The 13 Best Things to Do in Brussels, Belgium

Nestled between some of Europe’s powerhouses in the north of the continent is Belgium, a tiny country with a cultural heritage much bigger than its geographical size. The capital, Brussels, lies right in the centre of the country and brings together all the best parts of Belgium in a lively, walkable city.

There are so many amazing things to do in Brussels, whether it’s admiring unique architecture, getting to know Belgian culture in one of the city’s many museums, or tasting a great variety of traditional food and drink. This guide will take you through my top 13 recommendations that have to be on your Brussels bucket list!

Heading to Brussels soon? Check out some more Brussels travel guides:

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The 13 Best Things to Do in Brussels

Visit Grand Place

Grand Place, or Grote Markt, is the main square in Brussels, and one of the most famous spots in the city. Like so many other places in the Belgian capital, the square tells a story of its history through architecture, statues, and museums that you’ll find here. And with cobblestones on the ground and traditional, ornate buildings surrounding all four sides of the square, Grand Place is celebrated for its beauty – it’s even listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

At Grand Place, you’ll find the Brussels Town Hall and the city museum. The other buildings around the square are historic guildhalls and private houses that have now been converted into various shops, dining places, and museums. Grand Place is always bustling with activity, and it’s fun to grab a coffee or a Belgian beer and watch the world go by in one of the most beautiful city squares in the world.

While visiting Grand Place, make sure you find the Everard ‘T Serclaes statue. Everard t’Serclaes was a Brussels hero, and it’s a common legend that if you touch the statue and wish to return to Brussels, it’ll come true! You’ll find the statue just off Grand Place, on Rue Charles Buls.

Town Hall Building at Grand Place in Brussels

View of Grand Place from the Brussels City Museum

Follow the Brussels Comic Book Route

Belgium is famed for its comic history, and holds this proudly. There’s a lot of comical culture to be discovered in the Brussels, and one of the best examples of this is the Brussels Comic Book Route.

More than 50 murals are featured on walls around the city, as part of a project commissioned by the City of Brussels to celebrate Belgium’s affinity with comic art and showcase some incredible artists. You’ll find a mix of classic characters like Tintin, Asterix and Obelix, and Le Chat.

Check out my complete guide to the Brussels Comic Book Route!

Olivier Rameau mural on the Brussels Comic Book Route

Ric Hochet Mural on the Brussels Comic Book Route

Check out Manneken Pis

There’s no better way to capture the weird and wonderful culture of Brussels than their unofficial mascot, Manneken Pis. This tiny fountain statue depicts a little boy peeing, and is well-loved by the Belgians.

Manneken Pis is often dressed in outfits to mark special occasions, such as sporting events, or to commemorate notable historical figures. In fact, this little statue has over 900 costumes, that are all on display and open for visitors at Gardrobe Manneken Pis.

You’ll find Manneken Pis in the centre of Brussels, just a five-minute walk from Grand Place. Make sure you also check out Jeanneke Pis and Zinneke Pis – Manneken Pis’ friends around the city.

Manneken Pis statue with Christmas decorations

Marvel at the Atomium

In the north of Brussels lies the Atomium, a huge steel atom structure that is both an iconic landmark and one of the most popular things to do in Brussels. The Atomium was built for the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair and was so popular that they decided to keep it standing – initially it was only meant to be there for six months! The structure of the Atomium represents the molecular structure of an atom, hence the name.

Inside the spheres of the Atomium is a museum, joined by escalators in the connecting tubes. The museum is mainly dedicated to telling the story of the Atomium, and there is usually a temporary exhibition running as well. From the top sphere, you can look out over Brussels from the viewing deck, and there’s even a panoramic restaurant.

Escalator inside the Atomium musuem in Brussels, Belgium

A girl stands in front of the Atomium sculpture in Brussels

Check out my full guide to visiting the Atomium for more information, and book your tickets below so you don’t miss out!

Relax at Cinquantenaire Park

The Belgian capital is not short of green spaces, and there are lots of parks and gardens around Brussels to enjoy. One of the best parks, and ultimately one of the best things to do in Brussels, is Cinquantenaire Park. On any sunny day in Brussels, locals flock to Cinquantenaire to relax on the grass, and you’ll always find a lively atmosphere here.

You won’t just find green space at Cinquantenaire Park. The famous triumphal arch, known as the Cinquantenaire Arch, is found on the east side of the park, as well as Autoworld and the Art and History Museum. And if you’re a fan of hidden gems, go looking for the Pavillion of the Human Passions, designed by renowned Art Nouveau architect Victor Horta.

The truimphal arch in Cinquantenaire Park, Brussels

Learn about Surrealism at the Magritte Museum

Belgian artist René Magritte is one of the country’s most famed creatives. Focusing on surrealism, Magritte produced pieces like The Treachery of Images (also known as Ceci n’est pas une pipe), The Son of Man, and many more.

The Magritte Museum is found in the centre of Brussels, and makes up part of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. As you can expect, the Magritte Museum is dedicated to the Belgian artist, and you can see over 200 of his works on display here – the world’s largest collection of his art. You’ll also learn about Magritte’s life and career as you move through the museum.

Location | Website

Check out more things to do in Brussels below!

Drink Beer at Delirium Café

Beer is one of Belgium’s most famous exports, so it makes sense that one of the best things to do in Brussels is to enjoy a glass (or several!) of Belgian beer. With a Guinness world record and over 2,000 beers on the menu, Delirium Café is one of the most iconic spots in Brussels to do this.

There are countless different Belgian beers to try – the fact that there are over 2,000 at Delirium should tell you that – such as Trappist beers, Lambics and Wheat beers, to name just a couple. You’ll find that most bartenders in Brussels bars will happily recommend a beer based on your tastes, or check out the Brussels Beer Museum, where you can take a flavour quiz to find out the best Belgian beers for you!

Eat Fries & Waffles

Complimenting its love of beer, Brussels has a strong foodie culture, known for it’s no-fuss street foods. In fact, some of the best places to eat in Brussels are from unassuming fries and waffle stands.

Belgian frites come in paper cones and are served with sauce – at most places you’ll find a huge selection, but some of the most popular are mayonnaise, Andalouse, Samourai, and Brasil (my personal favourite). My go-to spot is Café Georgette in Brussels city centre – check out my Belgian fries guide to learn more.

When it comes to waffles, there are two types on offer – the Brussels waffle and the Liège waffle. The Liège waffle, perhaps known more commonly as the sugar waffle, is the more popular of the two. Try one at Australian, which you’ll find all around the city, or Gaston in Sainte Catherine. Or, check out my full guide to the best waffles in Brussels for more recommendations.

A cornet of fries wrapped in newspaper from Cafe Georgette, one of many places to eat in Brussels

A waffle from Australian in Brussels, Belgium

See Art Nouveau Architecture at the Horta Museum

Victor Horta was a Belgian architect, famed as one of the pioneers of the Art Nouveau movement that Belgium is so famous for. In Brussels, you can visit the Horta Museum inside Horta’s former family home and workshop.

Work has been done to retain a lot of the original Art Nouveau design in the house, definitely earning it a spot as one of the best things to do in Brussels. A visit here is like a step back in time, as you move through the living rooms, studies, bedrooms, and kitchen of the large townhouse.

Art Nouveau is found all over Brussels, and you could book a guided Art Nouveau tour if you’d like to discover more.

Location | Website

Try Your Hand at Chocolate Making

Belgium has a long affiliation with chocolate, and is known for producing some of the best tasting chocolate worldwide. You can get a hands-on experience of this part of Belgium’s culture with a chocolate making workshop at Choco-Story Brussels, where a professional chocolatier will help you create your own chocolates.

Make sure you also pay a visit to some of Brussels’ finest chocolatiers whilst on your trip! My favourite is Neuhaus, but you’ll find lots of options at the Galeries Royales Saint Hubert and Galerie de la Reine.

Check availability and book your Choco-Story Brussels tickets today!

See the EU in Action in the European Quarter

We’ve discovered many aspects of Belgian culture in Brussels so far, but perhaps the most underrated is Brussels’ role within Europe. If you’re interested in politics, a visit to the European Quarter should be high up on your list of things to do in Brussels!

The city is considered the ‘capital of the European Union’, and you’ll find multiple EU institutions in Brussels such as the European Parliament and the European Commission. There’s also a fantastic free museum, the Parliamentarium, which offers a tour through the history of the EU and the European Parliament today.

Outside the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium

Discover More Museums in Brussels

There are quite a few museums featured in this list of things to do in Brussels, but that barely scratches the surface of the ones you can visit in the city. Luckily, I have a dedicated guide to the 10 best museums in Brussels. Here are a few more that you might want to add to your Brussels bucket list, and you can check out the guide to learn more about each one!

Gardrobe Manneken Pis
Musical Instrument Museum
Brussels Tram Museum
Coudenberg Palace
Foundation Jacques Brel

Read the full Brussels museums guide!

Take a Day Trip from Brussels

Although there are enough things to do in Brussels to keep you busy for days, a trip to Brussels is also the perfect opportunity to see more of Belgium. The country is pretty small, so you can get to any Belgian city in just a few hours at most. There’s also a great train network in Belgium, meaning most day trips from Brussels are easy and cheap to get to by train. Here are some of my top recommendations, each with their own guide:

If you’d like to discover even more, check out my full guide to the best day trips from Brussels by train.

A girl sits in front of a view over Dinant, Belgium

More Fun and Unique Things to Do in Brussels

Now, if you’re looking for some things to do in Brussels that are a little more unique, you’re still in the right place! Although it’s great to visit all the main attractions in a city, you really find the charm of Brussels when you uncover some hidden gems. Here are just a few unique things to do in Brussels:

Visit the Laeken Greenhouses
Ride Tram 44 to Tervuren
Discover the Covered Passages

You can find out more about these, plus lots of extra recommendations, in my detailed guide to 10 fun and unique things to do in Brussels.

I hope that after reading this list of things to do in Brussels, you’re feeling inspired for your trip! You’ll love exploring the streets of Brussels and diving head first into its wonderful culture.

Have I missed anything? If you’ve already visited, let me know your top things to do in Brussels – I might need to add them to my list!

The 13 Best Things to Do in Brussels, Belgium