Things to do in Brussels, Belgium?

Brussels is one of the best European cities for a weekend getaway. Belgium’s capital has a wide range of cultural offerings, including curious museums such as the Museum of Musical Instruments and the Museum of Comics, historic buildings such as the Saint Hubert Galeries and several gardens that will leave you speechless. There are many things to do in Brussels, Belgium. So, get your notebook ready, and we’ll tell you everything you need to know before you set off on your trip.

What are the best things to do in Brussels, Belgium?

Brussels is a beautiful and very peaceful city, full of monumental buildings and dreamy gardens. However, what is most striking is the contrast between the historic centre and the more modern part where all the buildings of the European Union are located. If you’re thinking of travelling to Brussels, here are some recommendations of the must-sees.

1. La Grand-Place

The Grande Place is probably the most touristic place in Brussels, and for good reason. This monumental square is considered a World Heritage Site because of its size and the richness of its facades, which are dressed in gold at sunset. Among the buildings are the old guild houses and the town hall, which dates from the 15th century and is more than 96 metres high. Nearby is also the famous Manneken Pis – ring a bell?

The area around the square retains the same style as the square, and in its shop windows you’ll find souvenir shops and stalls selling specialities such as waffles and chocolates. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, a flower market fills the square with colour. In addition, all the national parades and festivals take place here: the Ommegang Parade, the Flemish Community Festival and the Music Festival.

2. Museums to see in Brussels, Belgium

There are some very curious museums in Brussels, such as the museum of comics, where they tell the story of Tintin, or the museum of instruments. Throughout its rooms, you can enjoy the sound of hundreds of instruments of all kinds. The museum is open every day from 9:30am to 5pm, except Mondays, and admission costs 8 euros, as is the comic museum, which is also open every day except Mondays, from 10am to 6pm.

On the Grande Place is the museum of the city of Brussels and nearby is the museum of Magritte, the famous Belgian surrealist artist of the 20th century. The latter costs €10 and is open from 10am to 5pm on weekdays and from 11am to 6pm on weekends.

3. The most beautiful parks and gardens to see in Brussels

There are numerous spectacular parks and gardens to see in Brussels. They are all beautifully kept and full of flowers that bring them to life. One of them is the Royal Park of Brussels, next to the museum of musical instruments. It is French in style and has numerous ponds, fountains and sculptures that give it a special charm.

A little further from the centre is the Cinquantenaire Park. It’s a very large area with large lawns and at the end, between the military history museum and the automobile museum buildings, a large triumphal arch that can be seen from the old town. There are also small parks scattered throughout the old town that you’re sure to come across as you pass through.

4. Saint Hubert Galleries

Next to the Grande Place are the Galeries Saint Hubert, a must-see in Brussels. It’s a shopping complex divided into three sectors: the King’s Gallery, the Queen’s Gallery and the Princes’ Gallery, where you can visit the best jewellery and chocolate boutiques or have a coffee in a café. The galleries, which are still one of the most prestigious shopping areas in Europe today, are notable for the vaults that crown the building and the cast-iron structure that supports it.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to see around Brussels?

Belgium is a relatively small country and as Brussels is centrally located, there are plenty of day trips to nearby cities. Train connections are very good, and Bruges, Ghent or Antwerp can be reached in less than an hour.

1. Bruges

Bruges is one of the most charming cities in Belgium, in fact, it is considered a World Heritage Site for its beauty and medieval architecture. Its canals, which cross the entire city and from where you can discover hidden corners of the city, are also of particular interest. Other points of interest in Bruges are the Beguinage, a former residence for orphan girls and widows, the Groeninge and Memling museums and the Minnewater park. There are also a couple of beautiful squares not to be missed: the Grote Markt and the Burg square. There you will find some of the most important buildings of the city, such as the town hall or the Belfort bell tower. Bruges is 1 hour from Brussels by train, although if you prefer to drive, the city also has car parks near the entrance where you can leave your car for around €3 a day.

2. Antwerp

At the banks of the Scheldt River we find this incredible city whose historical heritage is combined with the architectural avant-garde of the newer parts. Formerly Spanish territory, Antwerp is today a city with a lot of history to tell and an infinite number of places to visit. If you have nothing more to see in Brussels, we recommend a trip to Antwerp, which is only 40 minutes away by train and has a lot to offer, such as the diamond quarter, Steen Castle, the central square or the Vlaaikensgang alley.

3. Ghent

Ghent is one of the most beautiful cities in Belgium and although architecturally it has much in common with Bruges, the truth is that it is a unique city that will surely surprise you. The cultural offerings include the Castle of the Counts of Flanders, the Church of St. Nicholas and the central square, although the best thing to do is to stroll around the city, either on foot or by boat along the canals. The Patershol district is the most famous area, so we recommend a visit in the evening, when there are fewer tourists. From most stations in Brussels, you can catch a train to Ghent, which takes 35 minutes and runs frequently.

Visit Brussels in 1 day

There is so much to see in Brussels that one day is often too short. However, if you’re short on time when you travel to Brussels, here’s a route you can do in a day and still get a good souvenir of the city. Just remember to pack comfortable shoes.

The day starts at the Grande Place, from where you can walk around or take a tour, discover the Sablon district, the Saint Hubert Galleries, the royal gardens and the Manneken Pis. You can eat in the centre itself, we will tell you about some options later on, and then it’s time to visit the museums. As we have already seen, there are many interesting museums, so it’s up to you. In the afternoon, there is what they call the golden hour, which is a must-see in Brussels. As the sun sets, the luxurious facades of the city centre turn golden and the whole city glows. So take advantage of the hour to snack on a waffle and enjoy the view.

Which are the best restaurants in Brussels?

If there’s one thing you can be sure of, you won’t go wrong with the food in Brussels. Belgian specialities include mussels and fries, waffles, chocolate products and craft beer, but there is also a wide variety of international cuisine, due to the mix of cultures in the city. Brussels, Belgium, also organizes many gastronomic tours about beer and chocolate, perfect for foodies. Here’s a list of some of the best restaurants to eat and drink at.

• Bia Mara: For around 12€ you can eat very well in this restaurant in the old town. The establishment has a small terrace but most customers opt to take their food to go.
• Delirium: is the world’s temple of beer. They have more than 2,000 beers on their menu, with flavours as rare as chocolate and banana. The pub is open daily from 10am to 4am and there’s always a good atmosphere.
• Le Marmiton: is one of the most famous mussel restaurants in Brussels. It is located on the Grande Place, and it is advisable to book a table because it fills up very quickly. The menu is very extensive, and they also offer menus between €22 and €30.
• Maison Antoine: French fries are a Belgian speciality, and there are plenty of stalls in the city where you can buy them freshly made. Maison Antoine is the oldest and many consider its fries to be the best in the world.

Where to stay in Brussels, Belgium?

Clearly the best place to stay is in the old town, near the Grande Place, where you’ll be close to the main sights of Brussels. However, if you’re travelling on a tighter budget, you can always look for accommodation in the Gare du Midi. Other highly recommended neighbourhoods include the European Quarter, Sablon and Ixelles.

• Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo: this is one of the best luxury hotels in Brussels as it is located just behind the town hall on the Grande Place. It also has one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. The price per night is around €250.
• 2GO4 Quality Hostel Brussels City Center: is the most central hostel in Brussels. The rooms are clean and cosy and cost around €50 per night.
• Hotel Derby: a cheap hotel in the heart of the European quarter. It is a simple accommodation where we can sleep for about 90€.
• Qbic Hotel Brussels: although not so central, this is a very comfortable, modern and affordable hotel. It’s next to Avenue Louise and costs around €80 per night.

How to get to Brussels, Belgium?

There are two airports around Brussels Belgium: Zaventem, 15km away, and Charleroi, 55km away. Both airports are served by frequent flights from major European cities at very affordable prices. From there you can reach the city centre in several ways.

From Zaventem there is a train that runs every 10 minutes 24 hours a day. It takes 20 minutes and costs €9. Another option is the bus. For €4.5 you can take bus lines 12 and 21. A taxi to the centre costs about €45. From Charleroi the train takes 1h30 and costs €14. For €17 there is also a bus that takes you to the central station and a taxi from there costs €90.

Once in Brussels, the best way to get around the city is by metro or bus. A ticket costs €2.1, but there are also many options for combined day tickets.

Tips for travelling to Brussels, Belgium

• The official currency of Belgium is the euro, so you won’t have to worry about exchanging currency.
• As European citizens we don’t need a visa to enter the country either, just your ID card or passport is enough.
• If you are travelling from a country with a different currency, we recommend that you exchange your currency in advance.
• The best time to travel to Brussels, Belgium, is from May to September, when temperatures are milder.
• Buy museum tickets in advance to avoid queues.
• There is no Roaming in Belgium, you can use the internet on your mobile phone without any problems
• The city is safe, but as with any tourist destination, it’s best to be careful with your belongings.
• Be covered for possible medical emergencies: travel insured.

How to plan your trip to Brussels?

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers
• Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
• Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
• Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post)
• Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make any modifications you need to make, and you’re all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Brussels, Belgium.

If you have any doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.

Frequently asked questions on a trip to Brussels