Grand Place
The majestic Gothic-style square is the best way to start exploring Brussels. The amazingly beautiful buildings surrounding the Grand Place are full of rich carvings, columns, statues and ornaments. Interestingly, each old house has its own name, so you can test your detective skills and find some of them, for example, “Wolf”, “Fox”, “Cart” or “Star”.
To see the Grand Place in all its glory, it is best to go up to the balcony of the Town Hall, which is open to everyone especially for this purpose.
Royal Palace
Once a royal residence, today the palace serves only for official receptions, and the rest of the time it is open to tourists and city guests, and at the same time… absolutely free to visit! Take the opportunity to visit it and see with your own eyes the chambers and halls of the palace in all their splendor: the Mirror Room, the ceiling of which is decorated with the wings of scarab beetles, the Imperial Room, where eleven flowers are planted in eleven golden pots – according to the number of provinces of Belgium and, of course, the majestic Throne Room hall.
The palace is open to the public in Brussels from July to September, from Tuesday to Sunday (10:00 – 17:00).
City Hall
Another example of ancient architecture and a living piece of Brussels history, the Town Hall is one of the symbols of the Belgian capital.
The famous 96-meter tower of the Town Hall with the figure of St. Michael, the patron saint of the city, serves as an excellent landmark on the streets of Brussels, and the building itself, made in the Brabant Gothic style, amazes with the abundance of decor. The facade of the Town Hall is decorated with arched windows, carved columns, as well as sculptures of all the Dukes of Brabant from 580 to 1564.
You can admire the town hall not only from the outside, but also from the inside: access to it is open at any time when city council meetings are not taking place there.
Entrance to the Town Hall is paid, the ticket costs €15 for an adult, the excursion is paid separately.
Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula
Brussels is famous not only for Belgian chocolate and its rich cultural heritage, but also for its architecture. The cathedrals of the capital of Belgium are especially worth noting.
One of them is the Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula on Trorenberg Hill.
The cathedral was built in the Roman-Gothic style, with a familiar abundance of decorations on the facade and a characteristic lancet, “carved” architecture. But you will get the most complete and deep impression only by looking at it and going inside. The inside of the temple is strikingly beautiful: a colonnade stretches along the main passage, decorated with full-length Baroque sculptures of the apostles, the windows are decorated with stained glass, most of which were created during the Renaissance. The whole atmosphere here is imbued with antiquity and tranquility.
The cathedral is open to visitors from Monday to Friday from 07:30 to 18:00, on Saturday from 07:30 to 15:30, on Sunday from 14:00 to 18:00. Free admission.
Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Perhaps the most unconventional religious building in Brussels. Do you know many churches in which, in addition to their main functions, there is also a Catholic radio station, a restaurant, a theater, museums and even… a training ground for climbers and speleologists?! Hardly. So it’s definitely worth a look here.
In addition, the basilica impresses not only with its appearance, but also with its interior decoration, made in the style of cubism and minimalism. No wonder this temple is considered a symbol of Art Deco architecture.
If you just want to explore the cathedral from the inside, you don’t need to pay for entry, but to go up to the observation deck, you will have to pay. The site is open in summer from 09:00 to 17:00, and in winter from 10:00 to 16:00.
Church of Our Lady of Victories in Sablon
A true example of Brabant Gothic, the Church of Our Lady will be of interest to guests of Brussels because of the almost detective story associated with its name. The thing is that the church gained popularity among parishioners (as well as its name) after the installation of a statue of the Virgin Mary, which was stolen by a certain pious lady in Antwerp and brought to Brussels.
Whether this is true or not, it was this event that served as the reason for the reconstruction of the simple chapel into a Gothic temple. The interior decoration of the temple is also worth attention, especially the colorful illuminated stained glass windows, which create a mysterious and enigmatic atmosphere that is worth experiencing in Brussels.
50th Anniversary Park
If you get tired after a long walk through interesting places in the center of Brussels, the 50th Anniversary Park, not far from the Grand Place, can be an excellent place to relax. Moreover, it is easy to find: the entrance to the park is crowned by the Arc de Triomphe, which is hard to miss.
50th Anniversary Park is like a piece of Paris that miraculously finds itself in the heart of the Belgian capital. With its neat lawns and symmetrical paths, it is a bit reminiscent of the gardens of Versailles, and the already mentioned Arc de Triomphe further emphasizes the similarity.
For those for whom one walk through the park is not enough, the Army History Museum and the World of Auto Museum are located on its territory.
City Museum in the King’s House
This elegant, seemingly “openwork” building on the Grand Place is a real chameleon. Since the 13th century, it has had several “professions”: it was a bakery warehouse, a prison, a tax office, and even the residence of the Dukes of Brabant. And after the conquest of Brussels by the French, it began to be called the House of the King, since governors who were under the tutelage of the French monarch lived here.
Today there is a City Museum here, where visitors can get acquainted with works of Belgian art from different centuries, and also see a collection of costumes of the famous Manneken Pis (there are 650 of them in total!), which were given to the statue by high-ranking guests of the capital over the years.
Atomium
Do you know what an iron atom looks like? No? Then you definitely need to see the Atomium! This 102-meter futuristic structure is a model of the iron atom enlarged 165 billion times, symbolizing the peaceful possibilities of the atomic age.
But this is not the only thing that makes Atomium remarkable. Six of its nine spheres are open to the public, and the pipes that connect them contain escalators and corridors for moving around the metal giant. The spheres house a hotel, a cafe, and various exhibitions.
Here you can learn about the 1958 World’s Fair, the way of life in Europe in the 50s, and also about the latest scientific achievements. And be sure to go up to the observation deck, which offers a stunning panorama of Brussels; the entire city is visible at a glance.
The Atomium is open from 10:00 to 18:00. December 24 and 31 – from 10:00 to 16:00, and December 25 and January 1 – from 12:00 to 16:00. Tickets cost €17 per adult.
Park “Mini-Europe”
If Brussels is the first European capital you have visited, but you would like to see others, then nothing could be easier! Just go to the Mini-Europe park, where you can feel like a sort of Gulliver, walking among small copies of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Athenian Acropolis and other historical buildings. The park is “populated” with tiny figures of residents, and it also has its own mini-transport (working, by the way).
Ticket costs €19.
Mountain of Arts
In fact, this is an artificial hill created specifically for the International Exhibition in 1910. And there is art here, despite the fact that several of the city’s most popular museums are concentrated here, for example, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Musical Instruments. Combine business (visiting museums in Brussels) with pleasure – climb to the top of the hill: in clear weather, the Atomium and the Sacré-Coeur Basilica are visible from there, and the park invites you to relax after the climb.
Royal Galleries of Saint-Hubert
Did you know that Brussels has its own shopping galleries, older than the famous Vittorio Emanuele in Milan? If you didn’t know, then you need to visit the Royal Galleries of Saint-Hubert.
Here, under one roof (or rather, a glass dome) in the galleries of the King, Queen and Princes, all kinds of shops and boutiques are collected, as well as cafes, pastry shops, cinemas and jewelry shops. The prices, of course, are far from budget, but the galleries are worth visiting for their architecture and exquisite design.
Rene Magritte Museum
Even if you do not consider yourself an art lover or connoisseur, we recommend visiting the museum of René Magritte, a Belgian surrealist artist. Just look at the façade alone, designed in the form of a sketch for one of the artist’s paintings (the canvas “Empire of Light”)!
The museum’s collection includes more than 200 paintings, drawings, sculptures, sketches and photographs, as well as some personal belongings of the artist, telling about the master’s creative path. There is also a cinema here where you can watch a film about the famous Belgian.
The entrance ticket costs €10.
Museum of Natural Sciences
For those whose curiosity knows no bounds, the doors of the Brussels Museum of Natural Sciences are always open. It will, of course, be especially interesting for children, but adults will also find a lot of fascinating things. Here you can learn everything (or almost everything) about the inhabitants of our planet who lived thousands of years ago, study a huge collection of minerals, moon rocks and meteorites (2000 copies in total), and also find out how and where writing and counting came from.
Oh yeah, and don’t forget about the largest meteorite to ever fall in Europe! And for those who don’t mind testing their deductive skills, every day there is an attraction called “The Murder of the Museum Director”: everything is as expected, with evidence, suspects and intrigue.
Chocolate shop Leonidas
Brussels is the capital of chocolate, as almost everyone knows. And where, if not at the local chocolate shops, can you try this amazing delicacy? One such store is Leonidas. Chocolate of this brand has been among the favorites not only among locals, but also among guests of the city for more than a hundred years, and all thanks to carefully preserved recipes and craftsmanship.
Those with a sweet tooth will find here more than a hundred types of sweets with various fillings, as well as marzipans, chocolate-covered fruits, truffles and much more. You will also be pleased with the affordable prices.
Gastronomic paradise on Rue des Bouchers
To diversify your impression of the Belgian capital, we recommend checking out the place known as the “Belly of Brussels”. Behind this intimidating name lies a restaurant street filled to capacity with establishments of all kinds and stripes.
A tourist who is overwhelmed by the variety should be careful when ordering: there is a high risk of succumbing to temptation and ordering too much. Besides, you don’t need to rush to the first restaurant you come across. Walk along the entire street, carefully studying the menu, and you will probably find a fairly acceptable option that will not blow your budget.
Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate
And to fully experience the taste of Brussels, go to the Cocoa and Chocolate Museum. Here you can observe with your own eyes the process of making the famous Belgian delicacy, as well as learn its history and try yourself as a pastry chef.
Pissing Boy Statue
Well, how can you visit Brussels and not see perhaps its biggest celebrity? We are, of course, talking about the Manneken Pis statue.
Tourists often mistakenly believe that the baby must be quite impressive in size (obviously, due to the fact that everyone knows close-up images of him). However, in reality the statue is only the size of a baby, so keep this in mind so as not to “miss” by.
The boy’s figurine itself is not particularly remarkable; the traditional dressing ritual, when the statue is dressed in different costumes, is another matter. This action is colorfully furnished and is often accompanied by music. Today, the little one’s “wardrobe” includes more than 650 costumes from different countries. A detailed dressing schedule is posted on the fountain fence.
Victor Horta Museum
The museum of the outstanding Belgian architect is located in his former home, where he also had a studio. What is Victor Horta famous for, you ask? Well, at least because it is his Art Nouveau buildings that significantly determine the current appearance of Brussels. He popularized the use of floral motifs and ornaments in architecture, flexible and flowing lines that made his buildings so recognizable.
So don’t miss the chance to walk through the house of one of the most famous architects in Belgium, especially since the interiors there are simply magical: an abundance of twisted lines in the wall paintings and wrought-iron staircase decorations, stained glass windows, floral patterns, a lot of glass and light – it seems that there is nothing in the house not a single sharp corner.
Museum of Musical Instruments
You can find all possible variety of musical instruments collected from different parts of the world in the Brussels museum of the same name.
The museum has 4 floors, and each has its own exhibition: there are exhibits from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and instruments from the late 19th century. There is also a hall dedicated to modern musical instruments from different nations of the world. And, of course, the 200-year-old orchestrion, a mechanical instrument capable of playing a variety of music!
One of the features of the museum is that you can not only see the instruments, but also hear them: the exhibitions are equipped with wireless headphones that record the “voices” of the exhibits. And for the most curious, there is the opportunity to look into a music workshop and see with your own eyes how real masters make string instruments.