10 Best Things to Do in Brussels

Brussels Grand-Place, the city’s central square, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. Here, you can visit the Town Hall which features a striking façade with long columns. These columns feature lots of gold detailing, including a mixture of gothic, baroque and Louis XIV architectural styling, with a tall rising tower in the centre. Located in the central square, it’s part of the most visited area in the city and was rebuilt in 1695 after an attack by the French army.

Mannekin Pis is a 61-cm statue of a peeing boy located southwest of Brussels’ Gothic Town Hall. The one you see today is a bronze replica of the original 17th century sculpture, which is displayed at the Brussels City Museum.

Despite being stolen twice in the 18th century and destroyed in the 19th century, Mannekin Pis still pees proudly today and is now Brussels’ humorous mascot. Mannekin Pis changes costumes several times a week, especially during special occasions.

Located in the easternmost part of Brussels’ European Quarter, Parc du Cinquantenaire is a 19th-century urban park commemorating 50 years of Belgian independence. 

It has an impressive U-shaped arcade that houses the AutoWorld Museum, Royal Military Museum, and Jubelpark Museum. Head over to the north-western end of Parc du Cinquantenaire to visit the Great Mosque of Brussels and the Temple of Human Passions.

Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert is an upscale shopping arcade near Brussels Grand-Place. Built during the mid-19th century, this glass-covered venue houses many boutique fashion designers, including some who have designed clothes for the Belgian Royal Family. 

If you’re a fan of Belgian chocolate pralines, Neuhaus’s original store has been a tenant in Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert since 1857. Classical plays and operettas are performed at the Théâtre des Galeries, one of Brussels’ royal theatres.

The Cathedral of St Michel and Gudula dates back to the 9th century, making it one of the oldest buildings in Brussels. Inspired by Paris' Notre Dame, this hilltop church features a vaulted interior with 16th-century stained-glass windows with views of Brussels’ skyline. 

There are several archaeological remains that are open to the public, including a well-preserved Romanesque crypt located beneath the choir. If you want to learn about the history of St Michel and Gudula Cathedral, you can arrange for a free guided tour with Eglise et Tourism (Church and Tourism of Brussels).

The Atomium, built in 1958, is one of the most popular attractions in Belgium. The 102-metre-tall structure has 9 spheres that are interconnected, 6 of which display exhibitions on Belgian history as well as science, design, and society. 

Take a lift up through the central tube of the building and walk through tubes and spheres that are designed to represent a body-centred cubic unit cell of an iron crystal – albeit magnified 165 billion times. Take the elevator to the Atomium’s topmost sphere where you will find a restaurant with panoramic views of the city skyline. Return at night to see the approximately 3,000 lights that illuminate this iconic building.

Once the home and studio of Belgian architect Victor Horta, his namesake museum epitomises the romance of early 19th-century Art Nouveau. Climb the spiral iron staircase and explore rooms decorated with stained glass windows, furniture, utensils, and art objects designed by Horta himself. 

This prominent figure is often associated with some of Brussels’ most iconic buildings, including its UNESCO-listed townhouses and the Temple of Human Passions in Parc du Cinquantenaire. Guided tours (usually in French, English, Dutch, and German) take place from 9am to 12pm and from 2pm and 4.30pm.

Marché du Midi draws marketgoers with its extensive collection of fresh produce and food stalls. Every Sunday morning, this open-air market takes place outside the Brussels-South railway station. 

Marché du Midi sells delicacies of a wide variety of foods from 450 vendors. Take your time browsing these stalls for free samples of European delicacies, including Belgian chocolates and cheese.

The Place du Luxembourg is the anchor point of the bustling and all-important European Quarter of Brussels. Situated on the modern eastern side of the city, it's about a 30-minute walk from the iconic medieval sights around Grand Place, but also easily reachable on public transport.

The main thing to see here are the vast buildings of the European Parliament. They spread out in 2 wings behind the Espace Léopold, the main gathering point of EU decision-makers. Before that is a charming lawn that sprouts a statue dedicated to the English industrialist John Cockerill. Come for people-watching or to join tours of the EU's corridors of power.

Delirium Café Brussels has written itself into the annals of Belgian nightlife history with its offering of over 2,000 individual beer labels from around the globe – enough to have garnered it a world record. It pumps with drinkers every night of the week, down a small alleyway near Grand Place.

Today, Delirium Café is but the centrepiece of a whole medley of nightlife venues that occupy the same street. You might want to start with a bout of Trappist Belgian beers in the famous spot before pushing on to hit bespoke tequila lounges or shot bars further along. Just don't expect a short night out in Brussels.