Travel guide · Belgium
Brussels travel guide
The Grand-Place, Art Nouveau houses, comic murals and serious beer and chocolate
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Francisco Conde Sánchez, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Belgium's capital pairs one of Europe's grandest squares, the Grand-Place, with the Art Nouveau townhouses of Victor Horta, the Magritte Museum and the Atomium. The compact Lower Town around the Grand-Place and Sainte-Catherine is walkable, while the Upper Town holds the royal museums, the Sablon's chocolatiers and the Royal Palace. Brussels is also the home of the EU institutions and a hub for fast trains, with Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp all within an hour. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are May–June and September.
Key facts
- Country
- Belgium
- Best time to visit
- May–June and September
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- BRU, CRL
- Mid-range daily budget
- $170–$300 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Grand-Place, Manneken Pis, Atomium and Belgian chocolate
Why visit Brussels
- The Grand-Place's gilded guild houses and Gothic Town Hall form one of the most complete historic squares in Europe, and it is free to wander day and night.
- Victor Horta's house in Saint-Gilles and dozens of Art Nouveau façades make Brussels a leading city for the style.
- Food and drink are a reason in themselves: twice-fried frites, moules, waffles, pralines and lambic beers brewed only in and around Brussels.
- The Magritte Museum, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts and the Belgian Comic Strip Center cover surrealism, Bruegel and Tintin.
- Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and Leuven are all an easy day trip by train.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 20 things to do.
Landmark · Grand-Place and Îlot Sacré
Grand-Place
Brussels's central square is enclosed by gilded baroque guild houses rebuilt after the French bombardment of 1695, the 15th-century Gothic Town Hall with its 96-metre spire and the neo-Gothic Maison du Roi, home to the Brussels City Museum.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- After dark
- Photo spot
Landmark · Grand-Place and Îlot Sacré
Manneken Pis
The tiny bronze boy on the corner of Rue de l'Étuve and Rue du Chêne, barely half a metre tall, is famous for his wardrobe: he is dressed in costumes on many days of the year, and more than a thousand outfits are displayed at the nearby GardeRobe MannekenPis museum.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
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Architecture · Heysel
Atomium
Built for the 1958 World's Fair, the Atomium represents an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times: nine steel-clad spheres connected by tubes, 102 metres tall.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Architecture
Museum · Sablon and Mont des Arts
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Belgium's national art collection covers Flemish masters from the 15th to the 18th century, including Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Rubens and Jordaens, plus Jacques-Louis David's The Death of Marat.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Gallery · Sablon and Mont des Arts
Magritte Museum
The largest collection of works by the Belgian surrealist René Magritte, from early advertising designs to bowler-hatted men, pipes and floating stones, is arranged over several floors with letters, photographs and films that explain his life in Brussels.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Couples
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Architecture · Grand-Place and Îlot Sacré
Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries
Opened in 1847, these elegant glass-roofed shopping arcades were among the first of their kind in Europe.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Shopping
- Rainy day
- Food
Where to stay
Grand-Place and Îlot Sacré is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples and shopping
Grand-Place and Îlot Sacré
Guild houses, glass-roofed galleries and narrow restaurant lanes in the historic Lower Town
$$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, shopping and couples
Sainte-Catherine and Dansaert
Former fish-market quays, seafood restaurants and designer boutiques
$$$$ · Best for couples, luxury, culture and families
Sablon and Mont des Arts
Antique dealers, chocolatiers and the royal museums in the elegant Upper Town
$$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and shopping
Marolles
Old working-class quarter with a daily flea market, antique shops and brown cafés
What to eat
- Moules-frites — A steaming pot of mussels cooked in white wine, celery and onion (marinière) or in beer or cream, served with a cone of frites.
- Belgian frites — Thick-cut potatoes fried twice, traditionally in beef fat, and served in a paper cone with mayonnaise or sauces such as andalouse or samouraï.
- Brussels and Liège waffles — The Brussels waffle is light, crisp and rectangular, usually dusted with icing sugar; the denser, caramelised Liège waffle is made with pearl sugar and eaten on the go.
- Flemish beef stew — Beef slow-cooked in dark Belgian beer with onions, mustard and a slice of bread spread with mustard, giving a sweet-sour gravy.
- Waterzooi — A creamy broth of chicken or fish with leeks, carrots and potatoes, thickened with egg yolk and cream; originally from Ghent and now served all over Belgium.
- Stoemp — Potatoes mashed with vegetables such as carrots, leeks or spinach, a Brussels comfort food usually served with sausage or bacon.
When to go
The best times to visit Brussels are May to June and September, when days are mild, terraces are open and rain is a little less persistent. July and August are warm and lively with festivals. December is worth a trip for the Christmas market and Grand-Place light show, while January to March is cold and grey but quiet and lower priced.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Blossom in the parks, longer days and the short opening of the Royal Greenhouses, with frequent showers. |
| Summer | June–August | Mild to warm days, the Ommegang, National Day and, in even years, the Flower Carpet; the busiest time for tourists. |
| Autumn | September–November | Mild September with heritage events, then cooler, wetter months with autumn colour in the city's forests. |
| Winter | December–February | Cold and grey, brightened by Winter Wonders in December; quiet museums and the lowest prices in January and February. |
Getting there and around
Brussels Airport (BRU) is at Zaventem, about 12 km north-east of the centre. Trains reach Brussels-Central in about 20 minutes (an airport supplement applies), and STIB express buses run to the European Quarter. Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL), used by low-cost airlines, is about 55 km south; shuttle coaches reach Brussels-Midi in about an hour.
Central Brussels is compact enough to walk, though the climb between the Lower and Upper Towns is steep. STIB runs the metro, trams and buses on one ticket system, and the three main stations — Nord, Central and Midi — are linked by frequent trains through the city.
Plan your days
Two days covers the Grand-Place, the Upper Town museums, the Sablon and the Atomium. A third day adds Art Nouveau Saint-Gilles and Ixelles or the European Quarter; with four or five days, base yourself here for day trips to Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- French and Dutch
- Plugs
- Type C and E sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink, though some visitors prefer the taste of bottled water.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- Service is included in restaurant prices.
Brussels is generally safe for visitors, but pickpocketing is common around Brussels-Midi and Brussels-Nord stations, on Rue Neuve and on busy metro lines. The areas around the big stations can feel uncomfortable late at night, so take a taxi if arriving after dark.
Flights to Brussels
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Brussels?
Two days covers the Grand-Place, the Upper Town museums, the Sablon and the Atomium. A third day adds Art Nouveau Saint-Gilles and Ixelles or the European Quarter; with four or five days, base yourself here for day trips to Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Brussels?
The best times to visit Brussels are May to June and September, when days are mild, terraces are open and rain is a little less persistent. July and August are warm and lively with festivals. December is worth a trip for the Christmas market and Grand-Place light show, while January to March is cold and grey but quiet and lower priced.
+What is Brussels known for?
Grand-Place, Manneken Pis, Atomium, Belgian chocolate, Frites and waffles, Belgian beer, Art Nouveau and Comic strips. The Grand-Place's gilded guild houses and Gothic Town Hall form one of the most complete historic squares in Europe, and it is free to wander day and night.
+Is Brussels expensive?
Brussels is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $170–$300 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Brussels?
No. Brussels has heavy traffic, a low-emission zone and expensive parking; public transport and trains cover the city and the main day trips.