Free things to do · Brussels · Belgium
10 free things to do in Brussels
Brussels without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer), CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in Brussels without paying an entry fee: Grand-Place, Manneken Pis, Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries and Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula are all free. Many Brussels museums offer free entry on the first Wednesday afternoon of the month; check each museum's policy.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 10
- Low-cost extras
- 3
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February and November
Free sights and experiences
Landmark · Grand-Place and Îlot Sacré
1.Grand-Place
Come back after dark, when the façades are floodlit and the day-trippers have gone.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- After dark
- Photo spot
Landmark · Grand-Place and Îlot Sacré
2.Manneken Pis
Check whether he is in costume on the day of your visit; the GardeRobe museum a few steps away explains the tradition.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
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Architecture · Grand-Place and Îlot Sacré
3.Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries
Walk through on a rainy day and stop for a hot chocolate at one of the arcade cafés.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Shopping
- Rainy day
- Food
Religious site · Upper Town
4.Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula
Look for the stained-glass windows in the transepts, which show members of the Habsburg family.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
Garden · Sablon and Mont des Arts
5.Mont des Arts
Stop at the top of the steps around sunset, when the Town Hall spire is silhouetted against the sky.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
Museum · European Quarter
6.Parlamentarium
On weekdays you can sometimes combine it with a visit to the Parliament's hemicycle; ask at the visitor desk.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · European Quarter
7.House of European History
Start at the top floor and work down; the chronology begins with early ideas of Europe.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Park · European Quarter
8.Cinquantenaire Park and museums
Go through the Royal Military Museum to reach the terrace on top of the arch for a view down Rue de la Loi.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- History
- Kids
- Views
Neighbourhood · Sablon and Mont des Arts
9.Sablon
Visit on a Saturday or Sunday morning for the antiques market, then try pralines at the square's chocolate shops.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Architecture
Market · Marolles
10.Place du Jeu de Balle flea market
Arrive early for the best finds, especially at weekends, and bargain politely.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Off the beaten path
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Grand-Place and Îlot Sacré | Grand-Place, Manneken Pis and Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries | 30 minutes to 1 hour + 15 minutes + 30–45 minutes |
| Upper Town | Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula | 45 minutes |
| Sablon and Mont des Arts | Mont des Arts and Sablon | 20–30 minutes + 1–1.5 hours |
| European Quarter | Parlamentarium, House of European History and Cinquantenaire Park and museums | 1–1.5 hours + 1.5–2 hours + 1–3 hours |
| Marolles | Place du Jeu de Balle flea market | 1–2 hours |
Worth a small ticket
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Museum · Sablon and Mont des Arts
Musical Instruments Museum
Even if you skip the collection, the rooftop café is worth a visit for the panorama of the Lower Town.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Rainy day
- Views
- Kids
- Architecture
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Religious site · Koekelberg
Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Go up to the dome terrace on a clear day; it is one of the few high viewpoints in the city.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · Sablon and Mont des Arts
Coudenberg Palace remains
Bring a layer; the underground passages are cool all year.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
More ways to save
- 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.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Brussels expensive to visit?
Brussels is moderately priced for most visitors, but 10 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Brussels?
Grand-Place: Come back after dark, when the façades are floodlit and the day-trippers have gone.