brussels tourist office

Tourism Information desks

19 May 2022

Couple of tourists looking for their way on a map near Place des Palais

Welcome to the capital city of more than 500 million Europeans.

At visit.brussels we have all the information you could ever need about Brussels and we'd be delighted to welcome you at one of our tourist information desks.

You can find our main information office in the BIP, on the Mont des Arts. There are two more offices at the Grand-Place and at Station Europe (in front of the European Parliament).

Brussels Info Place (BIP)

Opening hours.

Daily: 9 am to 5 pm On 21/7, 24/12 and 31/12 from 9 am to 3 pm Closed on 1/1 and 25/12

Rue Royale, 2 1000 Bruxelles

PMR access: Rue Royale, 6

Bicycle racks are available at the entrance to the BIP (rue Royale) and in the courtyard entrance to Place Royale 11.

City Hall of Brussels

Daily: 9 am to 6 pm On 24/12 and 31/12 from 9 am to 3 pm Closed on 1/1 and 25/12

Grand-Place 1000 Brussels

A ramp is available on site on request.

+ 32 (0)2 513 89 40 hello@visit.brussels www.visit.brussels

VISITWallonia

Avenue Comte de Smet de Nayer 14, 5000 Namur

+ 32 81 84 41 00

[email protected]

visitwallonia.be

Tourist Office for Flanders - Brussels

Grasmarkt 61, 1000 Brussel

+32 2 504 03 00

[email protected]

www.visitflanders.com

Brussels Tourist Agency

Rue Royale 2-4, 1000 Bruxelles

+32 2 513 89 40

[email protected]

visit.brussels

1 Districts
2.1.1 Preparing your visit
2.2 Boroughs
2.3 Tourist information
4.1.1.1 Travel between Brussels Airport and Brussels City:
4.1.1.2 Left luggage facilities:
4.1.2.1 To travel between the airport and the city:
4.1.3 Other airports
4.2.1 Trains from within Belgium
4.4 By tram
4.5 By metro
4.6 By bicycle
5.2 On foot
5.3.1.1 Subscriptions
5.3.1.2 Non-subscription
5.3.2 Blue Bike
5.3.3 Billy Bike
5.3.4 Swapfiets
5.3.5 Uber JUMP
5.4 By metro, tram, or bus
5.5 By train
5.6 By scooter
8.1.2 Chocolate
12.1 Areas to watch out for
12.2 Pickpocketing
12.4 Train, tramway, and metro stations
12.5 Miscellaneous
13 Stay healthy
14.1 Work out
14.2 Embassies

Brussels (French: Bruxelles , Dutch: Brussel ) is the capital of Belgium and one of the three administrative regions within the country, together with Flanders and Wallonia . Apart from its role within its country, it is also an internationally important city, hosting numerous international institutions, and in particular the headquarters of NATO and the core institutions of the European Union . Due to that, it is sometimes referred to informally as the capital of the EU, and even used as a metonym for the EU institutions.

Brussels blends the heritage of a medieval Flemish town with the grandiose projects initiated after it became the capital of what was then a French-speaking country, as well as some impressive modern architecture erected in a large part to house the international institutions. Brussels is now bilingual, hosting and officially recognizing the Dutch- and French-speaking communities of Belgium, and has become increasingly international with the influx of people of various origin who came there to work, many of them for the European Union. This all makes Brussels a rather unique blend, sprinkled with a number of Belgian peculiarities, and for the inquisitive tourist a large treasure chest to discover.

Districts [ edit ]

Understand [ edit ]

When Brussels became the capital city of a new country in the 19th century, large parts of the old town were destroyed to make way for brand new ministries, palaces, schools, army barracks and office blocks constructed between 1880 and 1980. The medieval city walls that once defended and surrounded the city were demolished. Only a small historic centre (one square and four adjacent streets) was preserved. The historic Flemish town centres are better preserved in cities like Antwerp , Bruges , Ghent , Leuven , and Mechelen . This thoughtless treatment of historic buildings has earned past city planners near-universal scorn and even given rise to the term "Brusselization" for cities that similarly tear down old buildings, replacing them with faceless concrete monstrosities.

Climate [ edit ]

Brussels has an oceanic climate. Although Brussels' weather has historically been famous for being awful and damp, the city has become warmer in the last decades. It features moderately cold, wet winters and warm, variable summers. Rainfall is equally distributed throughout the year, with a slight peak in the period from November to January and May to June.

Day temperatures in winter revolve around 6°C and normally do not surpass 10°C. Sunshine hours are generally low, but higher than in many other Northern European locations. Snowfall is possible, although heavy snowfalls with significant accumulation are not frequent and only occur periodically. In March and April the weather generally turns milder, alternating sometimes warm, sunny days with cooler, overcast days. May is often the locals’ favourite month, as it features frequent sunny days accompanied by the first periods of truly warm weather. June shares similar characteristics, but day temperatures by then surpass 20°C almost every day, with the exception of periods of rainy weather in which they can revolve around 17-19°C. July and August are warm, and heat waves have become more and more frequent, with temperatures over 35°C being surpassed virtually every year. It is advisable to check the weather before your visit, as you are equally as likely to encounter a sunny week with day temperatures over 30°C every day as a more variable week with frequent rain and day temperatures below 24°C every day. September can either feature Indian summer conditions with warm, sunny days, or entire rainy periods with mildly cool weather. October is mild, although temperatures drop off quite quickly and sunny days start becoming rarer after October. In December 2017, Brussels shattered the European record for the least amount of sunshine in any given month.

Preparing your visit [ edit ]

Brussels has as many indoor as outdoor activities to offer, so even if it turns out to rain every day of your visit, you'll find more than enough to do to make the visit worthwhile. The Buienradar (literally Shower Radar ) shows the real time location of rain clouds and calculates predictions of their movements. The radar can tell when it will start to rain at your position with a 10-minute accuracy, and is a great tool for planning out your day.

Although Brussels is best explored by foot or by bike, the public transport network is the best option when it's raining. Museums and other attractions are rarely more than 10 minutes walking away from a metro station, so a map of the metro network in combination with the Buienradar can keep you dry through adequate planning. If you're caught by surprise, metro stations are excellent places to seek shelter from the rain, and the larger stations have facilities where you can purchase a hot beverage while waiting ( De Brouckere , Centraal Station , Montgomery , and so on). Chains like Starbucks , Panos , McDonalds and the likes don't care if you occupy a table without making a purchase, so these are good options to sit out longer showers.

Boroughs [ edit ]

Brussels is split into 19 communes or gemeenten (municipalities/boroughs):

Bruxelles/Brussel - Brussels offers many charming and beautiful attractions, with deeply ornate buildings on the Grand Place/Grote Markt, and a fish-and-crustacean overdose of St. Catherine's Square (Place St-Catherine/Sint-Katelijneplein). Stroll along, (and stop in for a drink) at one of the many bars on Place St-Géry/Sint-Goriksplein, or max out your credit card on the trendy Rue Antoine Dansaert/Antoine Dansaertstraat.
Marolles/Marollen - A neighbourhood of Brussels close to the city's heart, one of the few places where the Brussels dialect of Dutch (Flemish) could still be heard. The area is best known for the flea market held daily on the Place du Jeu de Balle/Vossenplein and for a plethora of shops selling everything from old radios and bent wipers to fine china and expensive Art Nouveau trinkets. Visit on Saturdays or Sundays.
Brussels/Ixelles-Elsene - A vibrant part of town with a high concentration of restaurants, bars and other services to satisfy the good-looking or the heavy-spending. Some wandering around will reveal small bookshops, affordable ethnic restaurants or independent record shops tucked away in side streets. The Matongé district just off Chaussée d'Ixelles/Elsenesteenweg is the city's main African neighbourhood. It is a large district in the South of Brussels spreading from newly gentrified immigrant neighbourhoods off the Chaussée d'Ixelles/Elsenesteenweg near the town centre to leafy suburbs close to the Bois de la Cambre/Ter Kamerenbos. The district is split in two by Avenue Louise/Louizalaan, which is part of the Bruxelles/Brussel district of the city.
Molenbeek/Molenbeek - Commonly known as Molenbeek-St-Jean or Sint-Jans-Molenbeek. The population has been described as "mainly Muslim" in the media; however, actual figures range between 25% and 40%, depending on the catchment area. As of 2016, there is one main minority group in Molenbeek, Belgian Moroccans.
Saint-Gilles/Sint-Gillis - The city's bohemian epicentre with thriving French, Portuguese, Spanish, Maghrebi and Polish communities. The area around the Parvis de St-Gilles/St-Gillisvoorplein is the arty part, with the area around the Chatelain/Kastelein and the Church of the Holy Trinity being decidedly more yuppified. Like Schaerbeek, Saint-Gilles boasts several Art Nouveau and Haussmann-style buildings.
St-Josse/Sint-Joost - The smallest and poorest commune not only of Brussels, but of all Belgium, this commune might not always be too pleasing on the eye but does have a few small, welcoming streets. The mid-part of the Chaussée de Louvain/Leuvensesteenweg is also home to a relatively small Indo-Pakistani community, so this is the place to head to for a tikka masala. The Turkish community which was the largest community only a few years ago has declined rapidly, as they moved to relatively wealthier communes by St-Josse/Sint-Joost standards.
Uccle/Ukkel - Brussels' poshest commune . Green, bourgeois and starched like all posh communes should be. Uccle has retained many of its charming medieval cul-de-sacs, tiny squares and small townhouses as has nearby Watermael-Boitsfort/Watermaal-Bosvoorde.
Woluwé-Saint-Pierre/Sint-Pieters-Woluwe and Woluwé-Saint-Lambert/Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe are two communes at the eastern end of the city. Mainly residential, with a mixture of housing blocks, quaint neighbourhoods and green areas this place is well-loved by Eurocrats and other professional types. The enormous Wolubilis cultural complex is well worth a visit.

Tourist information [ edit ]

Visit Brussels . Tourist information website. ( updated Jan 2024 )
Brussels International ( Brussels Info Place ), Rue Royale/Koningsstraat 2 , ☏ +32 2 513-89-40 , [email protected] . 10:00-18:00 .
Brussels International ( Tourism and Congress ), Town Hall Grand-Place , ☏ +32 2 513-89-40 , fax : +32 2 513-83-20 , [email protected] . 09:00-18:00; Sundays: winter 10:00-14:00, Jan 1-Easter closed . It's inside the town hall and usually crammed. Sells a couple of discount booklets or cards, such as the Brussels Card and public transport one-day passes
Brussels International ( Midi/Zuid station ) ( Central concourse ). Winter: M-Th 08:00-17:00, F 08:00-20:00, Sa 09:00-18:00, Su & holidays 09:00-14:90; Summer: Sa-Th 08:00-20:00, F 08:00-20:00 .
Brussels International ( Brussels Airport ), Arrival hall . 08:00-21:00 .

Talk [ edit ]

Language in Brussels can be a confusing matter to visitors. The common language is French, with around 90% of the population in Brussels speaking it passably to fluently. You can easily get by with English, especially in the tourist areas. Dutch is also an official language: within Brussels, the population that speaks Dutch passably to fluently is limited to around 20%, though Dutch-speakers make up the majority of Belgium as a whole. Because Brussels is the country's capital, when it comes to official matters, French and Dutch have equal status in Brussels, with sometimes complicated rules to ensure a balance between the two. Streets, railway stations, bus stops and other places have names in the two languages. The two names don’t always sound or look similar. For example, the Brussels-South railway station is Bruxelles-Midi in French and Brussel-Zuid in Dutch. Watch out when making assumptions based on English: a common mistake is to think Bruxelles-Midi refers to the Brussels-Central railway station, due to midi seeming similar to middle . Areas outside of Brussels have only one official language, but may still have distinct names in the other language. For example, you may get a train ticket that lists Anvers (in French) as the destination, but the signs in the station there will only say Antwerpen (in Dutch). In Brussels, large segments of the population have neither French nor Dutch as their mother tongue, and many other languages can be heard on the street, with Arabic being particularly common.

Historically Dutch-speaking, Brussels became more and more French-speaking during the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, most inhabitants speak French in daily life. The Brussels dialect, a Brabantian dialect of Dutch, can be heard, especially in the outer districts of Brussels Capital Region. The French spoken is standard French. Dutch speakers speak standard Dutch but many also speak a different variety when talking to people from their region.

English has become a common spoken language because of the international institutions based in Brussels, such as the European Commission, the European Parliament and NATO. It is still relatively rare to find written tourist or general information in English, although the situation is changing. Public announcements in train stations are given in at least French and Dutch, while larger train stations (such as Zuidstation/Gare du Midi) typically include English and German. English is also used on metros, trams and buses, announced last for information such as line transfers and terminal stops. Do not hesitate to ask someone if you do not understand what has been said.

Considering the city's location and that it markets itself as the capital of Europe, spoken English is less prevalent in Belgium than in its Dutch neighbour. However, even if it is not as widely spoken as one may expect, it is nonetheless widely understood. As is often the case elsewhere, success in finding someone who speaks English depends on several factors such as age (14- to 35-year-olds are most likely to speak English), education and previous experience abroad.

German is also an official language in Belgium spoken as a mother tongue by about 70,000 people in the east of the country bordering Germany, but the only German you're likely to hear in Brussels would be overheard on the streets around the European institutions or by German tourists, even if there is a large German population residing there.

Other languages that are increasingly heard in Brussels include Arabic (at least 25% of Brussels' population is of Arab descent, chiefly from Morocco), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, and Russian.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ].

Brussels Airport [ edit ]

Travel between Brussels Airport and Brussels City: [ edit ]

Alternatively, Brussels can be reached by train much more cheaply via Zaventem village (dorp) station, within a 1 km (0.62 mi) walk from the airport. At €3.40 (January 2024), the fare is three times cheaper than the ticket from Brussels Airport Station to the city. This is because the Diabolo Surcharge on airport trains does not apply here. Zaventem Dorp station is served by frequent local trains to all Brussels stations, taking roughly the same amount of time as the airport trains (15-20 minutes to Central Station).
Taxis to the center cost around €60 . Taxis bleus/blauw (blue): +32 2 268 0000, Taxis Autolux: +32 2 411 4142, Taxis verts/groen (green): +32 2 349 4949, Unitax: +32 2 725 25 25. Beware of "waiting" charges if your flight is delayed and you pre-ordered a cab, some companies charge you parking fees + €25-30 /hour for waiting. Always confirm the final charge with your driver before getting in the car. It is not uncommon for drivers to rip you off and charge €120 to go to the center, especially if they realize that it is your first time in Brussels and don't know your way around.

Left luggage facilities: [ edit ]

Brussels Airport has a luggage locker service (Level 0) where you can leave luggage for a fixed duration. The lockers say that you will have to retrieve your bags within 72 hours or else they will be removed, but they are actually moved to the room next door and stored until you retrieve them. This is a useful facility for people wanting to stow away big suitcases somewhere safe. The rate is €10 per 24 hours for up to 3 pieces, payments by card only.

Brussels South Charleroi Airport [ edit ]

To travel between the airport and the city: [ edit ]

Taxis from the airport to the city center cost a fixed price of €90 . For the return trip to Charleroi you can book in advance a Charleroi-based taxi ( €90 ). Taxis operating from Brussels use a higher fare and will take you to the airport for a fixed price of €120 or based on the meter up to €170 .

Other airports [ edit ]

High speed rail and the central location of Brussels amid many major European cities make it entirely feasible to fly into several other airports and take the train from there. Depending on your itinerary, this may be both faster and cheaper, as connections may align better.

By train [ edit ]

Brussels has three main railway stations:

All three major stations in Brussels are very busy and there are trains departing in many directions almost every minute. If you are on the platform, do check if the train you are boarding is the one you want, as it may be the one that departs just a few minutes earlier. Be vigilant for last-minute platform changes. As the announcements for many trains (except for major international services and trains to Brussels Airport) are made in French and Dutch only, it is worthwhile to pay attention to departure displays. Always memorize the name of your destination in both French and Dutch to easily recognize it - the name as you may know it in English might not be used at all. Also note some trains are short, so at stations with long curved platforms such as at Brussel-Centraal (Bruxelles-Central) you may not be able to see the train if you’re standing on the opposite end of the platform.

Apart from the three above, there are also stations of Brussels-Schuman, Brussels-Luxembourg, Brussels-Congress, Brussels-Chapel and Brussels-West, as well as stations in municipalities of the Brussels region that do not have "Brussels" in their name (e.g. Schaerbeek, Evere) which only see limited local service by RER trains.

International train services to Belgium include:

Nightjet , the Austrian Railways' sleeper train , runs twice a week from Brussels South to Vienna , Munich and Innsbruck . It calls at Brussels North, Liège, Aachen, Cologne, Bonn, Frankfurt airport and Nuremberg where the train divides: one portion runs via Linz to Vienna (14 hr), the other via Munich (13 hr) to Innsbruck (15 hr). In 2020 it doesn't run in July and Aug, but it's expected to be year-round from 2021.

Trains from within Belgium [ edit ]

Frequencies and approximate travel times from Brussels Central station to selected cities in Belgium:

Antwerp - 6x/hour, 40 min-1 hr 15 min
Arlon - 1xhour, 2bhr 50 min
Bruges - 2x/hour, below 1 hr 10 min (the service to Kortrijk also continues to Bruges, but it takes twice as much time)
Charleroi - 2x/hour, 1 hour
Dinant - 1x/hour from Brussels-Schuman ( not Central), 1.5 hours (you can also go from Central to Namur and change to Dinant there, travel time is longer by 15 minutes that way)
Gent - 6x/hour, 40 min-1 hr 10 min
Kortrijk - 3x/hour 1 hr 20 min-1 hr 45 min (plus one extra connection per hour with a change Gent, 1hr 20min)
Leuven - 5x/hour, 25 min
Liege - 2x/hour, 1 hr -1 hr 30 min
Mechelen - 7x/hour, 25-30 min
Namur - 2x/hour, 1 hr 10 min (+1/hour from Brussels-Schuman, same travel time)
Ostend - 2x/hour, 1 hr 20 min (or with a change in Gent - 2x/hour, 1 hr 40 min)
Waterloo - 2x/hour direct local train, 30min (or via Braine-L'Alleud , with a change from Intercity to local train - 2x/hour, total travel time below 40 min)

There is also a fairly new suburban rail system (Brussels Regional Express Network, in French Réseau express régional (RER) and in Dutch Gewestelijk ExpresNet (GEN), or S train) that is like an S-Bahn, which serves nearby communities. Depending on the station, it can be faster or slower than an Intercity (IC) train, but as it is run by the national rail operator the price will be the same (fares are charged on the basis of distance for the most part). It will show up with the other trains when looking for tickets on the website, so you can see is it is a good fit for your journey or not.

By bus [ edit ]

Several bus operators offer long-distance connections to Brussels. The station for long distance coach services is 50.86135 4.35993 6 Brussels North CCN in a narrow street to the north-west of the railway station bearing the same name. While waiting for a connecting coach, the 50.85998 4.35963 1 Starbucks inside the station can offer warmth and power sockets without the obligation to buy their overpriced drinks.

Flixbus . A German company with a network throughout most of Europe. Offers services to numerous German destinations, Paris, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Bratislava and London. They do not have an office in the station, but they routinely set up a mobile info desk manned by staff in easily recognizable bright green outfits, somewhere along the boarding area. ( updated Aug 2016 )
De Lijn , ☏ +32 70 220-200 . The Flemish region (Dutch speaking) public bus service. ( updated Sep 2016 )
TEC , ☏ +32 10 23-5353 . The Walloon region (French speaking) public bus company.

By tram [ edit ]

Brussels can also be reached from Kraainem by tram 39 , which connects Montgomery metro station to the 50.8422 4.5025 9 Ban-Eik 39 station and traverses Kraainem halfway. Get on at stop 50.8447 4.4668 10 Wilderozenweg 39 , on a walking distance of Kraainem's tourist attractions, and take tram 39 direction Montgomery . Travel time is approx. 15 minutes. As with tram 44 , a ticket costs €2.10 , can be purchased in advance or from the tram driver at an additional fee, and remains valid for an hour.

By metro [ edit ]

Brussels metro line 1 extends to 50.8488 4.4586 11 Kraainem 1 76 77 79 N05 metro station , and to 50.842 4.4641 12 Stokkel 1 39 metro station . Travel time to the Brussels Grand Place from Kraainem station is about 25 minutes. A single ticket Jump costs €2.10 . Tickets must be purchased from a GO vending machine in either Kraainem or Stokkel metro station, and can only be paid with euro coins or Maestro compatible cards. Bills are not accepted.

By bicycle [ edit ]

Brussels is the third capital on Eurovelo Route 5, which starts in London , through Brussels and Switzerland and ends in southern Italy . A number of other international and national cycle routes converge on Brussels, see this overview .

Get around [ edit ]

By car [ edit ].

In short: try and use your car as little as possible. As with most European capitals, Brussels has taken great strides in eliminating cars, and with mostly good measures; as recently as the mid 2000s, Brussels had some of the worst (if not the worst) traffic jams in the western world, even rivalling cities like Los Angeles and New York City. Though Brussels is still lagging behind places like Amsterdam, the city's (overwhelmingly) left-wing government has installed bike lanes, pedestrianized streets, and invested in public transportation projects at a rate seldom seen in Europe. Though locals mostly approve of those measures, out-of-towners and people working in certain sectors have been more critical of the measures.

Broadly speaking, it is strongly suggested not to drive near or within the R0. Most streets near the Grand Place have been pedestrianised, and only taxi and delivery drivers can access that area. However, the outskirts of Brussels (especially the southern region like Ukkel) are not always served by buses or trams, so having a car might be useful there.

On foot [ edit ]

Most sights in Brussels are fairly close together, within reasonable walking distance of each other. The oldest part of town can have uneven cobblestone roads, but the rest of the city is fairly easy to walk. A zone of 50 hectares in the city centre is reserved for pedestrians, the second largest in Europe after Venice. Brussels has many wet days, and in winter small amounts of snow can make the ground slushy, so water-resistant footwear is a must if you will be out walking all day.

Bicycles are an excellent way to get from the city center to attractions outside the 'pentagone'. Although the Brussels weather isn't always equally favorable for cycling, bikes are often faster than public transport, particuarly for short distances. The cycling infrastructure is fairly poorly developed in comparison to cities of similar size like Amsterdam and Bristol , and the elevation of Brussels might be challenging to inexperienced cyclists. Brussels' most valuable transport asset is, arguably, the Villo bicycle-sharing system.

To encourage cycling through the city, cyclists are granted some privileges in Brussels traffic. Most notably, cyclists are allowed to drive either way in one-way streets. They are allowed to drive through the car-free zone in the city center, the largest in Europe after Venice . At intersections marked with a triangular sign with a cycle icon and a right arrow, cyclists are allowed to turn right at any time, ignoring red traffic lights.

Villo [ edit ]

Villo bicycles are well equipped to deal with the poor Belgian roads: they have puncture-resistant tires and a covered chain drive, and are in addition also equipped with a basket for cargo transport and automatic lights. Each bike has 7 gears and dual disc brakes to tackle hills around the city and reach destinations with higher elevation. The frame is rather heavy, though, weighing 22 kg. A decent level of fitness is recommended!

Subscriptions [ edit ]

You can create an account online to sign up for a Villo subscription. They cost €1 per day or €3 per month for unlimited 30-minute rides. eVillo subscriptions cost €4 per month (as of Sep 2022) and give you the option to get a battery pack that you plug into the eVillo bikes and take with you when they're done. The batteries have a 10-km range and can be picked up from the Villo office immediately after subscribing. To checkout bikes with a subscription you can use the Villo app, link your mobib vard, or get a villo card.

Non-subscription [ edit ]

As of September 2022, not clear if this information is still up to date. To rent a Villo, a ticket can be purchased at a station. Not all stations issue tickets, which can be confusing. Tickets are available for 1 or 3 days, and permit an unlimited number of rides. With a cost of €1.60 per day, this makes Villo the cheapest method of transportation after walking. Week passes are also available at €7.65 . As Villo is intended for short trips, you will be billed €0.50 per half hour after the first half hour (the first half hour being free). This is of course easily avoided by returning your bike to a station before the first half hour expires, and immediately renting another bike from the same station, resetting the counter.

Purchasing a ticket goes as follows:

Find a station that issues tickets, press the 5 button to change the language to English.
Initiate the procedure to buy a ticket, and press 0 to get to the end of the EULA text. The response time is long, so give it a few seconds between every button push.
Choose a 4-digit PIN code and repeat it. This will be your 'password'.
A €150 deposit fee must be paid by card. You can only buy one ticket per card, and only if you have at least €150 available on the account.
The ticket will be issued, after which you can rent a bike directly.

When choosing a bike, look at the orientation of the saddles. The convention among users is that, if a bike is defective, the saddle is lowered and its direction reversed. So don't try to rent out bikes with a reversed saddle. Likewise, if you notice your bike has a defect, then return it to the station and reverse its saddle to notify other users. Unless there is obvious evidence of vandalism, minor damage (flat tires, broken chains, etc.) will not be billed to your account.

When returning your bike to a station, always wait for the double beep and green light on the post you returned the bike to. Long beeps indicate that the bike is not placed incorrectly. After the double beep, the bike should be locked again. If you don't return it correctly and the bike is stolen, €150 will be billed to your account!

After purchasing a ticket, bikes can be rented out from any station by typing the 6-digit subscriber number on the ticket into the station's kiosk, followed by the 4-digit 'password'.

Blue Bike [ edit ]

Bikes that are complementary to Villo. Cost €12 /year for a membership. Then €3.5 to checkout the bike for a day. You can have the bike for up to 24 hours for that cost. You can link Blue Bike with your MOBIB card or get a separate Blue Bike card.

Billy Bike [ edit ]

Billy Bike is an electric bike option with an unlock fee of €1 and €0.17 /min. Have several subscription plans for frequent users.

Swapfiets [ edit ]

Rent bikes from Swapfiets for €20 /month. They'll repair the bikes if they get broken.

Uber JUMP [ edit ]

Uber has a fleet of free floating electric bikes in Brussels. The operating area is mostly limited to the eastern part of the city. The rates are €1 to unlock and €0.15/minute.

By metro, tram, or bus [ edit ]

Public transport in Brussels can be confusing because different transport companies are active in the city. The dominant operator is the Brussels regional public transport operator STIB-MIVB (+32 70 232-000; €0.30 /min). Some buses from Flemish regional transport operator De Lijn connect Brussels to surrounding Flemish cities, but their tickets are not compatible with MIVB tickets. Occasionally even buses from the Walloon regional operator TEC venture into the city, and again, their tickets are incompatible.

As long as you stay on the MIVB network — which roughly spans the entire Brussels capital region — a single ticket gives you access to all metro, tram and bus lines for the duration of 1 hour with as many transfers as needed to reach your destination. Since Brussels is a fairly small city, in practice, you can get anywhere in under an hour so the time limit will rarely be an issue.

You can board any metro, tram or bus by tapping a contactless credit/debit card, including through Apple Pay/Google Pay. You are charged €2.10 per journey, capped at a maximum of €7.50 per day. See STIB-MIVB for details.

Alternatively, paper tickets can also be purchased from GO vending machines and are available for a single journey ( €2.10 ) or a day pass with unlimited journeys ( €7.50 ). They can also be purchased directly from tram or bus drivers ( not on the metro) but for €2.50 per journey, which is considerably more expensive than buying your ticket in advance at a GO machine. Blue GO machines only accept debit and credit cards, and coins, but no paper currency. Red GO machines accept cash up to € 40. The interface is available in English, Dutch, French and German.

To validate either a MoBIB card or paper ticket, touch it against the red card readers until it beeps, and the screen lights up green. You must validate your ticket on the first vehicle you enter and at each transfer afterwards. On buses and trams, the card readers are in the vehicles, whereas metro and underground tram stations have card readers with electronic gates at their entrances. If the card reader lights up red, it means there is no valid ticket on your card, possibly because the 1-hour time window has expired. At some stations you need to validate again to leave. Groups of travelers can share a single MoBIB card if it has multiple tickets available, like 5- or 10-journey tickets. If you're with a group of 3, for example, simply touch the MoBIB card against the card reader 3 times to validate 3 journeys at once. At each transfer, you must again validate it 3 times. Groups must stay together during travel, since ticket checks are carried out routinely, and you must be able to present a validated ticket at any time. Failure to do so will result in a fine of €100 .

In addition to the 4 metro lines there are also 2 underground tram lines 3 and 4 roughly running north-south, and connecting the North and South railway stations with the Grand Place and most of the city center attractions.

Metro and underground tram stations are often a warm and dry refuge from the wet and cold weather in Brussels, and typically offer small convenience shops or coffee shops like Starbucks and the likes to sit out heavy showers. On the flip side, the metro in Brussels's cleanliness and safety are quite hit-and-miss compared to most metro systems; some stations are squeaky clean and modern, while others are dirty and in need of repair.

Official dynamic STIB/MIVB network plan includes construction sites and replacement service ( also more network plans are available ).

The S-train can also be used for travel in the city. It is best for taking journeys from the center or a major train station to the outer edges, or the other way around. Some areas, especially in the north east, are easier to get to this way.

By scooter [ edit ]

If you have a driver's license, then scooters may be a less physically exhausting alternative to bicycles to get around the city. 50.83884 4.38619 1 Scooty is a network of electric scooters available for rental throughout the city. Following a free roaming model, scooters can be found on public places in the city, and unlocked remotely by subscribers. After use, the scooter may be left at any public place. Although convenient considering Brussels' elevation, scooter rental is more expensive than Villo at €0.26 /minute. Registration is €2.99.

See [ edit ]

Its rich history left Brussels dotted with countless landmarks, some of architectural beauty, others of monumental proportions. In the medieval centre , nearly every building has its own story worth exploring! The surrounding Pentagon , roughly corresponding to the outline of Brussels in the Renaissance, adds many more attractions to the list of must-see attractions. When the weather gets unpredictable, over 80 museums in the Brussels Capital Region offer indoor excitement when rain prevents outdoor activities.

If you're planning on visiting many attractions and museums, consider the advance purchase of a Brussels Card , which offers discounts at many attractions and free entrance to 40 of the most popular museums. It is available in 24 hr ( €24 ), 48 hr ( €36 ) and 72 hr ( €42 ) versions, includes a free guidebook, free use of public transit (metro, bus, tram), and discounts at various shops and restaurants. It may not be worth it to those who already receive discounts (children, students, etc.). The card can be purchased on-line in advance for a discount, at the major tourist offices, and in some museums. Keep in mind however that many attractions have severely limited opening hours (usually from 09:00 until 17:00) when planning your visit, although sights like the Grand Place or Atomium can be enjoyed around the clock.

Do [ edit ]

If you prefer to get submerged into local culture, try one of the Brussels themed room escape games of 50.84447 4.35523 7 Enygma near the city centre, and puzzle your way out within the hour. For fans of Brussels many culinary delicacies, following a beer brewing or waffle baking workshop are tasty activities for an afternoon, alone or in a group. To keep up to date with what's going on, pick up a copy of local free city newspaper Zone 02 . Another good free listings paper is Agenda , which is distributed together with the Dutch-language weekly Brussel Deze Week and has the notable advantage of being published in three languages (English, Dutch, French). You can find them in many cafés and restaurants around the city.

Football: the men's national soccer team play at King Baudouin Stadium in Heysel. Three Brussels clubs play in First Division A, the top tier: RSC Anderlecht in Anderlecht district, Union SG in Forest, and R.W.D. Molenbeek in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean.

Buy [ edit ]

Very few shops in Brussels open before 10:00, and most open 10:30-11:00. Many shops are closed on Sunday and Monday.

Belgian specialities [ edit ]

Beer [ edit ].

Beer Mania , 174-176 Chausse de Wavre-Waversesteenweg, Ixelles/Elsene . Claims to have a stock of over 400 beers, but has been overrun by beer tourists. The stock is extensive, but quite pricey in comparison to GB, Delhaize, or Carrefour. Beer Mania is a great place to find out of the ordinary beers.
GB/Carrefour . Branches around the city carry a wide variety of beers, including almost all Trappist beer. Selection varies by store. The GB in Grand Place has a large selection and offers prices that are approximately a third of the prices in tourist shops.
Delhaize . Similar to GB/Carrefour, but a tad more expensive.
Match . Another store similar to GB/Carrefour, but has more of the unusual Belgian beers including Delirium.
Cora . Two very large supermarkets on the outer limits of Brussels. They have a much larger choice of beers than Carrefour/ Delhaize/ Match and some very nice gift boxes but still with reasonable supermarket prices.

Chocolate [ edit ]

Leonidas ( branches across the city ). very popular with the locals. Inexpensive and good quality, at €6.95 for 250 g (8.8 oz) .
Neuhaus ( branches across the city ). A bit more expensive than Leonidas and a bit higher quality. Very popular with the locals as well. It is also possible to get good discounts by buying directly at the shop outlet outside of the factory (Postweg 2, 1602 Vlezenbeek, tel: +32 2 568-23-10) which is just on the outer limits of Brussels, just a short walk away from the Erasme/ Erasmus metro station. Prices can go as low as €10 per kilo, however only the products that are specifically marked as having reduced prices are worth the trip, other products have the exact same price as in local shops.
Mary ( branches across the city ). Excellent handmade chocolates, with this store originating from 1919.
Passion Chocolat , 2/4 Rue Bodenbroek, also 20 Avenue Louis Gribaumont . Delicious chocolates, and they often offer free samples of 1-2 chocolates from their collection.
Marcolini , 39 Place du Grand Sablon-Grote Zavel Plein . Arguably the best Belgian chocolates and priced accordingly. The country-specific products are difficult to find and quite worth the price.
Wittamer , 6-12-13 Place du Grand Sablon-Grote Zavel Plein . Another excellent chocolate maker, with also a selection of macarons and cakes. They may however insist on a minimum 100g purchase for the chocolates.
Chocopolis , 81 Rue du Marché aux Herbes-Grasmarkt ( Between Grand Place and Central Station ). Pick and choose your favorite type of chocolates, all at reasonable prices.
Maison Renardy , 17 Rue de Dublinstraat , ☏ +32 2 514-30-17 . A great boutique shop with delicious chocolate and friendly service. Stop by for a cup of tea or coffee, and get one of their chocolates free with your tea. Still peckish? You're able to bring a whole box home.
Godiva ( branches around the city ). Not very popular and quite pricey.
Chocolate bars . For the frugal, you can buy 100-200 gram gourmet bars of chocolate in grocery stores for about €1 each. Good brands to buy are Côte-d'Or and Jacques, both are Belgian.

Lace [ edit ]

Belgian Lace . Among the best in the world. Several shops are at the Grand' Place-Grote Markt. Beware of some shops that sell Belgian lace even though production was outsourced abroad. Ask for a country of origin if purchasing around Grand Place.

Eat [ edit ]

There is plenty of good eating to be had in Brussels. Most people concentrate on the three classics: mussels ( moules in French and mosselen in Dutch), fries ( frites in French and frieten in Dutch) and chocolate . A few more adventurous Bruxellois/Brusselse dishes include anguilles au vert/paling in 't groen (river eels in green sauce), meat balls in tomato sauce, stoemp (mashed vegetables and potatoes) and turbot waterzooi (turbot fish in cream and egg sauce). For dessert, try a Belgian waffle ( wafel in Dutch and gauffre in French), also available in a square Brussels version dusted with powdered sugar, and choices of bananas, whipped cream and many other toppings. Although many prefer the round, caramelized version from Liège . Many tourist shops will sell the Liège waffle (traditionally eaten plain, as it already contains pearl sugar in the dough) with toppings. Only the Brussels waffle (which has a lighter/airier dough) will have toppings such as whipped cream, fruits, etc.

The matter over which establishment serves up the best frites (locally known as fritkots in Dutch and "friterie" in French) remains a matter of heated debate. Some argue that the best frites in Brussels are served at the fritkot near the Barriere de Saint-Gilles, while others defend St-Josse's Martin (Place Saint-Josse/Sint-Joostplein) as the prime purveyor of the authentic Brussels frite just as others claim Antoine (Place Jourdan/Jourdanplein) remains the king of the local french fry. No matter which fritkot you're at, try to be adventurous and have something other than ketchup or mayonnaise on your fries. Of the selection of bizarre sauces you've never seen before, "andalouse" is probably the most popular with the locals.

Vegetarians can find at least one menu item at many, though not all, regular restaurants. Vegans will have a harder time, while the Veganizer BXL initiative [dead link] is looking to widen their options, it’s best to head for the vegetarian-vegan restaurants.

Check the prices of food items before ordering, especially when servers make choices for you. It has been reported that tourists have to pay up to €7 for a litre of sparkling water, costing less than €0.70 in local stores.

Also beware of the 'Italian Restaurant Streets' in the tourist and shopping districts. These streets are lined with small Italian restaurants, some offering "3-course meals" for €12 or €13 . They are all run by just a few shop owners and serve unappetizing store purchased food. They will not 'include service' as most all restaurants in Brussels do, and many tourists have reported getting scammed here, especially when not paying with exact change. A common practice is to present you a menu where prices aren't anything near the ones advertised in the windows. Be sure you ask why there is such a price difference before ordering and do not hesitate to leave if you do not agree with the price. If you were offered a drink and already sipped from your glass before receiving the menu (as is often the case) then just pay for the drink and leave.

Brussels' tourist restaurant gauntlet can be found in Rue des Bouchers-Beenhouwerstraat, just to the north of Grand Place. The place has a bad reputation for waiters imposing themselves on passers-by, trying to lure customers into their restaurant. The authorities are aware of this, and are trying to take measures. Some restaurants may also tempt you with cheap prices for the menus, but when seated, the item on the menu happens to be unavailable, and you're forced to accept another, noticeably more expensive dish. Often, the exaggerated price of the wines will also compensate for the attractive menu. Knowing this however, you may be able to negotiate a better deal before entering.

Drink [ edit ]

Belgium is to beer what France is to wine: it is home to one of the greatest beer traditions in the world, and Brussels is a great place to sample some of the vast variety on offer. Typical beers of Brussels are gueuze (rather sour) and kriek (rather sweet, cherry based).

Smoking is prohibited in all bars. It is allowed to smoke on the outdoor parts that many bars install on the street during the warmer months.

A special drink only found in Brussels is the "half-en-half" ("half and half"). It's a mixture of white wine and champagne.

Sleep [ edit ]

Hotel rates in Brussels can vary widely (especially at the upper end) depending on how many EU bigwigs happen to be in town. Good deals are often available on weekends and during the summer when the bureaucrats flee on vacation.

Stay safe [ edit ]

This might come as a shock to the uninitiated, but Brussels is increasingly dealing with the reputation of being a rather unsafe or uneasy city, at least by Western European standards. Though one can argue that it is bloated by the media and "word-of-mouth", Brussels has been at the center of international conversations regarding insecurity.

Areas to watch out for [ edit ]

Generally speaking, tourists are unlikely to encounter many safety issues in East (Etterbeek, Evere, most of Ixelles), South (Watermael-Boisfort, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert), and Northwest Brussels (Jette), and in much of the city center during the day, so long as the basic precautions are taken. On the other hand, many neighborhoods have a reputation of crime and decay, especially at night; though most travelers are unlikely to visit them, one should always be on their guard. Do note that the (subjective) safety of an area can change incredibly fast in Brussels, so know where you're going when doing so. Ask a local for advice if possible. This is especially relevant for areas such as Saint-Gilles (especially near the Brussel-Zuid/Bruxelles-midi station), Matongé, Anneessens (around Place Fontainas), Molenbeek (mostly areas next to the canal), Schaerbeek (the western areas within close proximity of the Brussels-North station), and the Marolles. Do keep in mind that, not unlike Paris, the topic of crime in these aforementioned areas might bear racial undertones, and some locals will get feisty if you mention anything regarding the origins of people in these neighborhoods.

This map gives an indication of the less attractive and inviting areas (in red), although the attractiveness and subjective safety of an area can change quickly street by street. A seemingly safe street might sit right next to a rough area, and vice versa.

Pickpocketing [ edit ]

Pickpocketing is by far the most likely issue you will come across in Brussels, with the city frequently ranking high by European standards. Pickpocketing has been reported in nearly every neighborhood in Brussels. This activity is mostly carried out by teams in crowded tourist areas, in train and metro stations, during major events, and in parks (even during the daytime). Those who commit these petty crimes are really professional. Therefore, as usual, it's better to not unnecessarily show valuables in public, especially when looking as a tourist. Some areas with particularly high risks of pickpocketing include the European Quarter, Bourse/Beurs, Forest National, and the major train stations.

Parks [ edit ]

As with most major cities, parks in Brussels are safe during the day, but best avoided during the night. Most big parks don't have any (sufficient) lighting. Examples are those around the Atomium (Laeken and Osseghem parks) and the Bois de La Cambre/Ter Kamerenbos. Although they are mostly just deserted at night, it's always better to be careful; Laeken and Osseghem are near sketchy areas, whereas the Bois de la Cambre has a history of aggravated assaults. Smaller parks scattered throughout the city are often taken over by gangs at night.

In and around the Parc de Bruxelles/Warandepark , between the Royal Palace and the Belgian Parliament, criminals have been known to threaten their victims with violence. If you are robbed, there is a police station right next to the gate in front of the Belgian Parliament (on the right side when leaving the park, hidden in the bushes) where experienced policemen will help you. Most of them speak French, Dutch and English well.

The Parc du Cinquantenaire has developed a reputation for assaults against women at night.

The Parc Maximilien/Maximiliaanpark (just west of North Station) near the Immigration Office is often used by migrants to spend the night while waiting to apply for asylum, moving to another country or for various reasons. It's unlikely a tourist would wander there, but it's still better avoided.

Train, tramway, and metro stations [ edit ]

The areas immediately surrounding the Brussels Midi-Zuid train station are among the poorest in the city: it is not advised to wander there alone at night. The station itself is among the biggest pickpocketing hotspots in Europe, despite an ample police presence.
The same applies to the Nord-Noord train station in the Brussels North Business District; do not venture too far away from the Roi Albert II Boulevard (basically the business district's main road) at night.
The Brussels-Central station is another known pickpocketing hotspot. There are also many homeless people begging around the station as well, but rarely in an aggressive way.
Brussels' homeless population tend to seek shelter in certain stations, like Schuman, Porte de Namur-Naamsesport, and Rogier at night. They typically ignore passer-by's, but some can get aggressive.

Miscellaneous [ edit ]

People of the Jewish faith wearing identifiable symbols may face hassles or worse.
Being a very international city, Brussels houses people from all walks of life. Whilst most people are welcoming and open-minded, some have not gotten used to the "internationalisation" of Brussels. As such, random acts of racism may happen.
Though Belgians can be kind and warm-hearted people, people in Brussels are a lot less so. Unless you are friends with them, respect their personal boundaries.
Though not as frequent as pick-pocketing, muggings have been known to occur in certain parts of Brussels.
Belgians tend to drive poorly, and this goes double for Brussels. Always look before crossing and do refrain from jaywalking.
Not unlike drivers, bike riders and especially step riders in Brussels tend to be anarchic, often ignoring traffic rules and being aggressive to cars and even pedestrians. Whenever you see someone cycle or stepping, stop, let them pass, and do not argue under any circumstance.
Once virtually unheard of, strikes (mostly caused by bus and metro drivers) and riots have become a regular occurrence in Brussels. They are usually peaceful, but watch out if things start heating up.
With Belgium being the land of beers, drunken behaviours are to be expected in Brussels, especially when football games are on, during weekends, and on certain holidays (St. Patrick’s Day, National Holiday, etc.). Just keep an eye out and you should be fine.
The Avenue Louise, one of the most famous roads in Brussels, is a major prostitution hot spot at night.

Stay healthy [ edit ]

There are few health hazards to worry about in Brussels. Tap water in Brussels, and most of the rest of the country, is drinkable, and as healthy as bottled mineral water. Fountains and wells on the other hand are not suitable for human consumption. In summer, ticks are routinely encountered in parks, and are known to carry Lyme disease, which can be deadly if left untreated. If you spot pink or red circles on your skin after a walk in the forests or parks, you may be infected, and should seek medical help immediately.

Cope [ edit ]

The most widely read English magazine is The Bulletin which, apart from covering Belgian and EU news, also offers arts and lifestyle stories, as well as in-depth events listings and a TV guide.

Work out [ edit ]

Fitness Palace , Rogier van der Weydenstraat 3 ( Zuidpaleis (Palais du Midi) ), ☏ +32 2 5132616 , [email protected] . 10:30-22:00 . €8 daypass, €6 offpeak .
David Lloyd . Upmarket gym, operating in Uccle and Sterrebeek. ( updated Sep 2023 )
Basic Fit . Basic fits operates 19 gyms in the Brussels region. ( updated Sep 2023 )

Embassies [ edit ]

Although Belgium is a small country, being frequently called the "capital" of the European Union , Brussels is home to more diplomatic missions than any other city in the world, most of which are simultaneously accredited to Belgium and the European Union. Foreign affairs keeps an updated list of foreign representations .

Go next [ edit ]

Visit the following Belgian towns and cities, all within a two-hour drive from Brussels:

Kraainem - Bordering Brussels to the east. Architecture from the 16th to 18th centuries, primarily interesting for history and architecture enthusiasts.
Waterloo - About 15 km (9 mi) south of Brussels. Visit where Wellington and Bluecher faced Napoleon for an ultimate battle that changed Europe's face forever. Further south, don't miss the Abbey of Villers-la-Ville.
Sint-Pieters-Leeuw - About 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Brussels. Visit the nature reserve with Galloway cattle (not in winter) so near to Brussels
Mechelen - About 35 km (22 mi) NE of Brussels.
Leuven - About 30 km (19 mi) east of Brussels.
Antwerp - About 55 km (34 mi) north of Brussels.
Sint-Niklaas - About 45 km (28 mi) NW of Brussels.
Bruges - About 100 km (62 mi) NW of Brussels.
Charleroi - About 60 km (37 mi) south of Brussels.
Ghent - About 60 km (37 mi) NW of Brussels.
Namur - About 60 km (37 mi) SE of Brussels.
Tournai - About 90 km (56 mi) west of Brussels.
Mons - About 70 km (43 mi) south of Brussels.

You can also get to any of the following 'foreign' cities from Brussels within a few hours without the use of a plane:

Amsterdam / Rotterdam / The Hague / Utrecht (train or car), Luxembourg (car or train), Paris (train - longer by car), London (by train), Aachen (train or car), Maastricht (one hour by train) Lille (less than an hour by train or car), Cologne / Bonn (train or car), Frankfurt (train - longer by car)

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Brussels Travel Guide

Courtesy of Getty Images |

Why Go To Brussels

Brussels has been the de facto capital of the European Community (and now European Union) for decades, and for a good reason. The city's Gothic- and Baroque-style squares, set between medieval streets, are the playgrounds of international politicians and adventurous tourists alike. Authentic Belgian fare offers hearty comfort food, and daily doses of chocolate and beer are worth every cent. Brussels is cosmopolitan in ways other cities are not – it's truly multilingual (French, German and Dutch). The multicultural influences have led to an explosion of museums, marketplaces, restaurants and boutiques that make it far more than just a sleepy alternative to some of its busier neighbors like Paris or Amsterdam .

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# 12 in Best Cheap European Honeymoon Destinations

Best of Brussels

Best hotels in brussels.

# 1 in Hotel Amigo, a Rocco Forte Hotel
# 2 in Sofitel Brussels Europe
# 3 in Stanhope Hotel Brussels by Thon Hotels

Best Things to Do in Brussels

# 1 in Grand-Place
# 2 in St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral
# 3 in Musical Instruments Museum

Popular Tours

Bruges and Ghent - Belgium's Fairytale Cities - from Brussels

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Brussels Travel Tips

Best months to visit.

The best time to visit Brussels is between March and May and September and October, the shoulder seasons; this is when room rates are cheaper and the weather is mild. This city experiences all four seasons and rain is a possibility year-round. Average lows range from the mid-30s in winter to the low 70s in summer.

No matter when you're in town, you can count on something going on at the Grand-Place , from street performances and flower shows to the nightly light shows in winter. But if you can, try to plan your trip around the Ommegang festivities (the first week in July). This Renaissance-style festival recreates the celebration held when Emperor Charles V first entered the city in the 16th century. Another festive time to visit is around Christmas when the entire square is illuminated by a massive Christmas tree.

Weather in Brussels

Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center

What You Need to Know

Brussels is a melting pot Dutch, French and English are all spoken in the city.

Take a look at the architecture Belgium is known for its architecture, especially Art Nouveau.

Plan a weekend daytrip Daytrips to Belgian locales like Bruges , Antwerp and Ghent are fast and easy thanks to the country's extensive train system. Plus, since Brussels is a business hub, it's cheaper to travel to nearby hot spots on the weekends than it is during the work week.

How to Save Money in Brussels

Buy a Brussels Card Available in 24-, 48- and 72-hour versions, this card gets you free entry to more than 40 museums, as well as discounts at shops, bars, restaurants, select tourist attractions and tours.

Rent a bike Instead of paying taxi fares or the cost of public transport, rent a bike and make your way around the city on the cheap.

Get the prix-fixe or "plat du jour" Belgian dining can get expensive, so stick to the fixed price menus or the “plate of the day” instead. Your wallet and stomach will thank you.

Culture & Customs

The official currency in Brussels is the euro. Since the euro to U.S. dollar exchange rate fluctuates often, be sure to check what the current exchange rate is before you go. Major credit cards may not be accepted at all restaurants, hotels and shops.

Belgium is also largely Catholic, celebrating many Catholic holidays. In Brussels, three languages are commonly spoken: French, Dutch and German. You'll also want to be sure to shake everyone's hand when you greet them and before leaving.

When dining in Brussels, it's considered polite to keep both hands (not elbows) above the table while eating. It is also polite to finish all the food on your plate; if you find yourself too full to finish, indicate that you have finished eating by placing both your knife and fork on your plate with the handles facing outward. Gratuity is normally included in the bill, but you should feel free to round up the total or leave a few extra euros for exceptional service.

What to Eat

Brussels offers an abundance of Michelin-starred restaurants, serving meals inspired by both French and Dutch cuisine. And a trip to Brussels is not complete without steamed mussels and a side of fries (moules-frites). If you're not hungry enough for a full meal, grab a snack (such as a paper cone of extra crispy frites served with a mayonnaise-based dipping sauce) from one of the city's many sidewalk food carts. Visitors to Cafe La Brocante, located about a mile south of the Grand-Place, enjoy its beer selection, baguettes and traditional dishes like stoemp, a potato dish with Brussels sprouts.

Brussels is also famous for its mouth-watering waffles, and visitors can find an abundance of waffle places around Grand-Place . Travelers love the waffles at Mokafe, which you can accompany with a cup of coffee, hot chocolate or tea.

Restaurants overall can be found in clusters around tourist areas like Grand-Place and Rue des Bouchers. Unfortunately, meal prices are generally high. To save money, order the prix-fixe menus, which offer choices for two or three courses for a set price. Or, venture beyond these tourist hot spots when it's time to eat and seek out eateries frequented by locals and travelers alike, such as La Quincaillerie (for a contemporary take on Belgian classics), Noordzee Mer du Nord (a popular seafood spot) and Comptoir des Galeries (for a splurge-worthy French meal).

If there are two things for which Belgium is known for, it's chocolate and beer. When you're craving a sweet treat, you can easily find Godiva. Though it's now a worldwide brand, Godiva had humble beginnings in Brussels where it was a family-run business beginning in 1926. You can visit the company's first shop, which opened in 1937, on the Grand-Place. If you're on the hunt for chocolate you wouldn't necessarily be able to source easily at home, consider shops like Mary or Elisabeth .

If you're not one to indulge your sweet tooth, succumb to your love of hops instead. Belgium is home to a dizzying array of beer types, most of which you can find at the city's many cafes and pubs. For those looking to grab some Belgian beer, or any beer really, head over to Delirium Cafe , which boasts more than 2,000 beers from around the world. Plus, Delirium Cafe sits less than a half-mile north of the Grand-Place, making it an easy stop for tourists.

The U.S. Department of State warns visitors to Belgium of possible terrorist activities, especially in crowded areas or at high-profile events. You should also watch out for purse-snatchers and pickpockets. Oftentimes, these criminals work in groups in crowded tourist areas, as well as at train and metro stations. The Department of State advises drivers to park in garages and not on the street. Keep your bags with you when traveling by train, and don't wear expensive jewelry or watches. Only use bank ATMs and ask restaurants to swipe your card in front of you.

Getting Around Brussels

The best way to get around Brussels is on its extensive public transit system, the Brussels Intercommunal Transport Company (often referred to by its French acronym, STIB). Trains run every 15 minutes from Brussels Airport (BRU) to central Brussels. There are three major train stations: Brussels Central Station, located in the heart of the city; Brussels-South, which sits southwest of the city center; and Brussels-North, just north of the city center.

Biking is also popular in Belgium with bike rentals available across the city through companies like Villo! and Pro Velo. There are even waterbuses from May through October, which will take you between Brussels, Van Praet and Vilvoorde on the canal.

Entry & Exit Requirements

A valid passport is required for United States citizens to travel to Belgium. U.S. citizens can stay for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa. At customs, you'll have to present a return airline ticket, as well as a passport that is valid for at least three months after the date of return. If you're planning to stay in Belgium for more than 90 days, you'll have to obtain the proper visa before leaving the U.S. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of State's website .

Brussels is a beautiful city to explore both during the day and night.

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20 Best Things to Do in Brussels

Jorg Greuel / Getty Images

From some of the world's favorite comic strips to the best chocolate on the planet, Belgium's capital offers something to enjoy for every type of traveler. And while the city can often seem somewhat business-oriented, it's also home to a thriving nightlife as well as a rich landscape of cultural and historical attractions welcoming guests of all ages.

Whether you're stopping by the Grand-Place to browse goods from local merchants or eating some of the country's best chocolates at Choco-Story, no trip to Brussels, Belgium, is complete without visiting one of these top attractions.

See How European Parliament Really Works

Laura Zulian Photography / Getty Images

Did you know Brussels is officially the capital of Belgium and Europe? It's also home to the Hemicycle , where European Parliament members gather to hold important debates and historic votes that affect everyone who lives in the European Union (EU).

Admission to the Hemicycle and nearby Parlamentarium —the official visitor's center of European Parliament, where you can learn about the Members and the major issues they're dealing with via interactive exhibits—is free, though you must reserve a spot ahead of time online. While the ability to sit in on plenary sessions is no longer possible, you can still download the multimedia guide and make your way around the Hemicycle at your own pace or join in on a 60-minute guided talk. You'll have to deal with airport-level security to enter, so pack your day bag accordingly (bring your I.D. and leave anything remotely questionable at the hotel).

Free 90-minute guided walking tours that lead you around the exterior of the buildings are also available during the spring and summer if you'd rather hear more about the history of European Parliament and the people who made it possible. You'll start by meeting at Station Europe in the old Place du Luxembourg train station before walking along the Esplanade Solidarność 1980 and ending the tour in Leopold Park, home to the House of European History , which is also free and worth a visit.

Discover the History Behind Modern Medicine

Le Musée de la Médecine Brussels

Both macabre and educational, Le Musée de la Médecine (the Museum of Medicine) offers exhibits about the many ways people have tried to stay healthy since the earliest days of human history, whether by praying to immortal beings or focusing on the latest surgical advancements.

The museum also houses a collection of medical books dating back to the 16th century, more than 1,500 medicinal objects (which are said to be the oldest in Europe), and more than 300 anatomical wax figures so you can get a better look at what goes on inside the human body.

Get Your Fill of Belgian Waffles

TripSavvy / Gautier Houba

If enormous waffles covered in sweet treats come to mind when you think of Belgium, you're not alone. What you may not realize, after seeing Belgian waffles made all over the world, is that the locals here typically only eat them with a dusting of powdered sugar instead of all the toppings you're probably used to.

Traditionally, they're made either light and fluffy (Brussels Waffles) or thicker and crunchier (Liege Waffles) and aren't eaten for breakfast, but as a sweet snack any time of day. Head to Maison Dandoy's tea room , where you can try them local-style or with a variety of fruit and ice cream toppings.

Feast on Delicious Belgian Chocolate

Lonely Planet / Getty Images

As you probably know, Belgium is famous around the world for its rich chocolates. Learn everything you always wanted to about the delicate treat at the Choco-Story Museum , which offers a look at some truly extraordinary sculptures—made of chocolate, of course!—as well as demonstrations of the subtle art of chocolate-making.

Once you're suitably knowledgeable in the craft, it’s time to do some serious chocolate buying. If you’re willing to splurge, try Pierre Marcolini , where the owner chooses the unprocessed cocoa beans used in his confectionary treats personally. This master of the art has various stores in Brussels, but for a centrally located and well-stocked store option, head to 1 Rue des Minimes, where the delicious taste combinations are sure to impress.

You can also visit the shop where members of the Belgian royal family have been indulging their sweet teeth since 1919. Mary is unashamedly old-fashioned and elegant, making it the premier place in Brussels to buy gilded, decorative gift boxes. The only problem will be getting them home without devouring the lot!

Toast to Brussels' Legendary Beer Scene

Take a tour of some of Brussels' many breweries to sample all of the latest batches of Belgian brews. In the city, you’ll be spoiled with options for great beer cellars, many of which can be found around the Grand-Place.

One Brussels bar, pictured here, combines a fabulous Art Nouveau interior with its own eponymous beer: A la Mort Subite (sudden death). It’s worth seeking out and has been famous since the days when Belgian singer-songwriter, actor, and director Jacques Brel made it his local hangout.

For more examples of Art Deco style in Brussels, stop by the legendary L’Archiduc , a fabulous Brussels bar located in the heart of the Anneessens district, for a relaxing drink you can sip to the sounds of jazz piano. Originally opened in 1937, L'Archiduc is considered to be one of the main cultural hubs of the city and as such, hosts a variety of musical events all year long. Just a few blocks from the Grand Casino Brussels, L'Archiduc is a great place to grab a cocktail, view local art, and enjoy some live music in a relaxed setting.

Watch the World Go By in the Grand-Place

Make time to stop by the Grand-Place, one of Europe’s most beautiful squares. The heart of Brussels began as a thriving market, soon spreading out into the surrounding maze of streets: Rue au Beurre (butter street), Rue des Bouchers (butchers street), Rue du Marché aux Poulets (chicken market), Rue du Marché Aux Herbes (herb market), and Rue du Marché aux Fromages (cheese market).

In the Grand-Place itself, rich merchants built glorious guild houses as headquarters for different trades, and it’s these gilded, ornate buildings along with an astonishing town hall that give the grand square its wow factor. Many of the guild houses now sport pretty ground floor cafés that spill onto the terrace, making the Grand-Place the perfect place for a leisurely coffee or a Belgian beer as you watch the world pass you by.

Note that at Grand-Place establishments, you’ll be paying tourist rates in exchange for excellent entertainment. Try La Brouette , which has a roaring fire inside during the winter, plenty of outdoor seating during the summer, and a balcony open throughout the year for a bird’s eye view over the scene below.

Walk the Comic Book Route and Visit the Comics Art Museum

TripSavvy / Gautier Houba

Comic strip art is alive and well all across Brussels. No matter where you go, you'll come across huge murals painted on the sides of buildings. Tintin, Captain Haddock, and Snowy escape from a hotel in "The Calculus Affair" on Rue de l’Etuve just off the Grand-Place, while the mighty and impossibly good-looking Scorpion looks down on you with his sword drawn in Rue du Treurenberg . Check the Brussels tourism board website for a list of famous street art as well as maps and routes so you can do a self-guided walking tour of the famous Comic Book Route .

Once you're done admiring the street art, head to the Comics Art Museum ( Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée ), where you can see a large model of the rocket from Tintin’s "Destination Moon" adventure. While Tintin is definitely the main focus, you'll also see other characters from the famous Belgian comic strip including Tintin's companions, Snowy and Captain Haddock, as well as Lucky Luke and the Smurfs, among others. The Comics Art Museum also features permanent exhibitions explaining how the comic strip was developed by Tintin's creator Hergé, as well as a whole section on Peyo complete with a realistic 3D Smurf village.

Temporary exhibitions cover everything about the Ninth Art, housed in a beautiful Art Nouveau industrial building, originally designed by Belgian architect Victor Horta in 1906. While you're there, grab a bite at the Horta Brasserie and some unique comic-themed souvenirs from the gift shop.

Marvel at the City's Art Nouveau Heritage

Brussels is known for its beautiful Art Nouveau style buildings, largely constructed at the turn of the 19th century. Purchase a brochure about them from the Brussels Tourism Office to learn more about the unique architecture of the city center and its surrounding districts. If time allows, opt for a guided walking tour with ARAU , which is given in English and leads guests through the streets, with guides pointing out houses featuring those famous swirling, sinuous balconies, elaborate doorways and, high up under the eaves, panels of mosaics that catch the sunlight.

Stop by the Victor Horta Museum to see the former home of the architect who designed so many of the Art Nouveau buildings found in Brussels. Everything, from the door knockers to the bathroom furniture, has been beautifully maintained, making for a truly remarkable look into the life of the famed architect who once called it home.

Enter the Surreal World of René Magritte

Charly Herscovici, Brussels

Known for his paintings and other works, Surrealist artist René Magritte lived a relatively normal life in the Belgian countryside. If you want to visit the house where he spent his adulthood, catch the 74 tram out to the suburb of Jette.

After you tour his home, spend some time in his distinctly weird world at the Musée René Magritte on the Mont des Arts in central Brussels. It’s a comprehensive trot, with four floors full of everything from his earliest advertisements to the peculiar realm of bowler hats, pipes, odd figures, and dream-like clouds that fill his paintings.

Explore Trendy Sainte-Catherine

The Sainte-Catherine district, located across from the old Bourse (stock exchange), is a trendy and modern shopping and dining destination in itself, home to some of the city's best new restaurants. If you're interested in sightseeing, don’t miss the delightful Notre-Dame-aux-Riches-Claires , a Flemish baroque church that is well worth venturing into if it’s open.

To the west, Rue Antoine Dansaert is full of fashion-forward shops with a reputation for cutting-edge design. Step into Annemie Verbeke for asymmetrical, often hand-worked women’s clothing or try Martin Margiela for some of the most fashionable styles in town.

You also won’t want to miss the Marché aux Poissons (the old fish market), once the main harbor of Brussels where ships from around the world unloaded everything from salted herrings and timber to grain coal and silk. Today, you'll find plenty of notable fish restaurants along the waterfront, like Restaurant François , which has served lobster, crab, and other seafood since 1922.

Enjoy Nature Just Outside the City Center

Although the sprawling cityscape may make you think the city is entirely industrial, Brussels is actually one of the greenest cities in Europe. It's also located on the northern edge of the Forêt de Soignes (the Sonian Forest), so you don't have to travel too far to be immersed in nature. Head to the landscaped gardens of Bois de la Cambre, about a 10-minute drive from the city center, for a nice break from all the hustle and bustle.

For an easy day trip, take the 71 or 81 bus to Flagey. From there, it’s a short walk south to the Abbaye de la Cambre , a monastery with beautiful gardens. Along the way, you'll walk on streets lined with Art Nouveau buildings past the Etangs d’Ixelles ponds and their fountains. The Cistercian abbey was founded in 1201; today you can see the 18th-century yellow stone buildings that house the Belgian National Geographic Institute and an art school. Wander into the church, stroll past the ponds, and sit on a bench to take in the birdsong and the peace of this well-landscaped park.

Marvel at The Atomium

Originally constructed for the 1958 World's Fair, The Atomium is a landmark building in Brussels located on the Heysel Plateau that now serves as a museum. The sculpture atop this building is actually the molecular composition of an iron crystal, magnified to 165 billion times its size.

Take in 360 views of Brussels from The Atomium or go on a surrealistic walk through its tubes and spheres. Afterward, wander through the permanent exhibit to learn more about the history of the building and pick up a souvenir from the gift shop.

See a Whole Continent at Mini-Europe

Wikimedia Commons

Mini-Europe is a miniature park, located in Bruparck at the foot of The Atomium, that showcases scale models of European cities and monuments. The entire park takes under two hours to explore and features some of the most beautiful towns in Europe.

Though closed each year from mid-January to late-March, Mini-Europe is open to the public daily, and tickets are required to see the monuments. Special events like the Spirit of Europe festival are held here throughout the year as well.

Shop at Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert and Jeu de Balle Flea Market

The first indoor shopping arcade in Brussels, Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert is a magnificent building lined with high-end shops, theaters, cafes, and a variety of unique boutiques.

Designed and built by Jean-Pierre Cluysenaer between 1846 and 1847, the shopping center stretches out over three separate sections called the King's Gallery, the Queen's Gallery, and the Gallery of the Princes. Whether you're looking to shop or you just want to admire this architectural marvel, it's a great destination, one that's now included in UNESCO's "Tentative List" in the cultural heritage category for World Heritage sites.

Nearby, shopping enthusiasts have been haggling over every object you could imagine at the Jeu de Balle Flea Market since 1919. It’s open daily, with traders selling furniture, jewelry, ornate lampshades, glasses of every size, color, and shape, and other odds and ends.

The market is in the Marolles in what is traditionally the working-class district of Brussels, where you can still hear the distinct Flemish-based dialect spoken today. From a thriving area for artisans in the 17th century to a slum in the 1870s, the Marolles started to become fashionable in the 1980s. Walk along the two roads that lead to the square (Rue Blaes and Rue Haute ) for an eclectic mix of antiques shops, bars, and restaurants.

Admire Modern Art at MIMA

The Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art (MIMA) is one of the coolest museums in the country, featuring a range of art forms including graffiti, digital, and mixed-media.

Located inside the former Bellevue Breweries building overlooking the canal, MIMA is open Wednesday through Sunday throughout the year. A variety of permanent and rotating exhibits decorate the halls of MIMA, while you can pick up art prints, books, and supplies as well as tasty treats and drinks at the onsite gift shop and cafe.

Play a Tune at the Musical Instrument Museum

Besides chocolate and comics, Brussels is a city that truly appreciates and celebrates music in its many forms. If you want to explore and discover its musical history (and that of the rest of the world), visit the Musical Instrument Museum for a look at more than 6,000 unique music makers.

Located near the Palais du Coudenberg and Mont des Arts in the Royal Quarter of Brussels, the MIM also houses its own concert hall, specialized library, museum shop, and workshop for restoring and conserving historical musical devices.

Discover Art Deco at Villa Empain

Brussels isn't just known for its Art Nouveau architecture; by the 1920s, Art Deco had begun taking over sections of the city as well. One of the best examples of this new design style came in the form of Villa Empain , a beautiful building designed by Swiss architect Michel Polak.

Now open to the public and offering tours by the Boghossian Foundation, Villa Empain is considered to be a masterpiece of the Art Deco era. The Villa is also home to a culture and arts center that hosts a variety of workshops, discussions, and panels about all things modern and classic art.

Indulge in Decadence at the Van Buuren Museum

Another famous site for Art Deco style can be found just a 15-minute drive from Brussels in Uccle. The Van Buuren Museum is the former home of David and Alice Van Buuren, who spent more than 30 years transforming the estate into a living museum highlighting the works of famous artists, including Van Gogh.

The grounds are also home to the Garden of Hearts, a beautifully curated sculpture and flower garden that surrounds the estate. The Van Buuren Museum is open daily except Tuesdays, with guided and self-guided tours of the mansion, garden, and bookstore available year-round.

Visit Notre Dame Du Sablon

TripSavvy / Alisha McDarris

Eglise Notre Dame du Sablon (Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon) is a Late Gothic church that's one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. Once used as a chapel by the Archer's Guild, this 14th-century structure located just outside the city center offers tours throughout the year and still serves as a place of worship.

Find the Peeing Statues

Of the many odd art installations in Brussels, the statues of a small boy, a small girl, and a small dog relieving themselves on the city streets are probably the strangest. Known as Manneken Pis , Jeanneke Pis , and Zinneke Pis , these statues can be found throughout Brussels; local residents often dress up Manneken and Jeanneke in colorful outfits.

While Manneken was installed in 1619, his sister Jeanneke and their dog Zinneke weren't installed until the late 1980s and 1990s. You'll find Manneken on the corner of Rue de l’Étuve/Stoofstraat and Rue du Chêne/Eikstraat ; Zinneke at the corner of Rue des Chartreux and Rue du Vieux Marché aux grains ; and Jeanneke across the street from the Délirium Café on Impasse de la Fidélité near the Rue des Bouchers .

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13 classic experiences to have in Brussels

Sep 1, 2021 • 6 min read

Brussels, Belgium - August 16, 2019: People at the tables of Le Pain Quotidien cafe inside Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert, an ensemble of glazed shopping arcades in central Brussels.; Shutterstock ID 1937750464; your: AnneMarie; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: Brussels best of article

Spending time at a quintessential Brussels cafe is a great way to spend an afternoon © Alena Veasey/Shutterstock

Brussels is a city of nuance. Its beauty lies in its details: wrought iron flourishes on seemingly plain houses, locals’ wry jokes paired with warm welcomes, provocative murals that make you do a double take. If you only have a few days, here are some of the top things to do in Brussels to experience the little delights of Belgium’s underrated capital.

Grand Place

Though Brussels’ central square, the Grand Place, is its most touristy spot, you can’t deny that it’s, well, grand. If you only have one day in Brussels, head there. To dig deeper, rather than treating it as a big gilded selfie backdrop, take a moment to sit and take in the intricate details of each building: a swan rearing where Marx wrote his Communist Manifesto, the boatmen guild’s gable shaped like a ship’s stern, a bas relief of Romulus and Remus with their wolf mother.

Find the peeing trio

Manneken Pis , the “little pissing man,” is a perfect example of Belgians’ cheeky humor. Most tourists stop at the bronze boy with the bottomless bladder, but he actually has two urinary comrades. Since 1987, Jeanneke Pis has been squatting behind a red fence near Rue de Bouchers. Manneken’s best friend was added in 1998: a statue of a dog, Zinneke , casually answering nature’s call on a Rue des Chartreux bollard.

Eat waffles like a Belgian

Countless tourist shops offer “authentic” Belgian waffles loaded with all kinds of sugary additions. Sprinkles, nuts and whipped cream have their time and place, but Belgians usually skip the shops and mountains of tops. Freshly made and sticky sweet Liege waffles (Luikse in Flemish) are best enjoyed sans toppings. Waffle vans serving piping hot waffles wrapped in paper can be found all over Brussels – city parks and weekend markets are good places to look.

Drink a beer in a brown cafe

Cramped seating, smoke-darkened wooden panels, and an extensive (but tasteful) beer list are defining features of classic Belgian “brown cafes.” Tables packed with friends laughing into the early hours are proof: having a beer in a brown cafe is one of the best things to do in Brussels at night.

No matter where you stay , there’s sure to be at least one brown cafe nearby, but centrally located favorites include Moeder Lambic in Ixelles, Poechenellekelder by the Manneken Pis, and Nüetnigenough near the Grand Place. Delirium Café merits an honorable mention: though it’s objectively touristy and often sloppy, it does have the world’s biggest beer menu.

Visit the home of an Art Nouveau master

Curling steel vines and floral flourishes were signatures of illustrious architect Victor Horta. Considered to be one of the fathers of the 19th century Art Nouveau movement, his work influenced countless elegantly understated façades found throughout Brussels today. To honor his work, his family home in Ixelles’ Chatelain neighborhood is now open to the public as a museum. It’s not hard to find Art Nouveau’s influences in Brussels, but the Musée Horta is one of the few places where travelers can see the inner workings of Horta’s artistry.

Devour a cone of frites

Belgians love their perfectly crispy fries so much that they want the vendors’ stands placed on UNESCO’s Cultural Heritage list! Snacking on fries is a must do while in Brussels. Portions come in many shapes with many sauces—mostly variants of mayonnaise—but the classic method is to eat the fries straight from a paper cone. Maison Antoine in Place Jourdan is a centrally located cult favorite, but prepare to wait in line!

Exterior of Africa Museum outside Brussels

Take a historic tram to Tervuren’s Africa Museum

Belgium’s colonial history is dark: “crimes against humanity” was a phrase used to describe King Leopold II’s genocide in Congo. After decades of denial, Belgium is slowly coming to terms with its crimes. Tervuren’s palatial Africa Museum is a must-visit to see the changes in progress. Tervuren is connected to Brussels by a century-old wooden tram line that passes towering trees and stately mansions on Avenue de Tervuren.

Sample gueuze beer at Cantillon Brewery

Subtly sour and extra effervescent? Must be a gueuze beer! The curious lambic-style beer hails from the Senne Valley around Brussels. Some say the doubly fermented brew is a craft substitute for champagne, others find the flavor unsettling. The only way to determine that on your own is to do a tasting at the family-run Cantillon Brewery and museum in the west of Brussels.

Savor the world’s best chocolate

Belgians will never agree on which chocolatier is best. What they can agree on is that some of the finest chocolate is in Brussels. Connoisseurs should head to the Sablon neighborhood: there you’ll find names like Wittamer, a master of the “older” generation, alongside newer chocolatiers, like Marcolini, who are more experimental with their creations. High quality comes at a high price, so if you’re traveling Brussels on a budget , the Neuhaus factory is a more budget-friendly alternative.

Walk the comic book route

Comics are a huge deal in the “comic book capital” of the world. Literally huge: Brussels is decorated with more than 60 multistory murals honoring famous comic strips! One of the best things to do in Brussels is follow the comic book route across the city, seeking out characters like Tintin and The Smurfs, plus local Belgian favorites like Suske and Wiske and Rode Ridder.

Treat your ears at the Musical Instruments Museum

Musical instruments might seem a strange choice for nonmusicians, but the interactive MIM is one of the best things to do in Brussels with kids. They can play for hours, exploring the sounds of squiggly horns and plucky pipe organs neither children nor adults have ever heard of. Once done, MIM has a rooftop restaurant that offers spectacular views of central Brussels through arched Art Nouveau windows. It’s a welcome change from somber art museums.

Tuck into a hot pot of moules

Moules-frites, steaming pots of mussels served with sides of fries, are a Belgian classic. Some restaurants dish up pots of mussels year-round, but Belgians claim the best mussels are only available in months whose names contain an “r.” If you’re in Brussels at the right time of year, don’t pass on the chance to tuck into fresh mussels at Le Zinneke or Le Chou de Bruxelles . Pro tip: dip your fries into the sauce at the bottom. You won’t regret it.

Hunt for bargains in Le Marolles

Long a neighborhood of the working class, Marolles is the historic heart of Brussels. The original Brusseleer dialect can still be heard on its streets today. Though times are changing and accents are fading, Marolles is still a place to get a glimpse of the past at bargain prices. Both trash and treasure are sold at the Place du Jeu-de-Balle flea market running 365 days a year, and shopping streets Rue Haute and Rue Blaes around the square are equally rife with shops selling antiques and vintage clothes.

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Brussels Travel Guide

What do you need to know before going to Brussels? This travel guide lists the top things to see in Brussels, thereby serving as a useful reference for any traveler planning his/her first trip to the Belgian capital. Apart from the main tourist attractions, this guide also includes local tips on authentic restaurants, original bars and fun events. Also check out the section on getting around in Brussels, which will come in handy while you’re sightseeing Brussels!

12 Main sights in Brussels

Most of the main sights (apart from the Atomium) are located in the historic city center and can be easily visited by foot. Wander through the pedestrian area around the Grand Place and explore the center at your own peace, with a regular break for waffles and beer ;-) If you’re on a budget, check out the list of free things to do in Brussels . Below is an overview of Brussels’ main landmarks to help you plan your trip. Click on an image to learn more about the place.

How much time in Brussels?

If you’re tight on schedule, you can visit Brussels in 1 day, although you’ll mainly get to see its main sights and you’ll kind of have to rush around. Two, or even three days, would be recommended to visit Brussels, as you’ll be able to discover the city as a tourist but also experience some of its more authentic places that unveil the true identity of the city. We’ve drawn up a few itineraries for various time schedules.

1 day in Brussels
2 days in Brussels
3 days in Brussels

6 Places for Belgian food

When in Brussels, there are a few culinary treats you cannot miss out on. I’m sure you’ve already put fries, chocolate and waffles on your to-do list. Below are a few recommendations for places where you can get them. If you also feel like having something more nutritious, try one of the Belgian restaurants that serve traditional Belgian dishes like carbonnade flamande (beer stew), bloempanch (blood sausage) or rabbit with prunes…

6 typical Brussels bars

Given that Brussels boasts a countless number of bars, you might be wondering where to go first. Below is a selection of special pubs in the city center of Brussels where you can try some of Belgian’s famous beers. Make sure to gulp them down with moderation, as they are pretty strong! You would be surprised. Apart from the beer selection, this shortlist has been made based on the exceptional setting and decoration of these places. You’ll find out ;-)

How to get around in Brussels?

Despite being a capital city, Brussels really isn’t that big which makes it easy to get around. Most of the main sights in the historical center are within walking distance of each other. For larger distances, Brussels has a decent offer of public transportation, made up by a network of metros, trams, buses and trains. This article describes how to get around in Brussels while offering a detailed overview of all the mobility options in Brussels.

Handy apps while in Brussels

You’re wondering how to get from A to B? Or where to eat tonight? You need the timetables of a bus, train, metro… Mobile applications make life so much easier as they provide the answers to all these questions. Also for Brussels, there is a series of apps that will come in handy when you’re visiting or living in Brussels. You’ll find the extensive list in this article about indispensable apps for Brussels .

Other places to visit in Belgium

Blog about Brussels revealing our favorite spots in the city. The best restaurants, authentic bars, mind-boggling sights, fun events... Apart from things to do in Brussels, you'll also find inspiration for various trips in the surroundings. Follow us us on social media to stay tuned!

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11 cool things to do in Brussels to take your mind off Brexit

By Madeleine Silver

Brussels has been lurking under a cloud of warring EU bureaucrats and Brexit negotiations, but scratch beneath the surface of this seemingly scruffy capital and you’ll find a well-kept mini-break secret that makes the two-hour Eurostar hop from London more than worthwhile.

Descend into the Marolles district via the ‘elevator to the sky outside the Palais de Justice and make your way to the...

Hunt for treasure at a flea market

Descend into the Marolles district via the ‘elevator to the sky’ outside the Palais de Justice (giving you some of the best views of the city) and make your way to the flea market on Place du Jeu de Balle. From 6am until 2pm every day, rugs are piled high with vintage clothes , overflowing boxes of vinyl records , rare books and a heady assortment of antiques. Prepare to sift through some dubious-looking junk to find the gems — and don’t be afraid to bargain for the best price.

Address: Place du Jeu de Balle, 1000 Brussels

With its disjointed architecture Brussels has often been labelled as ugly. But the Gothic Grand Place which dates back...

Get your cultural fix

With its disjointed architecture (unsightly apartment blocks nestle alongside Art Nouveau jewels), Brussels has often been labelled as ugly. But the Gothic Grand Place, which dates back to the 12th century, is uniformly breathtaking. Brussels Town Hall, with its bell tower, takes centre stage, and the surrounding guild houses are equally opulent. A three-minute walk away is Brussels’ other big cultural hit: the Manneken Pis, a 15th-century public fountain. It is a rite of passage to be underwhelmed by the 24-inch bronze statue of a boy peeing – but his rotating wardrobe of over 800 seasonal outfits will put a smile on your face.

Address: Grand Place, 1000 Bruxelles; Manneken Pis, Rue de l’Étuve, 1000 Brussels

Eat mussels fresh from the North Sea

Avoid the touristy mussel traps in the centre of town, with their unappetisingly long menus, and head to the area around the old fish market in Sainte Catherine, where tables spill out onto the street from the seafood restaurants. During the past 40 years, La Marée has refined its mussels menu down to just four simple options. Tempting traditional Belgian starters, including shrimp croquettes, are also on offer, along with other simple fish and meat dishes for those who want an alternative to mussels.

Address: La Marée, Rue de Flandre 99, 1000 Brussels Telephone: +32 2 511 00 40 Website: lamaree-sa.com

Take a memorable tram ride

Board the 44 tram underground at Montgomery metro station before emerging onto the impressive Avenue de Tervuren, lined with embassies. The 20-minute ride passes the austere Stoclet House, which was commissioned by banker and art collector Adolphe Stoclet in 1905 and showcases architect Josef Hoffmann’s move to modernism. The tram soon plunges deep into the forest and ends at the charming Tervuren station. From here you can walk into the sprawling Parc de Tervuren, where smoke rises from a waffle van as you enter.

Address: Montgomery Metro Station, Brussels, Belgium

Visit the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken

Every spring the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken open their doors to the public for three weeks, giving access to the otherworldly two-and-a-half-hectare maze of glass greenhouses containing a vast profusion of flowers. The Art Nouveau complex of pavilions and wide arcades, in the grounds of the Castle of Laeken, was designed by architect Alphonse Balat for King Leopold II in 1873. It wasn’t completed until 1895, and today it houses a variety of exotic (and valuable) plants — including those belonging to King Leopold’s original collection.

**Address:**Royal Greenhouses of Laeken, 1020 Brussels Telephone: +32 2 551 20 20 Website: monarchie.be

Eat oysters and sip Champagne from a truck

Kickstart your Sunday with some of the most low-key oysters and Champagne you’re likely to have, sitting at a stall in the market on Place Flagey. It’s the perfect fuel for fashionable Ixelles couples agonising over the encyclopaedic choice of cheese and picking up the rest of their weekly groceries. Crêpes dripping with butter offer a sugar hit and can be walked off with a stroll around the adjacent Ixelles Ponds, which end up at the gardens of La Cambre Abbey.

**Address:**Place Flagey, Ixelles, 1050 Brussels

Curl up in a park with a book

Brussels’ numerous parks are in stark contrast to the often-scruffy streets – immaculate beacons of green amongst the grey. Hidden behind the Indian Embassy and located near the affluent shopping street of Avenue Louise, Parc Tenbosch is an oasis with weaving paths and hidden shady corners; the 30-hectare Parc du Cinquantenaire, near the European Parliament, offers welcome respite to Eurocrats; and the rolling Parc Josaphat, in the north-east of the city, runs a summer programme of yoga and pilates, as well as hosting an outdoor cinema .

**Address:**Parc Josaphat, Schaerbeek, 1030 Bruxelles Telephone: +32 10 45 79 81 Website: theparkto.be

In 2016 MIMA opened on the canal in Molenbeek an area that is swiftly shaking its rundown reputation. Built in a former...

Marvel at MIMA’s contemporary art collection

In 2016, MIMA (Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art) opened on the canal in Molenbeek, an area that is swiftly shaking its run-down reputation. Built in a former brewery, the gallery houses a permanent collection from artists including Banksy and also hosts temporary exhibitions of street art, film, comics, tattoos and fashion design. Take a breather at one of the two panoramic viewing points overlooking the canal.

Address: MIMA, Quai du Hainaut 39-41, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, 1080 Bruxelles Telephone: +32 472 61 03 51 Website: mimamuseum.eu

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Search for comic-strip murals

‘Look up’ is the best advice for comic-book fans on the hunt for their favourite characters. On walls across the city you’ll find Tintin, his dog Snowy and Captain Haddock descending a fire escape, or the little blue Smurfs littering the ceiling of a passage opposite Brussels Central Station. Pick up a comic map from any Brussels Tourism Office for €1 and set off on a three-to-four-hour walk spotting some of the 50-plus murals. The less energetic can get their fix at the Belgian Comic Strip Center, a temple to cartoons and their creators.

**Address:**Belgian Comic Strip Center, Rue des Sables 20, 1000 Brussels Telephone: +32 2 219 19 80 Website: comicscenter.net

Visit a concept store

Antwerp may be Belgium’s fashion capital, but Brussels’ Dansaert Quarter is a hub for hipsters and emerging Belgian designers – as well as a recent flurry of concept stores. At Urban Therapy, a particular favourite, owners Anis and Céline will hand you a glass of mint tea while you suss out the curious collection of gifts, including an impressively wide range of terrariums. There is an extensive line-up of workshops, and brunch – which includes pancakes, açai bowls and detox juices – could be accompanied by a pianist or an opera singer.

**Address:**Urban Therapy, Rue de Flandre 84, 1000 Brussels Telephone: +32 2 319 44 42 Website: urbantherapy.be

Enjoy a Belgian beer

Don’t be deterred by La Porte Noire’s bleak entrance – a black door behind a metal grate. Down in the candlelit 16th-century cellar, there is a choice of 120 Belgian craft beers, including 12 in the barrel. And the choice of 70 whiskies and 20 rums will loosen your dance moves when the live music kicks off on a Thursday night and the DJ sets begin on Saturday.

Address: La Porte Noire, Rue des Alexiens 67, 1000 Brussels Telephone: +32 2 511 78 37 Website: laportenoire.be

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Brussels Travel Guide

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Wherever else you go in Belgium, allow at least a little time for BRUSSELS , which is undoubtedly one of Europe’s premier cities. Certainly, don’t let its unjustified reputation as a dull, faceless centre of EU bureaucracy deter you: in postwar years, the city has become a thriving, cosmopolitan metropolis, with top-flight museums and architecture (including a well-preserved late seventeenth-century centre), a superb restaurant scene and an energetic nightlife. Moreover, most of the key attractions are crowded into a centre that is small enough to be absorbed over a few long days, its boundaries largely defined by a ring of boulevards – the “petit ring”, or less colloquially, the “petite ceinture”.

Around Brussels: Waterloo

Bilingual brussels, the brussels card, east of the centre: the eu quarter and le cinquantenaire, eating and drinking, the grand-place, guided tours, the lower town, nightlife and entertainment, north of the centre: jette, laeken and heysel, south of the centre: st-gilles, avenue louise and ixelles, train station names, the upper town.

First-time visitors to Brussels are often surprised by the raw vitality of the city centre. It isn’t neat and tidy, and many of the old tenement houses are shabby and ill-used, but there’s a buzz about the place that’s hard to resist. The city centre is divided into two main areas. The larger westerly portion comprises the Lower Town , fanning out from the marvellous Grand-Place , with its exquisite guildhouses and town hall, while up above, on a ridge to the east, lies the much smaller Upper Town , home to the finest art collection in the country in the Musées Royaux des Beaux Arts.

Since the eleventh century, the ruling elite has lived in the Upper Town, keeping a beady eye on the workers and shopkeepers down below – a state of affairs that still – in part – remains. In recent times, this fundamental class division, so obvious in the layout of the centre, has been further complicated by discord between Belgium’s two main linguistic groups, the Walloons (the French-speakers) and the Flemings (the Dutch- or Flemish-speakers), and to add to the communal stew, these two groups now share their city with many others, including EU civil servants and immigrants from North and Central Africa, Turkey and the Mediterranean. Each of these communities tends to live a very separate, distinct existence, and Brussels’ compact nature heightens the contrasts: in five minutes you can walk from a chichi shopping mall into an African bazaar, or from a depressed slum quarter to a resplendent square of antique shops and exclusive cafés. This is something that increases the city’s allure, not least by way of the sheer variety of affordable cafés and restaurants – Brussels is a wonderful place to eat, its gastronomic reputation rivalling that of Paris. It’s also a great place to drink, with bars ranging from designer chic to rough and ready with everything in between.

The city’s specialist shops are another pleasure. Everyone knows about Belgian chocolates, but here in the capital there are also huge open-air markets, contemporary art galleries and establishments devoted to anything from comic books to costume jewellery and clubland fashion. Furthermore, Belgium is such a small country, and the rail network so fast and efficient, that Brussels also makes the perfect base for a wide range of day-trips. An obvious target is the battlefield of Waterloo , one of the region’s most visited attractions.

Brief history

Brussels takes its name from Broekzele, or “village of the marsh”, the community which grew up beside the wide and shallow River Senne in the sixth century, allegedly around a chapel built here by St Géry, a French bishop turned missionary. A tiny and insignificant part of Charlemagne’s empire at the end of the eighth century, it was subsequently inherited by the dukes of Lower Lorraine (or Lotharingia – roughly Wallonia and northeast France), who constructed a fortress here in 979. Protected, the village benefited from its position on the trade route between Cologne and the burgeoning towns of Bruges and Ghent to become a significant trading centre in its own right. The surrounding marshes were drained to allow for further expansion, and in 1229 the city was granted its first charter by the dukes of Brabant , the new feudal overlords who controlled things here, on and off, for around two hundred years. In the early fifteenth century, marriage merged the interests of the Duchy of Brabant with that of Burgundy, whose territories passed to the Habsburgs in 1482 when Mary, the last of the Burgundian line, died; she was succeeded by her husband, Maximilian I, who was anointed Holy Roman Emperor in 1494.

The first Habsburg rulers had close ties with Brussels, and the Emperor Charles V (1519–55) ran his vast kingdom from the city for over a decade, making it wealthy and politically important in equal measure. By contrast, his successor Philip II (1527–98) lived in Spain and ruled through a governor (for the whole of the Low Countries) resident in Brussels. It could have been a perfectly reasonable arrangement, but Philip’s fanatical Catholicism soon unpicked the equilibrium. Horrified by the Protestant leanings of many of his Low Country subjects, the king imposed a series of anti-Protestant edicts, and when these provoked extensive rioting , he dispatched an army of ten thousand men – led by a hardline reactionary, the Duke of Albe – to crush his opponents in Brussels absolutely. Albe quickly restored order and then, with the help of the Inquisition, set about the rioters with gusto, his Commission of Civil Unrest soon nicknamed the “ Council of Blood ” after its habit of executing those it examined. Goaded into rebellion by Albe’s brutality, Brussels, along with much of the Low Countries, exploded in revolt, and in 1577, the one-time protégé of the Habsburgs, William the Silent , made a triumphant entry into the city and installed a Calvinist government. Protestant control lasted for just eight years, before Philip’s armies recaptured Brussels – and the king wasn’t a man to forgive and forget. Seeing which way the religious wind was blowing, hundreds of Protestants left the city and the economy slumped, though complete catastrophe was averted by the conspicuous consumption of the (Brussels-based) Habsburg elite, whose high spending kept hundreds of workers in employment. Brussels also benefited from the digging of the Willebroek Canal, which linked it to the sea for the first time in its history in 1561.

By the 1580s, the Habsburgs had lost control of the northern part of the Low Countries (now the Netherlands) and Brussels was confirmed as the capital of the remainder, the Spanish Netherlands (broadly modern Belgium). Brussels prospered more than the rest of the country, but it was always prey to the dynastic squabbling between France and Spain: in 1695, for example, Louis XIV bombarded Brussels for 36 hours merely to teach his rivals a lesson, though the guilds , those associations of skilled merchants and workers who were crucial to the economy of Brussels, rebuilt their devastated city in double time, and it’s this version of the Grand-Place that survives today.

In 1700 Charles II, the last of the Spanish Habsburgs, died without issue. The ensuing War of the Spanish Succession dragged on for over a decade, but eventually the Spanish Netherlands were passed to the Austrian Habsburgs, who ruled – as had their predecessors – through a governor based in Brussels. It was during this period as capital of the Austrian Netherlands (1713–94) that most of the monumental buildings of the Upper Town were constructed and its Neoclassical avenues and boulevards laid out – grand extravagance in the context of an increasingly industrialized city crammed with a desperately poor working class.

The French Revolutionary army brushed the Austrians aside at the Battle of Fleurus in 1794, and the Austrian Netherlands promptly became a département of France. This lasted until the defeat of Napoleon when, under the terms of the Congress of Vienna which ended hostilities, the great powers decided to absorb the country into the new Kingdom of the Netherlands , ruled by the Dutch King William I. Brussels took turns with The Hague as the capital, but the experiment was short-lived, and in 1830 a Brussels-led rebellion removed the Dutch and led to the creation of an independent Belgium with Brussels as capital.

The nineteenth century was a period of modernization and expansion, during which the city achieved all the attributes of a modern European capital under the guidance of Burgomaster Anspach and King Léopold II . New boulevards were built; the free university was founded; the Senne – which by then had become an open sewer – was covered over in the city centre; many slum areas were cleared; and a series of grand buildings were erected. The whole enterprise culminated in the golden jubilee exhibition celebrating the founding of the Belgium state in the newly inaugurated Parc du Cinquantenaire.

Following the German occupation of Belgium in World War II, the modernization of Brussels has proceeded inexorably, with many major development projects – not least the new métro system – refashioning the city and reflecting its elevated status as the headquarters of both NATO and the EU.

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Start your journey in Belgium and explore Brussels, Ghent and Bruges. A high-speed train will then take you to Strasbourg, from where you'll discover the Alsace. Proceed to Basel as your base, from where you'll see plenty of Switzerland: Zermatt, Matterhorn, Mount Pilatus and much more.

With over seventy hotels dotted within its central ring of boulevards, Brussels has no shortage of convenient places to stay, but even so finding hotel accommodation can still prove difficult, particularly in the spring and autumn when the capital enjoys what amounts to its high seasons – July and August are much slacker as the business trade dips when the EU (pretty much) closes down for its summer recess. The same cautions apply to the city’s B&Bs , though these are thin on the ground. If you do opt for a B&B, don’t expect UK-style hospitality – in effect you get a self-contained room in a private house – but do expect to be on the peripheries of town, a good way from the action. The city has half a dozen hostels , of which we have listed the best options.

At peak times, it’s prudent to reserve a bed at least for your first night, but if you do arrive with nowhere to stay, the city’s two main tourist offices operate a free same-night hotel booking service . Hotel prices vary hugely. Many have both deluxe and more standard rooms, with charges adjusted accordingly, and regular special and weekend discounts bring prices down by about fifteen percent, with some places occasionally halving their rates.

Brussels lies at the centre of Brabant , one of Belgium’s nine provinces. The Flemings claim the lion’s share of the province with their Vlaams Brabant (Flemish Brabant) actually encircling the capital – a noticeably narrow corridor of Flemish-speaking communities runs round the southern edge of Brussels. WATERLOO is easily the most popular attraction in Brabant Wallon (French-speaking Brabant) and is best seen on a day-trip from the capital. A run-of-the-mill suburb about 18km south of the centre of Brussels, the town has a resonance far beyond its size. On June 18, 1815, at this small crossroads town on what was once the main route to Brussels from France, Wellington masterminded the battle that put an end to the imperial ambitions of Napoleon. The battle turned out to have far more significance than even its generals realized, for not only was this the last throw of the dice for the formidable army born of the French Revolution, but it also marked the end of France’s prolonged attempts to dominate Europe militarily.

Nevertheless, the historic importance of Waterloo has not saved the battlefield from interference – a motorway cuts right across it – and if you do visit you’ll need a lively imagination to picture what happened and where – unless, that is, you’re around to see the large-scale re-enactment which takes place every five years in June; the next one is scheduled for 2015. Scattered round the battlefield are several monuments and memorials, the most satisfying of which is the Butte de Lion , a huge earth mound that’s part viewpoint and part commemoration. The battlefield is 3km south of the centre of Waterloo, where the Musée Wellington is easily the pick of several Waterloo museums.

The battlefield – Le Hameau de Lion

Some 4km south of town, the Waterloo battlefield is a landscape of rolling farmland, interrupted by a couple of main roads and more pleasingly punctuated by the odd copse and farmstead. The ridge where Wellington once marshalled his army now holds a motley assortment of attractions collectively known as Le Hameau du Lion (Lion’s Hamlet). This comprises four separate sites all within a few metres of each other, with the added offering of a 45-minute battlefield tour in a four-wheel-drive. Of the four sites, the worst are the Centre du Visiteur , which features a dire audiovisual display on the battle, and the Musée de Cires (same hours), a dusty wax museum. The best is the 100m-high Butte de Lion (same hours), built by local women with soil from the battlefield. The Butte marks the spot where Holland’s Prince William of Orange – one of Wellington’s commanders and later King William II of the Netherlands – was wounded. It was only a nick, so goodness knows how high it would have been if William had been seriously injured, but even so the mound is a commanding monument, surmounted by a regal 28-tonne lion atop a stout column. From the viewing platform, there’s a panoramic view over the battlefield, and a plan identifies which army was where. Also enjoyable is the Panorama de la Bataille (same hours), where a circular, naturalistic painting of the battle, on a canvas no less than 110m in circumference, is displayed in a purpose-built, rotunda-like gallery – to a thundering soundtrack of bugles, snorting horses and cannon fire. Panorama painting is extremely difficult – controlling perspective is always a real problem – but it was very much in vogue when the Parisian artist Louis Dumoulin began this effort in 1912. Precious few panoramas have survived and this one is a bit past its best, but it does at least give a sense of the battle. You can also venture out onto the battlefield under your own steam by following the old track that cuts south across the fields from beside the Panorama.

The Battle of Waterloo

Napoleon escaped from imprisonment on the Italian island of Elba on February 26, 1815. He landed in Cannes three days later and moved swiftly north, entering Paris on March 20 just as his unpopular replacement – the slothful King Louis XVIII – high-tailed it to Ghent. Thousands of Frenchmen rallied to Napoleon’s colours and, with little delay, Napoleon marched northeast to fight the two armies that threatened his future. Both were in Belgium. One, an assortment of British, Dutch and German soldiers, was commanded by the Duke of Wellington , the other was a Prussian army led by Marshal Blücher . At the start of the campaign, Napoleon’s army was about 130,000 strong, larger than each of the opposing armies but not big enough to fight them both at the same time. Napoleon’s strategy was, therefore, quite straightforward: he had to stop Wellington and Blücher from joining together – and to this end he crossed the Belgian frontier near Charleroi to launch a quick attack. On June 16, the French hit the Prussians hard, forcing them to retreat and giving Napoleon the opportunity he was looking for. Napoleon detached a force of 30,000 soldiers to harry the retreating Prussians, while he concentrated his main army against Wellington, hoping to deliver a knockout blow. Meanwhile, Wellington had assembled his troops at Waterloo , on the main road to Brussels.

At dawn on Sunday June 18 , the two armies faced each other. Wellington had some 68,000 men, about one third of whom were British, and Napoleon around five thousand more. The armies were deployed just 1500m apart with Wellington on the ridge north of – and uphill from – the enemy. It had rained heavily during the night, so Napoleon delayed his first attack to give the ground a chance to dry. At 11.30am , the battle began when the French assaulted the fortified farm of Hougoumont, which was crucial for the defence of Wellington’s right. The assault failed and at approximately 1pm there was more bad news for Napoleon when he heard that the Prussians had eluded their pursuers and were closing fast. To gain time he sent 14,000 troops off to impede their progress and at 2pm he tried to regain the initiative by launching a large-scale infantry attack against Wellington’s left. This second French attack also proved inconclusive and so at 4pm Napoleon’s cavalry charged Wellington’s centre, where the British infantry formed into squares and just managed to keep the French at bay – a desperate engagement that cost hundreds of lives. By 5.30pm , the Prussians had begun to reach the battlefield in numbers to the right of the French lines and, at 7.30pm , with the odds getting longer and longer, Napoleon made a final bid to break Wellington’s centre, sending in his Imperial Guard. These were the best soldiers Napoleon had, but slowed down by the mud churned up by their own cavalry, the veterans proved easy targets for the British infantry, and they were beaten back with great loss of life. At 8.15pm , Wellington, who knew victory was within his grasp, rode down the ranks to encourage his soldiers before ordering the large-scale counterattack that proved decisive.

The French were vanquished and Napoleon subsequently abdicated , ending his days in exile on St Helena, where he died in 1821. Popular memory, however, refused to vilify Napoleon as the aggressor – and not just in France, but right across Europe, where the Emperor’s bust was a common feature of the nineteenth-century drawing room. In part, this was to do with Napoleon’s obvious all-round brilliance, but more crucially, he soon became a symbol of opportunity: in him the emergent middle classes of western Europe saw a common man becoming greater than the crowned heads of Europe, an almost unique event at the time.

The Musée Wellington

The Musée Wellington , chaussée de Bruxelles 147 ( w www.museewellington.com ), occupies the old inn where Wellington slept the nights before and after the battle. It’s an enjoyable affair, whose displays detail the build-up to – and the course of – the battle via plans and models, alongside an engaging hotchpotch of personal effects. Room 4 holds the bed where Alexander Gordon, Wellington’s principal aide-de-camp, was brought to die, and here also is the artificial leg of Lord Uxbridge, another British commander: “I say, I’ve lost my leg,” Uxbridge is reported to have said during the battle, to which Wellington replied, “By God, sir, so you have!” After the battle, Uxbridge’s leg was buried here in Waterloo, but it was returned to London when he died to join the rest of his body; as a consolation, his artificial leg was donated to the museum. Such insouciance was not uncommon among the British ruling class and neither were the bodies of the dead soldiers considered sacrosanct: tooth dealers roamed the battlefields of the Napoleonic Wars pulling out teeth, which were then stuck on two pieces of board with a spring at the back – primitive dentures known in England as “Waterloos”.

In Wellington’s bedroom, Room 6 , there are copies of the messages Wellington sent to his commanders during the course of the battle, curiously formal epistles laced with phrases like “Could you be so kind as to …”. Finally, an extension at the back of the museum reprises what has gone before, albeit on a slightly larger scale, with more models, plans and military paraphernalia plus a lucid outline of the immediate historical background.

As a cumbersome compromise between Belgium’s French- and Flemish-speaking communities, Brussels is the country’s only officially bilingual region . This means that every instance of the written word, from road signs and street names to the Yellow Pages , has by law to appear in both languages. Visitors soon adjust – though on arrival the names of the main train stations can be confusing – but for simplicity we’ve used the French version of street names, sights etc.

The good-value Brussels Card ( w www.brusselscard.be ) provides free access to most of the city’s key museums, unlimited travel on the STIB public transport network, and discounts of up to 25 percent at specified restaurants and bars. There are three versions – 24hr (€24), 48hr (€34), and 72hr (€40) – and each is valid from the first time it is used, rather than the day of issue. The card is on sale online via the website and at both main tourist offices; there are no concessionary rates for seniors or children. It’s issued with a booklet detailing all the concessions and discounts.

Brussels by no means ends at the petit ring . King Léopold II pushed the city limits out beyond the course of the old walls, grabbing land from the surrounding communes to create the irregular boundaries that survive today. To the east , he sequestered a rough rectangle of land across which he ploughed two wide boulevards to link the city centre with Le Cinquantenaire , a self-glorifying and markedly grandiose monument erected to celebrate the golden jubilee of Belgian independence, and one that now houses three sprawling museums, two specialists and the more general Musées Royaux d’Art et d’Histoire . There’s no disputing the grandness of Léopold’s design, but in recent decades it has been overlaid with the uncompromising office blocks of the EU. These high-rises coalesce hereabouts to form the loosely defined EU quarter , not a particularly enjoyable area to explore, though the strikingly flashy European Parliament building is of passing interest, especially as it is just footsteps from the fascinating – and fascinatingly eccentric – paintings of the Musée Antoine Wiertz . If, however, you’ve an insatiable appetite for the monuments of Léopold, then you should venture further east to Tervuren , where the king built the massive Musée Royal de L’Afrique Centrale on the edge of the woods of the Forêt de Soignes.

The EU in Brussels

The three main institutions of the European Union operate mainly, though not exclusively, from Brussels. The European Parliament carries out its committee work and the majority of its business in Brussels, heading off for Strasbourg for around twelve, three-day plenary sessions per year. It’s the only EU institution to meet and debate in public, and has been directly elected since 1979. There are currently 736 MEPs, and they sit in political blocks rather than national delegations; members are very restricted on speaking time, and debates tend to be well-mannered consensual affairs, controlled by the President , who is elected for a five-year period by Parliament itself – although this mandate is often split in two and shared by the two biggest political groups. The Conference of Presidents – the President of the Parliament and Leaders of all the political groups – meet to plan future parliamentary business. Supporting and advising this political edifice is a complex network of committees from agriculture to human rights.

The European Council consists of the heads of government of each of the member states and the President of the European Commission; they meet twice every six months in the much-publicized “European Summits”. However, in between these meetings, ministers responsible for different issues meet in the Council of the European Union , the main decision-making structure alongside the European Parliament. There are complex rules regarding decision-making: some subjects require only a simple majority, others need unanimous support, some can be decided by the Council alone, others need the agreement of Parliament. This political structure is underpinned by scores of Brussels-based committees and working parties, made up of both civil servants and political appointees.

The European Commission acts as the EU’s executive arm and board of control, managing funds and monitoring all manner of agreements. The 27 Commissioners are political appointees, nominated by their home countries, but their tenure has to be agreed by the European Parliament and they remain accountable to the MEPs. The president of the Commission is elected by the European Parliament for a five-year period of office. Over twenty thousand civil servants work for the Commission, whose headquarters are in Brussels, mainly in the Berlaymont and adjacent Charlemagne building on rue de la Loi as well as other buildings in the Schuman area.

Brussels can hold its own with any international city when it comes to eating out , and whatever your taste, price range or preferred type of cuisine there is almost always something that will suit. Look out particularly for traditional Bruxellois dishes, canny amalgamations of Walloon and Flemish ingredients and cooking styles, whether rabbit cooked in beer, steamed pigs’ feet or waterzooi (for more on Belgian specialities). As for where to eat, the distinction between the city’s cafés , café-bars and restaurants is fairly elastic, and there are great places over the city, with particular concentrations on place Ste-Catherine and rue du Flandre in the Lower Town and place Boniface and place du Châtelain in Ixelles.

Drinking in Brussels, as in the rest of the country, is a joy. The city boasts an enormous variety of café-bars and bars : sumptuous Art Nouveau establishments, traditional bars with ceilings stained brown by a century’s smoke, speciality beer bars with literally hundreds of different varieties of ale and, of course, more modern hangouts. Many of the more distinctive bars are handily located within a few minutes’ walk of the Grand-Place and also in Ixelles, but really you’ll be spoiled for choice.

There’s no smoking in any establishment that sells food, along with bars and clubs.

Restaurants

Restaurant opening times are pretty standard – a couple of hours at lunchtime, usually noon to 2pm or 2.30pm, and again in the evening from 7pm to around 10pm; precise hours are given with the reviews below. At all but the cheapest restaurants, advance reservations are recommended, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Bars and cafés

Belgians make little – or no – distinction between their bars and cafés : both serve alcohol, many stay open late (until 2am or even 3am) and most sell food as well. What you won’t find (thank goodness) are lots of the coffee house chains which beleaguer so many big cities.

The obvious place to begin any tour of Brussels is the Grand-Place , one of Europe’s most beautiful squares, which sits among a labyrinth of narrow, cobbled alleys and lanes at the heart of the Lower Town. Here, the Gothic extravagance of the Hôtel de Ville (town hall) presides over the gilded facades of a full set of late seventeenth-century guildhouses , whose columns, scrolled gables and dainty sculptures encapsulate Baroque ideals of balance and harmony. Inevitably, such an outstanding attraction draws tourists and expats in their droves, but there’s no better place to get a taste of Brussels’ past and Eurocapital present.

Originally marshland, the Grand-Place was drained in the twelfth century, and by 1350 covered markets for bread, meat and cloth had been erected, born of an economic boom that was underpinned by a flourishing cloth industry. Later, the Grand-Place’s role as the commercial hub of the emergent city was cemented when the city’s guilds built their headquarters on the square and, in the fifteenth century, it also assumed a civic and political function with the construction of the Hôtel de Ville. The ruling dukes visited the square to meet the people or show off in tournaments, and it was here that official decrees and pronouncements were proclaimed.

During the religious wars of the sixteenth century, the Grand-Place became as much a place of public execution as trade, but thereafter resumed its former role as a marketplace. Of the square’s medieval buildings, however, only parts of the Hôtel de Ville and one or two guildhouses have survived, the consequence of an early example of the precepts of total war, a 36-hour French artillery bombardment which pretty much razed Brussels to the ground in 1695; the commander of the French artillery gloated, “I have never yet seen such a great fire nor so much desolation”. After the French withdrew, the city’s guildsmen dusted themselves down and speedily had their headquarters rebuilt, adopting the distinctive and flamboyant Baroque style that characterizes the square today.

The health of Charles II

Philip IV of Spain (1605–65) had no fewer than fourteen children, but only one of his sons – Charles II (1661–1700) – reached his twenties. With women banned from the succession, the hapless, sickly Charles became king aged just four and, much to everyone’s surprise, survived to adulthood. After his first marriage in 1679, there were great hopes that he would sire an heir , but none arrived, allegedly because Charles suffered from premature ejaculation. A second marriage, twenty years later, was equally fruitless and, as it became increasingly clear that Charles was unable to procreate, Europe focused on what was to happen when Charles died and the Spanish royal line died out. Every ambassador to the Spanish court wrote long missives home about the health of Charles, none more so than the English representative, Stanhope , who painted an especially gloomy picture: “He (Charles) has a ravenous stomach and swallows all he eats whole, for his nether jaw stands out so much that his two rows of teeth cannot meet…His weak stomach not being able to digest the food, he voids it in the same (whole) manner.”

In the autumn of 1700, it was clear that Charles was dying and his doctors went to work in earnest, replacing his pillows with freshly killed pigeons and covering his chest with animal entrails. Not surprisingly, this didn’t work and Charles died on November 1, an event which triggered the War of the Spanish Succession .

The Hôtel de Ville

From the south side of the Grand-Place, the scrubbed and polished Hôtel de Ville (town hall) dominates proceedings, its 96m spire soaring high above two long series of robust windows, whose straight lines are mitigated by fancy tracery and an arcaded gallery. The edifice dates from the beginning of the fifteenth century, when the town council decided to build itself a mansion that adequately reflected its wealth and power. The first part to be completed was the east wing – the original entrance is marked by the twin lions of the Lion Staircase, though the animals were only added in 1770. Work started on the west wing in 1444 and continued until 1480. Despite the gap, the wings are of very similar style, and you have to look hard to notice that the later one is slightly shorter than its neighbour, allegedly at the insistence of Charles the Bold who – for some unknown reason – refused to have the adjacent rue de la Tête d’Or narrowed. The niches were left empty and the statues seen today, which represent leading figures from the city’s past, were added as part of a nineteenth-century refurbishment.

By any standard, the tower of the Hôtel de Ville is quite extraordinary, its remarkably slender appearance the work of Jan van Ruysbroeck , the leading spire specialist of the day, who also played a leading role in the building of the cathedral. Ruysbroeck had the lower section built square to support the weight above, choosing a design that blended seamlessly with the elaborately carved facade on either side – or almost: look carefully and you’ll see that the main entrance is slightly out of kilter. Ruysbroeck used the old belfry porch as the base for the new tower, hence the misalignment, a deliberate decision rather than the miscalculation which, according to popular legend, prompted the architect’s suicide. Above the cornice protrudes an octagonal extension where the basic design of narrow windows flanked by pencil-thin columns and pinnacles is repeated up as far as the pyramid-shaped spire , a delicate affair surmounted by a gilded figure of St Michael , protector of Christians in general and of soldiers in particular. The tower is off-limits, and guided tours in English are confined to a string of lavish official rooms used for receptions and town council meetings. Tours begin at the reception desk off the interior quadrangle; be prepared for the guides’ overly reverential script.

Guided tours are big business in Brussels; everything from a quick stroll or bus ride round the city centre to themed visits is on offer, and both Brussels International tourist offices have the details of – and take bookings for – about twenty operators. As a general rule, the more predictable tours can be booked on the day, while the more exotic need to be booked ahead of time, either direct with the company concerned or with the tourist office, who normally require at least two weeks’ advance notice. Among the many more straightforward options, Brussels City Tours , rue de la Colline 8 ( w www.brussels-city-tours.com ), operates the Visit Brussels Line, a hop-on, hop-off bus service which loops round the city, visiting twelve of its principal sights.

More promising is ARAU (Atelier de Recherche et d’Action Urbaines), blvd Adolphe Max 55 ( t 02 219 33 45, w www.arau.org ), a heritage action group which provides tours exploring the city’s architectural history – with particular emphasis on Art Nouveau – from April through to December; prices vary with the length of the tour and the itinerary, but average about €10 per person for walking tours, €15 if there’s some transport involved.

Cramped and populous, the Lower Town fans out from the Grand-Place in all directions, bisected by one major north–south boulevard, variously named Adolphe Max, Anspach and Lemonnier. Setting aside the boulevard – which was ploughed through in the nineteenth century – the layout of the Lower Town remains essentially medieval, a skein of narrow, cobbled lanes and alleys in which almost every street is crimped by tall and angular town houses. There’s nothing neat and tidy about all of this, but that’s what gives it its appeal – dilapidated terraces stand next to prestigious mansions and the whole district is dotted with superb buildings, everything from beautiful Baroque churches through to Art Nouveau department stores.

The Lower Town is at its most beguiling to the northwest of the Grand-Place, where the churches of Ste-Catherine and Ste-Jean-Baptiste au Béguinage stand amid a cobweb of quaint streets and tiny squares. The streets to the north of the Grand-Place are of less immediate appeal, with particularly dreary rue Neuve, a pedestrianized main drag that’s home to the city’s mainstream shops and stores, leading up to the clumping skyscrapers that surround the place Rogier and the Gare du Nord. This is an uninviting part of the city, but relief is at hand in the precise Habsburg symmetries of the place des Martyrs and at the Belgian Comic Strip Centre, the Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée. To the south of the Grand-Place, almost everyone makes a beeline for the city’s mascot, the Manneken Pis , but much more enjoyable is the museum dedicated to Belgium’s most celebrated chansonnier, Jacques Brel .

Éditions Jacques Brel

From the Manneken Pis, it’s a short stroll to place de la Vieille-Halle aux Blés, where the Éditions Jacques Brel ( www.jacquesbrel.be ) is a small but inventive museum celebrating the life and times of the Belgian singer Jacques Brel (1933–78), who was born and raised in Schaarbeek, a suburb of Brussels, though he lived most of his life in France. A legend in his own musical lifetime, Brel became famous in the 1960s as a gravelly voiced singer of mournful chansons about death, loss, desire and love, all of which he wrote himself. Inside the museum, a sequence of life-size tableaux give the impression that you have just missed Brel – a cigarette still burns in the replica bar – and you can watch films of the man in concert in the small and cosy theatre-cum-cinema. Brel’s performances were famous for their intensity and if you watch a show you can’t fail to be affected, though actually liking the music is another thing altogether.

Jacques Brel playlist

If you like what you hear at the Éditions Jacques Brel, you might want to check out some songs from the playlist below, which covers the very best of Brel’s work.

Brel’s deliberately repetitive, climactic tale of sailors in seedy ports is a fantastically evocative song, and was one of his most intense live numbers.

Les Bonbons

This is Brel at his wittiest and most unforgiving, poking fun at 1960s hippies.

Le chanson de Jackie

Brel in autobiographical mode, looking back in fantastically rumbustious fashion on his career and forward into his future.

One of Brel’s greatest love songs, brilliantly covered by Scott Walker.

Le Moribond

The tormented and yet curiously upbeat lament of a dying man that gave rise to the Terry Jacks hit of 1974.

Ne me quitte pas

Brel’s most anguished love song, and perhaps one of the most affecting ever written, memorably covered by Nina Simone.

Quand on n’a que l’amour

One of Brel’s earliest songs, When we have only Love was his first hit single.

The Impossible Dream has been covered by just about everyone and is quite rightly one of Brel’s best-known songs, but his version stands out.

Je suis un soir d’été

This late and very atmospheric study of summer ennui in small-town Belgium is one of Brel’s most beautiful songs.

Brel is typically satirical in this biting rant against war, militarism and middle-class bourgeois values.

Tintin was the creation of Brussels-born Georges Remi , aka Hergé (1907–83). Remi’s first efforts (pre-Tintin) were sponsored by a right-wing Catholic journal, Le XXième Siècle , and in 1929 when this same paper produced a kids’ supplement – Le Petit Vingtième – Remi was given his first major break. He was asked to produce a two-page comic strip and the result was Tintin in the Land of the Soviets , a didactic tale about the evils of Bolshevism. Tintin’s Soviet adventure lasted until May 1930, and to round it all off the director of Le XXième Siècle decided to stage a PR-stunt reception to celebrate Tintin’s return from the USSR. Remi – along with a Tintin lookalike – hopped on a train just east of Brussels and when they pulled into the capital they were mobbed by scores of excited children. Remi and Tintin never looked back. Remi decided on the famous quiff straight away, but other features – the mouth and expressive eyebrows – only came later. His popularity was – and remains – quite phenomenal: Tintin has been translated into sixty languages and over twenty million copies of the comic Le Journal de Tintin , Remi’s own independent creation first published in 1946, have been sold – and that’s not mentioning all the Tintin TV cartoon series. Remi’s life and work are also celebrated at the Musée Hergé in Louvain-la-Neuve.

As far as nightlife goes, it’s likely you’ll be happy to while away the evenings in one of the city’s bars or café-bars – there are plenty in which you can drink until sunrise. If that isn’t enough, Brussels also has a clutch of established clubs , though most of the action revolves around club nights with moveable locations. It’s a fast-moving scene, so the best bet is to check out local websites to see what’s on. Brussels is a good place to catch live bands , with a number of especially appealing smaller venues such as Ancienne Belgique and Botanique . Along with Antwerp, the city is also a regular stop on the European tours of major artists, the big venue being Forest Nationale . Jazz is well catered for too, with several bars playing host to local and international acts, as well as the internationally acclaimed Jazz Marathon held every May ( www.brusselsjazzmarathon.be ).

The classical musical scene is excellent. The Orchestre National de Belgique ( www.nob.be ) enjoys an international reputation and the city showcases a number of excellent classical music festivals. Cream of the crop are the Ars Musica festival of contemporary music held in March ( www.arsmusica.be ), and May’s prestigious Concours Musical Reine Elisabeth ( www.concours-reine-elisabeth.be ), a competition for piano, violin and voice. Opera lovers should make a beeline for the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, which is much praised for staging contemporary interpretations of classic operas, as well as offering a more eclectic repertoire of music and dance. Indeed, the city’s dance scene has been impressing visitors ever since Maurice Béjart brought his classical Twentieth Century Ballet here in 1959. Now the main dance venues are the Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwberg and the Kaaitheatre, but the innovative legacy of Béjart lives on, with his old company (now called Rosas and led by Anne Theresa de Keersmaeker) regularly performing at Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie.

The big players in the Brussels theatre scene are the Francophone Théâtre National and the Flemish Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwberg, but the city also has an abundance of small theatres providing an eclectic programme from experimental theatre to political pieces and comedy. Most productions are performed in French and Flemish, but several American, Irish and British theatre groups put on high-quality amateur productions too.

The free, trilingual Agenda has the most comprehensive listings of concerts and events. Published every Thursday, it can be picked up in all main métro stations, plus some bars and cafés.

To the north of the city centre lies Jette , a well-heeled suburb that wouldn’t merit a second glance if it weren’t for the former home of René Magritte, now turned into the engaging Musée René Magritte , which pays detailed tribute to the artist, his family and friends. East of here is leafy Laeken , where the Belgian royal family hunker down, and next door again is Heysel , with its trademark Atomium , a hand-me-down from the 1958 World’s Fair.

Brussels has a supreme selection of small, independent shops , a smashing range of open-air markets and a number of charming galeries , covered shopping “streets” dating back to the nineteenth century. The main downtown shopping street is rue Neuve , but this is dominated by chain stores; the Galeries St-Hubert , near the Grand-Place, are much more distinctive, accommodating a smattering of upmarket shops and stores, while the nearby Galerie Agora peddles bargain-basement leather jackets, incense, jewellery and ethnic goods. Behind the Bourse, rue Antoine Dansaert caters for the young and fashionable, housing the stores of upcoming designers as well as big Belgian names like Strelli, and in neighbouring St-Géry , rue des Riches Claires and rue du Marché au Charbon are good for streetwear. More than anything else, however, Brussels is famous for three things: comic strips , beer and chocolate .

Generally speaking, shops and stores are open from 10am to 6pm or 7pm Monday through Saturday. On Fridays, most department stores stay open till 8pm, and some tourist-oriented shops open on Sundays too.

Cobwebbed by tiny squares and narrow streets, home to a plethora of local bars and many of the capital’s finest Art Nouveau houses, the neighbouring areas of St-Gilles and Ixelles, just south of the petit ring, make a great escape from the razzmatazz of the city centre. St-Gilles , the smaller of the two communes , does have patches of inner-city decay, but it gets more beautiful the further east it spreads, its run-down streets soon left behind for attractive avenues interspersed with dignified squares. Ixelles , for its part, is one of the capital’s most interesting and exciting outer areas, with a diverse street-life and café scene. Historically something of a cultural crossroads, Ixelles has long drawn artists, writers and intellectuals – Karl Marx, Auguste Rodin and Alexandre Dumas all lived here – and today it retains an arty, sometimes Bohemian feel. Ixelles is cut into two by avenue Louise , a prosperous corridor that is actually part of the city – a territorial anomaly inherited from Léopold II, who laid it out and named it after his eldest daughter in the 1840s. Some of Brussels’ premier hotels, shops and boutiques flank the northern reaches of the avenue and further along is the enjoyable Musée Constantin Meunier , sited in the sculptor’s old house.

More than anything else, however, it’s the superb range of Art Nouveau buildings clustering the streets of St-Gilles and Ixelles that really grab the attention. Many of the finest examples are concentrated on and around the boundary between the two communes – in between chaussée de Charleroi and avenue Louise – and it’s here you’ll find Horta’s own house and studio, now the glorious Musée Victor Horta , one of the few Art Nouveau buildings in the country fully open to the public. Access to most of the city’s Art Nouveau buildings is restricted, so you can either settle for the view from outside, or enrol on one of ARAU’s specialist Art Nouveau tours.

Musée Victor Horta

The best place to start a visit to St-Gilles is the delightful Musée Victor Horta ( w www.hortamuseum.be ), just off the chaussée de Charleroi at rue Américaine 25 and reachable by tram #92 from place Louise. The museum occupies the two houses Horta designed as his home and studio at the end of the nineteenth century, and was where he lived until 1919. The exterior sets the tone, a striking re-working and re-ordering of what was originally a modest terraced structure, the fluidity of the design incorporating almost casually knotted and twisted ironwork. Yet it is for his interiors that Horta is particularly famous. Inside is a sunny, sensuous dwelling exhibiting all the architect’s favourite flourishes – wrought iron, stained glass, ornate furniture and panelling made from several different types of timber. The main unifying feature is the staircase , a dainty spiralling affair, which runs through the centre of the house illuminated by a large skylight. Decorated with painted motifs and surrounded by mirrors, it remains one of Horta’s most magnificent and ingenious creations, giving access to a sequence of wide, bright rooms. Also of interest is the modest but enjoyable selection of paintings, many of which were given to Horta by friends and colleagues, including works by Félicien Rops and Joseph Heymans.

Horta’s progress

The son of a shoemaker, Victor Horta (1861–1947) was born in Ghent, where he failed in his first career, being unceremoniously expelled from the city’s music conservatory for indiscipline. He promptly moved to Paris to study architecture, returning to Belgium in 1880 to complete his internship in Brussels with Alphonse Balat, architect to King Léopold II. Balat was a traditionalist, partly responsible for the classical facades of the Palais Royal – among many other prestigious projects – and Horta looked elsewhere for inspiration. He found it in the work of William Morris, the leading figure of the English Arts and Crafts movement, whose designs were key to the development of Art Nouveau . Taking its name from the Maison de l’Art Nouveau, a Parisian shop which sold items of modern design, Art Nouveau rejected the imitative architectures which were popular at the time – Neoclassical and neo-Gothic – in favour of an innovatory style characterized by sinuous, flowing lines. In England, Morris and his colleagues had focused on book illustrations and furnishings, but in Belgium Horta extrapolated the new style into architecture, experimenting with new building materials – steel and concrete – as well as traditional stone, glass and wood.

In 1893, Horta completed the curvaceous Hôtel Tassel , Brussels’ first Art Nouveau building (“hôtel” meaning town house). Inevitably, there were howls of protest from the traditionalists, but no matter what his opponents said, Horta never lacked work again. The following years – roughly 1893 to 1905 – were Horta’s most inventive and prolific. He designed over forty buildings, including the Hôtel Solvay , the Hôtel Max Hallet , and his own beautifully decorated house and studio, now the Musée Victor Horta . The delight Horta took in his work is obvious, especially when employed on private houses, and his enthusiasm was all-encompassing – he almost always designed everything from the blueprints to the wallpaper and carpets. He never kept a straight line or sharp angle where he could deploy a curve, and his use of light was revolutionary, often filtering through from above, with skylights and as many windows as possible. Horta felt that the architect was as much an artist as the painter or sculptor, and so he insisted on complete stylistic freedom; curiously, he also believed that originality was born of frustration, so he deliberately created architectural difficulties, pushing himself to find harmonious solutions. It was part of a well-thought-out value system that allied him with the political Left; as he wrote, “My friends and I were reds, without however having thought about Marx or his theories”.

Completed in 1906, the Grand Magasin Waucquez department store was a transitional building signalling the end of Horta’s Art Nouveau period. His later works were more Modernist constructions, whose understated lines were a far cry from the ornateness of his earlier work. In Brussels, the best example of his later work is the Palais des Beaux Arts (BOZAR) of 1928.

When you first arrive, the city’s bilingual signage can be very confusing, especially with regard to the names of the three main train stations : Bruxelles-Nord (in Flemish Brussel-Noord), Bruxelles-Centrale (Brussel-Centraal) and, most bewildering of the lot, Bruxelles-Midi (Brussel-Zuid). To add to the puzzle, each of the three adjoins a métro station – respectively the Gare du Nord (Noordstation), Gare Centrale (Centraal Station) and Gare du Midi (Zuidstation).

From the heights of the Upper Town , the Francophile ruling class long kept a beady eye on the proletarians down below, and it was here they built their palaces and mansions, churches and parks. Political power is no longer concentrated hereabouts, but the wide avenues and grand architecture of this aristocratic quarter – the bulk of which dates from the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries – have survived pretty much intact, lending a stately, dignified feel that’s markedly different from the bustle of the Lower Town.

The Lower Town ends and the Upper Town begins at the foot of the sharp slope which runs north to south from one end of the city centre to the other, its course marked – in general terms at least – by a wide boulevard that’s variously named Berlaimont, L’Impératrice and L’Empereur. This slope is home to the city’s cathedral , but otherwise is little more than an obstacle to be climbed by a series of stairways. Among the latter, the most frequently used are the covered walkway running through the Galerie Ravenstein shopping arcade behind the Gare Centrale, and the open-air stairway that climbs up through the stodgy, modern buildings of the so-called Mont des Arts . Léopold II gave the area its name in anticipation of a fine art museum he intended to build, but the project was never completed, and the land was only properly built upon in the 1950s.

Above the rigorous layout of the Mont des Arts lie the rue Royale and rue de la Régence , which together make up the Upper Town’s spine, a suitably smart location for the outstanding Musées Royaux des Beaux Arts , the pick of Belgium’s many fine art collections, the surprisingly low-key Palais Royal , and the entertaining Musée des Instruments de Musique ( MIM ). Further south, rue de la Régence soon leads to the well-heeled Sablon neighbourhood, whose antique shops and chic bars and cafés fan out from the medieval church of Notre Dame du Sablon . Beyond this is the monstrous Palais de Justice , traditionally one of the city’s most disliked buildings.

Musées Royaux des Beaux Arts

On the edge of place Royale, the Musées Royaux des Beaux Arts ( w www.fine-arts-museum.be ) holds Belgium’s most satisfying all-round collection of fine art, a vast hoard that is exhibited in three interconnected museums, one displaying modern art from the nineteenth century onwards, a second devoted to René Magritte, and a third to older works. Finding your way around is made easy by the English-language, colour-coded museum plan issued at the information desk behind the entrance. The museum also hosts a prestigious programme of temporary exhibitions (colour-coded red on the museum plan) for which a supplementary admission fee is usually required.

Musée d’Art Ancien

In the Musée d’Art Ancien , the blue area displays paintings of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, including the Flemish primitives and the Bruegels, and the brown area concentrates on paintings of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, with the collection of Rubens (for which the museum is internationally famous) as a particular highlight.

The museum owns several paintings by Rogier van der Weyden (1399–1464), who moved to Brussels from his home town of Tournai (in today’s southern Belgium) in the 1430s, becoming the city’s official painter shortly afterwards. When it came to portraiture, Weyden’s favourite technique was to highlight the features of his subject – and tokens of rank – against a black background. His Portrait of Antoine de Bourgogne is a case in point, with Anthony, the illegitimate son of Philip the Good, casting a haughty, tight-lipped stare to his right while wearing the chain of the Order of the Golden Fleece and clasping an arrow, the emblem of the guild of archers.

Weyden’s contemporary, Leuven-based Dieric Bouts (1410–75) is well represented by the two panels of his Justice of the Emperor Otto . The story was well known: in revenge for refusing her advances, the empress accuses a nobleman of attempting to seduce her. He is executed, but the man’s wife remains convinced of his innocence and subsequently proves her point by means of an ordeal by fire – hence the red-hot iron bar she’s holding. The empress then receives her just desserts, being burnt on the hill in the background.

One of the museum’s most interesting paintings is a copy of Temptations of St Anthony by Hieronymus Bosch (1450–1516); the original is in Lisbon’s Museu Nacional. No one is quite sure who painted this triptych – it may or may not have been one of Bosch’s apprentices – but it was certainly produced in Holland in the late fifteenth or early sixteenth century. The painting refers to St Anthony, a third-century nobleman who withdrew into the desert, where he endured fifteen years of temptation before settling down into his long stint as a hermit. It was the temptations that interested Bosch – rather than the ascetic steeliness of Anthony – and the central panel has an inconspicuous saint sticking desperately to his prayers surrounded by all manner of fiendish phantoms. The side panels develop the theme – to the right Anthony is tempted by lust and greed, and on the left Anthony’s companions help him back to his shelter after he’s been transported through the skies by weird-looking demons.

Another leading Flemish artist, Quinten Matsys (1465–1530) is well represented by the Triptych of the Holy Kindred . Matsys’ work illustrates a turning point in the development of Low Country painting, and in this triptych, completed in 1509, he abandons the realistic interiors and landscapes of his Flemish predecessors in favour of the grand columns and porticoes of the Renaissance. Each scene is rigorously structured, its characters – all relations of Jesus – assuming lofty, idealized poses.

René Magritte

René Magritte (1898–1967) is easily the most famous of Belgium’s modern artists, his disconcerting, strangely haunting images a familiar part of popular culture. Born in a small town just outside Charleroi, he entered the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels in 1915, and was a student there until 1920. His appearances were, however, few and far between as he preferred the company of a group of artists and friends fascinated with the Surrealist movement of the 1920s. Their antics were supposed to incorporate a serious intent – the undermining of bourgeois convention – but the surviving home movies of Magritte and his chums fooling around don’t appear very revolutionary today.

Initially, Magritte worked in a broadly Cubist manner, but in 1925, influenced by the Italian painter Giorgio de Chirico, he switched over to Surrealism and almost immediately stumbled upon the themes and images that would preoccupy him for decades to come. His work incorporated startling comparisons between the ordinary and the extraordinary, with the occasional erotic element thrown in. Favourite images included men in bowler hats, metamorphic figures, enormous rocks floating in the sky, tubas, fishes with human legs, bilboquets (the cup and ball game), and juxtapositions of night and day – one part of the canvas lit by artificial light, the other basking in full sunlight. He also dabbled in word paintings, mislabelling familiar forms to illustrate (or expose) the arbitrariness of linguistic signs. His canvases were devoid of emotion, deadpan images that were easy to recognize but perplexing because of their setting – perhaps most famously, the man in the suit with a bowler hat and an apple for a face.

He broke with this characteristic style on two occasions, once during the war – in despair over the Nazi occupation – and again in 1948, to revenge long years of neglect by the French artistic establishment. Hundreds had turned up to see Magritte’s first Paris exhibition , but were confronted with crass and crude paintings of childlike simplicity. These so-called Vache paintings created a furore, and Magritte beat a hasty artistic retreat behind a smokescreen of self-justification. These two experiments alienated Magritte from most of the other Surrealists, but this was of little consequence as he was picked up and popularized by an American art dealer, Alexander Iolas, who made him very rich and very famous.

Magritte and his family lived in Jette, a suburb of Brussels, until the late 1950s, and the house is now the Musée René Magritte . He died in 1967, shortly after a major retrospective of his work at the Museum of Modern Art in New York confirmed his reputation as one of the great artists of the twentieth century.

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Brussels card pass.

If you plan to visit more than one museum or attraction then the Brussels Card is definitely a recommended buy. It will make your trip easier and save you money.

Brussels Card includes

Free entrance to 49 museums and attractions around Brussels
Free use of public transport
Discounts at many other attractions, shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs
A 100 page guidebook and map with information about Brussels, institutions and services

You can find the complete list of free entrances and discounts by looking at the Brussels Card discounts list .

Versions of Brussels Card

The Brussels Card can be purchased in forms of 24-hour, 48-hour or 72-hour access. With or without the unlimited public transport for all busses, trams and metro. The booking modules for both versions are at the bottom of this webpage.

How to order Brussels Card

2 ordering forms for the 2 versions of the Bruussels Card ale placed at the bottom of this page.

After ordering online, the manufactured physical card must be picked up at the town hall tourism desk at the Brussles main square (adress below).

At the reservation module select a date when you would like to pick up the Brussels card and click the "Book now" button.
Enter your personal and payment information.
After booking you will receive a voucher into your email inbox.
Show this voucher (printed or from smartphone) at the Brussels town hall tourism desk (address below).
After presenting the voucher you will receive your manufactured physical card.
You will also receive illustrated city guide and city map - 100 pages in 3 languages.

Tourism Office:

Brussels Town Hall Grand Place 1 Open every day 9:00-18:00 - An impressive building on the main square. It will definitelly be one of the first places you will visit. It is no problem to find the main square and the town hall on it.

How to use Brussels card

Show the Brussels card at the entrance of each visited institution to have it scanned.
The card is usable for 24/36/48 hours after first use. The validity does not start after getting the card from town hall but after first scan for entrance to museum.
Public transport validity starts after first use for transport. Independently of the validity for entrance to museums.
Discount vouchers for restaurants, pubs, shops, ... are in the information guide received with the card and can be used even after the Brussels card has expired.
Brussels Card is personal - 1 card for 1 person.

Booking modules for 2 versions of Brussels card

Brussels card regular for 24 or 36 or 48 hours
Brussels card + public transport pass for 24 or 36 or 48 hours (buses, trams and metro)

IMAGES

Tourism Information Centre at Grand Place (Brüssel)
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COMMENTS

Tourism Information desks
Tourism Information desks. Welcome to the capital city of more than 500 million Europeans. At visit.brussels we have all the information you could ever need about Brussels and we'd be delighted to welcome you at one of our tourist information desks. You can find our main information office in the BIP, on the Mont des Arts.
Brussels.info
Brussels International - Tourism & Congress. Town Hall of Brussels Grand-Place Open: 9am to 6pm Winter time: 10am to 2pm. Brussels International - Brussels Info Place (BIP) Rue Royale 2, 1000 Brussels Open: 10am to 6pm 7 days a week. Office de Promotion du Tourisme - Brussels Airport. Arrival Hall Zaventem Airport, Brussels Open: 8am to 9pm 7 ...
Tourism
Visit.brussels is the Brussels Tourist Agency. ... Office Address; City Hall of Brussels: Grand-Place - 1000 Bruxelles: Station Europe (temporarily closed) Place du Luxembourg - 1050 Bruxelles: Brussels Info Place: Rue Royale 2 - 1000 Bruxelles: Map of the tourist information desks.
Visit Belgium, your next travel destination in Europe
Tourist Office for Flanders - Brussels. Grasmarkt 61, 1000 Brussel +32 2 504 03 00. [email protected]. www.visitflanders.com. Brussels Tourist Agency. Brussels Tourist Agency. Rue Royale 2-4, 1000 Bruxelles +32 2 513 89 40. [email protected]. visit.brussels.
Brussels travel
Europe's newest night train will link these grandiose cities. Feb 29, 2024 • 2 min read. Passengers can travel from Brussels to Prague (and even link up with London) on a cross-border night train service. in partnership with getyourguide.
Brussels Belgium Travel Guide
Brussels Travel Guide. Brussels is the Capital of Belgium and the European Union. A majority of the Brussels metropolitan area's 1.8 million inhabitants speak French, but Brussels is historically Dutch-speaking. Although Brussels dates from the 19th Century, most of Brussels old town was destroyed for new construction between 1880 and 1980, so ...
An expert guide to a weekend in Brussels
Brussels Tourist Office: 00 32 2 513 89 40; visit.brussels; counters at Grand Place (at the front of the Hôtel de Ville, daily, 9am-6pm) and 2 Rue Royale (Place Royale), daily, 9am-5pm.
Brussels
Frequencies and approximate travel times from Brussels Central station to selected cities in Belgium: Antwerp - 6x/hour, 40 min-1 hr 15 min. Arlon - 1xhour, 2bhr 50 min. Bruges - 2x/hour, below 1 hr 10 min (the service to Kortrijk also continues to Bruges, but it takes twice as much time) Charleroi - 2x/hour, 1 hour.
Brussels Travel Guide
Buy a Brussels Card Available in 24-, 48- and 72-hour versions, this card gets you free entry to more than 40 museums, as well as discounts at shops, bars, restaurants, select tourist attractions ...
Brussels Tourist Information
Welcome to Brussels Belgium. As the centre of European culture and institutions, Brussels has much more to offer than most people imagine. Apart from its famous chocolates and beers, there are almost 90 museums, beautiful parks, architecture, bars and much more. Look around our website to learn more.
Best Things to Do in Brussels
Quai du Hainaut 41, 1080 Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Belgium. Phone +32 472 61 03 51. Web Visit website. The Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art (MIMA) is one of the coolest museums in the country, featuring a range of art forms including graffiti, digital, and mixed-media.
13 best things to do in Brussels
Drink a beer in a brown cafe. Cramped seating, smoke-darkened wooden panels, and an extensive (but tasteful) beer list are defining features of classic Belgian "brown cafes.". Tables packed with friends laughing into the early hours are proof: having a beer in a brown cafe is one of the best things to do in Brussels at night.
Visit Brussels
See All Destinations. Plan your Visit to Brussels with free Brussels itineraries, guides, activities and maps. Create your personal travel guide to Brussels with full information on all Brussels attractions.
Brussels travel guide
This travel guide lists the top things to see in Brussels, thereby serving as a useful reference for any traveler planning his/her first trip to the Belgian capital. Apart from the main tourist attractions, this guide also includes local tips on authentic restaurants, original bars and fun events. Also check out the section on getting around in ...
Brussels: 20 things to do and see in the city center
16. Take some pictures at Mont des Arts. Mont des Arts is a bit of a place where everyone stops to take a nice picture of Brussels. 17. See the Royal Palace and walk in the Royal Park. The Royal Palace in Brussels is the seat of the Belgian constitutional monarchy.
The best things to do in Brussels
On walls across the city you'll find Tintin, his dog Snowy and Captain Haddock descending a fire escape, or the little blue Smurfs littering the ceiling of a passage opposite Brussels Central Station. Pick up a comic map from any Brussels Tourism Office for €1 and set off on a three-to-four-hour walk spotting some of the 50-plus murals.
Brussels Travel Guide
Visit important landmarks and museums on the way with this self drive itinerary, with enough time to explore cities such as Brussels and Rotterdam on the way. view trip ⤍. 10 days / from5564 USD. Taste of Three - Belgium, France and Switzerland. Start your journey in Belgium and explore Brussels, Ghent and Bruges.
Brussels Card, Brussels Pass
Show this voucher (printed or from smartphone) at the Brussels town hall tourism desk (address below). After presenting the voucher you will receive your manufactured physical card. You will also receive illustrated city guide and city map - 100 pages in 3 languages. Tourism Office: Brussels Town Hall Grand Place 1 Open every day 9:00-18:00

Tourism Information desks

Brussels Info Place (BIP)

City Hall of Brussels

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Tourist Office for Flanders - Brussels

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