Known for its exquisite cuisines, gastronomy, fascinating landmarks, and vibrant culture, Brussels is a fantastic tourist destination in Belgium with lots of sights to see and things to do. But do you know that it is also popular for its comics? Its long comics tradition made it the country’s hub for comics paraphernalia and nests delightful comics strips. If you’re done doing all the touristy activities and have seen most of the scenic views in Brussels from marveling at the architecture of the Grand Palace or visiting the sacred and holy St Michael and St Gudula Cathedral, you might want to try something different. Here is a list of the best non-touristy things to do in Brussels, Belgium. Feel free to browse below.
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1. Learn to make chocolate
Most of us if not all have a soft spot for chocolates. It has become an unofficial language of love. We give it a gift to show appreciation, gratitude, and care. Do you know that Brussels is considered the chocolate of the world? That being said, when you travel to Brussels, buy as many as you can because it may take a while for you to get your hands on those sweet treats again. In Brussels, you can also take amazing chocolate making workshops and chocolate tasting tours. Visit the Royal Galleries Saint-Hubert, Sainte-Catherine neighborhood, and other popular chocolate shops.
Book Tours : 2.5h Belgian Chocolate Workshop in Brussels
2. Grab a beer at Délirium Café
If you are in the fascinating city of Brussels with your friends and looking for the perfect place to spend some quality time in and socialize, head over the Délirium Café and grab a few beers and appetizers. Délirium Café is a charming bar that is known for offering more than 2000 types of local and imported beers. Plus, the ambiance is lovely and will make you sway to the energetic sound of live entertainment. You will also get to see brewery memorabilia displays while in the cafe.
Délirium Café
Address: Impasse de la Fidélité 4, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
Website: Délirium Café
Opening hours: 10am - 4am (daily)
3. Learn science at the Belgian Museum of Radiology
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Are you in the medical field or are you just a regular curious Tom? Whatever you are, you will be fascinated by the Museum of Radiology located in Rue Bruyn 1. This interesting museum houses photographs and exhibits of a century of medical imaging. Wandering in the museum is like a walk down memory lane of the development and science of radiology. Together with the museum of Remscheid-Lennep in Germany and Palermo in Italy, these museums form three parts of museums that are dedicated to the study of radiology.
Museum of Radiology
Address: Rue Bruyn 1, 1120 Bruxelles, Belgium
Website: Museum of Radiology
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8am - 3:30pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
Price: Free
4. Admire the miniature at Mini-Europe
Located in Bruparck, Mini-Europe is a fascinating tourist attraction in Brussels that showcases a mini-park resembling Europe. If you visited the Atomium, don’t miss out on this one as it is located just within a short distance from it. It features replicas and images of popular European structures and iconic landmarks. Being in here is like getting to travel the whole of Europe within only a few hours. Don’t forget to bring your camera as this place boasts of picture-perfect landmark
Mini-Europe
Address: 1020 Brussels, Belgium
Website: Mini-Europe
Opening hours: 9:30am - 5pm (daily)
Price: 20 USD onwards
5. Check out fashion at the Museum of Costume and Lace
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
If you are into the art of fashion and styling, the Museum of Costume and Lace is one thing shouldn’t miss while in Brussels. It showcases textiles and designs that shape the fashion industry’s history since the dawn of time. This museum primarily revolves around lace for it is a traditional craft in the city. See how lace and other fabrics are made and marvel at the intricacy of contemporary fashion in the Museum of Costume and Lace while you are still in Brussels.
Museum of Costume and Lace
Address: Rue de la Violette 12, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
Website: Museum of Costume and Lace
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 10am - 5pm (closed on Mon)
Price: 6.70 USD onwards
6. Explore the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken
Stands in a vast land of lush greeneries and beautiful flora, the Royal Greenhouses of Laken is a collection of large heated greenhouses situated in the Royal Castle of Laeken. It showcases categories of displays from cold greenhouses to tropical and subtropical. Some of the plants are even from Africa. These greenhouses are popular around the world especially the collection of camellias and the Orange Tree collection of King Leopold II.
Royal Greenhouses of Laeken
Address: 1020 Brussels, Belgium
Website: Royal Greenhouses of Laeken
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9:30am - 3pm, 8pm - 9:30pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
Price: 3 USD
7. Explore the toy collection at Le Museé du Jouet
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
If you are traveling with your family and you’ve been thinking of a fantastic place to bring the kids, why don’t you check out the Le Museé du Jouet? It is a large museum that showcases various toys and games that kids and kids at heart will love. For the kids, it is like a paradise of happiness and for you, it may seem like a trip down memory lane of your favorite childhood toys. Most of the toys come from a personal collection of the family of the owner while some of them are from donations by the public.
Le Museé du Jouet
Address: Rue de l'Association 24, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
Website: Le Museé du Jouet
Opening hours: 10am - 1pm, 2pm - 6pm (daily)
Price: 5 USD onwards
8. Take a beer-tasting tour
Looking for an activity to do with your friends while in Belgium? If so, why don’t you book a beer-tasting tour? Brussels is popular worldwide for producing some of the best beers. In restaurants throughout the city, you will notice that their menus feature an overwhelmingly wide range of beers from local brands to imported ones. This is how much the people of Brussels love their beer. Some tour packages offer guided tours in different breweries in the country. It will definitely be an exciting experience to share with your friends.
Book Tours : Brussels Belgian Beer Tasting Guided Tour
9. Marvel at the Atomium
Indeed Brussels is a beautiful country with fascinating landmarks. If you have extra time to spare, visit this unique work of art standing in a beautifully landscaped and vast natural park of Heysel Plateau. Atomium was built in 1958 as part of the Brussels’ World Fair. Since then, it has been considered a symbol that stands tall, representing the culture and heritage of Brussels. Inside the Atomium is a permanent exhibition about the spheres’ construction and design.
Atomium
Address: Square de l'Atomium, 1020 Bruxelles, Belgium
Website: Atomium
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm (daily)
Price: 6.70 USD onwards
10. Explore comics at the Comic Strip Museum
If you are a big fan of comic books, Brussels is a must-visit city for you. Being the comic book capital of Belgium, there are lots of comic book stores in the city and you might probably find yourself in different dimensions as you read through these comics. Visit the Comic Strip Museum and marvel at the huge collection of comic books with a wide variety of Belgian Comics. Plus, its large and spacious establishment is enough to leave you in awe.
Comic Strip Museum
Address: Rue des Sables 20, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
Website: Comic Strip Museum
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm (daily)
Price: 4 USD onwards
Tip from tour guide
When you enter the Comics Art Museum (Comic Strip Museum) of Brussels (through the side of the restaurant), you can see this amazing wall with different important elements for the city.
Can you recognize them? We'll help you with the less obvious: in 1958, during Expo 58, the URSS presented in its pavilion a facsimile of Sputnik. It was quite a shock!
Do you also know who designed this wall?
Beautiful Brussels
Surely, Belgium has lots of sights to see and things to do from taking pictures of the Manneken Pis to visiting remarkable landmarks like the Grand Palace. If you are on the last days of your Brussels vacation and are done with all the touristy activities. You might want to know what else is there in Brussels that you haven’t tried. So use this list of the best non-touristy things to do in the city that are just as exciting. May you have a wonderful experience ahead.
History
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