Top 10 Best Tourist Attractions in Brussels
Brussels, the capital of Belgium, the principal seat of the Belgian Royal Family, and the capital of the European Union, is a remarkably small, easygoing, and ... read more...human-sized city for all its importance. Although Brussels may not have the star tourist attractions of other Belgian towns, the capital has more than enough things to do to keep visitors occupied for a couple of days, with a clutch of world-class museums and art galleries, as well as quirkier sightseeing highlights, such as the Atomium, and some wonderful remnants of old architecture in the old town quarter. Below are the best tourist attractions in Brussels, let's find out!
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The Grand Place is the primary tourist destination in the city of Brussels, Belgium. It has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is widely considered one of the most beautiful squares in all of Europe. The Grand Place is located in central Brussels and dates back to at least the 17th Century. The central square is surrounded by several notable buildings, including the Brussels Town Hall and the Royal Palace. Visitors can enjoy people-watching, dining at one of the many cafes or restaurants, or simply admiring the architecture.
It is a beautiful attraction to see on a Belgium City bus tour. At Grand Place, you’ll find all sorts of shops selling Belgian chocolate, waffles, and other delicious treats on this square. There are also plenty of restaurants where you can try out some traditional Belgian cuisine such as carbonade flamande (a yummy beef stew) or moules frites (classic mussels with fries).
Location: City of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region
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The Manneken Pis is one of Brussels’ most famous landmarks. It’s a small statue of a boy peeing, and it’s located in the center of the city. The Manneken Pis is pretty easy to find; just look for the little guy in the center of town, peeing freely. He’s often dressed up in different costumes, so it’s worth checking out to see what he’s wearing.
The Manneken Pis is more than just a peeing statue; he’s a symbol of the city. Locals even have their own annual festival celebrating this little guy. When you’re in Brussels, make sure to check out the Manneken Pis. You won’t be disappointed – maybe just confused. If you’d like to see more effigies of things peeing in the streets, make sure you also check out Jeanneke Pis and Zinneke Pis!
Location: City of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region
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The Royal Palace of Brussels is the official residence of the Belgian royal family. It’s located in the center of the city, and it’s open to visitors from April to September. The palace is free to enter, but there is a small fee to tour the royal apartments. The Royal Palace of Brussels is one of the favorite attractions for photo ops – the largest structure in the square is the Royal Palace (Palais Royal), the official residence of the Belgian royal family. A set of cultural structures surrounds the palace, adorned by Neoclassic architecture.
The Royal Palace is one of the notable sights to see on a sightseeing tour. Belgium flags fly on roofs and show sovereign presence while ceremonial alterations take place every evening. The Guard changes each day. During summer, a free private tour of the palace interior is provided.
Location: Rue Brederode 16, Bruxelles
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The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium is a series of museums that has a collection of over 20,000 works spanning centuries. Consequently, it is one of Europe’s most important museums for art from the Middle Ages to the 19th Century. The museum was founded in 1801 and its first director was Jacques-Louis David. The museum’s collection includes paintings by Brueghel, Rubens, and Van Dyck, and sculptures by Michelangelo.
Also drawings by Da Vinci and Rembrandt, prints by Piranesi and Dürer, as well as a large number of important examples of decorative arts such as ivory carvings, goldsmithing, glasswork, and much more. If you visit this collection of museums, you will find yourself immersed in an atmosphere that allows you to understand better how people lived during these times (for example: how they dressed or what their homes looked like back in the Middle Ages).
Location: Rue de la Régence 3, Bruxelles
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The Musical Instruments Museum is a must-see for any music lover. Located in Brussels, in the Old England Building, the museum houses a collection of over 10,000 musical instruments from all over the world. You can see everything from ancient Egyptian harps to Indian sitars to antique French horns. The museum also houses special exhibits on different topics and themes, so there’s always something new and exciting to discover.
This Musical Instrument Museum opened in 1987 and was created by Dominique Serruys, who wanted it to be a “museum for all people with an interest in music”, not just professionals or experts like those at other musical instrument museums around Europe. This means that this particular museum isn’t afraid of having fun—there are even interactive games set up throughout the building so visitors can test their skills at playing different instruments while they’re here!
Location: Rue Montagne de la Cour 2, Bruxelles
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If you want to see a piece of architecture that is both beautiful and massive, the Atomium is the place for you. The Atomium is a large structure located on the outskirts of Brussels. It was built for the World Expo ’58 and is made up of nine spheres connected by tubes. You can take an elevator to the top of one of the spheres for views over the city. The sculpture was designed by André Waterkeyn a student of Le Corbusier, symbolizing a magnified iron crystal and stands 102 meters tall, and it’s the most popular tourist attraction in Brussels.
The Atomium was built using 925 tons of iron in order to create this iconic structure that represents an atom with its nine spheres stacked together as atoms do inside a molecule or compound. Its unique design has inspired many other monuments around the world such as New York City’s Unisphere at Flushing Meadows Park.
Location: Pl. de l'Atomium 1, Bruxelles
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If you’re looking for a place to relax and enjoy brunch in Brussels, Cinquantenaire Park (or Parc du Cinquantenaire) is the perfect location. This park has many restaurants, cafes, and museums that are sure to delight all visitors. A park is also a great place for taking pictures. It’s surrounded by beautiful buildings such as the Palais de Justice (Palace of Justice), Palais de la Nation (National Palace), and the Royal Palace of Brussels.
In addition to these wonderful landmarks, there are also several sports facilities including an ice rink where you can skate during the winter months or even rent bikes if you prefer riding on two wheels instead of two blades. If you decide to visit during the summer months then be sure not to miss out on their annual music festival called Rock Werchter.
Location: City of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region
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Abbaye de la Cambre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important buildings. It’s also home to an excellent restaurant that serves traditional Belgian cuisine. The abbey is located just 15 minutes from the main train station, making it easy to take day trips from the city center. To get there, take metro line 1 (green) to “Jette” and then walk 10 minutes towards Jette Castle. Alternatively, you can take tram 22 or 31 as well as buses 54 or 55 (from the bus stop: Place Royale).
When visiting Abbaye de la Cambre during your trip to Brussels, wear comfortable shoes and clothes that you can move around in easily since there are many stairs throughout the complex! You should plan on spending at least one hour touring this historic site - but if you have time left over after visiting other attractions in Brussels like Manneken Pis or Atomium Park then consider staying longer.
Location: Abbaye de la Cambre, Bruxelles
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Locally known as the Le Musée du Cacao et du Chocolat, the Chocolate Museum is an amazing place to visit if you're a chocoholic or just a food lover in general. Belgian chocolate is world-famous, so why not learn a bit more about how the heavenly treat is made?
The Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate has a lot of interesting chocolate sculptures and informative exhibits, as well as lots of free samples and a spinning wheel pouring out melted chocolate for dipping. You can also watch a demonstration to see exactly what the chocolate-making process is like. The museum is open every day from 10 am to 5 pm, and the entry fee is €6.
Location: Rue de l'Etuve 41, Bruxelles
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One of the best places to visit in Brussels for free is Mont des Arts, which translates to "Mountain of Arts". This is an area in central Brussels and was built under the orders of Leopold II. This king clearly had a lot of influence over the city and created lots of monuments that remain in modern Brussels.
In Mont des Arts, you can find landscaped gardens, statues, fountains, and other displays of public art, stairs leading up to a spectacular view, lots of museums, the Royal Library of Belgium, and the National Archives of Belgium. Many of the other Brussels attractions are located within walking distance of this central hub, so you'll definitely pass through here a few times while exploring Brussels. Mont des Arts are great for photo opportunities and for acting as a starting point for sightseeing in Brussels.
Location: City of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region