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Brussels
18 Best Things to Do and Visit in Brussels
Brussels is different from other cities because of its cosmopolitan nature, it is a multilingual city, with the prominent languages being French, German, and Dutch. Additionally, here you can enjoy appetizing food and the most excellent drinks: chocolates, waffles, beer, and then more. The city is proud of its outstanding architecture that will make your stay worthwhile.
Brussels is often called the de facto capital of Europe. While you are spending time in this beautiful city, I advise you to watch a parliamentary session in the debating chamber, and when the parliament isn’t in session, you can also walk around the building.
Another popular tourist attraction in Brussels is the Grand Place. The Grand Place is located in the heart of Brussels and there is a large selection of shops, restaurants, and bars, and many wonderful historic buildings that line the square, and it is a meeting point between travelers and locals.
1. Visit the Horta Museum
The Horta Museum was once home to the popular Art Nouveau architect, Victor Horta, who built the museum in the late 1890s. This museum’s structure, which is in the art nouveau style, earned Horta a spot among the most prominent architects in Belgium. Horta Museum is unique because of its orange-and-yellow glass ceiling and the well-detailed adornment of the wrought iron railings, making it look beautiful.
2. See the Chinese Pavilion and Japanese Tower
These oriental-style structures were put in place between 1901 and 1910 on the orders of King Leopold. It is located at the end of the Royal Estate at Laeken in Brussels. The Chinese pavilion has a museum dedicated to Chinese porcelain and furniture from the 17th and 18th centuries. It is built in a typical South Chinese style with a recognizable roof shape. The uniquely beautiful Japanese Tower houses a rich collection of Japanese art and is home to the refined art objects that were made in the Land of the Rising Sun to export to the West.
3. Visit the Gare Du Midi Market
If you somehow happen to be in Brussels on a Sunday morning, I advise you to visit the Gare du Midi Market. It is said to be the third-largest market in Europe, and I can safely say that there is no grander place you can be than the Gare du Midi market. You can expect to find delicious food like crepes, spices, cheese, and meats from North Africa and the Mediterranean region in this market. You can also find any food you want in the market.
4. Explore the Cantillon Brewery
Did you know that you can take a tour of the famous brewery in Brussels for just about €10? This brewery which was created over a hundred years ago is the only surviving brewery in Brussels. Interestingly, the brewery still makes use of its original 19th-century equipment, which includes its barrels. The beer is left in a wine cask for over three years to mature. After the tour, you will get a free beer. Sounds good, right? Belgium is famous for one of the best beers in the world and this place is definitely worth visiting.
5. Eat a Bar of Chocolate
Besides beer, another thing Brussels is famous for is chocolate. Shops selling chocolates are all over the city, with each shop having its unique recipe and prices. When I visited Brussels, my favorite chocolate shop was Chocopolis, they have a wide selection of chocolates and all very tasty and fresh. I also had an opportunity to see how they create chocolates, it is very fun to watch as they are real masters at sculpting chocolate. Another famous chocolate shop is Maison Pierre Marcolini, the only shop where they select the cocoa beans for roasting themselves, and Galler Chocolatier; the shop is famous because it blends flavors, including an apricot praline.
6. Visit the Musical Instruments Museum
Also referred to as MIM, the Musical Instruments Museum was formerly a departmental store in old England. Now, it is a museum with over 1,200 instruments from different parts of the world. This museum is located in an art nouveau building which you can find close to Grand Place. Travelers are impressed by the structure of the building and the different types of instruments it houses. Besides letting you hear what these instruments sound like, the museum has a restaurant and a cafe that offers tourists a nice view of the city of Brussels.
7. Go to Parc du Cinquantenaire
Cinquantenaire, which means ’50th anniversary’, is a park built in honor of the 50th independence anniversary celebration of Belgium in 1880. It is a park with French design and is surrounded by large gardens and museums. Some of the places you can visit here are the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History, Art & History Museum, Autoworld, and more. Several activities that take place in the park every year include fireworks, sporting events, and concerts.
If you seek a peaceful spot to relax, far from all the hustle and bustle of Brussels, this green space is your best bet. You can also, explore the car tunnel that runs beneath the park.
8. Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert
Do you want to do a little shopping while visiting Brussels? You can make time to visit Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert. It is a Renaissance-style arcade that was built in the mid-1800s. With a famous glass roof that was commonly referred to as the “umbrella of Brussels.” Even if you don’t want to indulge in any shopping in Brussels, the building is still worth seeing.
Over 6 million guests come to the Galeries every year to view the stores selling everything from nice pieces of clothing to the famous chocolate Brussels is known for and even diamonds. The Galeries Royales also includes restaurants, art galleries, theaters, and a cinema. The famous Victor Hugo once spent time there, and he enjoyed every bit of it.
I would say that this is a nice place to see, especially on a rainy day because of the building’s stunning structure. I also recommend that you explore the extensive chocolate shops.
9. Comic Strip Center
This beautiful building is home to the wonderful Comic Strip Center, set aside to preserve the country’s history of cartoons and comic strips. Famous cartoons in the world like Smurfs and TinTin were all produced in Belgium. The comic strip center was designed in 1906 by Victor Horta. There is a constant exhibition of over 200 original comic strip drawings. Belgian and French comic artists made these comic strip drawings.
You can also locate a curated collection of original manuscripts, draft sketches, and imaginatively reconstructed sets, including Lucky Luke’s saloon and Tim, Struppi, and Captain Haddock’s moon rocket. The museum is doing this to record the increase in popularity of French and Belgian comic strips. If you are a lover of cartoons and think this museum is worth visiting.
10. Place Royale (Koningsplein)
If you love taking photos, this building will surely attract you. The Royal Palace (Place Royale) serves as an official residence for the Belgian royal family. During July and August, guests are given free guided tours of the palace’s interior, especially the grand reception rooms and halls.
11. Belgian Royal Museum of Fine Arts
Belgium’s Royal Museum of Fine Arts is a combination of four different art museums built in 1875-81, making it one of the world’s biggest art galleries. You can find famous works including Gerard David’s Adoration of the Magi, Rogier van der Weyden’s The Mourning of Christ, Pietà by Petrus Christus, and Dirk Bouts’ Judgement of Emperor Otto.
12. Atomium and mini Europe
Just like the Manneken Pis, the Atomium is one of Brussels’ famous attractions. It was constructed for the 1958 World’s Fair and it represents a molecule of iron magnified 165 billion times. Presently, you can visit the building to see its sci-fi-style interiors. Inside the Atomium, you will find educational exhibits, including a permanent exhibition about the World’s Fair 1958, a gift shop, a viewpoint with panoramic views of Brussels, and more. Also, there is a very nice cafeteria/restaurant on the top that’s worth the wait.
Next to the Atomium building, you will see a beautifully made Mini-Europe park with representative buildings and attractions from all over Europe, built-in 1/25 scale and meticulously reproduced. The exhibition guides you through the countries of Europe and it is very detailed and informative.
13. Mont des Arts
This building is located between the Place Royale and the Place de l’Albertine. It includes the Bibliothèque Albert I and the strikingly modern Palais de la Dynastie and Palais de Congrès. From the square between them, you can find a fine view of the lower central city.
14. Notre Dame du Sablon
This incredible chapel is classified as one of the greatest churches in Belgium and was built in 1304. The interior of the church is beautiful because of its marvelous stained glass, gothic ceiling, and intricate statues and art. Definitely one of the most beautiful catholic churches I’ve ever seen.
15. National Basilica of the Sacred Heart
This building is considered the fifth largest church globally and an idea of Leopold II (King of Belgium) The building was only completed in 1970. You can find a collection of art and an ongoing exhibition on the basilica’s history if you go on a tour there. It is slightly away from Central Brussels but it is well worth exploring this enormous complex on Koekelberg Hill. Enjoy great views over the city.
16. Royal Palace of Brussels
This majestic building is the official palace of the royal family of Belgium, but they only use it for official purposes. I strongly suggest visiting the palace if it happens to be open to the public while you’re in Brussels, I just saw it from outside, but the architecture and the beautiful park surrounding the palace are definitely worth visiting.
17. Hotel de Ville – Town Hall
One of the most beautiful buildings that dominate Grand Place is a Hotel de Ville, also called Town Hall, it serves as the seat of civic government. It is a beautiful building adorned with arched windows and towers with sculptures. You can even find a sculpture of St Michael slaying a devil. If you want to have an unhindered view of Brussels’ beautiful city, you can climb the Brabantine Gothic Tower.
18. City Museum
Another beautiful building on the Grand Place is a City Museum. Maison du Roi is a French name that means ‘the King’s House’ when translated into English. Even though the house is decorated with beautiful ornaments, no royalty has ever lived there. The Flemish called it ‘Broodhuis,’ which means ‘the bread house’. The building was built to replace the town’s Bread Market, which had been there for decades. This museum is dedicated to the ancient tales of Brussels.
Wrapping Up
Public Transportation: The extensive public transportation system in Brussels includes buses and metro lines. Because the city is pretty large, you will have to take public transportation often. Using a taxi as a means of transporting yourself in Brussels is quite expensive. I also advise you to rent a bicycle to move around the city.
I hope you are confident about your knowledge of this beautiful city and ready to make that trip to Brussels.
*Important note: Please remember to check for the restrictions or any other changes while planning your trip.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.