The Very Best Things to Do in Brussels

Brussels is a fascinating place filled with gorgeous architecture, world-class museums and galleries, and (most importantly) delicious food and drink. Despite being the administerial centre of the EU, the city has a surprisingly fun and laid-back feel with plenty of quirky attractions. Sifting through all that the city has to offer can get a little overwhelming, but fear not for the travel experts at Plum Guide have done all the hard work for you. We’re here to help you create the most envy-worthy itinerary, so have a look at our top picks of things to do in Brussels.

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The Grand Place is Brussels’ main plaza and one of the city’s top tourist attractions. This UNESCO-listed cobblestone square is as lavish as they come, surrounded by the 15th century city hall and spectacular Baroque guildhalls with their ornately carved stonework and rich gold decorations. The square is beautiful during the daytime, but we highly recommend visiting during the evening to see the buildings light up. Depending on what time of the year you visit, you can catch festivals, light and sound shows, as well as the biennial Flower Carpet event.

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Any art lover should pay a visit to the Belgian Royal Museum of Fine Arts, a combination of four separate art museums. In the Musée Old Masters you’ll find a collection of famous works by Flemish and Dutch Old Masters including Gerard David's Adoration of the Magi and Rogier van der Weyden's The Mourning of Christ. The Musée Modern concentrates on artwork from the late 19th century to the present and combines exhibition halls with the galleries of the Musée Fin-de-Siècle, which focuses on artwork from the period between 1884 and 1914 when Brussels was one of Europe’s cultural capitals. The Musée Magritte is dedicated to the work of Belgian surrealist artist René Magritte, and is home to the largest Magritte collection in the world.

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Love a good bargain? There’s no better place to hunt for second-hand steals than this daily open-air market in the historic Marolles neighbourhood. You’ll find everything you’ve ever wanted (and everything you didn’t know you needed.) Wander around the sprawling collection of vendors who offer everything from vintage artwork and kitsch crockery to art deco coffee tables and old vinyl records. The surrounding streets such as Rue Haute and Rue Blaes are also home to antique dealers and second hand shops. While you’re in the neighbourhood, pop into L’Atelier en Ville. Part coffee shop, part furniture shop, this cosy space is filled with stylish furniture and fashion pieces.

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The Atomium is one of the most unique Brussels attractions. This 102-metre-high steel and aluminium structure was designed by the architect André Waterkeyn for the World’s Fair of 1958, and represents a molecule of iron magnified 165 billion times. Visitors can enter its sci-fi style spherical rooms, five of which host exhibitions on topics ranging from the history of air travel to the surrealist art of René Magritte. Each room is joined by escalators in the narrow connecting tubes, so if you get claustrophobic you may want to skip this one. You can still admire the landmark from the outside, and the surrounding parkland is ideal for relaxing and picnics.

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Those looking for a little retail therapy won’t want to miss a visit to Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert. Opened to the public 1847, this is one of Europe’s very first covered shopping arcades which set a trend for similar arcades in other European cities. Built in the ornate Italian style with a glass panelled roof and arched shopfronts, the arcade is divided into three magnificent halls—the King’s Gallery, the Queen’s Gallery and the Princes’ Gallery. It’s a great place to pick up specialist Belgian chocolates, or enjoy a coffee and a spot of people-watching at one of the cafes.

The Mont des Arts, or ‘hill of the arts’, is situated between the Place Royale and the Place de l'Albertine. As the name suggests, there are all kinds of artistic activities and events that take place in the complex of surrounding buildings, including concerts at Bozar (the city’s flagship cultural centre), films at Cinematek and exhibitions at the Royal Museums of the Fine Arts and the Musical Instrument Museum. Even if you’re not here for the artistic calendar of events, the geometric gardens are a lovely green space to relax in and enjoy the views of downtown Brussels.

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Belgium is synonymous with beer, so naturally one of the best things to do in Brussels is to join a beer tasting tour. Beer has played an important role throughout the history of Brussels, and there are various tours to choose from where you can learn about its history and see how it’s made in one of the several breweries. Some of the most well-known beer spots include the historic A Mort Subite, Moeder Lambic and Poechenellekelder (try pronouncing that after a few pints). The huge Delirium Café is also worth a visit, and holds the Guinness World Records for the number of beers available for tasting: a whopping 2,004.

Belgium was once home to some of Art Nouveau’s biggest names such as Henry Van de Velde and Victor Horta. Brussels is a treasure trove of Art Nouveau architecture, and the city’s Art Nouveau buildings are known for their use of natural light and ornate details, with bright exterior paintings, large windows and curved iron. Some of the most famous buildings include Horta’s own house (now a museum) and the Belgian Comic Strip Center. It’s also worth taking the 15-minute trip into the neighbourhoods of Saint-Gilles and Ixelles to see some more examples of this brilliant architecture.

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It’s not just beer that Belgium is famous for—anyone with a sweet tooth knows that Belgian chocolate is to die for. If you’re into chocolate, a visit to the Choco-Story museum is one of the best things to do in Brussels. Channel your inner Willy Wonka and discover the origins of chocolate and its early use by the Mayans and Aztecs, as well as its role throughout history up until the modern day. Watch the museum’s chocolatiers perform a live chocolate-making demonstration of Belgium’s famous pralines (with free tastings, of course.) This is a great stop if you have kids in tow and need to fit in something fun in between art galleries and architecture.

Speaking of good food, they say the best way to understand a culture is through its food. While most people associate Belgium with waffles and frites (which are totally delicious by the way, and a visit to the many friteries are a must) there’s so much more to the cuisine. If you like seafood, moules frites are a must-try. This is a traditional comfort food item consisting of mussels paired with fried potatoes. Another hearty meal is carbonnade, a traditional stew made with beef and dark beer. It’s usually served with frites so you get two Belgian delicacies in one.

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Set in a former brewery beside a canal, MIMA is a delightful addition to Brussels’ art scene. Dedicated to showcasing what they call ‘culture 2.0’, the gallery is a tribute to ultra-contemporary urban art inspired by subcultures like skateboarding, tattooing, comics, advertising and street art. It’s home to a permanent collection, temporary exhibitions, encounters, projections, concerts and performances. You’ll also find an art shop, restaurant and two viewing points for panoramic views of the city.

If you’ve found that you’ve exhausted all the options on this list, why not make the most of your time in Belgium and explore another part of the country? Brussels is ideally located for day trips as you can get to many places within a couple of hours. Head to the beautiful city of Bruges to see the medieval buildings and cobbled streets via a canal tour, or get your fill of diamonds in the port city of Antwerp. In Ghent, you can enjoy a more laid-back way of life and admire the picturesque towers, or make your way to the seaside town of Ostend for finger-licking fresh seafood.

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