Located between the Netherlands and France, which are very popular countries to visit, Belgium attracts a lesser amount of tourists. Yet it appears to be an interesting small country with lots of mixed cultures from these two bordering countries. Let’s visit the capital city Brussels to know more about this lovely Western European country. In fact, Brussels is so small that almost all the famous attractions are located around the city centre, and easy to explore on foot. Here’s a list of the top activities to do in this city.
1. Learning about Belgium at the Historic Centre
The best place to start your wanderlust journey around Brussels is at the Grote Markt, or Grand Place, which is also a World UNESCO Heritage site. This historic centre of Brussels is surrounded with various old buildings that date back to over 300 years ago. The main buildings in this central square is the city’s Town Hall and the Breadhouse (Maison du Roi) building where you’ll also find the Museum of the City of Brussels. The typical small old Belgian houses lying next to each other are called the facades of guildhalls, which were destroyed during the late 18 century and then rebuilt by the state. Nowadays, Brussels Grand Place remains one of the most beautiful historic central squares in Europe.
2. Taking a selfie with the Manneken Pis
With about 10 minutes walk from the Grand Place, you will reach one of the most famous symbols in Brussels: the famous Manneken Pis - a small bronze statue of a boy urinating into a pool. No one knows which story the boy originates from is true, though the locals love this statue and have changed hundreds of lovely outfits for him. A less popular statue nearby,Jeanneke, is a statue of a little girl urinating into a fountain behind the fences. This forms a counterpoint in gender terms to the city’s trademark the Manneken Pis.
3. Going on the Adventures of TinTin
You probably have all heard of, or have watched the famous cartoon, The Adventures of Tintin when you were a child. This French-Canadian animated TV series is actually based on a series of books by Hergé - A Belgian cartoonist. While visiting Belgium, you will have the chance to take a look at the Hergé Museum. Here you will be going on a journey through four rooms to discover the major bodies of work in the history of comic strips.
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4. Climbing up the Atomium
One of the few famous attractions that lie a bit far from the city centre of Brussels is the Atomium, which does not stop tourists from coming here to adore this massive icon of Belgian architectural history. Built for the Brussels World War in 1958, this eight level spread of 5 spheres are open to the public as the most popular tourist attraction in one of Europe’s capital cities. Besides accessing the temporary exhibitions devoted to architecture, design, and society, you can walk up to 92 metres (302 feet) to get a panoramic 360 degree view of Brussels, and even the city of Antwerp when the sky is clear.
Brussels Tour Guide
Asefeh Ghadiri
Hello there! I'm Asefeh, a local host in Brussels. I absolutely love this city - it's the second international city in the world and the capital of Europe! It's a melting pot of different cultures and languages, making it special. I especially enjoy walking in the historical parts of it and discovering new places. I'm always excited to meet new people and show them around. I have been living with an architect (my partner) for over 10 years, so I know the most important buildings in the city. And, of course, I know the best places to eat the most delicious and unique foods Brussels offers! Hope to see you here, soon!
Brussels Tour Guide
Peter
Brussels Tour Guide
Miriam Meda
I inspire and help you on your trips to Belgium with my project, Curiositas Mundus. My goal is to avoid you any surprises once you land in this beautiful and small country. Traveling with kids? No problem. Are you a high school teacher preparing for your next study trip? No worries. Families? Friends? Solo travel? VIP? Companies? Universities? Lost souls? Restless minds? Physical challenges or difficulties? All of you are welcome! My specialty is the preparation of tours all over the country. I can guide you through the Belgian streets, museums, bars, chocolate paradises and other places of interest. I want my services to be cultural, responsible, and engaged with the local people. I already have ideas to improve that relationship tourists-inhabitants and to work also with local non-profit associations and businesses :-) In a more personal way, but also related to this nice job of guiding strangers from all over the world, I am a crazy learner of history (especially European history), art, literature, comics (long life to Marvel), languages (you can contact me in English, French, Spanish or Dutch; now I am trying to learn Japanese), philosophy, sociology, politics, videogames and so on! Above all, I have tons of curiosity about everything that surronds me.
5. Go shopping at Galeries Royal Saint-Hubert
Though there are various chocolate shop around centre of Brussels, one of the top attractions for this sweet experience is at Galeries Royal Saint-Hubert. The gallery lies right next to the Grand Palace, only within few minutes walk from the historic centre of Brussels. You can find here all sorts of shops ranging from luxury boutiques, clockmakers to chocolate shops, and restaurants of all kinds.
Experience the best of Brussels via a free walking tour
To get the ultimate general picture of the most famous attractions in Brussels, I recommend joining the daily free walking tour organized by Sandemans New Europe Brussels. The 2.5-hour tour is tip-based, and you will be going through a couple of the main highlights, such as the Grand Place, the Town Hall, the Maison du Roi, the Stock Exchange, the Manneken Pis, River Senne, the Royal Square, and many more.
History
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