What to See in Brussels

last edited Dec 11, 2019

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Location Map of Brussels

Brussels Open the interactive map

Overview

Brussels is a must-visit on any trip to Belgium and even this part of Europe. With its rich cultural heritage, museums, and lively atmosphere, the city deserves at least two full days of exploration—even more if you want to discover its nearby surroundings.

Districts

The Brussels metropolitan area isn’t very large. For visitors, it can roughly be divided into two distinct zones:

The center

This is the most tourist-heavy and vibrant part of the city, featuring the Grand-Place, the "historic center," and, to the east, the European Parliament district or the Cinquantenaire Park. Most visitors spend the bulk of their time within this area.

The outskirts and neighboring municipalities

Far less touristy, the peripheral districts and the twenty municipalities that make up Brussels-Capital offer a different side of the city. However, they still include several notable sites, such as the Heysel Plateau (home to the famous Atomium), the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, and a few museums.

Tourist Sites and Areas

Sacred Isle
This is a district in the historic center of the city, northwest of the Grand-Place, encompassing several monuments, museums, and tourist streets like Rue des Bouchers.

The Marolles
This is a lively and tourist-friendly district centered around the city’s imposing Palace of Justice. Beyond its setting and "atmosphere," the Marolles is also known for its flea market, held every morning at the Place du Jeu de Balle.

Heysel Plateau
This district in the north of the city is home to various large structures and facilities. In addition to the King Baudouin Stadium and the Grand Palais (convention centre), you’ll find the famous Atomium, the Brussels Planetarium, and the Bruparck leisure park, which includes Mini-Europe (scale models of European landmarks), Océade (water park), and Park Village (a large shopping area).

Leopold Quarter
This is where the European Institutions, the European Parliament, and the business district are located. You’ll also find Leopold Park with its gardens and historic buildings.

Sablon District
In the historic centre of Brussels. This is the lively and tourist-friendly antiques district, featuring the charming Petit Sablon Square adorned with sculptures, and the antiques and book market held every weekend.

Monuments and Architectural Landmarks

Atomium
Standing over 100 m tall, this monument built in 1958 represents an iron molecule made up of nine huge spheres (the atoms), six of which are open to the public with exhibition spaces and a restaurant.

Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Brussels
On the outskirts of central Brussels (municipality of Koekelberg), this Art Deco building is one of the largest churches in the world. A lovely panorama of the city can be seen from the top of its dome. The site also houses two small museums (the Black Sisters Museum and the Museum of Modern Religious Art).

Habitations de l'architecte Victor Horta à Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgique

Brussels Art Nouveau
A walk to discover the Art Nouveau architectural heritage of the city. Brussels boasts several dozen buildings in this style, including those by Victor Horta, who led the movement in Belgium and whose works are UNESCO-listed.

Brussels Comics
A walk discovering the many comic-strip murals, statues, and museums. Over fifty frescoes in total.

Saints Michael and Gudula Cathedral
Built between 1226 and 1500, this imposing Gothic edifice is located in the central station district.

Galeries royales Saint-Hubert, Bruxelles, Belgique

Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries
Among the city's covered shopping arcades, the Royal Galleries (Queen, King, Princes) are the oldest, dating from 1847. They house upscale boutiques, restaurants, and the small Royal Theatre of the Galleries.

Grand-Place de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgique

Grand-Place, Brussels
This is the city’s central square, with magnificent façades dating largely from the late 17th to early 18th centuries. The Town Hall and the King’s House are among the most significant buildings. The site has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1998.

Manneken Pis
This fountain with its "little boy peeing" has been the symbol of Brussels for centuries. It is located in the heart of the city, next to the Grand-Place. Since 1985, Manneken has also had its "Jeanneke Pis," its female counterpart located not far away on Rue des Bouchers.

Palais royal de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgique

Royal Palace of Brussels
Extending from the magnificent Royal Square and adjacent to Brussels Park, this building still serves an official function. However, it is partially open to visitors during the tourist season.

Stoclet Palace
Located in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, near Brussels, this building with geometric lines and a rather austere appearance dates from 1904. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Place des Martyrs
It's a beautiful neo-classical square from the late 17th century, surrounded by charming façades in the city centre.

Museums

The Belgian capital is home to dozens of museums or similar institutions. While a few are world-renowned and attract crowds, many others remain far more niche.

The main ones

Art & History Museum
Renamed in 2018 as the "Art & History Museum", the former Cinquantenaire Museum is located in the park of the same name. It houses thousands of artworks and archaeological objects from all periods and origins. It is part of the Royal Museums of Art and History.

Musée de la ville de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgique

Brussels City Museum
Also known as the King’s House. Located on the Grand-Place, this magnificent building is dedicated to Brussels’ heritage and history, as well as its urban development from its origins to the present day. Great for understanding the city.

Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
20,000 works of art (paintings, sculptures, and drawings) in one location, yet spread across six distinct museums: the Magritte Museum, the Wiertz Museum, the Meunier Museum, the Museum of Ancient Art, the Fin-de-Siècle Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art.

Other museums

Less well-known or more specialized in their themes, but still quite tourist-friendly:

Autoworld
This automobile museum is one of those in the Cinquantenaire Park. In total, over 300 collectible models tracing the history of the automobile from its origins to the 1960s.

Belgian Comic Strip Center
A museum-library dedicated to Belgian comic strips (very extensive) from their beginnings to the present day. Meanwhile, Brussels city center and the Laeken district feature around fifty mural frescoes dedicated to comics scattered throughout.

Horta House
This is the house and studio of the renowned Art Nouveau architect Victor Horta. Several of Horta's works in Brussels are UNESCO-listed, including some in the same neighborhood as this house-museum, which is also included.

René Magritte House-Museum
Different from the Magritte Museum. This is the house where the painter lived and which was turned into a dedicated museum.

Mini-Europe
This open-air museum north of Brussels features scale models (1:25) of Europe’s most famous cities and landmarks. A family favourite, it is one of the capital’s most visited sites, with around 400,000 visitors per year.

BELvue Museum
Adjacent to the Royal Palace, this is the museum of Belgium's history from independence (1830) to the present day.

Brussels Gueuze Museum
A place dedicated to this type of beer (obviously Belgian) and its production.

Brussels Chocolate and Cocoa Museum
Like its counterpart in Bruges, this is a fun and delicious museum dedicated to chocolate and cocoa, housed in a 17th-century building just steps from the Grand-Place and the Manneken-Pis.

Far East Museums
Comprising the Japanese Tower, the Chinese Pavilion, and the Museum of Japanese Art, this complex in Laeken is part of the Royal Museums of Art and History. It reflects the early 20th-century European fascination with China and Japan.

Brussels Musical Instrument Museum
It is one of the world's most important museums in its category, with a collection of 8,000 items, over a thousand of which are on display.

Brussels Toy Museum
The museum houses some 25,000 toys, from 1850 to the present day.

Jewish Museum of Belgium
A vast collection of Jewish tradition objects and photographic testimonies from various countries. This museum, currently under renovation, was the target of an attack in May 2014.

Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History
From armour to all kinds of uniforms, including equipment, the two world wars, and an aviation hall.

Belgium Museum of Natural Sciences
For dinosaur enthusiasts, as well as those interested in insects, rocks, crystals, and natural sciences more broadly. The museum is located next to Leopold Park.

Palace of Fine Arts, Brussels
In pure Art Deco style, this beautiful building houses various cultural and artistic venues with their exhibitions. The site also hosts the cinema museum.

Parlamentarium
The European Parliament's visitor centre with exhibitions and guided tours.

Brussels Planetarium
In the Heysel district, this venue affiliated with the Royal Observatory of Belgium offers exhibitions and shows dedicated to the night sky.

Halle Gate
This medieval building houses the Royal Museums of Arms and Armour.

Train World
This is the museum of the Belgian national railway company, opened in 2015. It is located in Schaerbeek, within the Brussels-Capital Region.

Villa Empain
A testament to Art Deco architecture, this remarkable building dating from 1931 has been transformed into a Center for Art and Dialogue between Eastern and Western cultures, with exhibitions and events on the subject.

Parks and Gardens

Bois de la Cambre
A large wooded park much loved by Brussels residents on weekends. It is located in the south of the city (in Ixelles) and adjoins the Abbey of La Cambre.

Océade
More than just a green space, Océade is primarily a large water park located in Bruparck, north of the city.

Brussels Park
Or Royal Park. 11 hectares of tree-filled grounds adorned with mythologically inspired sculptures overlooking the Royal Palace.

Parc du Cinquantenaire, Bruxelles, Belgique

Cinquantenaire Park
A blend of park and esplanade, this spot hosts several museums (Autoworld, Army Museum, Royal Museums of Art and History), the Grand Mosque, and various monuments (including a striking triumphal arch) and sculptures.

Laeken Park
160 hectares of greenery north of Brussels, containing the Royal Palace of Laeken (the King’s residence), which occupies half the space, the Royal Greenhouses (open only in spring), and the Museum of the Far East.

Leopold Park
In the European Parliament district, this charming park is home to gardens and historic buildings from the late 19th to early 20th centuries, giving it a certain architectural interest.