10 best things to do in Brussels, Belgium

Brussels is a brilliant city to visit for a weekend city break as there is so much to do here. It’s also so easy to visit if you’re travelling on the Eurostar! As it’s the perfect city break, I’ve compiled a list of 10 of the best things to do in Brussels and things that you do not want to miss!

The city has a really cool vibe about it, with so much incredible art around the city (and chocolate shops!), and I really think there is something for everyone. It’s a very walkable city, as well as having an easy-to-use tram and train system.

So, let me share with you 10 unmissable things to do in Brussels!

1. The Grand Palace

The Grand Palace is somewhere you have to visit when you visit Brussels, and is a great place to start and/or end any walking tour you might do around the city! It’s based around what is considered one of Europe’s most beautiful medieval squares, and it really is spectacular. 

As we visited at Christmas, they also had a light show here, a giant nativity and a beautiful Christmas tree. But whatever time of year you visit, this really is incredible.

2. Chocolate tasting + museums

Belgium is known for their chocolate, but until I got to Brussels, I didn’t realise just how seriously they take this. You’re never more than a stone’s throw away from a chocolate shop, and there are so many places to try chocolate, learn about chocolate, and even make your own.

Book onto the Choco-Story museum + tasting

3. A day trip to Bruges

The beautiful historic town of Bruges is about 1 hour from Brussels, and it is so worth going, even if it’s just for the day!

Whilst we were in Brussels, we took the train for the day to Bruges and it was so easy, plus you got to sit on a double-decker train and see the incredible views of the Belgian countryside. 

I couldn’t get over how beautiful Bruges was, and how easy it was to get there. If you go on a weekend, train tickets are half price, and cost us €18 return each! If you’re there on a weekend, this is definitely a really affordable way to go.

However, if you’re wanting to see even more of Belgium, there’s a really good day trip with Get Your Guide where you go to both Ghent and Bruges in a day. If you only have a short time in Belgium, this is a really good trip to take.

Book your day trip here

4. Take a trip to the European Parliament and Parlamentarium

Brussels is home to the European Parliament, and it’s a must-visit place if you’re heading to the city. The whole area celebrates democracy, and you can just feel the magnitude of the place when you’re there. 

There’s also a museum here, Parlamentarium, which is free to enter. Here you can learn all about how the European Parliament works, it’s history, and the challenges that members are facing currently. This is a really interactive museum and a must visit!

Want to learn even more? Book a tour of the European Quarter!

5. Visit Mini Europe

Want to see something really unique? The make sure to head to Mini-Europe. Here you can see all of the wonders of Europe, but in miniature form! This two hour walk around Europe is incredible, where you can see volcanos erupting, see the 13m Eiffel Tower, and see history play out in front of you! 

6. A walking tour of the city

I genuinely think one of the best ways to see a city is to do a walking tour, whether that’s a guided one, or your own DIY one!

If you’re doing your own walking tour, I’d really recommend plotting must see places on a Google Map, and then start walking.

If you’re going on a guided walking tour, Brussels has some really good options, from foodie tours, to Belgium Beer tours, to historic tours – there’s something for everyone. Here are some of my recommendations;

1. Historical Tour with chocolate and waffle tasting
2. City Centre Food tour
3. Chocolate appreciation tour with tastings
4. Walking tour with highlights and hidden gems
5. Brussels Art Nouveau Tour
6. Comic Book Walls Walking Tour
7. Discover Belgium’s Breweries with a local

7. Go and see Manneken Pis

Manneken Pis is a must visit when you come to Brussels. This little statue is usually flocked with people taking pictures! He’s the emblem of the rebellious spirit of Brussels and has a long history. It was the first fountain to play an essential role in the former distribution of drinking water since the 15th century. Then towards the end of the 17th century, the statue became more and more important in the city life. It was also a survivor of the bombardment of Brussels in 1695.

He has a wide array of outfits that he wears, especially for special occasions, so he’s never the same when you see him! 

8. Visit some of the wonderful and unique museums in Brussels

Brussels has so many different museums, it’s actually quite overwhelming to choose which ones to go to! 

We decided to go underground to Coundenberg Palace, which is an archaeological site that has the remains of the palace, including Rue Isabelle and Hoogstraeten House, which displays archaeological discoveries. It’s a really interesting visit, and worth a visit!

There are so many unique and fun museums as well as your classic historical and art museums, so here are just some of what you can visit

• Atomium : visit Brussels unique design museum, which is an art piece in itself. You’ll also get 360-degree panoramic views over Brussels. This is next to Mini Europe, and as they’re both slightly further from the city centre, it’s a great idea to do these together
• The Belgian Beer World Experience :  Head to the Belgian Beer World in Brussels to experience the history and art of Belgian beer brewing. You’ll find everything from small family businesses to big breweries. Discover cool brewing stories, learn how they make beer and, of course, do some beer tasting!
• Choco-Story : learn all about the history of chocolate, and get to taske some as well, at the Choco Story  
• Autoworld : head here to see the evolution of motor vehicles. You’ll find over 250 different automobiles here, as well as temporary exhibitions that they do as well. This is perfect for car lovers!
• Musical Instrument Museum : At The Old England building, an Art Nouveau structure on the Mont des Arts, you will find a world-famous collection of musical instruments. The museum is home to a wide variety of collections from the Royal Museums of Art and History, spread over four floors of exhibitions. Here, visitors can immerse themselves in the music of the displayed instruments, including masterpieces like the oldest preserved saxophone and beautifully decorated Ruckers harpsichords.
• Comic Art Museum : The Comic Art Museum in Brussels is a must-visit for comic book fans! They’ve got tons of exhibitions on comic strips and a deep dive into Belgian comics history. You can check out original drawings, documents, statues, and even games. It’s a cool place to explore the world of comic art.
• The World of Banksy Museum : The Banksy Museum is all about showing off and preserving Banksy’s work. They’ve got over 130 pieces and murals and is the perfect place to get to know Banksy’s unique style and creative ideas that you can find on streets all over the world.
• Train World : Train World in Brussels is a must-visit for anyone who loves trains! It’s in the old Schaerbeek rail station and is massive, with over 8,000 square meters to explore. Make sure you download the free Train World app before you go as it has guides on which make your visit even better! Make sure to go and see the “Pays de Waes” locomotive from the 19th century – it’s the oldest preserved locomotive in all of mainland Europe!

This is just some of fantastic museums you’ll find in Brussels, and I know that I want to go back and visit more of these!

9. Take a trip on The View

Looking for some panoramic views of Brussels? Then make sure to head to The View, Brussels big wheel.  As the highest point in Brussels,you get some breathtaking panoramic views of the capital. At night, the wheel is lit up and it really does look magical! 

10. Get a hot chocolate from Herman Van Dender

You can’t come to Brussels and not try some of their incredible hot chocolates. I was drawn to Herman Van Dender because of their wall of chocolate, and their decadent hot chocolates are incredible – I had one every day we were in Brussels! 

Bonus : the Christmas markets!

I visited Brussels at the start of their Chrismas Markets, and I really recommend here for a festive trip. Spread across the city, there is some really good food at the markets, and apart from Saturday evenings, it seems quite relaxes. Brussels is also a great base to visit some other Belgium Christmas markets like Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp as all are easily accessible on the train for a festive (or non festive!) day out!

And there are just some of the incredible things to do in Brussels. It’s a brilliant city to visit, with fun things to do for all of the family!

Planning your trip to Brussels? Make sure to check out our four-day itinerary on how to make the most of your trip to this fantastic city! And if you’re looking for more European City Break inspo, click here for our guides, and don’t forget to follow along on instagram for travel, food, microadventure and slow living inspo!