Exploring Brussels: from iconic sights to hidden gems
Ready for an unforgettable weekend in Brussels? Belgium’s vibrant capital offers the perfect blend of culture, history, and gastronomy. Whether you’re an art lover, a foodie, or want to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, Brussels has something for everyone. In this blog post, you can find information about the must-see sights, hidden gems, and culinary delights that you shouldn’t miss during a weekend in Brussels.
| Quick mini guide to Brussels Don’t have a lot of time? Here’s a quick mini guide to Brussels to help plan your adventure! Where to stay:
Things to do:
When to visit:
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How to go to Brussels?
There are two airports in Brussels: Brussels Airport and Brussels South Charleroi Airport. The latter airport is often used by low-cost airlines and is not located in Brussels.
From Brussels Airport, you can easily take the train to the center of Brussels (Brussels Central Station). You can buy tickets at the train station at Brussels Airport, which is located on the lowest level.
From Brussels South Charleroi Airport, there are different options for getting to Brussels. There is a Flibco bus that goes to the Brussels South train station. From there, you can take the train to the city center. Or you can take the bus to the train station of Charleroi and take the train from there to Brussels.
You can find the best flight tickets through Skyscanner.
How to get around Brussels?
The center of Brussels is quite compact and easy to explore on foot. Some attractions are located outside the center and can be reached by public transport (metro and/or tram). Are you planning to use public transport frequently? Then you can buy a paper day ticket for €8. If you pay contactless, it costs €7.50. For a single journey, contactless payment costs €2.10, and a paper ticket costs €2.60.
Would you like to easily discover all the top locations in Brussels and also see something of the city? Then book your tickets for Tootbus. These electric double-decker buses pass all the top attractions and provide commentary about the city. Would you like to see an attraction up close or do one of the walking routes? Then simply get off at one of the 18 stops. You can also get combination tickets with Mini-Europe or Belgian Beer World. Book your tickets here.
Want a fully personalized itinerary for your trip? I can create it for you; learn more here.
Where to stay in Brussels?
There are hotels in various price ranges available in Brussels and beyond. There is a good public transport network, so you can also book a hotel on the outskirts of Brussels and travel into the city from there. We stayed at Motel One (Booking / Agoda), which is within walking distance of the city center, near the Royal Palace.
What to do in Brussels?
The main attractions of Brussels are located in the city center and are easy to explore on foot. Some attractions are located outside Brussels and are easily accessible by public transport from Brussels Central Station.
Scroll down for you 1 or 2 day itineraries.
Center of Brussels
Grand-Place
When in Brussels, you must visit the Grand Place, considered one of the most beautiful squares in the world. It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. Around the central square, you can see several beautiful buildings. The first is the town hall with its tower topped by a statue of the archangel Michael slaying a dragon.
Opposite the town hall is the Bread House. This Neo-Gothic building houses the Museum of the City of Brussels. There are also several guild houses on the Grand Place. Of course, there are also various cafés, restaurants, and shops.
Today, various events take place here, such as the flower carpet, the procession, and a large Christmas tree during the Christmas period.
Royal Saint Hubert Galleries
The galleries are located a stone’s throw from the Grand Place. They form a complex of three glass-covered shopping galleries: the King’s Gallery, the Queen’s Gallery, and the Prince’s Gallery. Here you will find various cafés and restaurants, as well as many chocolate shops.
Manneke Pis (peeing boy)
Manneken Pis is the most famous resident of the city of Brussels. It is a statue of a urinating boy that can be found on the corner of Stoofstraat and Eikstraat. The statue was created in 1619 by sculptor Hiëronymus Duquesnoy the Elder, but there were already references to a statue urinating at that location in 1388.
Manneken Pis has had a turbulent history: it has been stolen several times. There is also a museum where you can see 133 of the more than 1,000 preserved costumes (GardeRobe MannekenPis).
Jeanneke Pis en Zinneke Pis
We have a thing for urinating statues in Belgium, because in addition to Manneke Pis, we also have Jeanneke Pis and Het Zinneke. Jeanneke Pis is the Brussels sister who was “born” in 1987. She was placed in the dead-end Getrouwheidsgang, a side street of the famous Beenhouwersstraat (Rue de Boucher), on the initiative of local traders. In this way, they tried to attract more visitors to their street. Getrouwheidsgang is also home to Delirium Café, a café with an enormous beer menu.
Then there is also Zinneke or Zinneke Pis. This is a statue of a urinating dog created by Tom Frantzen in 1998. It is located on the corner of Kartuizersstraat and Oude Graanmarkt. The name comes from the Zenne and the nickname for Brussels residents, Zinneke.
Plan your trip to Brussels like a pro
✈️ Book your cheap flights to Brussels on Skyscanner
🏨 Reserve a hotel, apartment, or holiday home at Booking.com
🚕 Need a transfer from the airport? Use Welcome Pickups or download the Bolt or Uber app
🛜 Use Airalo eSIM to avoid roaming fees. Use SHARON9895 to get €3
📺 Use NordVPN to keep watching your favorite programs or movies on the go
🚗 Need to rent a car? Use DiscoverCars or Local Rent
🚆 Buy train tickets from Omio or RailEurope
🎟️ Pre-book tours, entrance tickets, and activities via Viator or GetYourGuide
🏥 Get travel insurance at World Nomads or Safety Wing
Beurs + Beerworld
The magnificent stock exchange building is located on the traffic-free Anspachlaan. It was built between 1868 and 1873 to a design by architect Leon Suys. Its eclectic style is a mixture of French Neo-Renaissance and Second Empire. Shares were traded here until 1996.
After the stock exchange left, the building was mainly used for temporary exhibitions and events. After several renovations, the Belgian Beer World beer museum opened in September 2023. You can not only visit the museum, but also just walk in and have a bite to eat or a beer in the café, brasserie, or Beerlab.
Mont des Arts
The Mont des Arts is located between the Place Royale and the Grand Place. From here, you have a beautiful view of the city, especially the tower of the town hall on the Grand Place. When the weather is very clear, you can even see the Atomium and the Basilica of Koekelberg.
Comic strip wall walk
Belgium has a rich comic strip history. Tintin saw the light of day in 1929 and was followed by many others, such as Spirou and Fantasio, Suske and Wiske, Nero, Jommeke, The Smurfs, etc. All these heroes can be found in the streets of Brussels. The first comic strip walls appeared in the early 1990s; there are now more than 80 of them. To discover them, you can take one of the comic strip wall walks, both in the center of Brussels and beyond.
Want a fully personalized itinerary for your trip? I can create it for you; learn more here.
Royal Palace
The Royal Palace is located in the center of Brussels, right next to the Warande Park. As the name suggests, it is the official residence of the king: it is used as a working palace. The king himself lives in the Castle of Laeken. When the king is in the country, you can see this by the flag hoisted on the middle pavilion. When he is present in the palace, the guard of honor stands at the front.
The castle was built between 1820 and 1826 and is characterized by many neoclassical styles. The various kings have made alterations to the palace, but since 1909 (after the completion of the Hall of Mirrors) nothing more has been changed. In 2002, however, the ceiling of the Hall of Mirrors was altered: it was completely inlaid with green scales from the Thai jewel beetle.
Normally, the Royal Palace is free to visit in the summer, but due to renovation work that started in March 2023, this is not possible for the time being. It is definitely worth visiting the palace when it reopens: the salons and halls are beautiful.
Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula
This magnificent cathedral is within walking distance of the Grote Markt. The cathedral, built in the Brabant Gothic style, is free to visit. Construction of the church began in the 13th century, and it officially became a cathedral in 1962. Today, together with St. Rumbold’s Cathedral in Mechelen, it is the seat of the Archbishop of Brussels-Mechelen.
Inside the cathedral, there is a beautiful pulpit and an organ with 4,300 pipes.
Go on a food tour
Belgium is famous for its fries, chocolate, waffles, and beer. So, what better way to learn more about Brussels than through a food tour? If you love beer and chocolate, the food tour by Hungry Mary is the one you have to do: the perfect tour to learn more about the two most famous products of Belgium. Want to taste more of Belgium? This food tour is perfect: fries, chocolate, waffles, and more.
Botanique
The Botanique or Botanical Garden is located in Saint-Josse-Ten-Noode, not far from Brussels North Station. It was laid out in 1826 as a botanical garden and also houses one of Belgium’s most famous concert halls. Today, it is a city park with French, Italian, and English-style terraces and a large number of trees and plants. Of course, the iris, the symbol of the Brussels-Capital Region, is a must. There are also 30 sculptures throughout the park and a pond with turtles.
Cantillon Brewery
Brussels is best known for its gueuze and kriek beers. The Cantillon brewery is one of the last gueuze breweries still located in Brussels. Not only do they brew beer here, but you can also learn everything about the history of gueuze beer. Guided tours are available on Saturdays, but you can also visit the brewery on your own. There is also a small bar where you can enjoy the beers. You can find all the information you need for a visit here.
The Marolles
The Marolles is Brussels’ oldest working-class neighborhood, located between the South Station and the Palace of Justice. Although it is now mainly young people who live there, it is still a working-class and multicultural neighborhood. The heart of the Marolles is Place du Jeu de Balle: every morning there is a large flea market here, which really comes to life at the weekend.
The most famous street is Rue Haute, now lined with antique shops and cozy restaurants. Definitely worth a visit on a Saturday or Sunday.
Christmas Market
If you visit Brussels during the Christmas period, you should also visit the Christmas market. It is spread across various squares throughout the city: the Beursplein, the Anspachlaan, St Katelijneplein, and the Vismet. You can find all the information here.
Outside the city center
Atomium
The Atomium is the symbol of Brussels and Belgium and is located in the Heysel Park in Brussels. It is a steel structure consisting of nine spheres that form the crystal structure of iron, magnified 165 billion times. The Atomium was built for the 1958 World’s Fair (Expo 58). The top sphere offers the most beautiful view of Brussels. Another viewpoint is located in one of the side spheres. The Atomium’s upper sphere also houses a bar/restaurant where you can enjoy a drink or Belgian specialties with a view of Brussels.
You can easily buy tickets in advance. The Atomium is easily accessible by metro from the South Station: take metro 6 towards King Baudouin and get off at the Heizel stop.
Parc du Cinquantenaire
Parc du Cinquantenaire is a park laid out in 1880 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Belgian independence. Its most striking feature is the triumphal arch, which was completed in 1905. The buildings on either side house various museums, such as Autoworld and the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History.
You can reach the Jubelpark by train (Brussels-Merode and Brussels-Shuman stations are within walking distance) and by metro. For the metro, take metro 1 from Brussels-Central towards Stokkel or metro 5 towards Hermann-Debroux and get off at Merode.
Meise Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden of Meise is one of the largest botanical gardens in the world and is located in Meise. Since 1958, visitors have been able to admire its impressive plant collection. The domain also includes Meise Castle and Boechout Castle. You can admire almost 20,000 living plants in the Plant Palace, a complex with 13 greenhouses.
You can reach the Meise Botanical Garden by bus from Brussels North. The R50 line towards Londerzeel stops right in front of the entrance. All information can be found here.
Musea in and around Brussels
BOZAR
The Palace of Fine Arts (BOZAR) is located within walking distance of Brussels Central Station, not far from the Mont des Arts. The building, designed by Victor Horta, dates from 1928 and has eight different levels. In addition to concerts (such as the final of the Queen Elisabeth Competition), there are also theater performances and temporary exhibitions to enjoy. You can always see which exhibitions are on display on the website.
Museum of Natural Sciences
A visit to the Museum of Natural Sciences is fun for young and old alike. It is located just outside the center of Brussels but is easily accessible by metro (Maelbeek metro stop) and train (Brussels-Luxembourg). When you buy your ticket online, you also get a 50% discount on your train ticket.
The museum is best known for its impressive collection of Iguanodon skeletons. But there is much more to admire: other dinosaurs, as well as a beautiful collection of minerals, other animals, the evolution of humans, and how our bodies work. For children, there are many interactive elements to learn more about all this. All information can be found here.
Museum of infinite realities
This interactive museum is within walking distance of Brussels Central Station. It is an interactive museum where you search for yourself in a group of up to 24 people. During the 90-minute experience, you will pass through seven rooms where light and sound take center stage. At the end, you will know your animal guide. Because it is a “guided” visit, you will depart at fixed times. You can buy tickets in advance here.
Africa Museum Tervuren
The Africa Museum is located in the beautiful park of Tervuren. It is probably the last colonial museum in the world. Here you can view collections from the former colonies in Central Africa. Not only is the collection worth seeing, but the buildings are also beautiful.
You can buy tickets online on the website. From Brussels Central Station, take Metro 1 towards Stokkel and get off at Montgomery. From there, take tram 39 or 44 to the tram museum. This tram ride is one of the most beautiful during the fall.
Citycard
If you plan to visit several museums, the City Card may be a good idea. It gives you access to 49 museums and attractions and skip-the-line access to the Atomium. You can choose between a 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour Brussels Card. You also get discounts on guided walks and in a number of shops and restaurants.
There is also a card that does not include access to the Atomium but does include public transportation.
1-day itinerary for Brussels
Start your day at the city center: admire the Grand-Place and walk to Manneken Pis afterwards. Then stroll to Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert for coffee and some chocolate tasting. If you want, you can also see Jeanneke Pis. If you want to learn more about Brussels, you can visit the Brussels City Museum.
For lunch, you can buy some fries and enjoy them while people-watching. For dessert, a waffle is a must, of course.
Head to Mont des Arts for amazing views and visit the Cathedral of St Michael and St. Gudula. If you like art, visit the Magritte Museum, BOZAR, or the Musical Instruments Museum. If you like beer, visit the Belgian Beer World. Or you can take the metro to see the Atomium.
In the evening, have dinner at a nice bistro for some mussels or beef stew. After dinner, stroll around the illuminated Grand-Place or go to a bar with Belgian beer.
Weekend itinerary
On your second day, you can visit the big flea market at the Marolles in the morning and maybe visit some art shops afterwards. Have lunch in one of the cute restaurants in the neighborhood. If the weather is nice, go for a stroll in the many parks of the city or just enjoy some people-watching with a good beer.
If you are interested in a custom itinerary with specific restaurant and museum recommendations, send me a message.
Where to eat and drink in Brussels?
Brussels is a multicultural city and has a huge number of restaurants, from hamburger restaurants to Italian restaurants to bistronomy. Below are some of our favorite restaurants and bars in Brussels.
Maison Dandoy has the most delicious waffles. Try a Brussels waffle with just powdered sugar or perhaps some chocolate sauce.
For chocolate, visit one of the chocolatiers in the Sint Hubertus galleries. In these galleries, you can also enjoy chocolate mousse from L’Atelier de Neuhaus. Which will you choose? Dark, milk, white, or ruby chocolate?
Are you a fan of Italian cuisine? Then be sure to visit Ricotta & Parmesan for a delicious pizza or pasta dish.
Chou Sando is ideal for lunch: delicious Japanese sandwiches. It’s nice if you can get a seat, but you can also take it with you and eat it at one of the beautiful spots in Brussels.
Want to enjoy bistronomy? Then Le Selecto or Le Conteur is the place to be. At Le Conteur, they serve Middle Eastern dishes to share.
In the Marolles district, you can enjoy good classic Belgian cuisine at La Brocante. Be sure to try the stoemp with sausage.
Outside the center is FOX foodmarket, a cozy food court offering a variety of cuisines. This allows everyone to choose what they want.
Fancy a nice beer? Then Poechenellekelder, à la becasse, or Moeder Lambic are the places to be.
Le Cirio is a café next to the stock exchange where many people who worked at the stock exchange used to go. It is still a very cozy café today. Be sure to try the half and half.
Coffee or matcha lover? Then Barkboy, Seasons of Bouche is the place to be.
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