Free things to do in Brussels

Free sights

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  Grand-Place · Grand-Place/Centre · Always open
  UNESCO-listed central square with the Gothic Town Hall and ornate guildhalls.

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  Manneken Pis · Grand-Place/Centre · Always open
  Tiny bronze fountain and cheeky city mascot, often dressed in one of 1,000+ costumes.

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  Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert · Grand-Place/Centre · Always open (shops approx. 10:00–18:00)
  Elegant 1847 glass-roofed arcades with chocolatiers, cafés and bookshops.

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  Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula · Grand-Place/Centre · Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00, Sat 08:00–17:00, Sun 13:00–18:00
  Gothic national cathedral with twin towers and Renaissance stained glass.

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  Mont des Arts Garden & Viewpoint · Mont des Arts · Always open
  Terraced gardens with one of the best views over the old town.

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  Place du Jeu de Balle Flea Market · Sablon/Marolles · Mon–Fri 06:00–14:00, Sat–Sun 06:00–15:00
  Daily flea market in the Marolles, packed with antiques and curiosities.

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  Palais de Justice & Place Poelaert · Sablon/Marolles · Exterior and viewpoint always open
  Colossal 19th-century law courts with a panorama over the Marolles (free public lift).

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  Notre-Dame du Sablon · Sablon/Marolles · Daily approx. 09:00–18:00
  Flamboyant Gothic church on the chic Sablon square full of chocolatiers.

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  Parlamentarium · EU quarter/Cinquantenaire · Mon 13:00–18:00, Tue–Fri 09:00–18:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–18:00
  The European Parliament's interactive visitor centre, in all 24 EU languages.

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  House of European History · EU quarter/Cinquantenaire · Mon 13:00–18:00, Tue–Fri 09:00–18:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–18:00
  Europe's modern history told through objects and multimedia, in Parc Léopold.

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  Parc du Cinquantenaire & Arcade · EU quarter/Cinquantenaire · Always open
  Grand park around a monumental triumphal arch built for Belgium's 50th anniversary.

Free on the first Wednesday of the month

Free entry to the permanent collection from 13:00 on the first Wednesday of every month.

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  Magritte Museum · Mont des Arts · Tue–Fri 10:00–17:00, Sat–Sun 11:00–18:00 (closed Mon)
  The world's largest collection of René Magritte's surrealist works.

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  Musical Instruments Museum (MIM) · Mont des Arts · Tue–Fri 09:30–17:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–17:00 (closed Mon)
  1,000+ instruments with audio guide in the Art Nouveau Old England building.

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  Art & History Museum · EU quarter/Cinquantenaire · Tue–Fri 09:30–17:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–17:00 (closed Mon)
  Huge encyclopaedic museum: antiquities, Art Deco and Easter Island.

Free at night

• Thursday Night Comedy @ Latroupe · Centre · Thu from 20:00
  Free weekly English stand-up night with international comedians.

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  Grand-Place (illuminated) · Centre · Nightly after dusk
  The UNESCO square floodlit every night, spectacular in winter light shows.

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  Place Saint-Géry · Centre (Dansaert) · Thu–Sat from 21:00
  Bar-packed square around the Halles Saint-Géry — classic start of a night out.

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  Place Flagey · Ixelles · Daily from 18:00, busiest in summer
  Big square by the Ixelles Ponds; locals gather on the Café Belga terrace.
• Place du Châtelain · Ixelles (Châtelain) · Wed from 17:00 (market), daily evenings
  Expat favourite with wine bars; the Wednesday market turns into an afterwork party.

Markets to browse

Free to wander around; see the full guide for days and times.

• Jeu de Balle flea market
• Marché du Midi (Sunday market)
• Abattoir market
• Sablon antiques market
• Châtelain market
• Flagey market
• Place Jourdan market
• Sainte-Catherine zero-waste market

All markets, days and times →

More ways to save

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

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