Exploring Belgium: Must-See Places To Visit In Brussels

*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link! This supports me and keeps my blog running.*

This post will be sharing 30 must-see places to visit in Brussels.

While I await my next time in May, I’m still reminiscing about my previous trips.

There’s no way my mind won’t flashback to my time in Brussels anytime I munch on some leftover Belgian chocolates.

This time, I thought about the consensus that Brussels was boring and that there wasn’t much to do besides the exciting nightlife.

I thought about how my experience contradicted that consensus.

Then, it occurred to me that people have varied interests and have every right to their opinions.

On paper, it might not seem as exciting as Paris or Rome.

But when you start exploring, you’ll find Brussels has its charm.

So, if you are a bit sceptical about all the attractions Brussels has to offer before planning a trip, this post is for you.

If you’re also curious about planning a trip to Brussels, here’s my Travel Guide.

Let’s get right into it!

Here Are The Must-See Places To Visit In Brussels On A City Break

I found Brussels to be an urban cosmopolitan city, which isn’t surprising because it is the capital of the EU.

Yes, you’ll find the headquarters/administrative centre of the European Union in Brussels.

I didn’t have enough time; otherwise, I would have found my way there.

Perhaps my favourite thing about Brussels is the quick international rail links to Amsterdam and Paris.

In less than 2 hours, you can be in another country.

How amazing is that?

You’ll also find a mishmash of Dutch and French cultures here, which is fascinating.

Regarding the geography of Brussels, the city is divided into three significant quarters and 14 sub-quarters. They include:

Pentagon, which accounts for the West & South quarters. It’s also where you’ll find the city centre.
Eastern Quarters and
Northern Quarters

The best way to explore Brussels is to examine each quarter, which would probably take two weeks to a month.

But if you have less time – between two days to one week – you should probably stick to the Pentagon, where most iconic landmarks are located.

Must-Visit Historic Landmarks

Grand Place is the most stunning central square I’ve ever been to. You need to get there very early to soak in all the views before the tourist crowds find their way there. It’s easily the highlight of Brussels.
Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries: a stunning shopping arcade is another highlight of Brussels city centre. It’s unlike anything you’ve seen before. The architecture is simply breathtaking. You’ll find tons of authentic Belgian chocolate and waffle shops, which are worth the experience.
Manneken Pis, Jeanneke Pis, and Het Zinneke are tiny trio statues that are symbols of Belgium. The original was created in the 16th century and is preserved in the Brussels City Museum. This replica was designed in the 19th century and is often dressed in various costumes. A small crowd is also to be expected here. Good luck finding all three!
Royal Palace of Brussels; the official palace of the monarchy of Belgium. Although it’s not a royal residence, it was such a delight to visit and get away from the busyness of the city centre. Gorgeous!
Brussels Park: the city’s first public park just opposite the Royal Palace of Brussels. You’ll also find several public buildings and monuments there.
Mont des Arts: the city views from the top of the public garden are amazing, and the ambience is breathtaking! Sit for a while and enjoy the views.
Place Royale: a historic neoclassical square and one of the oldest public squares showcasing 18th-century architecture. It’s not as busy as the Grand Place, but it’s equally stunning!
Egmont Palace: Yes, yet another neoclassical palace built in the 15th century.
Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula: a 16th-century medieval Roman cathedral designed with the Brabantine Gothic architecture.
Atomium: Brussels’s most popular tourist attractions are museums, art centres, and cultural places. It is worth heading down there before wrapping up your trip.
Mini-Europe Minature Park: here, you’ll find a miniature display of 80 cities and 350 buildings repressing the European Union & Europe.

If you want to explore the European Quarter, where you’ll find the offices of the European Union, you’ll need an entire day for this. Most of them are free to visit. Here you’ll find;

The European Parliament, a complex of Parliament buildings
Berlaymont building, which houses the offices of the European Commission
Justus Lipsius building; the former headquarters of the European Union and Council.
Europa building: the current European Council and Council of the European Union seat.
House of European History: a museum dedicated to the history of Europe.

Museums & Libraries

Choco-Story – Learn about the history of Belgian chocolates.
Brussels City Museum, you’ll find the complete history behind the Manneken Pis.
Royal Library of Belgium: The National Library of Belgium has some insane collections!
BELvue Museum; dedicated to the history of Belgium.
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, which houses a group of six art museums. You can easily spend an entire day here. They include;
- Oldmasters Museum
- Magritte Museum,
- Fin-de-Siècle Museum,
- Modern Museum,
- Antoine Wiertz Museum and
- Constantin Meunier Museum
Royal Museums of Art and History also comprises five museums, including;
- Musical Instrument Museum: you’ll find a collection of over 8,000 musical instruments since the 18th century.
- Art & History Museum: a public museum of antiquities, ethnographic and decorative arts.
- Temple of Human Passions: a neoclassical pavilion built in the 18th century.
- Halle Gate: a former medieval city gate that is now a museum that exhibits the history of the building, the City of Brussels and its defence.
- Museums of the Far East: a now-closed museum dedicated to Oriental art and culture of China and Japan.