Brussels Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Brussels tours, Grand Place walks, chocolate and beer tastings, waffle food tours, the Atomium and comic-strip murals, plus day trips to fairytale Bruges and Ghent. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Brussels itinerary.
rating
Explore Brussels by interest
Whatever brings you to Brussels — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Grand Place & old town
The famous square and Manneken Pis.
ExploreChocolate & beer
Tastings of Belgium’s finest.
ExploreFood & waffles
Waffles, frites and local bites.
ExploreAtomium
The futuristic 1958 landmark.
ExploreComic-strip murals
Tintin, the Smurfs and street art.
ExploreBruges
The fairytale canal city.
ExploreGhent
Medieval guild houses and a castle.
ExploreAntwerp
The diamond and fashion city.
ExploreTop attractions in Brussels
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Grand Place
One of the world’s most beautiful squares.
Chocolate & beer
Tastings of Belgium’s finest.
Waffles & frites
The tastiest Brussels classics.
Atomium
The futuristic 1958 landmark.
Comic-strip murals
Tintin, the Smurfs and street art.
Bruges
The fairytale canal city.
Ghent
Medieval guild houses and a castle.
Antwerp
The diamond and fashion city.
Brussels in 1 day
- 1Grand Place & old town
- 2Chocolate & waffles
- 3Manneken Pis & galleries
- 4Beer in the evening
Brussels in 2 days
- 1Day 1: old town & tastings
- 2Atomium
- 3Day 2: Bruges or Ghent
- 4Canals & chocolate
Brussels in 3 days
- 1Day 1: old town & tastings
- 2Day 2: Bruges
- 3Day 3: Ghent or Antwerp
- 4Belgian evenings
Brussels with kids
- 1Atomium & Mini-Europe
- 2Comic-strip murals
- 3Chocolate & waffles
- 4Bruges boat ride
Brussels chocolate, beer & food
- 1Belgian chocolate tasting & workshop
- 2Craft beer and brewery tour
- 3Waffles, fries & Belgian street food
- 4Grand Place tasting finale
Bruges & Ghent day trips
- 1Bruges: canals & medieval belfry
- 2Ghent: old town & Gravensteen castle
- 3Antwerp: cathedral & old city
- 4Back in Brussels by evening
1 hr awayBruges
The fairytale medieval canal city.
30 min awayGhent
Medieval guild houses and a castle.
45 min awayAntwerp
The diamond and fashion city.
1.5 hrs awayDinant & Ardennes
A clifftop citadel on the Meuse.
3 hrs awayLuxembourg
The dramatic clifftop capital city.
30 min awayWaterloo
The famous 1815 battlefield.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Brussels visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September) bring the mildest, brightest weather — the best times to visit.
Spring (Mar–May)
Fresh, blossoming days, ideal for the Grand Place and walking, with the odd shower.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Mild and lively with festivals and long days; the Grand Place flower carpet appears in August (even years).
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Crisp, golden days with thinner crowds — a lovely time for the city and day trips.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Cold and grey but cosy, with a magical Christmas market and Winter Wonders lights.
Flower Carpet
Every two years in mid-August, a spectacular carpet of flowers fills the Grand Place for a few days.
One day
Enough for the Grand Place, chocolate, beer and waffles.
Two days
Add the Atomium and a day trip to Bruges or Ghent.
Three days
The sweet spot: Brussels plus Bruges and Ghent or Antwerp.
Four to five days
Add more cities, Waterloo and the Ardennes.
A week or more
Use Brussels as a base to tour all of Belgium by train.
Travelling with kids
Mix the Atomium, comics and chocolate with a Bruges boat ride.
On foot
The historic centre around the Grand Place is compact and best explored on foot.
Metro, tram & bus
An efficient metro, tram and bus network (STIB/MIVB) covers the city, including the Atomium at Heysel.
Trains to other cities
Fast, frequent trains link Brussels to Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp in under an hour — perfect for day trips.
Bikes
Villo! shared bikes and lanes help you get around, though cobbles and traffic call for care.
Day-trip transport
Coaches and tours bundle Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp; trains from the central stations are quick and cheap.
From the airport
Brussels Airport links to the centre by train in about 20 minutes; Charleroi (budget flights) is further out.
Book tastings ahead
Popular chocolate, beer and food tours have limited places and fill up at weekends — book ahead.
The Grand Place is free
Admiring the Grand Place, Manneken Pis and the galleries costs nothing; budget for tastings and museums.
Currency & tipping
Belgium uses the euro; service is included, but rounding up or leaving small change for good service is appreciated.
Use the train for day trips
Trains to Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp are fast, frequent and cheap — often better value than coach tours.
Eat Belgian
Try moules-frites, carbonnade and waffles, and buy frites from a friterie — step off the Grand Place for better value.
Brussels Card
The Brussels Card covers museums and transport — good value if you plan to visit several attractions.
Chocolate & beer tastings
Popular tastings and workshops have limited places — book ahead.
Bruges & Ghent trips
Day trips fill up, especially at weekends — reserve early.
Food & waffle tours
Small-group tours fill up — book ahead.
Atomium
Pre-book to skip the queue at this popular landmark.
Comic-strip tours
Guided mural tours have limited places — reserve ahead.
Christmas market
December weekends fill hotels and tours — plan early.
Grand Place walks
Around €15–30 for a guided old town walking tour.
Chocolate & beer
Roughly €30–60 for a chocolate or beer tasting tour or workshop.
Food & waffle tours
About €45–75 for a guided food tour with multiple tastings.
Bruges & Ghent trips
Around €45–70 for a guided day trip; trains cost less if you go independently.
Atomium
About €16 for Atomium entry, with combined Mini-Europe tickets available.
How to save
Admire the free Grand Place, buy frites from a friterie, and take the train for cheaper day trips.
Brussels through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Fresh, blossoming days for the Grand Place.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Pack a layer and umbrella for showers.
- Best for
- Mild, lively days with festivals.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- See the August flower carpet in even years.
- Best for
- Crisp, golden days with thinner crowds.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A lovely time for the city and day trips.
- Best for
- Cosy days with the Christmas market.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Wrap up warm; enjoy the Winter Wonders lights.