Budget · Brussels · Belgium
Brussels on a budget
What a trip to Brussels really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Julian Lupyan, CC0
Quick answer
Brussels is moderately priced for most international visitors. Budget roughly $80–$130 per person per day on a tight budget, $170–$300 mid-range and $400–$900 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February and November.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $80–$130 a day
- Mid-range
- $170–$300 a day
- Luxury
- $400–$900 a day
- Local currency
- EUR
- Free sights
- 10
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $80–$130 | $240–$390 | $400–$650 | $560–$910 |
| Mid-range | $170–$300 | $510–$900 | $850–$1,500 | $1,190–$2,100 |
| Luxury | $400–$900 | $1,200–$2,700 | $2,000–$4,500 | $2,800–$6,300 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Brussels, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| STIB single journey | about €2.50–€3 |
| Cone of frites with sauce | about €4–€6 |
| Waffle from a street stand | about €3–€6 |
| Belgian beer in a café | about €4–€7 |
| Moules-frites in a restaurant | about €25–€35 |
| Major museum ticket | about €10–€16 |
| Atomium ticket | about €16–€20 |
| Weekday plat du jour | about €14–€22 |
Money-saving tips
- Many Brussels museums offer free entry on the first Wednesday afternoon of the month; check each museum's policy.
- The Parlamentarium, the House of European History, the cathedral and the Grand-Place are free.
- Business hotels in the European Quarter often drop their prices at weekends and during the summer break.
- Eat your main meal at lunch, when a plat du jour costs far less than an evening menu.
- The Brussels Card pays off only if you visit three or more paid museums a day.
- Buy chocolate and speculoos for gifts at supermarkets or less central chocolatiers rather than at the shops around the Grand-Place.
Free things to do
- 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.
- 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.
- Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries — Opened in 1847, these elegant glass-roofed shopping arcades were among the first of their kind in Europe.
- Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula — The white-stone Gothic cathedral, built over three centuries from the 13th, has twin towers, 16th-century stained glass and an elaborate carved oak pulpit.
- Mont des Arts — A formal garden and stairway between the Upper and Lower Towns, framed by the Royal Library and conference buildings, with a view across the rooftops to the Town Hall spire.
- Parlamentarium — The European Parliament's free visitor centre uses multimedia guides, a 360-degree room and interactive displays to explain how the EU and its Parliament work.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and shopping
Marolles
Old working-class quarter with a daily flea market, antique shops and brown cafés
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, solo travellers and culture
Ixelles
Residential district of Art Deco squares, ponds, Congolese restaurants and bars
$$ · Best for budget, culture and nightlife
Saint-Gilles
Art Nouveau townhouses, the Horta Museum and a busy square of cafés near Brussels-Midi
Eating well for less
- Belgian frites — Friteries (fritkots) such as the long-established stands at Place Jourdan in the European Quarter and near the Bourse.
- Grey shrimp croquettes — Seafood restaurants around Sainte-Catherine and traditional brasseries.
- Speculoos — Maison Dandoy on Rue au Beurre near the Grand-Place, baking since 1829, and supermarkets everywhere.
Getting around for less
STIB day passes
24-, 48- and 72-hour passes cover unlimited metro, tram and bus travel within the city; loaded onto a MOBIB card or bought as tickets.
Brussels Card
A 24-, 48- or 72-hour pass with free entry to dozens of museums and optional unlimited public transport.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Brussels cost?
About $850–$1,500 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $400–$650 on a tight budget.
+Is Brussels expensive?
It is moderately priced for international visitors. Many Brussels museums offer free entry on the first Wednesday afternoon of the month; check each museum's policy.
+How much money do I need per day in Brussels?
Roughly $80–$130 on a budget and $170–$300 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Brussels?
Usually in January–February and November.