Located in the heart of Europe, Brussels is a vibrant city full of incredible sites to see and things to do. Here are the must-see places that should top your list when visiting the city.
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Galeries Royales Saint Hubert
The Galeries Royales Saint Hubert is a gorgeous historic shopping arcade filled with shops and cafes. It is famous for its many chocolatiers. You will want to walk through it even if you don’t want to shop or eat – the building alone is worth seeing!
Grand Place
Grand Place deserves a prominent place on your lists of sites to see in Brussels. This medieval square in city center is chockful of gorgeous buildings. The most prominent building in the square is Brussels Town Hall which dates to the 15th century. The rest of the buildings were formally guildhalls of the former Guilds of Brussels. It is seriously the most stunning square I have ever seen!
There are several options for tours of Town Hall. You can also enter into the another one of the buildings in Grand Place by visiting the Brussels City Museum. The rest of the buildings house restaurants, cafes, shops, and other services for the tourists that flock to the square.
Peeing Statues
No trip to Brussels is complete without seeing the famous peeing statues of Brussels. If you don’t know anything else about the city, you have probably heard of these unique tourists attractions!
Mannekan Pis
The most famous of the statues depicts a little boy relieving himself. Officially called Mannekan Pis, this statue of a naked boy is a replica of the original statue dating from 1619. The original is in the Brussels City Museum.
Locals like to have a little fun with their statue. Periodically you will see him dressed in one of the 1000+ outfits he owns. You can see some of his outfits at the GardeRobe Manneken Pis museum. Even if you don’t have time to go inside, make sure you walk by the museum as they display some of his costumes in the front window.
Jeanneke Pis
Dating from the 1980s, the Jeanneke Pis statue ensures that gender equality is in full force when it comes to public urination. She’s still not treated equally as she lacks thousands of outfits and a museum to showcase them. But as is shown in the picture above, she does receive a few accessories from time to time!
Zinneke Pis
In 1998, Zinneke Pis joined the peeing statue family. This bronze statue shows a dog lifting his leg onto a pole. Unlike the other two statues, this one isn’t actually a fountain. And he has no clothing or accessories.
Palace of Justice
Known as the largest palace of justice in the world, this Greco-Roman style building has continuously been covered in scaffolding since the 1980s. According to my walking tour guide, now they are having to use scaffolding to repair the original scaffolding. And to make matters worse, the 1980s scaffolding was rented! It’s a working administrative building, so tourists can’t go inside. Still, the building is an impressive site in Brussels. And on a clear day you get a lovely panoramic view of the city from the building grounds.
Churches
Like most European cities, Brussels has some remarkably beautiful churches and cathedrals you can visit. Best of all, most are free to enter! Make sure to add at least one of these to your list of sites to see in Brussels.
Brussels Cathedral
The most impressive of the churches in the city is the Brussels Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula. There was a church on this site dating as far back as the 11th century, but the current cathedral dates from the 13th century.
You can take a free guided tour of the cathedral. You can also pay small fees to see the crypt, an exhibit of the cathedral’s treasury, and the 11th century church’s original foundation.
Church of Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon
The Gothic style Church of Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon was built in the 15th century. It features 11 stained-glass windows that are each 49 feet in height.
Basilica of the Sacred Heart
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart is one of the largest churches in the world. It dates from the early 20th century and is in the Art Deco architectural style. The basilica offers visitors special exhibits and a wonderful views of the city. Unlike the two other churches profiled, this one is located outside of city center and has an admission fee.
Royal Palace
If you are visiting Brussels from July 21-August 31, you should prioritize touring the Royal Palace of Brussels. This is the only time it is open to the public. The rest of the year it serves as the Belgium royalty’s administrative palace. But you can still walk by and admire the imposing 19th century building.
Mont des Arts
Situated between the upper and lower parts of the city, Mont des Arts offers a beautiful green space and views of Town Hall. Nearby you will find the BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts, BELvue Museum, Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Magritte Museum, Musical Instruments Museum, and the Royal Library of Belgium.
Also near the garden is the Carillon du Mont des Arts, a Jacquemart Carillion clock. It has 24 bells and 12 figurines that represent important people in Brussels history and folklore. At the top of the hour, the bells play, the character at the top of the clock strikes the bell, and the figures pop out a little.
Coudenberg Palace Archaeological Site
The Coudenberg Palace Archaeological Site is where a royal residence stood for about 700 years until it burned in 1731. Only the underground parts of the residence remain today. The extensive ruins include the palace’s foundations, cellars, and a section of the street that once ran through the palace complex. It’s an interesting viewpoint into the architectural evolution of a city.
Atomium
Perhaps the most iconic of sites to see in Brussels is the Atomium. Originally built for the 1958 World’s Fair, the Atomium is shaped like an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. It’s nine interconnected spheres are connected by tubes that contain escalators. Within the spheres are exhibits focusing on science, design, and society. The top sphere offers a panoramic view of the city.
Next to the Atomium is Mini-Europe featuring meticulously crafted scale models of famous European landmarks. You can travel to more than 80 countries in a hour or so! And these models aren’t all static – some feature interactive elements. You can watch Vesuvius erupt, see gondolas floating in a Venice canal, and witness the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Comic Strip Trail
Visitors might not know that many of the cartoon characters we know and love were born in Belgium, including Tintin and the Smurfs. So it makes sense to spend some of your time in Brussels admiring comic art! There are almost 70 murals throughout the city of various comic strip characters. You are sure to see some of them in your wanderings!
For a more focused look, the Comic Arts Museum showcases original artwork, manuscripts and memorabilia of Belgium cartoon characters. Through displays and interactive exhibits, the museum emphasizes the cultural and artistic significance of comic art.
European Parliament
The European Parliament is one of the key legislative bodies of the EU. Brussels is home to one of the three locations of Parliament hosting committee meetings, plenary sessions, and the secretariat. Visiting this location of Parliament provides insight into one of the most significant political systems in the world.
Inside the Parlamentarium (visitor’s center), interactive exhibits explain the history of the EU and how it works. You can tour the Hemicycle where the Members of European Parliament (MEPs) gather to debate and vote on issues. You might even be able to see them in action! Another highlight is the European Quarter where can see the homes of various EU institutions along with parks, statues, and plaques commemorating significant events. To make it a bit more fun to explore, you can take one of several audio tours options, including uncovering a mystery.
Delirium Café
After seeing all of these sites in Brussels, you are sure to be a bit thirsty. Look no further than the Delirium Café, home to 2,000+ varieties of beer. Don’t worry if you have no idea which beer to choose – their staff will be happy to help you. They also have food, although it pales in comparison to the beer selection. The bar is decorated with beer and brewery artifacts, such as advertising trays, glasses, etc. And time your visit right and you will catch live music and other entertainment!
What’s topping your list of sites to see in Brussels?
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