Brussels Travel Guide
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Brussels is the capital of Belgium and a city every tourist should visit at least once. In my opinion, one day is sufficient to see the main highlights of Brussels. If you plan to visit museums and areas not centrally located, you will need more time.
Double-check your airport
Two airports bear the name of Brussels: Brussels Airport and Brussels South Charleroi. Brussels Airport is the older and larger one. Located in Zaventem, it’s about 20 minutes away from the city centre by train. Brussels South is in Charleroi, about an hour's drive from Brussels, and it’s Belgium’s major hub for low-cost carriers.
It's common for travellers to mix up the two airports, taking a train or a shuttle to the wrong one and missing their flight. When in doubt, check your booking: the IATA code for Brussels Airport is BRU and CRL is for Brussels South.
This central square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most beautiful town squares in the world. It is surrounded by decorative 17th-century guild houses, the impressive City Hall, and the Brussels City Museum.
As a prestigious venue, it hosts many festive events - concerts, fairs, folklore events, the Christmas tree and nativity scene, sound and light shows, the flower carpet in the summer, etc. - or symbolic events, such as the celebration of sportsmen and women after fine performances.
This iconic bronze statue is a symbol of Brussels. Depending on the day, you might see him naked or dressed in one of his many costumes. There's also a lesser-known statue, Jeanneke Pis, in a small alley next to the Rue des Bouchers.
Originally, the statuette was a simple decoration adorning one of the many fountains that supplied the city with water in the Middle Ages. Although other statues had previously borne its name, the famous little boy relieving himself, who everyone knows today, is the work of Jérôme Duquesnoy l'Ancien, who made it in 1619. He has gone from being a public fountain to a legendary figure. In addition to his purely material appearance, Manneken-Pis has, on various occasions, taken on the symbolic roles of protector of the city and spokesman for the people of Brussels, personifying them in a way that is often mischievous and irreverent. Today, he embodies the rebellious yet modest spirit that reigns in Brussels.
- Manneken Pis
This 19th-century pedestrian gallery houses numerous boutiques and restaurants and is worth a visit.
Royal Palace of Brussels: The official palace of the Belgian King in the city center can be visited during specific times.
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In the afternoon, take a metro to the Heysel area and visit Atomium. If you have time, you may want to visit Mini Europe as well. Combination tickets are available for both attractions.
In the evening, return to the city centre of Brussels, where the buildings are lit up beautifully. See the beautifully lit Grand Place, and explore the famous dining area – Rue des Bouchers. Although I wouldn't recommend dining here due to the touristy nature of the restaurants, the area has a unique atmosphere that shouldn't be missed.
The train is a great option for getting around
One of Brussels’ best-hidden secrets is using the overground train to get around the city. With 35 train stations, it is often faster than taking the tram or bus, especially to remote corners. However, you'll need to purchase a ticket before you board. Interestingly, the STIB/MIVB route planner doesn't account for this alternative well, so it's best to rely on Google Maps instead.
Brussels is a good base for exploring Belgium, with direct train connections to all major towns.
​If you choose Brussels as your base for exploring Belgium, I suggest staying close to the Central Station (e.g., Hilton Grand Place) – from there, you can easily access the airport and other towns.
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Where to stay
5 of the best hotels in Brussels
Whether it’s a hip hideaway with skateboards or a palatial grande dame, we’ve found the Brussels hotels to book
All roads in Brussels seem to lead to the Grand Place, with its gilded statues, pinnacled town hall and extravagant facades, adorned with she-wolfs, swans and trumpet-toting angels. It’s enough to stop you in your tracks, but there’s so much more to see in this often underrated city, from its art nouveau mansions to its offbeat cultural hubs.
1.Hotel Amigo, Grand Place
​Best for city centre location
You could book this place solely on its central location; a cobbled medieval street just off the Grand Place, by the turret-topped Hôtel de Ville. Beyond that, though, this Rocco Forte-run five-star delivers on every front, from its solicitous staff to its self-assured, Italianate restaurant. Its spacious rooms have Carrara marble bathrooms, while the top-floor, terraced Grand Place suite is a honeymooner’s dream. If you’re staying with kids, everything’s taken care of, from bath-time rubber ducks and scaled-down robes to the sweetest turndown service in town. If you’re not, head straight to the candlelit bar for a barrel-aged negroni.
2. Le Dixseptième, city centre
Best for stepping back in time
The clue’s in the name at this elegant four-star hotel, set in a handsome 17th-century pile, three minutes’ walk from the Grand Place. More modern additions include a tranquil garden annexe, but bag a room in the main building for gilded grandeur and period charm. Its parquet-floored suites are kitted out with Persian rugs and artfully arranged antiques, from swagged four-posters to Chinese ginger jars. Pen a postcard at your leather-topped desk, then descend the sweeping staircase to the candlelit breakfast room.
​3.Craves, city centre
Best for the Instagram factor
This sleek, 59-room hotel is supremely photogenic, whether you’re cocktail-in-hand at the brass-accented bar, or lolling in a handsome copper tub. Its art deco-inspired, petrol-blue rooms and suites are fun; think vintage-style phones, velvet headboards and slyly subversive floral prints. Downstairs, the restaurant is just as ready for its close-up, with its emerald-green fireplace, boisterous open kitchen and Middle Eastern menus. Claim a curving banquette and keep the sharing plates coming — tahini-laced, slow-cooked cauliflower, grilled octopus, and homemade challah bread, slathered with baba ganoush.
4.Juliana Hotel, city centre
Best for out-and-out opulence
There’s nothing understated about this decadent five-star, set in an imposing, column-clad mansion overlooking Place des Martyrs. There’s decorative excess at every turn, whether it’s a chunk of rare Brazilian Blue marble or a show-stopping work of art — Cleopatra and the asp, perhaps, in a floor-to-ceiling mural. Its 43 rooms and suites vary in style, though the details are exquisite, from oriental wallpapers to embroidered bed linen, scented with the hotel’s fig-led fragrance. Downstairs, its spa is small but sumptuous, while the low-lit cocktail bar and frescoed restaurant call to mind The Great Gatsby.
5.NH Collection Brussels Grand Sablon
Best for long weekends
Live like a well-heeled local with a weekend in the Sablon quarter — a delightful ensemble of cafés, antique shops and statue-dotted squares. This neighbourhood hotel is equally charming, with cocooning rooms and suites and capacious beds that demand leisurely lie-ins (luckily, the excellent breakfast is served until almost noon). Room service is 24/7 and there’s a polished tapas restaurant for cosying up over a glass of oloroso and a plate of Iberico ham. Best of all, though, are the unhurried Sunday check-out times; sign up for the loyalty program and you can linger as late as 5 pm.
