Most travelers we met told us not to bother with more than 24 hours in Brussels.
“Sure, go see it. But then get out and explore Belgium’s smaller gems, like Antwerp and Ghent.”
We heeded their advice and scheduled only 24 hours in Belgium’s capital city. At first, we were happy with this plan; we had a starry-eyed weekend getaway awaiting us in Bruges—and only five days to discover all of Belgium’s other attractions. (As we quickly found out, Belgium might be small, but the gorgeous country packs a punch. We can’t wait to return with more time to better explore all of Belgium’s highlights.)
While we only had 24 hours in Brussels, we have to say that we were surprisingly taken by this cosmopolitan city. Brussels has a grungy edginess to it but in a sort of young and fun-spirited way. For being the center of EU bureaucracy, there was unexpected raw energy permeating through the streets. It was an energy we loved, where creative souls, foreign residents, and political folk combine to create a unique, forward-thinking community. There’s also the fact that Brussels is the birthplace of the French Fry and Belgian waffles, and there’s no shortage of places to devour these indulgences.
So I guess what we’re trying to say is that if you have the vacation time, give Brussels more of your Belgian itinerary than just one day. But if you’re working with a limited timeframe, utilize this 24-hour guide to Brussels to get the most out of your visit—you won’t be disappointed.
How To Spend 24 Hours In Brussels, Belgium
Visit Atomium
Atomium is to Brussels what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. Originally constructed for the 1958 Brussels World Expo, the unique cell-like building was never supposed to remain standing into the 21st century. Some Belgians love it, others find it hideous, but most admire the bizarre architectural feat. A visit to Atomium is a must if only to ride the escalators through the tubes to arrive at the panoramic view of Brussels from the top sphere. Along the way visitors also learn about the construction of Atomium and the sensitive political air during Expo ’58.
Atomium is open from 10am – 6pm, 7 days a week. General admission to Atomium is 16 euros. We definitely think Atomium is worth visiting, so be sure to book your tickets in advance to ensure your spot. You can book online at the Atomium website.
Wander Around Sablon, Brussels
Place du Grand Sablon is a lovely square in historic upper town. The neighborhood is full of chic boutique shops, trendy restaurants and beautiful architecture; wandering around its cobblestone roads is an attraction in itself. But perhaps the best reason to stop at Place du Grand Sablon is for easy access to some of Belgium’s most famous chocolatiers, including Wittamer, Neuhaus, and our favorite, Pierre Marcolini. For a truly decedent experience, try this Chocolate Walking Tour and Workshop.
Lunch In Brussels
Stop at any of the cute bistros in Sablon for a quick bite to eat. Le Wine Bar des Marolles is a favorite for locals and tourists alike. The wine list is phenomenal, and the ingredients fresh and local. Meat eaters should try the house-made charcuterie. For more inspiration on where to eat in Sablon, here’s a solid list of the top ten restaurants in the area.
The Brussels Comic Book Route
Comics are considered to be an integral part of Belgian culture, so it only makes sense that one of the city’s more whimsical attractions would include the Comic Book Route. The path takes visitors past more than 50 oversized comic strip murals, featuring famous Tintin and Broussaille. Following the route is a good way to explore Brussels, both its historic center and some of its less-frequented neighborhoods. Even if you don’t follow the trail purposefully, keep your eyes out for a mural or two—you’re bound to stumble upon one.
Brussels’ Iconic Mannekin Piss Statue
It’s hard not to smile when you stumble upon this cheeky small bronze sculpture depicting a naked little boy urinating into a fountain base. The statue is said to symbolize the rebellious nature of the city. Mannekin Piss is dressed in costumes periodically throughout the year; the little boy actually has more clothes than I do, his wardrobe consisting of several hundreds of outfits. It’s a touristy spot so expect to wait in line for a photo op; nevertheless, it’s a quirky must-visit on any 24 hours in Brussels itinerary.
Grand Place UNESCO World Heritage Site
Brussels’ most popular tourist destination and UNESCO World Heritage Site, it doesn’t take long to see why the Grand Place Square is considered to be one of the most beautiful in all of Europe. Ornately decorated medieval buildings date back to the late 17th century; famous buildings include the city’s Town Hall and the Breadhouse. Time your visit just before dusk so you can take in the beauty as the square begins to twinkle.
Dine on Rue des Bouchers
It’s a bit of a tourist trap, but it’s a fun one at that. Rue des Bouchers is known for its back-to-back seafood restaurants and lively atmosphere. Take a seat outside at any of the bistros (Chez Vincent and Aux Armes Bruxelles are arguably two of the better restaurants) for prime people-watching opportunities while you feast on three of Brussels’ most famous specialties: beer, mussels and frites (French fries). Insider tip: Don’t fill up on too many frites here; you’ll want to save room for the french fries at Maison Antoine over at Place Jourdan. They’re twice fried in beer fat which should tell you all you need to know!
Delirium Café
It’s crowded and rowdy and attracts a certain college clientele. But what it lacks in charm it makes up for with over 3,000 beer selections—giving it the Guinness Book of World Records for longest beer list commercially available. You’ll find beers from around the world, including a hefty number of local brews. Delirium stays incredibly crowded during prime bar-going hours, so don’t expect anyone to hold your hand through the beer-choosing process. Choose one at random and let the long night begin. If you don’t want to look like a complete novice (like we did) try a small-group beer tour first.
If you have more than 24 hours in Brussels, try:
Parlamentarium:
If you’re interested in learning more about the history of the EU, this free visitor’s center might be worth a stop.
Cinquantenaire:
The large public park is an enjoyable place to walk or cycle while taking in the museums galore on either side of the main road, many good examples of the Art Nouveau movement.
Rooftop Café:
Visit Rooftop Café inside the Musical Instruments Museum for great panoramic views of Brussels. After visiting Atomium we didn’t feel the need to also stop by the café, but we’ve only heard good things.
Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
This 200-meter long complex was one of the first shopping arcades built in Europe. The luxurious space hasn’t lost any of its original grandeur and today boasts high-end boutiques and decadent chocolate shops. My favorite is Chocolaterie Mary, the first female-owned chocolatier!
Brussels Christmas Market
Time your visit to Brussels over the holidays to revel in the magic of the city’s Christmas market. With over 200 stalls, the Brussels Christmas Market promises an enchanting place to shop for gifts, sip hot chocolate, and generally soak in the Christmas magic.
Where to sleep in Brussels, Belgium
Whether you have one night or ten, we recommend laying your head at Taptoe Bed and Breakfast. Its prime location in the center of the historic zone (just a couple hundred meters from Mannekin Pis) makes it an ideal place to base yourself for exploring the city via foot. The seven rooms are spread across three nearly adjoining properties, each incredibly spacious and modern. All rooms have TV (flat screen, cable), free wifi connection, a radio-alarm-iPhone dock and a large private bathroom. There is also a common living area and kitchen for guests to use, with a complimentary spread of breads, jams and cold cuts each morning.
But while the guesthouse boasted all the necessary amenities, perhaps what we loved most about this B&B was the unique travel inspiration behind it. Before opening up the B&B, owners Daniel and Catherine took the trip of a lifetime—one I know many fellow travelers would be envious of. They sold their belongings, packed up their lives and headed out on a three-year sailing trip from France to Australia.
It’s this trip that has inspired the design of the second floor of their intimate guesthouse. Guests will find nautical colors, boating photos, and snippets from the couple’s epic journey around the world, along with a smattering of travel books and inspiration if you feel the itch to plan further adventures of your own.
Taptoe is a fantastic value option, with rooms starting at $110 a night. Considering its amenities, lovely owners, and prime location, it seems almost like a steal.
Extra Tip: Don’t miss owner Catherine’s art gallery adjacent to the B&B for a preview of her brilliantly whimsical sculptures.
Have you been to Brussels? What would add to an itinerary for 24 hours in Brussels?
We were guests of Taptoe during our stay. All thoughts and opinions are, as always, our own.
This is what I call perfect timing! We arrived in Brussels this morning and we are going to stay another couple of days here, thanks for the tips :)
Franca recently posted…My Puglia, Tips, And My Feelings As A Local
That’s great! How did you guys feel about it? Would 24 hours be enough for you?
Hi, that an odd co-incidence, we (an almost retired couple), are going to Brussels for a couple of nights shortly, & even staying at Taptoe. Then onto Ghent & Brugges. Found your article very interesting. I was a tour manager, working in Europe.
The Comic Book Rouse seems like it’s right up my alley! (eh, see what I did there?? alley :-) ) I think my favorite stop would be the Delirium Café. I would just have to make sure to visit there at the end of the day to make sure I don’t miss the rest of the city.
Kenin Bassart recently posted…Committed – You Know I’m Crazy (about my dog).
The delirium Cafe is certainly a trip. The place is electric a night! And with so many beers on tap you can’t start too early, you’ve really gotta pace yourself :-p
We did something similar last year, driving around Belgium and up to Amsterdam for the last few days. We went to Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges, which were all lovely, but we weren’t sure about Brussels.
That morning we’d stopped by the beach near Bruges, and were pretty tired out from a bad night’s sleep at a disappointing hostel there, so we had less than 24 hours in Brussels. We mostly stayed around the Center City, and actually ran into a couple from NJ we’d met in Antwerp a few days before! Since I was traveling with beer nerds, we went to Delirium Cafe (too noisy and hot for me) and Chez Moeder Lambic. I tried to see the Tintin murals but couldn’t seem to find any!
After reading your post, I may have to go back one day and follow the comic book route through the city.
PS. I found your blog through g+
That’s so cool you ran into your friends again! It’s amazing all there is to see and do in such a small country. For beer nerds Delirium is a must. We were pretty overwhelmed by the selection so we just closed our eyes and pointed toward the tap :-p Bummer you couldn’t find the murals. Just a good excuse to go back ;-)
A Cruising Couple recently posted…Sunday Snapshot | The Statue of Lord Murugan | Malaysia
Casey, I’ve been to Brussels many times. I agree that there are prettier places in Belgium to visit, but there is a lot to see and do in the capital city. I would suggest making sure to try some of their famous chocolate, go to the Christmas market if it’s winter, and watching the many buskers that flock to the city for that tourist dollar. They are so fun!
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We would looove to travel Europe during Christmas time! We’ve heard the Belgian and German Christmas markets are particularly fun.
Do it, We spent 10 days wandering around Belgium, Holland, and Germany at Christmas. The markets are amazing.
The beer and the chocolate…. you guys have me a believer.
honestly I’ve never made it to western Europe other then a 10 hour layover in London where we ran out and saw a few sights. I really need to rectify this.
I can’t wait to read about other places in Belgium you go to.
Rebekah recently posted…Suining: A little town with a lot
Any country who does beer and chocolate well is good in my book :-)
Great post! Love Brussels, have been hmmmm 5 times (though a couple of those were for my job) and we’ll be back there in September. Christmas time there is our favourite, the Christmas market is lovely, escargot and gluhwein, YUM!
The Grand Place at twilight was beautiful when we were there. I can’t imagine how it must feel during Christmas time! :-)
Maison Antoine! I love french fries. =)
Nicole recently posted…London 5 Day Itinerary
The french fries are delicious! Sooo much good food in Belgium there just aren’t enough meals in 24 hours :-p
Good round up. Brussels is great. For more beer-based fun head out to student town Leuven, 20 mins by train, and hit the bars there.
Martin Solly recently posted…Bai Dai, and why ‘off the beaten track’ isn’t always best
Great suggestion! Thanks Martin :-)
I’ve always been intrigued with Belgium because my grandfather spent time teaching English in a university there when I was little. Still haven’t had the opportunity to go, so I’m glad to get the insights on Brussels.
Laura recently posted…The Birthplace of American Wine: The Monticello Wine Trail
Very cool! I hope you get the chance to see it one day. :-)
I LOVED Brussels. There was something about the city that I just clicked with! If people are on a really tight time constraint, I would suggest they skip the “big sights”: the Mannekin Piss (underwhelming) & Atomium, and instead focus on the beer/food/art culture of the city. I spent my time there eating mussels, drinking (a lot) of incredibly good beer and wandering down streets in search of the beautiful murals. You captured the essence of Brussels pretty well in this post! Now you’ve got me missing it..
Tiana recently posted…The Great Southern Oregon Give-a-Way
The food culture was definitely one of our favorite things about Brussels. Mannekin Piss is a bit smaller than we anticipated but it’s still worth walking past just to see if he’s got a new outfit, especially if you’re already on the Comic Book Route :-)
We weren’t overly impressed with Brussels, but agree that it is worth 24 hours and that there are some fun sites to see there.
Jennifer recently posted…You Know You Love Me – XOXO, The Empire Hotel
It is quite compact and if you plan it right 24 hours may be all you need to see everything :-)
I wish I had had Belgian friends who had warned me about Brussels when I visited Europe back in 2005… my backpacking buddy and I had slotted 3 days to spend there and by the third day we were bored out of our skulls. We felt like we saw and did everything we wanted (and more!) during our first day and just didn’t find the city very appealing. I do remember enjoying a massive waffle and some awesome mussels. But I also remember being eaten by bedbugs on our last evening in town as well… Although I would visit other parts of Belgium (though, I admit, I’m in no hurry to do so), I have no desire to ever return to Brussels!
Steph (@ 20 Years Hence) recently posted…Living the Local Life in Ambalangoda
Yikes, bedbugs are bad enough to ruin any trip! Sorry to hear about that. If you use your time wisely, you can pretty much see it all in 24 hours. We were lucky to catch it during the Jazz Festival so there was plenty going on all around the city.
Not quite in Brussels but not far away either – a tour of the Duvel brewery! http://www.unexpectedtraveller.com/Blog/things-to-do-in-and-around-brussels-tour-the-duvel-brewery/
Antoine recently posted…Pedro e o Lobo
Thanks for the recommendation Antoine :-)
So did you not have a waffle?? I spent three days in Brussels and probably had five waffles! I really liked Brussels and it’s edgy energy, as you say. Mostly I just walked around admiring the architecture and many parks – Cinquantenaire and the Grand Place were my favorite spots. I also enjoyed visiting St. Hubert Gallery and the Cathedral of St. Michael. I think the best views of the city were at the Palace of Justice.
Heather recently posted…Riga by Water: A Sunset Cruise Down the Daugava
Haha, we did have a couple of waffles in Bruges and Antwerp and they are sooooo good! We thought the Grand Place at sunset was absolutely magical :-) Thanks for mentioning the other spots as well!
You did miss the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert though. The name doesn’t sound like much but it’s a very impressive piece of architecture.
https://www.google.be/search?q=galeries+st+hubert&tbm=isch
Brussels, just like Belgium is the equivalent of someone hiding a big carton of jam jars allover your house. At first glance you will see nothing. But while doing what you do every day you will stumble on them and be delighted, then need to go the extra mile to force the lids open and enjoy the sweet gooey stuff inside.
There’s art nouveau allover the place in Brussels but you need some kind of booklet with a tour inside. The Victor Horta museum and Stoclet palace are really worth some of your time.
You should however take your time and find these places by yourself it will give you a special feeling inside when over time you do. Then drag your friends around to “come look what I found” .
Brussels looks so cute!
Adrienne @ AdrienneAway recently posted…A Visit to Barcelona’s Picasso Museum
We loved that it’s so walkable. You could just spend the day wandering around the city :-)
I recently spent a weekend in Brussels and experienced most of what you’ve suggested here. The Atomium was one of my highlights of the weekend with its panoramic views, crazy escalator and funky structure.
Jodie recently posted…5 Infinity Pools I’ve Been Dreaming Of
Thanks for the recommendations – I will be spending a total of about 24 hours in Brussels in September to this has come in very handy. I didn’t even know about Atomium until I read about it here and from what I can gather it is definitely a highlight.
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So glad you found it helpful Sarah! The Atomium is definitely a unique structure and worth a visit if you can fit it in. Hope you enjoy your time there :-D
Thank you for your 24 hours in Brussels post! I went to Europe last month with my brother and we had a day and half to explore in Brussels. It was helpful to know what the major sites would be and we got to go to many of the places you listed! The Grand Place was my favorite!
Hi! I’m actually in Brussels right now and I was trying to figure out which restaurant you got that amazing looking beer sampler tray from, but am having trouble. Could you tell me what it was called?
Hello!
I am travelling to Brussels next week on business, but will have 1 day for sightseeing. This post helped me to make a list of sights. Thanks! :-)
As I can see that you are travellers – please visit Croatia – you might enjoy it! :-)
Kind regards from Zagreb,
Mirjana