Brussels walking tour & city guide
The Grand Place, comic murals and the capital of Europe.
Video by World Wanderings: 4K Walking Tours on YouTube. All rights belong to the creator. Like or comment on YouTube ↗
Brussels is Belgium's capital and the seat of the European Union, but its heart is a medieval market square often called the most beautiful in the world. Around it, Art Nouveau houses, covered shopping arcades and painted comic-strip walls give the city a playful, surprising character.
The Grand Place and the old center
The Grand Place is framed by the Gothic Town Hall and the gilded guild houses rebuilt after a French bombardment in 1695. Every other August it is covered by a huge carpet of flowers, and at Christmas it fills with lights and a market. The surrounding lanes, known as the Îlot Sacré, are packed with restaurants and chocolate shops.
A short walk away stands Manneken Pis, the tiny bronze statue of a boy that has become the city's mascot, dressed in one of more than a thousand costumes on special days. The elegant Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries, opened in 1847, were among the first covered shopping arcades in Europe.
Upper town, museums and the EU quarter
Uphill from the center, the Mont des Arts gardens lead to the Royal Palace and the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, home to works by Bruegel and Magritte. The Sablon district is known for its antique dealers, its weekend market and its luxury chocolatiers.
To the east, the glass buildings of the European Parliament and the Commission fill the European Quarter, next to the arches of Cinquantenaire Park. In the north of the city, the Atomium, a giant model of an iron crystal built for the 1958 World's Fair, has a restaurant with a view at the top.
Comics, neighborhoods and practical tips
Brussels is the home of Tintin and the Smurfs, and a Comic Book Route of more than fifty murals runs through the center. Neighborhoods such as Ixelles and Saint-Gilles are full of Art Nouveau houses by Victor Horta, whose own home is now a museum.
The center is compact and easy to walk, and trams and the metro cover the rest. Trains reach Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp in under an hour, and Paris, London and Amsterdam by high-speed rail.
Top sights in Brussels
- 1
Grand Place
A medieval square ringed by gilded guild houses.
- 2
Manneken Pis
The city's tiny, much-dressed mascot.
- 3
Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries
Elegant 19th-century shopping arcades.
- 4
Atomium
A giant steel model of an iron crystal from 1958.
- 5
Mont des Arts
Gardens and a view over the lower town.
- 6
Horta Museum
The Art Nouveau home of architect Victor Horta.
Food markets & where to eat in Brussels
Îlot Sacré
Narrow lanes of restaurants next to the Grand Place.
Place Flagey
A lively square famous for its fries stand.
Midi Market
A huge Sunday market by the South Station.
Sablon
Chocolatiers and pâtisseries around the church square.
Food to try in Brussels
Belgian fries
Twice-fried and served in a paper cone with sauce.
Waffles
Crisp Brussels waffles or sweet, chewy Liège waffles.
Moules-frites
Mussels steamed in a pot, served with fries.
Pralines
Filled chocolates, invented in Brussels.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Brussels
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in BrusselsCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Brussels.
- eSIM for BelgiumStay online from the moment you land.
Some links may be affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
