Brussels, the capital city in Belgium has so much to offer. It has wonderful streets with restaurants, cafés, beautiful architecture, green parks, museums, and incredible food and beer! Here’s our ultimate guide on what to do in Brussels, what to see, where to stay and where to eat!
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What to See in Brussels
I think Brussels is an underrated city since there is so much to do. It is much smaller than Paris or London, but it has something for everyone.
In this guide, we will showcase what we did during our time in Brussels and also share with you some of the items on our list that we didn’t get a chance to visit due to limited time.
During our time in Brussels, we walked everywhere, so the places we visited are only within walking distance of our hotel encompassing downtown Brussels. We didn’t visit any museums or take a taxi/uber to different locations outside of the main downtown area.
Below is a list of the top things we did during our stay in Brussels. We also listed the things to do in order by preference starting with number 1.
- Grand Place
- Delirium Village
- Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
- Try a Belgian Waffle
- Try Belgian Chocolate
- Mont des Arts
- Sight-see City Symbols
- Halles Saint-Grey
- Grand Royal Palace
- Bourse de Bruxelles (Brussel’s Stock Exchange)
Below is a complete list of what to see in Brussels and if we had more time in Brussels we would have checked these off our bucket list!
- Grand Place
- Delirium Village
- Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
- Try a Belgian Waffle
- Try Belgian Chocolate
- Mont des Arts
- Halles Saint-Grey
- Sight-see City Symbols
- Grand Royal Palace
- Bourse de Bruxelles (Brussel’s Stock Exchange)
- Cinquantenaire Park
- National Basilica of the Sacred Heart
- Atomium
- AutoWorld
- Mini-Europe
What We Recommend
Grand Place
Grand Place is the historic city square in the middle of the walking-only streets in Brussels and an absolute must-do! It’s the place to be during the day and night, thriving during the weekends. You can people watch, listen to live music, take in the architecture of Brussels Town Hall, and grab a bite to eat or a cold drink to enjoy.
Brussels Town Hall is made up several buildings connected together. The first building of the Brussels Town Hall was finished in 1421 and the spiral towers were refinished back in 1695
Grand Place has several restaurants along the square and if the weather’s nice outside it’s the perfect place to sit, enjoy a meal, and people watch the crowd as folks pass on by. At night, you can enjoy a light show spanning across the beautiful architecture surrounding the square.
Grand Place is even a Unesco World Heritage Site and a great spot to check off your bucket list!
Delirium Village
If you are a beer drinker then the Delirium Village is your place! Delirium Village is tucked away down a small alleyway that leads you to a multi-level bar, taproom offering over 2000 beers! They won the Guinness World Record for the most beers available in a bar in 2004. Here you can find the woman can pee statue which is explained in more detail below.
There are two main sections, the basement level has most of the bottled beer while the upstairs level has the taphouse offering over 25 beers on tap.
Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
If you get excited about shopping then the Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert is a must-do! Les Galeries Royales Saint Hubert is a beautiful glass arcade featuring local boutique shops, coffee cafés, and cute restaurants. This arcade was built in the 1840s and is one of the oldest glass arcades in Europe.
Try a Belgian Waffle
Belgian Waffle’s are quite popular in the streets of Brussels. However, they aren’t the first choice for Belgian’s when it’s time to eat breakfast.
You can find plenty of Belgian Waffles along the streets of Brussels as well as food carts throughout the city.
Try Belgian Chocolate
Belgian waffles aren’t the only treat you can get in Brussels. There are plenty of chocolate stores where you can taste a bunch of free samples and try your favorite Belgian chocolate treat.
We recommend visiting Elizabeth’s Chocolates, but not only one. There are several in the city and some specialize in different treats!
Halles Saint-Grey
Halles Saint-Grey is a historical building showcasing the history of World War II and its impact on Belgium. There is a self-tour educating you about the end of the war for Brussels on September 4, 1944, when Germany surrendered and fled the country. There’s a café in the building as well where you can purchase coffee and other snacks while you explore.
Outside of Halles Saint-Grey has plenty of outside seating and a few neat looking restaurants.
Mont des Arts
Southwest of the Grand Place sits Mont des Arts which offers a great view of Brussels City, here you can find street performers, locals relaxing enjoying the views, and outdoor refreshments from street vendors. This is a great place to enjoy a sunset and take in the views.
Sight-See Brussel’s City Symbol
There are three interesting statues in Brussels that are quite comical but reflect the symbol of the city. To our surprise, we learned that the symbol of Brussel’s is Mannekin Pis or “Little Pissing Man”. You can see this statue in the center of downtown, where you will find countless tourists capturing pictures of the statue.
Manneken Pis (“Little Pissing Man”)
Manneken Pis (“Little Pissing Man”) is the symbol of the people of Brussels and dates back to as early 1400s. The actual statute meets the description of its name since it actually is a statue of a little boy pissing. There are a few legends or rumors of the statue and why it was created. The most famous legend is from the 1100s where a little boy urinated on the losing troops of the Berthouts.
Be Aware: The statue is not big in size, standing only 2 feet or so!!!
It is located 3 blocks southeast of the Grand Place on the corner of an intersection. It is surrounded by neat bars and restaurants where you can grab a bite to eat after checking out the statue.
Jeanneke Pis (“Little Pissing Woman”)
Jeanneke Pis (“Little Pissing Woman”) is the female version of Mannekin Pis and is located near Delirium Café. It doesn’t have the same historical meaning or legend as the Mannekin Pis, since it is relatively new. Tt was created in 1985 and given the green light to install it in the city in Delirium Village in 1987.
Similar to Mannekin Pis, the statue is small only standing 2 feet or so (less than one meter).
Grand Royal Palace
East of the Grand Place is the Grand Royal Palace, which is the official palace of the King and Queen of Belgium. However, the Grand Royal Palace is not where they live, instead, it is used for the head of state purposes and government meetings.
Unfortunately, you cannot go inside the palace, but you can take pictures of it from the outside. In front of the palace stands in front of the Brussels Park where you can visit and enjoy the outdoors.
Bourse de Bruxelles (Brussel’s Stock Exchange)
Close to Grand Place stand’s Brussel’s Stock Exchange. This isn’t a must-do but if you’re into architecture or finance then this could be intriguing!
Additional Things to Do in Brussels
Cinquantenaire Park
Not too far from downtown Brussels is Cinquantenaire Park, a large park celebrating the 15th anniversary of Belgian independence. It also contains 3 different museums. Autoworld a car museum, the Art and History Museum, and the military museum. Here you can enjoy a bottle of wine and some refreshing drinks in the park to watch a sunset and relax after you explored a museum or two.
National Basilica of the Sacred Heart
One of ten largest Roman Catholic churches in the world, the National Basilica of the Sacred Heart is only a few minutes from downtown Brussels. However, it isn’t as old as you may expect. The Belgians began building the church in 1905 and completed it in 1969, 64 years later due to the two world wars.
You can visit the basilica and climb to the top of the cupola platform to obtain a panoramic view of the city.
Atomium
Atomium is a large atom-like structure made out of steel back in 1958. It was originally created for the World Expo of Brussels and not a landmark of Brussels. You can visit the Atomium and go in it to the top to get a great view of the city.
Autoworld
Autoworld is Brussels’ largest automotive museum featuring over 250 vintage cars from the 1900s.
Mini Europe
Located near Atomium, is a small attraction called Mini Europe. It holds all of Europe’s popular landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, and more. This is a great attraction for children where you can educate them of the popular landmarks in Europe.
Where to Eat?
If you’re a foodie and enjoy trying new things then Brussels (Belgium in general) is a great place for you! From a food perspective, Belgium is known for Belgian Waffles, Frittes (French fries) with sauce, Mussels with Frittes, BitterBallen (fried meatballs), Frinandel, and of course, beer!
In terms of beer you should try a Jupiler, a Chouffe, a Kriek, a Tripel, and a Duvel. I have a friend in Belgium who recommended we try one of each and he didn’t let us down! For those wondering what beers what, here’s a description from yours truly.
Please don’t criticize me on the beer descriptions, I am not a beer connoisseur!
- Jupiler – similar to a light beer like a Coors, Miller, or Bud-lite.
- Chouffe – a heavier wheat style beer similar to a Hoegaarden
- Kriek – a cherry-flavored beer (some taste like cough medicine)
- Tripel – a strong ale with a high alcohol percentage, usually darker
- Duvel – in between a chouffe and a jupiler, more like a lager
Below are our recommendations on where to eat in Belgium:
- Delirium Café
- Place de la Monnaie
- Fast food near Hilton
- Le Roy d’Espagne
- Au Brasseur
Delirium Café
Delirium Café is our favorite spot to eat in Brussels, however, it’s not known for their food. If you read the “what to see” section above, then you know it’s home to over 2,000 different beers. Delirium Café offers a wide variety of beers as well as meals to choose from. While here, Taylor, my parents, and I had a cheese plate which was the perfect complement to our beers.
Place de la Monnaie – Muntplein
Place de la Monnaie – Muntplein is a square in the middle of Rue Neuve – Nieuwstraat which is the street with the popular shopping stores. Here there are often food stands that range in some different foods, like Frittes or Belgian Waffles on a stick!
We absolutely recommend the Belgian Waffle on a stick, they are absolutely delicious.
Belgian Fast Food
Near the train station, there’s a line of fast-food restaurants, some to try of Chez Papy Belgian Fritz and Gaufre De Bruxelles.
At Chez Papy Belgian Fritzyou can get a crazy sandwich called a frikandel, which is filled with sausage French fries, peppers and more.
Right across the street, you can try a waffle at Gaufre De Bruxelles!
Le Roy d’Espagne
If you’re interested in trying Bitter Ballen, which are fried meatballs, you should go to Le Roy d’Espagne, which stands for King of Spain. I know you’re probably thinking why go to a restaurant named King of Spain while in Brussels, but they specialize in Belgian food and BitterBallen which is a popular dutch appetizer. It was named after the bust of Charles II who was the king of Spain in 1697.
Au Brasseur
Au Brasseur is a Belgian bar with beer flights available to test. This is the perfect way to sample the different type of beers Belgium has to offer. They offer free peanuts with your beers as well!
Where to Stay
Brussels is a smaller city in Europe with wonderful walk-only streets. You can find these streets near the Grand Place, which is where we spent most of our time in Brussels.
We recommend staying anywhere within walking distance to Grand Place, preferably near the train station, Quarter Des Quais, or the Freedom Quarter.
Booking.comWe stayed at the Hilton Brussels City which is right off R20 and near walking street with all of the popular shopping stores, named Rue Neuve. We used Hilton points to cover the cost of our hotel instead of paying out of pocket. This helps us save money while traveling and allows us to travel more frequently.
Travel to Brussels For FREE!
If you’d like to learn more about how we save thousands of dollars traveling, then check out our Travel Secrets online course and learn how we got round trip tickets to Europe for less than $50!
Our Recommendations
Overall Brussels is a great city to visit and often overlooked. If you’re trying to determine how long you should stay in Brussels, then 2-3 full days in the city is sufficient. Taylor and I liked it so much that we now want to explore other cities and areas within Belgium.
We recommend using the train or Uber to get around partnered with Google Maps. If you don’t have phone service while you’re in Europe then we highly recommend using Google Maps offline mode as well as Maps.Me app. These two apps together are truly amazing to help you navigate your way around the city and we have a tutorial on how to plan a trip using Google My Maps.
Also, don’t forget to bring your universal charges as well as a raincoat because you may get rained on while you’re over there!
Brussels Frequently Asked Questions
What is Brussels best known for?
- Brussels is known for its small city with beautiful attractions like the Grand Place, Grand Palace of Brussels, Atomium, Autoworld, beer, and more.
What do they speak in Brussels? Do they speak English in Brussels?
- The main language in Brussels is French, however, most Belgian’s speak both French and Dutch since they are both widely used throughout the country. Also, they speak very good English and you can get by only speaking English just fine.
How many days do you need in Brussels?
- Ideally, 2-3 days is sufficient for Brussels. If you’re interested in seeing the museum’s like the Atomium, Autoworld and the others then we recommend 3 days. If you prefer to enjoy the city and wander downtown through the small local streets than 2 full days (3 days and 2 nights is sufficient).
Is Uber in Brussels, Belgium?
- Yes, uber is available in Brussels and is what we used when getting to and from your location. Also, you can take the trains in Belgium since they are very accommodating and rarely late.
Why is Brussels so important?
- Brussels is the capital city of Belgium and home to the King and Queen of Belgium as well as the government. Belgium is a multi-party system ran by the government and monarchy.
Is Brussels a safe city?
- Yes, Brussels is a safe city. Like any city, stay alert and aware of your surroundings and if you do not feel comfortable at a location then avoid it. Some local bars and restaurants remind you to be aware of pickpockets, so just be on alert and you will be fine.
- Taylor and I visited Brussels with my parents this year and we felt extremely safe walking along the streets during the day and night! The people of Belgium are extremely nice and welcoming.
Do you tip in Brussels, Belgium?
- A common question for American’s traveling to European countries relates to tipping. In Brussels (same for Belgium), tipping is not expected and not the standard. However, many locals round up to the nearest whole dollar when paying their bill. If you earned exceptional service and want to leave a tip, then 5% is more than appreciated.
What do people eat for breakfast in Belgium?
- For breakfast, contrary to what you may think, Belgians do not eat Belgian Waffles for breakfast. Instead, a common meal is gouda cheese with a croissant or bread.
Questions?!
If you have any questions about Brussels and our recommendations, drop a comment below!
