Considered by many to be ‘the capital of Europe’, Brussels is a city that combines institutional, artistic and historical importance, all framed by remarkable beauty and elegance.
With most of its tourist attractions concentrated in its historic centre and the rest easily accessible by public transport, Brussels is an ideal destination for a three- or four-day break.
In addition to its famous monuments, which include one of the world’s most famous squares and statues, among many others, Brussels stands out for its leisure and shopping options.
As if all this were not enough, we are talking about one of the cities with the greatest culinary tradition in northern Europe and, of course, the headquarters of several of the most important institutions of the European Union.
If you have not yet visited it, we recommend that you let yourself be surprised by its exquisite contrasts, which range from centuries-old Gothic churches to examples of urban art and modern, avant-garde buildings.
The temple of chocolate, but also of comics, with the character of Tintin as its incomparable host, awaits you to offer you an unparalleled tourist experience. Ready to discover its most important attractions?
Grand-Place
We began by saying that Brussels has one of the most beautiful and famous squares on the planet, and we assure you that when you set foot in the Grand Place, you will understand why.
It is the number one place to visit in Brussels in terms of beauty and importance. The enormous rectangle that forms it is surrounded by guild houses such as the Maison du Roi, le Maison des Ducs de Brabant, Le Renard, Le Cornet and Le Roy d’Espagne, recently converted into a bar, where you can enjoy unparalleled views from the terrace and experience the unique atmosphere of this historic space.
Another of the buildings on its façades is the famous Le Pigeon Museum, which once served as the residence of the writer Victor Hugo, and of course, the Hotel de Ville, which is none other than Brussels City Hall. Its tower, over 90 metres high, offers a spectacular panoramic view of the square and the entire historic centre.
The Grand Place stands out as the nerve centre of the city and a place with a life of its own. Depending on the month and day of the week you visit, you can find everything from flower markets to a huge Christmas tree.
Manneken Pis
From one of the most beautiful and celebrated squares in the world, we move on to a statue whose fame is hardly any less impressive. And we’re not talking about a towering stone giant.
When you see Manneken Pis for the first time, you’ll probably wonder how a statue of a boy urinating, barely 55 centimetres tall, has become so famous internationally.
To understand this, we have to travel back in time to the 14th century. According to legend, just as the city of Brussels was about to be attacked with explosive charges by enemy troops, a local boy urinated on the fuses from the city wall, extinguishing them and saving Brussels from attack.
As we said, this is more of a legend, but what is certain is that over the years, Manneken Pis has been dressed in different ways for various reasons, such as special events like the celebration of Belgian independence, tributes like the COVID-19 pandemic, or celebrations like sports team victories, and has become one of the city’s most iconic figures. For the people of Brussels, this little statue symbolises non-conformity and rebellion, and for the rest of the world, it is the very emblem of the city.
So now you know, if you are lucky enough to travel to Brussels for a few days, you cannot leave without taking a selfie next to one of the most famous statues on the planet.
Atomium
We move away from the centre to discover one of the most important monuments to see near Brussels.
Among our list of recommendations, it is one of the most modern proposals, both for its origins, erected in 1958 for the Universal Exhibition, and for its avant-garde architectural style.
This fascinating sculpture of stainless steel and aluminium cladding, which is over 100 metres high, represents the nine atoms of an iron molecule.
The best part is that as well as taking the obligatory photo from the vicinity, you can visit the interior, enjoying different exhibitions on each of the atoms and even a restaurant with an amazing view.
At the time of its construction, it was intended as a momentary attraction, to remain on display for six months and then be destroyed once the Expo was over. But the authorities quickly realised that this was a very special monument, and decided that it should remain in Brussels forever.
The only downside is that the Atomium is located a bit far from the centre of Brussels, but it is easily accessible by metro, bus or tram.
Sablon District
The Sablon district is home to many of the best buildings and monuments to visit in Brussels.
The first of these is the Palais de Justice, one of the most beautiful and important buildings in the city. For many years, its 26,000 square metres made it one of the largest buildings of its kind in Europe. The entrance hall alone stretches over one hundred metres and its beauty is truly overwhelming. A must-see.
Another of the neighbourhood’s great attractions is the Church of Notre Dame du Sablon, a 15th-century Gothic jewel whose stained-glass windows will leave you speechless.
And don’t miss the Place du Petit Sablon garden with its forty-eight bronze statues.
And if you fancy a bit of shopping during your holiday, the Sablon district is definitely the place to be, with a wide range of exclusive boutiques mixed with chocolatiers, cafés and beautiful antique shops.
The Sablon is one of the best places to eat in Brussels, and among its restaurants, Les Petits Oignons and C’est Bon C’est Belge are two great options for delicious local food.
St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral
The next stop on our list is the most important Catholic temple in all of Belgium. Its construction began in the 13th century and, thanks to its recent restoration, it looks as if it had just been completed.
If its exterior façade, in a marked Gothic style and with its two 65-metre towers, is already impressive, the real spectacle comes when you cross the entrance. Inside, a wooden pulpit stands out, this time in baroque style, with statues of the apostles and a large organ.
Don’t miss the beautiful Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, which houses the cathedral’s treasures.
This impressive church is currently the venue for weddings and coronations of the Belgian Crown. But even in the past, it served a similar function, being, for example, the setting for the coronation of Charles V of Germany and I of Spain, who is depicted in its stained glass windows.
It was in 1962 that the church officially received the title of Cathedral of the city.
Brussels Park and the Royal Palace
The presence of the Royal Palace within Brussels Park has led citizens to refer to it as the “Royal Park”.
This park is the lungs of the city and originally served as a hunting ground for the members of the crown.
In the 18th century it acquired its current appearance, becoming a beautiful French garden with ponds, fountains, woods and statues.
In addition to the Royal Palace, which we will stop here, you can visit other important buildings in the gardens, such as the Royal Theatre, the Music Kiosk and the Vauxhall Kiosk.
Located on one side of the park, the Royal Palace of Brussels served as a royal residence for many years. Today, it is used as the administrative seat of the Crown.
A visit to its interior is particularly recommended, with several rooms that stand out for their beauty and originality, including the Hall of Mirrors, the Throne Room and the Goya Room. Also, don’t miss the spectacular white marble staircase.
The Comic Book Route and Museum
At the beginning of the guide, we mentioned that Brussels combines urban art with historical architectural gems. It is precisely through its famous street murals that one of the city’s most famous itineraries, known as the Brussels Comic Book Route, is formed.
Along the route, you will discover huge murals on buildings that pay homage to famous comic book characters such as Tintin, Lucky Luke, The Smurfs, Little Spirou, Asterix and Obelix and others. Apart from the famous Gaulish couple, the rest have their origins in Belgium and are part of the culture of its capital.
To complete the route, you can take a guided tour, a highly recommended option because it will allow you to get to know all the main characters in greater depth.
And as the icing on the cake, we suggest you finish the tour with a visit to the Brussels Comic Book Museum, housed in a beautiful Art Nouveau building designed by the famous architect Victor Horta.
Throughout its rooms, you will discover the history of comics in Belgium, contemplating a multitude of original works and learning about the process of creation and distribution.
As part of the museum, you can also visit the world’s largest comic book shop, where there is no shortage of all kinds of items related to the great Belgian comic book characters.
If you love Tintin or any of the aforementioned characters, both the route and the museum are a must.
Brussels Breweries
Just as Dublin is known for its pubs and Granada for its tapas bars, Brussels is famous for the quality and quantity of beer bars on its streets. Some of them have become internationally famous, with tourists travelling to the city expressly to enjoy a well-drawn beer in these authentic temples.
A good example of this is the Delirium Café, the only brewery on the planet where you can try up to 3,000 different varieties, or À la mort subite, whose bar has been serving the best Belgian beers for more than a century.
Other popular breweries include Poechenellekelder, La Porte Noire, where you can listen to live music while you drink, and Moeder Lambic, the best place to sample craft beers.
Chocolate Museum and the Chocolate Shops of Brussels
If beer is an important element for the people of Brussels, chocolate is certainly not far behind.
Belgian chocolate is one of the best in the world and there is no better place to learn about its history and production methods than the Brussels Chocolate Museum.
During your visit, you can even watch a master chocolatier make different specialities live, and best of all, admission includes a tasting.
And if you don’t have time to complete the Museum tour, you can always enjoy this delicious delicacy in one of the capital’s chocolate shops. The most famous are Leonidas, Pierre Marcolini, Elisabeth, Neuhaus and Godiva.
Such is the fame of chocolate in the streets of Brussels that there is a guided tour through its most important chocolateries and chocolate shops. A must for travellers with a sweet tooth.
European Quarter
We have already reviewed the historical, gastronomic and artistic importance of Belgium’s capital through some of its main places of interest. However, we have not yet highlighted one of its most significant features in recent years, one of its most important characteristic features: its importance at the institutional level.
This is perfectly represented in its so-called European Quarter, where you will find several of the buildings that serve as the headquarters for the institutions of the European Union. Among them, the European Parliament stands out, surely the most important of all.
Although in terms of beauty, the most spectacular is the Berlaymont building, which acts as the official headquarters for the European Commission.
Walking around the neighbourhood you will also find the headquarters of the Council of the Union and even the remains of the Berlin Wall.
To end your visit, we recommend relaxing with a pleasant stroll through the gardens of Leopold Park.
Cinquantenaire Park
We finish our list of things to do in Brussels away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The Cinquantenaire Park is a 30-hectare green space that was built for the 1880 National Exhibition (celebrating 50 years of Belgian independence).
On its extensive green areas, it is very common to see students and other groups of people enjoying a picnic or practising sports in the open air.
Among its most important attractions is the Cinquantenaire Palace, with a huge triumphal arch that houses an imposing bronze quadriga at its highest point.
It is also possible to visit the famous Autoworld, the Brussels Automobile Museum, and enjoy the view from the lookout point of the Military History Museum, with one of the best panoramic views of the entire city.
Frequently Asked Questions about Brussels
What places are not to be missed in Brussels?
Brussels is a city as big as it is important, with a multitude of emblematic places and points of interest of great tourist importance. But if you don’t have much time to discover them all, the places you can’t miss in Brussels that we recommend are the Grand Place, the mythical Manneken Pis, the Atomium, the Sablon Quarter and the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula.
Where to eat in Brussels?
The best place to eat in Brussels is the Sablon district, where you can enjoy the local cuisine in one of the many restaurants, some of which are of excellent quality, and do some shopping in the city’s most exclusive boutiques.
How much time do you need to visit Brussels?
The good thing about Brussels is that most of its main monuments and tourist attractions are fairly close to the historic centre, with the main exception of the Atomium. However, such is their quantity and variety, we recommend that you set aside at least three or four days to visit the city. A long weekend or Easter can be a great opportunity to travel to Brussels.
What is the best month to visit Brussels?
Although the cold weather in the streets may make it seem undesirable, Christmas is the best time to travel to Brussels. The city is famous for its many Christmas markets, which, along with the lights, trees and other decorations, fill the city with festivities.
How to travel to Brussels?
The best way to travel to Brussels is by plane. Its international airport is one of the most important in Europe and offers connections to many cities. And because there are so many flights to the city, it’s usually easy to find great value options.
Plans not to be missed in Brussels
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