For all things Belgian, you need only spend a day in Brussels, Belgium’s capital. This Gothic- and Baroque-style city in Europe is rich in museums, bustling markets, excellent restaurants, upscale boutiques and more – all with a global, cosmopolitan air. There’s chocolate, beer, comfort food and more tucked between medieval streets that tell the stories of the city. Here are your answers to your questions about Brussels and what to do while you’re there in a handy Brussels, Belgium travel guide.
What is the best time of year to visit Brussels?
The best time to visit Brussels to save money and avoid crowds is between March and May and September and October. The weather is still nice during these shoulder seasons, but you won’t be battling as many tourists. Year-round, expect to see a festival, flower shop, street performance or some other engaging entertainment at the Grand-Place. If you’re into the Renaissance, time your Brussels vacation for the first week in July, when the city celebrates Ommegang (when Emperor Charles V first entered the city in the 16th century). Christmas is also lovely, with a bustling Christmas market (a Europe holiday must) and lighting of the huge Christmas tree. September bring the Belgian Beer Weekend and the annual Comics Festival and April means the Brussels Tango Festival.
How many days in Brussels is enough?
Most savvy travelers suggest two to three days in Brussels in order to soak up the atmosphere and see the major sites.
Where should I stay in Brussels?
The best way to decide where to pick a Brussels hotel is to look at the city’s neighborhoods. Most of the main Brussels attractions are in Old Town – the historic center. Old Town is divided into the Upper Town (Haut de la Ville) and the Lower Town (Bas de la Ville). Within those sections, there are smaller neighborhood with countless accommodations from which to choose.
If you like to walk, stay close to Lower Town, giving you easy access to Grand Place (Grote Markt), the Town Hall, the Guild Houses, the Manneken Pis and Saint-Michel Cathedral. Lower Town also boasts excellent restaurants and shopping.
Foodies also enjoy staying in Ilot Sacre (Sacred Isle), which is next to Grand Place. The Mont des Arts museum complex is also here. The eastern section of Upper Town – the European District – is home to European Union offices, Parc Leopold and Parc de Cinquantenaire. Another Upper Town neighborhood, Sablon, is known for its Gothic architecture and charming narrow medieval streets – and perhaps most importantly, the best Belgian chocolate shops (this is where you’ll want to sign up for a chocolate tour!). Stay a bit farther out in the Marolles district to get a feel for authentic Brussels life. And finally, there is ample upscale shopping and loads of fine dining father down Avenue Louise.
How do I get around Brussels?
Forego the hassle of a rental car in Europe and rely on Brussels’ excellent and easily navigable public transportation. You can get right into central Brussels from the airport via train (which runs every 15 minutes), depositing you at the Brussels Central Station, Brussels South or Brussels North.
The Brussels Intermunicipal Transport Company operates four metro lines, 17 tram and 50 bus lines, so there’s very little that is inaccessible to tourists. It’s easy, too, to take a walking tour of several popular neighborhoods.
Bike-shares are everywhere. With Villo!, your first half-hour is free – there are more than 350 self-serve stations throughout the city. and water taxis operate May to October between Brussels, Van Praet and Vilvoorde.
Taxis are easy to come by, but can get pricey. Uber operates in Brussels as well.
What should I eat in Brussels?
Where do the locals eat in Brussels? At a variety of Michelin-starred restaurants and local haunts. There is no dearth of fine dining and French and Dutch specialties in this foodie-favorite city in Europe. While you’re there, be sure to tuck into a plate of steamed mussels and moules-frites (frieds). Or, just grab a paper cone of crispy frites from a food cart. Look on menus for traditional dishes like stoemp (potato with Brussels sprouts).
A Brussels waffle is a must, too. Look for waffle seller around Grand Place and pair one with coffee, hot chocolate or tea. Other favorites are Belgian chocolate and beer. The first Godiva chocolate shop is on the Grand Place and dates back to 1937. As for beer, there are so many types found at the city’s many cafes and pubs.
You’ll find an abundance of restaurants in the touristed areas of Grand Place and Rue des Bouchers, or head to the Marolles district for authentic local fare.
 
Wherever you choose to eat your Belgian food, from the fine-dining eateries of central Brussels to its medieval streets and food carts, here are the top tastes not to miss:
Moules (Mussels)
You’ll be served a steaming helping in a large pot – you choose the broth. Moules marinere is the most traditional – vegetable and white wine. If you want to go richer, order moules a la crème (which is exactly what is sounds like).
Dame Blanche
An ice cream sundae! It’s perfectly acceptable as an afternoon snack or indulgent dessert after dinner. Belgian chocolate smothers vanilla ice cream – a total Europe classic.
Speculoos
These gingerbread-like cookies are addictive, especially alongside a cup of coffee. The cookies have inspired a host of delightful treats … Speculoos lattes, Speculoos tiramisu and Speculoos mousse, to name a few.
Frites
But of course. There are more than 4,000 food stalls selling frites throughout Belgium, and Brussels has a large share of those. Dip your crispy frites in mayo (traditional favorite), samurai sauce or aioli. Leave the ketchup for when you return home.
Waffles
Waffles work for any meal, any time of day in Brussels. Top one with Nutella, indulge in whipped cream and strawberries or combine two local favorites – waffles and Belgian chocolate.
Belgian Chocolate
Speaking of the famous chocolate, you’ll have just as fun looking at the various chocolate shop creations as you will eating them. Little works of art, these chocolatier masterpieces are displayed lovingly in lighted glass cases. Choose a rose champagne truffle, a creamy hazelnut praline or a Madagascar chocolate table.
What should I see in Brussels?
Start your visit at the Grand Place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the center of Brussels. It’s here you’ll find the top Brussels attractions, including the Mannekin Pis and the St. Michael and St. Gudula Catheral. Every August, the interior of Grand Place becomes a magical (and enormous) carpet of flowers in bloom, and at Christmastime, this is where you’ll find the massive Christmas tree.
St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral
While you’re at Grand Place, don’t miss this stunning Brabantine Gothic-style cathedral, dating back to the 11th century. The interior boasts beautiful stained-glass windows, statues, paintings, a Grenzing organ and the crypt that may hold the remains of St. Gudula.
Musical Instrument Museum
Musicians – and music fans – young and old will appreciate the MIM, home to more than 12,00 instruments from around the world. Throughout the museum’s four galleries, visitors can hear what the instruments sound like. Pro tip: The museum’s restaurants offers great views of the city.
Cinquantenaire Park
Break away from the hustle and bustle of Grand Place and spend a few hours at this lovely park, built in 1880 for the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence. Museums surround the perimeter, while inside its boundaries, you’ll find lavish gardens.
Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History
If you’re at Cinquantenaire Park and you’re a military history buff, make time for this excellent museum, which illuminates Belgium’s war history over the past 10 centuries. There are about 130 aircraft, from zeppelins to F-16s, in the massive airplane hangar, as well as weapons, uniforms and more.
Royal Palace
A lovely spot for a photo, the Palais Royal (Royal Palace) is the official residence of the Belgian royal family. The ceremonial Changing of the Guards takes places daily at 2:30 PM. In July and August, visitors can take a free guided tour of the palace’s interior.
Horta Museum
If you’re an art lover, don’t miss Horta Museum, where Victor Horta, of the art nouveau movement, lived and worked. Look for murals, stained glass and mosaics from between 1898 and 1901.
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Six different art museums in Brussels’ historic center will wow you with 20,000 pieces of artwork from the 15th century to today. Within the Oldmasters Museum, Modern Museum, Meunier Museum, Wiertz Museum, Magritte Museum and the Fin-de-Siecle Museum, look for works by Rubens, Rodin, Gaugin, Magritte and more.
Cantillon Brewery
This is Belgium, after all, so it’s only right to sample the outstanding beer brewed here. At family-run Cantillon, you can sample traditional Belgian beers, such as lambic, gueuze, faro and kriek. There are public brewing sessions in March and November to teach about the brewing and bottling process – you may be able to add hops or help clean the 19th-century copper barrels.
Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
Shop ‘til you drop at this beautiful, Renaissance-style shopping plaza that dates back to the mid-1800s. This is a fantastic place to start your search for the best chocolate shop, but there’s everything from clothing to diamonds under the iconic glass roof.
Mini-Europe
This funky theme park is fun for kids and adults alike. Mini models of the 350 of Europe’s most famous landmarks captivate the little ones, especially. Look for Athens’ Acropolis, the canals of Venice, London’s Big Ben, Paris’ Eiffel Tower, Naples’ Mount Vesuvius and the Berlin Wall.
Museum of Natural Sciences
Another great option when traveling with children in Brussels, the Museum of Natural Sciences boasts the third-largest natural history collection in Europe. There are approximately 38 million specimens on display, including a huge room devoted to dinos and 30 complete iguanodon skeletons.
Atomium
This is the most famous and popular tourist attraction on any Brussels itinerary, so don’t miss it. Built for the 1958 World’s Fair, it represents an iron crystal magnified more than 100 billion times. Explore the exhibits, dine in the restaurant (with great city views) and snap a few photos of this iconic symbol of Brussels and Belgium.
Manneken Pis
Looking for another iconic symbol of Brussels? Head to the Mannekin Pis (“little man pee” in Dutch). The bronze statue of a child relieving himself has featured in countless photos. There’s a bit of a story behind the statue, as it has been stolen and returned many times over the years. The one you’ll see today is a replica.
Belgian Comic Strip Center
This fun museum pays tribute to the comic characters born here in Belgium, from Tintin to the Smurfs. There are more than 60,000 works in the Comic Strip Library, sure to make you feel nostalgic.
Christmas Market
Come to Brussels for the holidays and enjoy the elegant Christmas Market with its nightly sound-and-light show and charming wooden chalets where artisans sell handmade crafts and souvenirs. Of course, there are plenty of tempting food stalls, too, selling pots of moules (mussels), Belgian fries, Belgian waffles, find chocolates and powerful beer. The huge Fishmarket is transformed into an ice-skating rink during this time.
Antiquing
For the best antiquing in Brussels, head to the Place du Grand Sablon, a half-mile from gilded Grand Place, where you’ll find a number of fine antiques shops, as well as the weekly antiques market (all day Saturday, half day on Sunday). At the Place du Jeu de Balle, there’s a larger market on weekends, but you’ll need patience to comb through the questionably vintage wares.
Coudenberg Palace
Archaeology buff? Check out the active excavation site at Coudenberg Palace, rediscovered in the 1980s. You can explore the foundations of the medieval palace and learn about the cellars and tunnels of the former Palace of Brussels. It’s fun for kids, too, who can go on an underground treasure hunt, complete with treasure map and dress-up costume pieces.