The 10 best activities to do and see during your first visit to Brussels
Updated on July 19, 2024 by Pierre
So, you're arriving in Brussels for the first time? Don't miss the best of the best in Brussels to make the most of your weekend! In this article, we present our top 10 original activities and things to do in Brussels to discover the city from a different perspective.
We also have an article on the 10 best tourist attractions in Brussels
Before going any further, this might interest you:
- 🥡 Street food in Brussels: our best addresses
- 1️⃣ Visit Brussels in one day
- 🆓 Free activities and visits to do in Brussels.
- ❓ Bruges or Brussels?
- 🍟The best fries and “fry shacks” in Brussels
1. Enjoy the view from Mont des Arts! A free viewpoint in Brussels
This is one of my favorite spots in Brussels for taking photos! Actually, it's not the Mont des Arts , but rather the garden located below the Place Royale. Much more romantic ! This garden was also created in 1910 for the World's Fair and was later replaced in the 50s by the Mont des Arts as you know it today. Hundreds of tourists take photos there every day. Don't hesitate to go, whether it's during the day or at night. The view is magnificent for taking pictures, and the nearby carillon will delight you.
2. See the Grand-Place of Brussels, an essential and free activity in the center
Head towards the Grand-Place in Brussels. If you only have one day to visit Brussels, this is one of the key places you shouldn't miss. Wow! You can see it by day, but also by night! It completely changes the perspective. Take a look at the City Hall; the Café Roi d'Espagne is quite nice in winter with its open fireplace.
3 Eat Brussels waffles… Or Liège! Brussels street food
This activity isn't free, but almost. If you're interested in Brussels street food , there's no doubt about it; Belgium is famous for its waffles . A quick and inexpensive activity, it appeals to many visitors to Brussels. They're said to be the best in the world? But did you know the difference between Liège waffles and Brussels waffles ? The difference is quite obvious and immediately apparent. Brussels waffles are rectangular, light, and crispy . They're generally eaten with a wider variety of toppings (strawberries, melted chocolate , whipped cream, etc.). Liège waffles are oval, denser, and contain sugar cubes. There isn't really one that's better than the other, so you should try both types. If you are passing through the Bois de la Cambre, don't miss the savory waffles in Brussels : Gaufres&Wafles.
Don’t miss our article on Maison Dandoy, the best waffles in Brussels since the 1800s!
4. The centre's comic book trail, an ideal free activity with children
Take advantage of this wonderful free initiative in Brussels. The city center streets invite you to stroll through a " comic strip village . " Come and discover the monumental figures that adorned your childhood or that of your children! The theme of comics is vast. For example, you'll find Tintin, Snowy, and Captain Haddock (Hergé) on Rue de l'Etuve, between Rue du Chêne (Manneke Pis) and Rue du Lombard. Gaston Lagaffe and Spirou by Franquin are also there. Gaston is located on Rue de l'Ecuyer (between Rue de la Fourche and Rue des Fripiers). Spirou is near the elevator of the Brussels Palace of Justice. If you love comics, don't miss the Belgian Comic Strip Center.
If you want to buy comics , we have written a great article that tells you the best places to buy them.
5. Taste the abbey beers or fruit beers, an inexpensive activity!
Did you know there's a female version of Manneken Pis ? She's called "Jeanneken Pis." The statue is located right across from the Delirium Café, a world-renowned beer café with an enormous selection of over 3.000 beers! During your visit to Brussels, we recommend trying the Belgian Trappist beers: (There are 12 Trappist abbeys in Belgium, 6 for monks and 6 for nuns. Six have breweries: 3 in Flanders (Westmalle, Westvleteren, and Achel) and 3 in Wallonia (Chimay, Orval, and Rochefort). Only one exists outside Belgium, in the Netherlands: the Abbey of Our Lady of Koningshoeven with its brewery, "De Schaapskooi.") Karmeliet triple beer is also very good and highly regarded. Drink in moderation, though—it's all quite strong! Feeling hungry? Think twice before eating on the "Rue de Bouchers" (Butchers' Street)... Some say there are quite a few tourist traps in the area. We've prepared a list of suggestions for where to eat near the Grand-Place in Brussels. You can also get beers delivered to your home!
6. Eating mussels and fries, an unmissable and inexpensive activity in Brussels
In Brussels, fries are often associated with typical Belgian dishes. Countless restaurants feature the famous moules frites (mussels and fries), boulets à la liégeoise (Liège-style meatballs), steak frites (steak and fries), américain frit (fried steak tartare), vol-au-vent (vol-au-vent), mitraillette (a type of Belgian sandwich), and many more! These dishes can be enjoyed in Brussels' traditional Belgian restaurants . If a craving for fries strikes—at lunchtime, as a quick bite, in the evening, or even very, very late at night—a simple " fritekot " (or chip stand ) will often do the trick. Fries are also the perfect way to eat cheaply in Brussels . A little tip before you sit down: fries are often served in a plastic tray or in a cone (a sheet of paper rolled into a cone shape). Keep in mind that if you choose the cone, it will contain more fries , and they'll stay hot longer! In Brussels , according to locals, several chip shops compete to be the one that makes the best fries. Here are three chip shops worth trying in Brussels. Don't miss the Belgian mitraillette.
For the sauce on your fries, trust your instincts. Samurai is our top choice.
Don't miss our article on the best chip shops and chip stands in Brussels
7. Stroll through the Queen's Galleries, a free and prestigious activity in the center of Brussels
Simply wow! This is a vibrant place for a journey back in time. Tourists and locals alike come to stroll and shop here all year round. …Designed in 1847, the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert are among the oldest in Europe. It's a place steeped in history, not to be missed during your visit to Brussels. The architecture is inspired by 19th-century Italian palaces. Look up at the sky; the roof is covered along its entire length by a glass canopy with a metal frame. Every year, it welcomes some six million visitors. It consists of three galleries: the Queen's Gallery, the King's Gallery, and the Princes' Gallery. Ideal if it rains during your visit to Brussels.
To do in Brussels: Take the elevator to the Marolles
8. The flea market, one of the favorite activities to visit Brussels on a Sunday morning
If you're interested in antiques, spend some time in the Marolles district. The area is full of vintage shops, antique dealers, and other charming boutiques. If you're still there on Sunday morning, head to the flea market . You can also visit the Porte des Halles. It's a great place to visit Brussels on a Sunday.
Looking for more ideas for visiting Brussels in a day or a weekend? Check out our free walking tour of Brussels!
9. Enjoy Brussels from above: the Brussels Ferris wheel
Looking for the best place to get a bird's-eye view in Brussels? Not sure where to find a breathtaking panorama of the city ? Don't miss the brand new Ferris wheel at Place Poelart. Sometimes also called "The View," it's located right next to the Palace of Justice, at the top of the Marolles district.
10. Have a drink in one of the city's unusual bars
If you're looking for a unique and unusual spot halfway between the Grand-Place and the Royal Palace, take the opportunity to enjoy a cocktail (or several) in a former pharmacy : the English Pharmacy. Both the interior and the cocktails are brimming with imagination and quirky touches. For example, you can sit comfortably and sip a cocktail in the small anatomy room at the back of the pharmacy. You'll feel like you're right in the middle of a movie set. Very cool! They don't serve beer here, but rather original and delicious cocktails/mocktails such as the "Hands Off My Bed" and the "Tiki Breakfast ." Don't forget to book, it's quite popular. Be on time; your reservation is only held for 10 minutes if you're late. 66 Rue Coudenberg.
Are you on a tight budget? Look out for happy hour bars in Brussels. Buy one cocktail, get one free.
Barely a foot in the Belgian capital, Pierre launched “InsideBrussels.be” more than 10 years ago, the idea is simple: “What to do? Where to go to eat or have a drink? “. Entrepreneur at heart, this is not his first project! Far from there. EatLocal.io; KingCard.be, Bricabrac.be … Like wine, with time the project improves!
Pierre does not hesitate to share his favorites and his best addresses of Brussels restaurants that he could recommend to you with his eyes closed.
