Top 7 Things to Do in Brussels, Belgium

When someone thinks of planning a trip to Europe, certain cities always stand out. London, Rome, and Paris consistently receive the most visitors every year, with cities like Barcelona, Dublin, and Amsterdam not far behind. But what about Brussels, Belgium? Are there things to do in Brussels?

Although the de facto European Union capital may only be an afterthought to some, it’s definitely still worth a visit. With fewer tourists, you won’t have to worry about fighting massive crowds. It’s a very walkable city, which makes it a great place to slow down, relax, and enjoy everyday life.

Have I convinced you to visit Brussels yet? If so, here are the top 7 things to do in Brussels.

1. Grand Place

After arriving at Bruxelles-Midi Station from the airport, I was walking to my hostel when I came across the Grand Place or Grote Markt. This is the main plaza of Brussels, and it is seriously beautiful. I didn’t do much research in advance of my trip, so I was stunned to find the Grand Place. When you’re there, it’s hard to watch where you’re going, because your instinct is to look up, up, at all the gold ornamentation on the gothic and baroque architecture that surrounds you.

The Grand Place has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1998. You can’t miss it!

2. Manneken Pis

I didn’t go looking for this one either — I stumbled upon it accidentally while I was enjoying a leisurely walk in the neighborhoods surrounding the Grand Place. This is a fountain, featuring a tiny statue of a cherub-like boy, and the water is coming out of his body like he’s peeing. Does the name of the fountain, Manneken Pis, make sense now?

The original sculpture dates back to the early 1600s, and the one in its current location is a replica made in 1965. Apparently, the people of Brussels see this fountain as their symbol, representing their sense of humor.

3. Eat chocolate

Belgium is the promised land for chocolate lovers. It’s been a major industry in the country for the past couple of centuries, and today it is an important part of the economy. Walking the cobblestone streets, you’ll find several chocolate shops per block in some areas. Godiva and Leonidas are two of the biggest ones I’ve noticed, though there are many, many more. With upwards of 2,000 different chocolatiers in the country, you’re bound to find something you like!

4. Eat waffles

Everyone’s heard of Belgian waffles… right? Well, that’s for a reason. Just like chocolate, you can’t go very far in Brussels without finding someone selling waffles. What makes a waffle a Belgian waffle is the deep square pockets — perfect for loading up with toppings and fillings. I frequently saw people walking around Brussels, waffles in hand, piled high with whipped cream, Nutella, bananas, strawberries, nuts, and candy. Though they looked delicious, I’d brought a limited wardrobe on my trip, so I didn’t want to make a huge mess. I opted for a simple waffle filled with chocolate sticks. The best part? A good-sized waffle only costs around €2.50.

5. Eat fries

Yep, a lot of Belgium’s culture revolves around food. The next important food group is fries — “frites” in French, and “frieten” in Dutch, since both are official languages of Brussels. While you can find fries in almost every restaurant, there are also many friteries that specialize in the art of fries. You can get a giant paper cone of fries for about €3-4, but you can also add a variety of meat and/or sauces if you so choose. It may not be the world’s healthiest dinner, but you can feel good about taking a break from sugary chocolate and waffles.

6. Drink beer

Now, to wash down all that food. Have some beer! Belgium has more than 200 breweries, which is pretty good for such a small country. Not all of them are based in Brussels, but you can probably find almost all of those beers in Brussels. Across from the Manneken Pis fountain, I found the Manneken Pis Café, which claims to be the only place in Belgium to have all of Duvel’s beers on tap. (I remembered that Duvel is the parent company of Boulevard Brewing, based in my hometown of Kansas City!) Other famous Belgian beers: Delirium, Stella Artois, and Jupiler.

Not only are there multiple beer festivals throughout the country every year, but UNESCO designated the Belgian beer culture as part of its “List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.”

7. Take a day trip

Brussels’ central location in Western Europe means easy access to a variety of other cities. It’s quite simple to plan a day trip, leaving in the morning and returning back to Brussels in the evening. I took a day trip to the northwestern Belgian city of Bruges, less than 45 minutes away by train. That train also stops in Ghent, which is about halfway between Brussels and Bruges.

If you’re looking to get outside of Belgium, you could even take a train to Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Cologne (Germany), or Luxembourg. You can get to any of these places in about 2-3 hours by train, and faster if you have a car. If you want to visit but don’t want the more expensive lodging prices, a day trip from Brussels may be the perfect solution for you.

Find more things to do in Brussels.

 

Have you ever been to Brussels? What were your favorite things to in Brussels? Let me know in the comments!

-Cathy

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Originally Published on October 30, 2018.