Bruxelles·Brussel

City guide · 2026 edition

Brussels,
your way.

Surrealism, frites, Art Nouveau and 3,000 beers. Build your itinerary, see how far it is to walk, and add dinner and a night out.

How long are you staying?
01

Itinerary

Your schedule

Day 1

  1. 09:30 Grand-Place – UNESCO-listed central square with the Gothic Town Hall and ornate guildhalls.
  2. 10:25 Manneken Pis – Tiny bronze fountain and cheeky city mascot, often dressed in one of 1,000+ costumes.
  3. 10:50 Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert – Elegant 1847 glass-roofed arcades with chocolatiers, cafés and bookshops.
  4. 11:35 Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula – Gothic national cathedral with twin towers and Renaissance stained glass.
  5. 14:00 Magritte Museum – The world's largest collection of René Magritte's surrealist works.
  6. 15:40 Musical Instruments Museum (MIM) – 1,000+ instruments with audio guide in the Art Nouveau Old England building.
  7. 17:00 Mont des Arts Garden & Viewpoint – Terraced gardens with one of the best views over the old town.

Day 2

  1. 09:30 Place du Jeu de Balle Flea Market – Daily flea market in the Marolles, packed with antiques and curiosities.
  2. 10:30 Palais de Justice & Place Poelaert – Colossal 19th-century law courts with a panorama over the Marolles (free public lift).
  3. 11:15 Notre-Dame du Sablon – Flamboyant Gothic church on the chic Sablon square full of chocolatiers.
  4. 14:00 Parlamentarium – The European Parliament's interactive visitor centre, in all 24 EU languages.
  5. 15:45 House of European History – Europe's modern history told through objects and multimedia, in Parc Léopold.

Did this plan help? 🧇 Treat me to a waffle

02

Eat & drink

Restaurants near your stops

Book your meals into your day. Every day has a breakfast slot (avg. 45m, or mark it as at your hotel), a lunch slot (avg. 1h 15m) and a dinner slot (avg. 1h 30m). Use “+ Add to schedule” on any place below, or pick one straight from a slot in your schedule.

  • Aux Armes de Bruxelles (Belgian · €€€ · Grand-Place/Centre)
  • Maison Dandoy (Galerie du Roi) (Waffles · € · Grand-Place/Centre)
  • Fritland (Frites · € · Grand-Place/Centre)
  • Kitsune Burgers (Burgers · € · Grand-Place/Centre)
  • Bozar Restaurant (Belgian · €€€ · Mont des Arts)
  • Albert (KBR rooftop) (Brasserie · €€ · Mont des Arts)
  • Victor Bozar Café (Brasserie · € · Mont des Arts)
  • Au Vieux Saint Martin (Brasserie · €€€ · Sablon/Marolles)
  • Brasserie Ploegmans (Belgian · €€ · Sablon/Marolles)
  • Les Brigittines (Belgian · €€€ · Sablon/Marolles)
  • BELI (Middle Eastern · €€ · Sablon/Marolles)
  • Maison Antoine (Frites · € · EU quarter/Cinquantenaire)
  • Le Botaniste Schuman (Vegetarian · € · EU quarter/Cinquantenaire)
  • Kokuban Schuman (Asian · €€ · EU quarter/Cinquantenaire)
  • L'Ancienne Poissonnerie (Italian · €€ · EU quarter/Cinquantenaire)
  • Menssa (Belgian · €€€ · EU quarter/Cinquantenaire)
  • Atomium Restaurant (Belgian · €€€ · Atomium/Heysel)
  • Brasserie de l'Expo (Seafood · €€€ · Atomium/Heysel)
  • Pizzicato2 (Italian · €€ · Atomium/Heysel)
  • Thevy (Asian · €€ · Atomium/Heysel)
03

After dark

Brussels by night

04

Good to know

Practical info & fares

Tap to pay on STIB

  • Tap your contactless card, phone or watch on every metro, tram or bus
  • One trip: €2.40, free transfers within 60 min
  • Daily cap: €8.50, the same as a 24h ticket

Brussels Card

  • Free entry to 49 museums, starting from your first visit
  • 24h €32 · 48h €42–43 · 72h €52
  • With unlimited STIB: about €44 / €60 / €72
  • Atomium is only 25% off, not free

From Brussels Airport

  • Train to Central: 17–20 min, up to 4 per hour
  • About €11.40, incl. the €6.90 airport supplement
  • Bus 12 to Schuman/Trône: €7.90 contactless
  • The normal €2.40 fare does not apply from the airport

From Charleroi Airport

  • Flibco shuttle to Brussels-Midi: ~55 min, every 20 min
  • From €14.99 online
  • Or TEC bus A1 to Charleroi-Central (€6), then the train

Mondays & first Wednesdays

  • Closed Mondays: Magritte, Old Masters, Art & History, Natural Sciences
  • On Monday, plan the Grand-Place or the Atomium instead
  • First Wednesday of the month: these are free from 13:00

Stay alert at night

  • Watch for pickpockets at Brussels-Midi and Brussels-Nord
  • Take care around Midi/Clemenceau/Anneessens and Nord/Saint-Josse
  • On late metros, sit near other passengers

Taxis & ride apps

  • Official taxis are black with a yellow chequered stripe and TX on the plate: €2.60 pick-up + €2.30/km + €0.60/min
  • Night supplement €2 (22:00–06:00), minimum fare €8; drivers must accept cards
  • Uber and Bolt are licensed in Brussels: book in the app, regulated fares from €1.50 + €1.50/km
  • Brussels Airport → centre by taxi: about €45–55; ride-app pick-up is in car park P1
  • Only use official taxis or app bookings; refuse drivers who approach you in arrival halls or stations
05

Local life

Markets

Markets run on set days, so they are info only and not part of your schedule. The exception is the daily Jeu de Balle flea market, which is also a sight you can add from the Suggestions.

All markets, with a full guide →