).

This European neighbourhood is connected to the rest of the city through lines of tram, bus, and metro (lines 5 and 1). In addition, it has an important train station.

Saint-Gilles

This neighbourhood located in the south of Brussels stands out for its bohemian vibe and its lively nightlife. It also has a large international community, which makes it another one of the best neighbourhoods for students in Brussels.

Saint-Gilles offers a variety of dining venues for students, including affordable restaurants, bars and pubs. It also has several live music venues.

Among the cultural attractions in Saint-Gilles, some that stand out are: the Victor Horta Museum (Musée Horta), the Halle Gate (Porte de Hal), Maison du Peuple, Maison Hannon, and others.

If you want to enjoy the outdoors, you should know that there are several parks in this neighbourhood. Some of them are: Parc Marie Janson, Plaine de Jeux Pierre Paulus and Place Louis Morichar. It’s also near the Forest Park, a 13-hectare park perfect for going for a walk, having a picnic or exercising.

The main means of transport that runs through the largest number of streets in Saint-Gilles is the tram. However, it also has some bus lines and it’s very close to the train station Brussel-Zuid, which connects both with the rest of the city and with other nearby cities.

Schaerbeek

It’s a district that’s located northeast of the Belgian capital, and it’s home to one of the most important train stations in the city: Brussel Noordstation. One of the neighbourhoods preferred by students in this district is Josaphat.

It’s a quieter area than those mentioned above, with a more relaxed vibe. However, it also has places frequented by students and a good connection to the city centre.

In this district you’ll find a variety of local shops, supermarkets and cafes, and there are also some pubs for students.

Schaerbeek has a varied cultural offer, including museums such as the Museum of Spontaneous Art (musée d'Art spontané), Maison Autrique, the Schaerbeek Beer Museum (Musée schaerbeekois de la bière), and the train museum Train World.

One of the favourite places for students in this area is the Josaphat Park, an extensive green area where you can walk, have picnics, exercise, and enjoy the outdoors on beautiful days. There are other green spaces, such as Parc du Hamoir and Parc Albert, the latter with various sports facilities.

Despite being further away from the central and student area, Schaerbeek has very good public transport connection, including tram lines, buses, metro, and train. In fact, this area of ​​the city can be connected to neighbourhoods to the south (Ixelles, Saint-Gilles and Sablon, for example) in less than 15 minutes. Thanks to this, it’s an ideal area to live for those who prefer to be in a quiet area but close to movement.

FAQ about neighbourhoods in Brussels