For most Americans, Brussels is not a top-tier European destination. Heck, Belgium as a whole often gets completely skipped over. But while Brussels does not have the volume of sights as a city like London, Rome, or Paris, or the allure of Barcelona or Amsterdam, it is a truly incredible city. Consider, for instance, that it has the headquarters of the EU, spectacular food, and one of Europe’s most beautiful central squares, among other things to do, see, and eat. Plus it is an hour or less by train from several other wonderful places with intact medieval cores.

So if you are looking for a truly European experience, in a major city, but without the crowds of some of those cities mentioned above, Brussels just might be your perfect destination. This guide will help you to plan your own Brussels adventure, whether for a couple of days or a week or more.

Note: please click on the links throughout the guide to read more in-depth articles on specific aspects of Brussels and other day trip destinations. And if you enjoy the guide, make sure to click here to read all of our Ultimate Guides from destinations around the world!

Getting There

If you are flying from the US, you can make it direct to Brussels from several gateway cities (I flew via Chicago on United). The airport is large, but not overly so, with two connected terminals, one serving Schengen destinations and the other those abroad. Getting from the airport into the city can either be a €40 or so taxi, or a €7 fare on the number 12 bus, which goes into the Eurozone (EU Quarter) directly, or connects to Brussels’ Metro at Schuman. (There are other buses as well, but this seems to be the easiest route.)

If you are arriving by train from elsewhere in Europe, you’ll probably end up at Midi Station, which sits on multiple Metro, bus, and tram lines. (Note it is not in the tourist center, so you’ll probably need to use one of these to continue on to your hotel.)

Getting Around

If you are staying in the historic center of Brussels (the area around Grand Place), you can navigate to most of the things you’ll want to see by walking. Just note that Brussels does have some hills, and the center has cobblestones. If you are walking in Brussels, pedestrians more often than not wait for a green to cross a street. Crossing streets also often involves walking through a bike lane, so be careful.

If you want to go outside of that small circle (the EU Quarter is about a half hour walk away, for instance), a combination of buses and Metro are available. Metro tickets are purchased at the stations, and are €2.40 one way. Bus fare is paid for on the bus, either in cash from the driver, or with a tap credit card (or Apple Pay) from a machine inside the doors.

Many of the Metro trains here are old, and doors will need to be opened with a handle or button, rather than opening automatically at each station. And I don’t believe I took a single Metro train that had the next stop listed. They merely had a map. So be sure you count the stops before getting on to be safe.

If you choose to take day trips (more on some of the top ones in a later section), you’ll be able to buy those tickets directly at the station from automated machines. Within Belgium they are valid for any train going to the desired destination, with the exception of private lines like EuroStar. A round trip ticket is exactly the price of two one-way fares, so don’t worry either way. Just note that the departures boards in Belgium almost solely note the final destination, so it can be a bit tricky to find a train going somewhere between. Ask at the information desk in larger stations, or use a train app (like Omio) or Google maps to give you the train time, number, and destination. (For more on European train travel, click here.)

Things to Do

If you have a single day or evening in Brussels, spend it around Grand Place, perhaps the most beautiful central square in Europe. (Click here for more of Grand Place.) During the day, you might want to visit city hall or the Brussels City Museum, which face each other on the square. At night, they will be closed, but you’ll more than make up for it with the sheer beauty of the place all lit up.

A couple blocks from Grand Place is the famous Manneken Pis statue. Visiting takes just a few minutes (it is small, so you just see it and go, basically) but be patient waiting through the crowds to get a good photo.

If you like museums, Brussels has two (besides the city museum on Grand Place) that I can recommend. First, Musee Magritte (and the connected museum of Flemish masters) is a lovely spot, needing a couple hours to fully explore. Second, while currently closed, the Musical Instrument Museum is one of the best in the world, along with its sister in Phoenix.

Are you interested in the EU? A day in the EU Quarter (or Eurozone) is a ton of fun. Check out the Parliamentarium, a museum dedicated to the EU Parliament that is spectacular. You can also go inside the parliament chamber via an audio tour. Or learn modern European history at the House of European History. All of these are free, all have English audio guides, and all will require your passport to visit. The Parliamentarium suggests advance reservations, as well. (Click here to read more about the EU Quarter.)

Cinquantenaire Park is to the other side of the EU campus from the center, so it’s a ways away. But the mighty arch there is stunning, and the car museum Autoworld is pretty cool if you like those sorts of things. As a park, however, it isn’t the vast green space you’ll want to just hang out in. For a park experience, check out Parc de Bruxelles closer to the center.

Ok, day trips. (Click on the links to read more.) Bruges is about an hour or a bit more away by train, as is Antwerp. Ghent is a mere half hour or 45 minutes. All of these are doable in a day (Antwerp is hardest simply because of its size), or you can spend a night. I don’t think I’d try to do Ghent and Bruges in a single day trip, although I know some claim it is possible.

Beyond that, I know I say this every time, just walk around the center. Pop into churches. Explore alleys. Follow towers you see, or beautiful building facades. The historic center is just a pretty place to be.

Where to Stay

If you are looking for a US chain hotel, they will be clustered in three areas: the historic center, the EU Quarter, and near the airport. You can dismiss the last group unless you just have a single night and an early flight.

The center is obviously the best choice from a logistical standpoint. Being right there means it is easier to enjoy Grand Place and the myriad cafes and brasseries at night. But it is also more expensive.

On my recent trip, I spent a week at the Renaissance hotel in the EU Quarter just off Place du Luxembourg. I found it to be a pleasant enough stay, and the half hour walk to and from the center wasn’t too bad. There is also a direct bus from just outside the hotel to Grand Place. The only downside was the fifteen minute walk to the Metro, which was a bit rough when dragging my suitcase at the end of my trip, since I left via Midi Station.

What to Eat

If you come to Brussels, there is every chance it is specifically for the food and drink, so this is the section for you. Let’s start with Belgian chocolate, considered to be some of the best in the world. Chocolate shops and cafes are everywhere. Seriously, like every block in the center. There is also a chocolate museum, Choco-Story, which is cute. Try some chocolate from various shops. Prices will range from cheap to exorbitant. Leonidas and Neuhaus are the most common chains, and both have reasonably affordable and good offerings. (Click here to read more about Belgian chocolate.)

Belgian waffles are also a thing. They come in two varieties, which the chocolate article above also explores: Brussels (what we normally think of) and Liege (chewier). They seem to really only exist in the center of the city. You can try the historic Maison Dandoy, or any number of other shops, for your waffles, and choose whatever set of toppings you desire.

French fries are actually Belgian, despite the name. Make sure to get some frites, as they are called in French, either with a meal or on their own from a shop specializing in them. If from a shop, you’ll get a choice of sauce. If not, the traditional Belgian way to eat fries is with mayonnaise, which I find an abomination.

For the most authentic Belgian meal, try a traditional brasserie. Offerings will range from burgers to stews to moules frites (mussels and fries). And pair with with a Belgian beer on tap.

Speaking of beer, Belgium has some of the best. (Click here to read more about beer.) You can just get a glass, or tour a brewery, or find a beer tour. There are more styles, let alone brands, than you’ll be able to try in a week, so have fun with it.

Other Useful Information

Belgium is theoretically a trilingual country. Here in Brussels, French is the dominant language, but the city is surrounded by Flanders, which speaks mainly Dutch. So signage here is in both, and many people speak both, but you’ll probably be greeted in French. German, the third language, is hardly present at all, with English signage being much more common. Most Belgians do speak some English, as well, so you’ll be able to get by. The language is especially fun on trains, where announcements will be in whatever language is dominant in the area the train is currently in. So a day trip will mean that the announcements will change between French and Dutch.

While Brussels reminds me very much of Paris in its cafe scene, the French will provide tap water if you order a carafe d’eau. Here in Belgium, that is not a thing. Also, the French slang for paying the bill with a credit card by asking for la machine (the credit card machine) will be met with confusion. Just ask for l’addition, the bill.

Conclusion

I loved Brussels. I had more fun here than I’ve had in many of the more popular destinations, and found the people to be nicer and more approachable. The food is unquestionably amazing, especially if you are able to consume copious amounts of sugar in the form of chocolate. The historic center is lovely. And the easy day trips make it a perfect place to home base for a week.

I hope you enjoyed this guide, and that it inspired you to add Brussels and Belgium to your travel list!

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