ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a trip
    de|en
    All Places & RegionsAbout FernwehFAQPrivacy PolicyImprint
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a trip
    • Neighborhoods & highlights
    • Eat & drink
    • Food culture
    • Culture
    • Nightlife
    • Getting around
    • Accommodation
    • Plan trip
    • Nearby
    Brussels

    Belgium

    Brussels

    City

    Brussels is the capital of Belgium and home to key EU institutions, also one of Europe's great cultural cities.

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Belgium
    7. Region Brussels-Capital
    9. Brussels
    Brussels is the capital of Belgium and home to key EU institutions, also one of Europe's great cultural cities. Around the Grand-Place, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1998, are guildhouses, 19th-century covered shopping arcades, and countless brasseries; in addition, there's the Atomium, Victor Horta's Art Nouveau houses, and the Magritte Museum.
    Die Region Brüssel-Hauptstadt zählt rund 1,25 Millionen Einwohner in 19 Gemeinden, die eigentliche Stadt Brüssel knapp 200.000. Die Altstadt in der Unterstadt rund um den Grand-Place erkundest du am besten zu Fuß; zur Oberstadt mit Königspalast, Mont des Arts und Sablon geht es leicht bergauf. Metro, Tram und Bus der STIB verbinden das Zentrum mit dem Europaviertel, dem Atomium im Norden und den Jugendstilvierteln von Saint-Gilles und Ixelles im Süden. Typisch für Brüssel ist das Nebeneinander von Hauptstadtpomp, internationalem Beamtenviertel und eigenwilligen Stadtquartieren wie den Marollen mit ihrem täglichen Flohmarkt.

    Sights in Brussels

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Grand-Place
    Attraction

    1Grand-Place

    Brussels' historic Grand Place has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1998. The Gothic Town Hall was built between 1401 and 1455; its tower measures approximately 96 meters. The magnificent guild houses were rebuilt within four years after the 1695 bombing; in the opposite Maison du Roi, the City Museum displays, among other things, the original Manneken Pis. Every two years in August, a flower carpet covers the square.
    Open in Google Maps
    Atomium
    Museum

    2Atomium

    The approximately 102-meter-high landmark originated as the main pavilion of the Expo 58 World's Fair and was actually only meant to be temporary. Its nine spheres form the elementary cell of an iron crystal, enlarged approximately 165 billion times; six are accessible, the topmost offers a panoramic view over Brussels. Take Metro Line 6 to Heysel/Heizel.
    Open in Google Maps
    Manneken Pis
    Attraction

    3Manneken Pis

    The small bronze figure of a urinating boy was commissioned by the city council in 1619; the present copy at the corner of Rue du Chêne dates from 1965. The figure has around 1,000 costumes, which are displayed in the GardeRobe MannekenPis Museum on the same street. Its female counterpart Jeanneke Pis has been in a cul-de-sac near Rue des Bouchers since 1987.
    Open in Google Maps
    Royal Galleries Saint-Hubert
    Shopping Mall

    4Royal Galleries Saint-Hubert

    Opened in 1847, the passages by architect Jean-Pierre Cluysenaar are among Europe's oldest covered shopping arcades. Beneath the vaulted glass roof with delicate cast iron lie the Galerie du Roi, the Galerie de la Reine, and the Galerie des Princes, featuring chocolatiers, bookstores, two theaters, and a cinema from 1939. The original Neuhaus store, where the praline was invented, is located in the Galerie de la Reine.
    Open in Google Maps
    Magritte Museum
    Museum

    5Magritte Museum

    Opened in 2009, the museum on Place Royale is part of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts and displays around 200 paintings, drawings, and sculptures by the Surrealist René Magritte. The exhibition is arranged chronologically and complements the works with photos, letters, and films from his life.
    Open in Google Maps
    Horta Museum
    Museum

    6Horta Museum

    Victor Horta built his house and studio in Saint-Gilles between 1898 and 1901, now one of the four Horta Houses on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The staircase, glass roof, mosaics, and furniture showcase Brussels Art Nouveau in its purest form. The house is small; check opening hours and ticket booking in advance on the website.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants in Brussels

    1

    Chez Léon

    The family restaurant, founded in 1893 in the Old Town, is primarily known for Moules-frites and also serves Belgian brasserie classics. It is located a few steps from the Grand-Place on Rue des Bouchers.
    Show on Google Maps
    2

    At the Arms of Brussels

    Classic Brussels cuisine restaurant, opened in 1921, with stained glass and elegant decor. Serving mussels and other traditional Belgian dishes; located in the old town north of Grand-Place.
    Show on Google Maps
    3

    Fritland

    Snack bar for traditional Belgian frites with takeaway and terrace, just a few steps from the Bourse and the Grand-Place. A quick stop between two sights.
    Show on Google Maps
    4

    Nüetnigenough

    Small brasserie with Art Nouveau facade and interior, combining Belgian dishes with a carefully curated beer list. It is located in the southern part of the Old Town near Manneken Pis.
    Show on Google Maps

    Food & Drink in Brussels

    Brussels is the city of brasseries, Fritkots, and chocolatiers. Around the city, spontaneously fermented Lambic is brewed.
    Brussels Waffle

    Brussels Waffle

    Rectangular, light and crispy, baked from thin batter and often served with powdered sugar, cream or fruit. You can get them freshly baked at many stalls in the Old Town.
    Lambic, Geuze and Kriek

    Lambic, Geuze and Kriek

    Spontaneously fermented beers from Brussels and the Pajottenland. The Cantillon Brewery in Anderlecht has been exclusively brewing Lambic since 1900 and houses a small Gueuze Museum.
    Pralines

    Pralines

    Jean Neuhaus invented the filled praline in 1912; its original shop remains in the Galerie de la Reine to this day. On the Grand Sablon, other chocolatiers like Pierre Marcolini line up alongside each other.
    Moules-frites

    Moules-frites

    You can get mussels with fries in many brasseries in the Old Town. The restaurants in the touristy Rue des Bouchers are expensive and of varying quality; compare menu and prices beforehand.

    Art, Comics and Art Nouveau

    Art Nouveau and ModernismAround 1900, Brussels was a hub of Art Nouveau. Four townhouses by Victor Horta have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2000, including his own home and studio in Saint-Gilles, now the Horta Museum. The Palais Stoclet has also been a World Heritage Site since 2009.MuseumsThe Magritte Museum on Place Royale has exhibited some 200 original works by the Surrealist since 2009.The Cinquantenaire Park is home to the Art & History Museum, the Royal Military Museum, and Autoworld, the car museum.The Museum of Natural Sciences, near the European Quarter, boasts the largest dinosaur hall of any museum.Capital of ComicsBrussels is considered the capital of comics. The Belgian Comic Strip Centre has been housed since 1989 in a former department store completed by Victor Horta in 1906.

    Nightlife

    1

    Délirium Café

    The beer bar on the small Impasse de la Fidélité, opposite Jeanneke Pis, made it into the Guinness Book of Records in 2004 with over 2,000 beer varieties. Brewery signs cover the walls and ceiling; on Thursdays, there's live music.
    Show on Google Maps
    2

    At the Sudden Death

    Traditional café near the Galeries Royales, under this name since 1928. Its Louis XVI interior, with mirrors, pilasters and wood paneling, is almost unchanged; serving its eponymous Lambic beers and other Belgian varieties.
    Show on Google Maps
    3

    Moeder Lambic Fontainas

    Beer bar with exposed brickwork and glasses hanging above the counter, specializing in craft beer and Belgian Lambic beers. It is located on Place Fontainas in the south of the Old Town.
    Show on Google Maps

    Exploring Brussels

    Metro, Tram and BusSTIB/MIVB operates four metro lines, pre-metro trams, and a dense tram and bus network. You can easily pay with a contactless bank card at the reader; alternatively, single, 10-trip, day, and 3-day tickets are available.To the Atomium, take Metro Line 6 to Heysel/Heizel; for the European Quarter, take Lines 1 and 5 to Schuman.From the Airport to the CityFrom Zaventem Airport, trains run several times an hour to the city centre. The journey to the European Quarter (Schuman, Luxemburg) takes about 15 minutes. A surcharge applies to train tickets to and from the airport.By CarThe entire region is a low emission zone; foreign vehicles must be registered in advance. A 30 km/h speed limit generally applies throughout the city, and parking in the city centre is expensive.

    Accommodations in Brussels

    Find perfect stay in Brussels

    Booking.com* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Agoda* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Airbnb
    Vacation Rentals

    * Affiliate link: if you book through it, we earn a small commission. The price stays the same for you.

    Campgrounds in Brussels

    Find perfect campground in Brussels

    Search via Google Maps
    Campgrounds nearby (15km)
    Camping.info
    Find Campgrounds
    Park4Night
    RV Parks & Camping

    Plan your trip to Brussels

    Save places, build a route and plan your city trip, all in one place.

    1. 1
      1234

      Round trip

      12 days · 4 stops

      Saved

      Pick a route

      Pick a ready-made one or save places and plan your own.

      Open bookmarks
    2. 2

      Trip to Brussels

      Live
      • 1Grand-Place3 days
      • 2Atomium4 days
      • 3Manneken Pis5 days
      Budget

      Plan your trip

      The planner sorts stops, days and budget. Plan together in real time.

      Start trip planning
    3. 3
      9:41 No signal
      Available offline

      Use it on the road

      Download the guide to your phone and use it on site, even offline.

    Nearby

    Region Brussels-Capital

    Region Brussels-Capital

    The Capital Region comprises Brussels and its 19 municipalities, and is a bilingual enclave in the heart of Flanders. Home to central EU institutions and NATO headquarters, Brussels is also one of Europe's great cultural cities, boasting the Grand-Place and Victor Horta's townhouses.
    Mechelen

    Mechelen

    Mechelen is halfway between Brussels and Antwerp and can be reached from both cities in about 20 minutes by train. You come for the tower of St. Rumbold's Cathedral, one of Belgium's oldest breweries, and a poignant Holocaust memorial.In the first half of the 16th century, Mechelen was the capital of the Netherlands under Margaret of Austria. Palaces and churches date from this Burgundian golden age, and the Old Town remains manageable and largely car-free to this day.
    Lions

    Lions

    Leuven (German: Löwen) is located approximately 25 kilometres east of Brussels and has been home to one of Europe's oldest universities since 1425. You come here for the Late Gothic Town Hall, the UNESCO-protected Great Beguinage, and an Old Town shaped by student life.More than 50,000 students from KU Leuven ensure the cafés on Oude Markt are bustling late into the night. The city is also home to the headquarters of brewing giant AB InBev, where Stella Artois is brewed. The compact city centre is easily explored on foot.

    Flemish Brabant

    The province surrounds the Brussels Capital Region. Its center is the university city of Leuven (Löwen) with its late Gothic town hall; southwest of Brussels lies the Pajottenland, home to Lambic beer.

    Walloon-Brabant

    This small province lies directly south of Brussels. Its most famous site is the battlefield of Waterloo, where Napoleon lost his last battle in 1815; also featured are the abbey ruins of Villers-la-Ville and the Walibi theme park in Wavre.