In a nutshell
- Brussels is big and Brussels is wonderfully diverse — expect beautiful historic buildings, world-class museums, leafy parks, and a buzzing food scene.
- We’ll walk you through 22 top things to do in Brussels for every type of traveler — from the Grote Markt and City Hall to Jubilee Park and the European Quarter.
- Our personal favorites: the Grand Place and City Hall, the Atomium, and the Musée de la Ville de Bruxelles.
- To help you make the most of your visit, we’ve included honest tips on tickets, the Brussels Card, and guided tours — like the popular highlights walking tour.
Landmarks and Icons in Brussels
Grote Markt and City Hall
The heart of the old town is the Grote Markt. The square with its city hall and the surrounding historic buildings is an absolute must when visiting Brussels.
It’s very touristy here, and the cafés and restaurants are certainly not cheap — but the square is still well worth your time.
During the day you can admire the architectural gems in detail. Make sure to also plan an evening visit to the Grote Markt. At night, the illuminated square is an experience all its own.
Our Tip: On Wednesdays and Sundays you can join a guided tour of the city hall. Tours are offered in English and last just under an hour. Tickets are only available on the day of the tour starting at 9 AM at the tourism office on the Grote Markt.
Wednesdays and Sundays
€7
Manneken Pis
The most famous Belgian is also one of the smallest. The bronze statue of Manneken Pis, standing just 61 centimeters tall, is actually a 17th-century fountain. But the little fellow has since achieved such cult status that he’s considered the symbol of Brussels.
Depending on the occasion, Manneken Pis is regularly dressed up in fitting costumes. The little man has already worn over 950 different outfits. A few steps from the fountain you’ll find the GardeRobe Manneken Pis Museum, which displays around 150 of the costumes.
Costumes for Manneken Pis are also popular diplomatic gifts. Japan, for example, regularly presents the little man with new Japanese garments.
The figure is located in the heart of the old town and is free to see — no ticket needed.
Atomium Brussels
The Atomium is a more recent landmark, but by now it’s just as iconic as the Manneken Pis. Built for the 1958 World’s Fair, it towers a very visible 102 meters into the sky. Each of the nine spheres has a diameter of 18 meters, and you can make your way through one sphere after another via the connecting tubes.
Inside the spheres you’ll find light installations and rotating exhibitions. You’ll also enjoy a fantastic panorama of Brussels from up top.
Our Tip: Buy your ticket for the Atomium online in advance. This way you’ll skip the line at the ticket booth, which can sometimes take nearly an hour.
Book Atomium Ticket
One More Tip: There’s a restaurant in the top sphere. At 100 meters up, you can have breakfast, lunch, or dinner with a view. We’d definitely recommend making a reservation — the restaurant fills up fast. You can easily book online.
€17
St. Michel et Gudule
This Gothic building from the 13th century is Belgium’s national cathedral — where kings get married and state ceremonies take place.
1,200 stained glass windows cast a sublime atmosphere between the columns inside. For architecture lovers, a visit should definitely be on the list.
Admission to the cathedral is free. For one euro, you can also visit the underground section of St. Michel et Gudule. Once inside, you’ll find a staircase on the left leading down — drop a euro in the turnstile and explore the crypt.
Our Tip: Spend a little time outside watching the two towers. A pair of peregrine falcons has been living there for years, and with a bit of luck you might catch a glimpse of their young.
Free (underground section: €1)
The Royal Palace
The Royal Palace is no longer the home of the Belgian royal family, but it’s still where all official state visits and ceremonies take place.
Normally the Royal Palace isn’t open to visitors — except in summer, between the national holiday on July 21 and early September. During that window, the Palais Royal opens its doors to the public.
The two museums inside the Palais Royal are open year-round: The Musée BELvue! covers Belgian history and democracy. The archaeological Coudenberg Museum — which we really loved — takes you underground beneath the palace.
Admission to each museum costs 10 euros; the combination ticket costs 18 euros.
Note: With the Brussels Card, both museums are free.
Closed from September through the end of July
National Basilica of the Sacred Heart
The Art Deco-style basilica is relatively young — only completed in 1970 — but has already become one of Brussels’ defining landmarks. At 141 meters long and 107 meters wide, it’s the fifth-largest church in the world.
You can visit the interior and also climb the dome. At over 50 meters up, the views over the city are seriously impressive.
Admission to the dome also includes entry to the two museums housed inside the basilica.
€8
Palais de Justice
The Palace of Justice is the most important courthouse in all of Belgium. Unfortunately, the imposing building has seen better days and is currently undergoing extensive renovation — from the outside, you’ll mostly see a massive construction scaffold. The work isn’t expected to wrap up until 2030 at the earliest.
That said, you can still visit the entrance area for free. On the stone staircase and around the grand columns, you’ll find yourself walking among lawyers, judges, and tourists.
From the square in front of the Palais de Justice, you get a wonderful view of the entire city, all the way to the Atomium. In summer, a small bar pops up here — grab a cold drink and take it all in from a lounge chair.
You’ll also find a free elevator that takes you directly down to the Flemish-influenced Marolles neighborhood, with its charming alleyways, cozy brasseries, and a flea market full of odds and ends.
Our Tip: From the bridge leading to the elevator, you’ll have the opportunity to take some especially beautiful photos of the city.
Closed on Saturdays and Sundays
Free
Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
The Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert is a glass-roofed arcade stretching across two city blocks. Here you can shop for clothes and chocolates in thoroughly stylish surroundings, or sip a rather expensive coffee in an elegant setting.
The Taverne du Passage also serves excellent mussels. Not cheap — but still very much part of the Brussels experience.
The European Quarter
The European Quarter in Brussels is the heart of the European Union. If you have even a passing interest in politics, this is the place for you. There’s a lot to see here, so in the next few sections we’ll walk you through the most important points of interest in the European Quarter that you can visit.
Note: Bring your national ID or passport. Security in the European Quarter is strict, and you can only enter many buildings with valid ID. Also avoid carrying a pocket knife or anything similar.
Our Tip: The best place to start your visit is at Station Europe on the Place du Luxembourg — the visitor information center. Get your bearings here before diving in.
Parlamentarium
Just a few steps from Station Europe stands the Parlamentarium — the visitor center of the European Parliament, and it’s genuinely impressive.
Europe is explained in a highly engaging way, both virtually and interactively. The focus is partly on the member states themselves, and partly on how the European Union is structured and how it works. It’s also a great stop for kids!
Admission is free and fully accessible. Pick up a free audio guide at the entrance — you absolutely need it. Without it, you’ll miss a lot of fascinating context about European history.
Plan on at least an hour here. If you want to go deeper into the topic, your visit could easily stretch to three hours.
Plenary Chamber
Your next stop should be the Plenary Chamber of the European Parliament. Admission is also free.
Grab one of the free audio guides — the recordings walk you through the building all the way into the chamber. From the upper visitor gallery, you can watch the political proceedings live down below.
Closed on Saturdays and Sundays
House of European History
Walk through Parc Léopold from the Plenary Chamber and you’ll end up right at the House of European History. As the name suggests, it’s all about the story of Europe.
A tablet set to English guides you through the museum. If you’re traveling with kids, the tablet also has special features for younger visitors.
Admission is once again free and fully accessible.
Berlaymont Building
Right at the Schuman metro station stands the Berlaymont Building — home to the EU Commission. Depending on who’s in the building and what’s going on politically, access may or may not be permitted.
Just try your luck at the entrance — always with your ID or passport. The worst they can say is no.
The Best Museums in Brussels
Mont des Arts
The Mont des Arts delivers exactly what its name promises: a hill full of museums full of art. Running right through the middle is a lovely garden. From the steps above the garden, you get a great view of the city, and in summer music seems to drift in from every direction. It creates a truly special atmosphere!
On both sides you’ll find world-class institutions, including the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, the Royal Library of Belgium, the Museum of the National Bank of Belgium, and a real standout: the Musical Instruments Museum. All the museums at the Mont des Arts are included with the Brussels Card.
For most Brussels museums, the first Wednesday of the month means free admission — just be prepared for bigger crowds.
Our Tip: One museum deserves a special mention: the Magritte Museum, entirely dedicated to Belgian surrealist René Magritte. If the name doesn’t ring a bell: if you love Salvador Dalí’s paintings, you’ll love Magritte too.
Musée de la Ville de Bruxelles
Tucked inside one of the impressive buildings on the Grote Markt is the Museum of the City of Brussels — a modern, thoroughly fascinating museum dedicated entirely to the history of Brussels.
Spread across four floors, there are various masterpieces, the story of the Manneken Pis, and stunning architecture to discover.
On the first Sunday of every month, admission is free.
MIMA – Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art
The MIMA was the first museum of its kind in Europe. It takes you on a journey through the various stages of contemporary art, all the way to the internet and a Culture 2.0.
Right on the canal, in the building of a former brewery, the MIMA opened in 2016 and offers an incredible mix of urban art, musical, sporting and graphic art, as well as nerd culture.
Autoworld
Autoworld is a private museum with a wide variety of classic cars, race cars, and presidential limousines. It takes you on a journey through the history of the automobile — a real crowd-pleaser for every car enthusiast!
An audio guide is included in the admission price, and we highly recommend using it. It also usually makes sense to buy your ticket online in advance to skip what can be a pretty long line.
Book Autoworld Brussels Ticket
€17
Chocolate Museum Choco-Story Brussels
At the chocolate museum, just a few steps from the Manneken Pis, everything revolves around the cacao bean and all the wonderful things you can make from it.
While you watch the chocolatier at work, you’ll learn a great deal about cacao culture and the success story of Belgian chocolate. And of course, snacking along the way is very much encouraged!
Because of its central location and the whole chocolate thing, it tends to get seriously busy here. Definitely buy your ticket online in advance — that way you’ll at least skip the line at the booth.
Book Brussels Chocolate Museum Ticket
Our Tip: Want even more chocolate? Join a chocolate tasting tour in Brussels for a deeper dive into Belgian praline culture.
Book Brussels Chocolate Tasting Tour
If you’d rather become a chocolatier yourself, we recommend the three-hour chocolate workshop — you’ll get to create your own pralines.
Book Brussels Chocolate Workshop
€14
Parks and Gardens in Brussels
Jubilee Park: Parc du Cinquantenaire
Slightly east of the old quarter, not far from the European Quarter, lies Jubilee Park. Here you’ll find not only the auto museum, but also Brussels’ triumphal arch, the Museum of Art and History, and the Royal Museum of the Army.
Take a leisurely stroll through the park with a wonderful view of the city — maybe even enjoy a little picnic before visiting the auto museum.
Botanical Garden
On the edge of the Pentagon you’ll find the botanical garden. It’s small, but we think it’s wonderful — wandering through the hedgerows and archways, you keep getting the feeling of being Alice in Wonderland.
The former greenhouse hosts rotating exhibitions and a small café. On a nice day, it’s a lovely spot to stop for a coffee.
Mini Europe
Mini Europe is a highlight for both adults and kids. Right next to the Atomium, you can take a world tour in miniature.
Here the Colosseum of Rome is just a few steps from the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Thousands of figurines live in this miniature Europe and keep having to take cover whenever Mount Vesuvius near Naples erupts.
Buy your ticket for Mini Europe online in advance to skip the queue.
Book Mini Europe Brussels Ticket
Food and Drink in Brussels
Eating Waffles in Brussels
When it comes to popularity, Belgian waffles are right up there with fries. The square treats come with fruit, ice cream, Nutella, or simply with powdered sugar. But ask a local and they’ll tell you powdered sugar is the only acceptable topping — anything else and you’ll instantly out yourself as a tourist.
The epicenter of the Belgian waffle world is the alley running from the Grote Markt to the Manneken Pis. Waffle shop after waffle shop lines the way. Word has it that the shop right next to the Manneken Pis is the best — though that hasn’t been scientifically proven.
Our Tip: Bring a proper fork with you. With a waffle to go, you only get a small plastic fork, which turns eating the waffle into a real test of patience.
If you fall in love with Belgian waffles — or have always wondered what their secret is — you can also join a waffle-making class in Brussels.
Book a Waffle-Making Class in Brussels
Drinking Belgian Beer in Brussels
The monks who spent centuries experimenting in their monasteries, constantly refining their recipes, are to blame for the cult around Belgian beer.
Belgian beer culture remains a living science unto itself to this day. In Brussels alone you’ll find over 400 different varieties of beer.
The flavor spectrum ranges from very bitter triple beers, to classic blondes, all the way to sweet fruit beers — there’s genuinely something for every palate.
Watch out: Especially with the delicious Kriek beers and their cherry flavor, you can hardly taste the alcohol. But trust us — it’s in there!
If you’d like to learn more about Belgian beer culture and the beers themselves, join a beer tasting in Brussels.
Book a Beer Tasting in Brussels
Brussels Sights on the Map
For better orientation, here are the 22 top things to do in Brussels marked on a map.
Buy Tickets for Brussels Sights in Advance?
We recommend buying tickets for the most important Brussels attractions and museums online in advance. That way you won’t have to constantly wait in line at the ticket counters.
In the table below, we’ve neatly compiled all your ticketing options with direct links:
| Price per person | Tickets | |
|---|---|---|
| Atomium | 17 EUR | Buy now |
| Mini-Europe Model Park | 20 EUR | Buy now |
| Choco Story Museum | 14 EUR | Buy now |
General Tips for Sightseeing in Brussels
Here are a few general pointers to help you plan your visit. This way you’ll know how to get from one attraction to the next — and what to keep in mind along the way.
Getting Around
In the center of Brussels — the Pentagon district — you can easily get around on foot. Pentagon is essentially the historic center and only about three kilometers wide, so you can zip from one highlight to the next in no time.
If you’re only in Brussels for a day or two, it’s worth booking your hotel close to the sights. You can find our Brussels hotel recommendations here:
The best neighborhoods to stay in Brussels
Some sights are located outside of Pentagon, though. For those, the metro is a great option. We’ve put together all the information about the metro and ticket options here:
As an alternative, the Hop-On/Hop-Off bus is worth considering. There’s a blue line and a red line. The two lines meet at the central train station Gare Centrale and then take separate routes through the city.
The Hop-On/Hop-Off buses come with handy audio guides. Tickets are available for 24 or 48 hours, and your ticket activates the first time you board. We recommend buying online in advance — it saves you time on-site and lets you jump straight onto the bus.
Book Hop-On/Hop-Off Bus Tickets
Note: On July 21, Belgian National Day, the Hop-On/Hop-Off bus does not run. It also takes the day off during the Brussels Marathon, which usually takes place in October.
Brussels Card
The Brussels Card is especially good value if you want to visit several museums. It’s available for one day, two days, or three days and includes free admission to a total of 49 museums.
The card’s validity isn’t based on calendar days — it runs on a 24-hour cycle. That’s a pretty handy feature. For example, you can activate the card on your arrival day by visiting a museum in the afternoon and still use it the following morning.
The Brussels Card comes in various versions: as a pure admission card valid for 24, 48, or 72 hours, or with the addition of public transportation. Both versions also include various discounts at shops and restaurants.
Book Brussels Card as admission-only
Book Brussels Card including public transportation
When you book the Brussels Card online, you’ll receive a voucher to exchange for the actual card at one of the tourist information offices in Brussels — you’ll find them at the Grote Markt and at the top of the Mont des Arts on the Rue Royale.
For a short trip of three days, we recommend the two-day card including public transportation. With it, you can visit as many museums as you like and explore the city comfortably by bus and metro. If you’re only going for a weekend, the 24-hour card is sufficient.
Guided Tours of Brussels
Brussels is great to explore on your own. But if you want more in-depth information about the city and its European context — plus tips from a real insider — a guided tour is a fantastic option.
These three tours are our top picks for getting a solid overview of what to do in Brussels:
Walking tour of Brussels’ highlights: Discover the city with a friendly guide who takes you to the most beautiful spots and most important sights in Brussels.
Bike tour of Brussels: This active guided tour lets you experience the best sights and neighborhoods of Brussels in a truly unique way.
3-hour private sightseeing tour: Explore the historic heart of Brussels, the best of the city center, and much more on a three-hour tour with a private guide.
