Things to do in Brussels: the Grand Place, museums and beer cafes
Brussels is a compact capital of guild houses, art museums, comic strip murals and old beer cafes. Two days cover the Grand Place, the Upper Town museums and a few cafes, and three let you add the Atomium or a neighborhood like Ixelles. The one thing to know: the city is quiet and a little gray in winter, and the best time to see it is spring and early autumn.
The short answer
- First trip
- Start at the Grand Place, walk up to the Royal Museums of Fine Arts and the Sablon, and spend an evening in the beer cafes.
- Where to stay
- Near the Grand Place or Sainte-Catherine for a first visit, or Ixelles for a calmer base. The full guide compares eight areas.
- How many days
- Two days for the center and museums. Three if you add the Atomium and a neighborhood walk.
- Best time to go
- May to June and September to October. December has Christmas markets but is cold and wet.
- Book ahead
- The Atomium and the Magritte Museum in busy weeks, plus a table at popular restaurants on Friday and Saturday.
- From the airport
- Brussels Airport is north-east of the city. A direct train reaches Brussels-Central in roughly 15 to 20 minutes.
Where to stay in Brussels, in brief
Grand Place and the Lower Town
sights on foot
The medieval center, with the Grand Place, the galleries and most restaurants within minutes. It is busy and loud at weekends, and the streets by the stations are rougher after dark.
Sainte-Catherine and Dansaert
food, bars and shops
A short walk from the Grand Place, with fish restaurants, independent shops and a Christmas market. Livelier at night than the Upper Town.
Sablon and the Upper Town
museums and antiques
Up the hill from the center, near the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, with quieter streets and chocolate shops. Dearer, with fewer budget rooms.
Ixelles and Saint-Gilles
a calmer, local base
Residential districts south of the center with cafes, Art Nouveau houses and ponds at Flagey. A tram or metro ride from the Grand Place.
Things to do in Brussels
Grand Place
The main square, ringed by gilded guild houses and the town hall. Go early in the morning or after dark, when it is lit and the crowds thin.
Royal Museums of Fine Arts and the Magritte Museum
Old masters and the largest Magritte collection in the world, in the Upper Town. Closed on Mondays, so plan around it.
a few days ahead in busy weeks
Atomium
The giant steel model of an iron crystal from the 1958 World's Fair, with exhibitions in the spheres and a view over the city. It sits on the northern edge, reached by metro.
a few days ahead in busy weeks
Belgian Comic Strip Center
Tintin, the Smurfs and Lucky Luke in a former Art Nouveau department store designed by Victor Horta.
Comic strip murals
Dozens of comic characters painted on building walls, which you can follow on a free walking route through the center.
Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
A glass-roofed shopping arcade from 1847, with chocolate shops, a cinema and cafes. Free to walk through.
Sablon and the Marolles flea market
Antique shops and chocolatiers around the Sablon, then the daily flea market on Place du Jeu de Balle, just down the hill.
Cinquantenaire Park and the museums
A park with a triumphal arch, plus the car museum Autoworld, the military museum and the art and history museum nearby. Good on a wet day.
Horta Museum, Saint-Gilles
The house and studio of the Art Nouveau architect Victor Horta, with a famous staircase. Small, so visits are timed.
a few days ahead
A beer cafe crawl
Old cafes such as A la Mort Subite serve lambic, gueuze and fruit beers. Order a gueuze to taste Brussels' own style.
What to book before you go
These sell out. Most of the rest of Brussels can be decided on the day.
Every tour and ticket in Brussels, and which to pick- Atomium and Magritte Museum ticketsa few days ahead in busy weeks
Both can fill on weekends and school holidays.
- Dinner at a popular restauranta few days ahead for Friday and Saturday
Small dining rooms fill, especially in the Lower Town and Sainte-Catherine.
What to skip in Brussels
- Restaurants on the Rue des Bouchers
The lane off the Grand Place is lined with touts and menus with photographs. Walk ten minutes to Sainte-Catherine or the Sablon instead.
- Waffle stands with a heap of toppings
A Brussels waffle needs only sugar or a little cream. Ask for it plain at a bakery rather than loaded at a tourist stand.
- Waiting for Manneken Pis
The statue is small and surrounded by souvenir shops. Look at it in passing on your way elsewhere.
Best time to visit Brussels
May, June, September and early October are best, with mild days and open terraces. Expect some rain in any month, and carry a light jacket.
July and August are warm and quieter in the center, as many residents go away. December has Christmas markets and lights around the Grand Place, but days are short and cold. January and February are gray and quiet, and good for museums and cafes.
- From Brussels AirportTrains from the airport station reach Brussels-Central in roughly 15 to 20 minutes. Fares include an airport supplement, so check the price at the machine or in the SNCB app.
- Metro, trams and busesOne operator, STIB, runs the metro, trams and buses. A day or multi-day ticket suits a short stay, and the metro reaches the Atomium and the European Quarter.
- StationsEurostar and international trains use Brussels-Midi, a metro ride or about 25 minutes' walk from the Grand Place. Brussels-Central is the nearest main station to the center.
- On footThe Lower Town is flat and compact. The Upper Town is uphill, and the lifts and stairs by the Mont des Arts help.
Brussels in three days
- Day 1
The Grand Place, the Galeries Saint-Hubert and the comic strip murals. Lunch near Sainte-Catherine, then beer cafes in the evening.
- Day 2
The Royal Museums of Fine Arts and Magritte Museum in the morning, the Sablon after, and the Marolles flea market on the way down.
- Day 3
The Atomium in the morning, then a walk through Ixelles or Saint-Gilles, with Art Nouveau houses and the ponds at Flagey.
Day trips from Brussels
- BrugesThe best known day trip, a medieval canal town about an hour by direct train. It is crowded in summer, so go early.
- GhentA university city of canals and castles, roughly 35 to 40 minutes by train, with fewer crowds than Bruges.
- AntwerpA port city known for fashion, diamonds and a grand central station, around 40 minutes by train.
Brussels: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Brussels?
Two days cover the Grand Place, the main museums and a few cafes. Three let you add the Atomium and a walk in Ixelles or Saint-Gilles. Add a day if you want Bruges or Ghent.
What are the best things to do in Brussels?
Walk the Grand Place, visit the Magritte Museum, see the comic strip murals, eat frites from a frietkot and spend an evening in an old beer cafe.
Is Brussels worth visiting?
Yes, for two or three days. It is a compact city with strong museums, food and beer, and it works well as a base for Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp.
When is the best time to visit Brussels?
May to June and September to October, when the weather is mild. December suits Christmas markets, and winter suits museums and cafes.
Is Brussels easy to get around?
Yes. The center is walkable, and the metro, trams and buses cover the rest. Brussels-Midi is the main international station, and Brussels-Central is closest to the center.
How do I get from Brussels Airport to the center?
Take the train to Brussels-Central, which takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes. Check the fare on the day, as it includes an airport supplement.
Is Brussels safe for tourists?
Mostly, as in any large city. Keep an eye on bags near the stations and on crowded trams, and take extra care in the streets around the Gare du Midi and Gare du Nord late at night.
Can you visit Brussels in one day?
Yes, for the highlights. Spend the morning around the Grand Place and Saint-Hubert gallery, the afternoon at one museum on the Mont des Arts, and finish in a beer cafe.