Must SeeFree
Grand-Place
Centre
A UNESCO-listed square of ornate gilded guild houses and a Gothic town hall, among Europe’s most beautiful.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- No booking needed
- Suits: Everyone
Open all day
Brussels
A gilded Grand-Place, comic-strip murals, waffles and world-class beer.
Plan your Brussels trip
- Flight + Hotel PackageRecommended Best option if you want the trip arranged together. View Packages Packages
- Hotels Prefer to book accommodation separately? View Hotels Hotels
- Flights Already have accommodation? View Flights Flights
- Things To Do Tours, attractions and experiences. View Activities Activities
Overview
Why go to Brussels
Brussels mixes a spectacular medieval square with Art Nouveau townhouses, comic-strip culture, major museums and a famous food and beer scene. It is easy by train from London and a good base for Bruges and Ghent.
- Where
- Brussels-Capital, Belgium
- Recommended stay
- 2–3 nights
- Best time to go
- April–June and September for mild weather; the biennial flower carpet on the Grand-Place is in August (even years).
- Approx. daily budget
- £75–150 a dayPer person, excluding flights. Indicative.
What does Brussels cost?
Full cost guide- Budget traveller£70–100a day
- Mid-range traveller£135–195a day
- Luxury traveller£270+a day
Approximate per person per day, including a share of a twin room, and excluding flights. Not live prices.
Things To Do
See all 14 Top picks in Brussels
Must SeeFree
Manneken Pis
Centre
A small bronze statue of a boy, the city’s irreverent symbol, often dressed in costumes.
- Suggested time: 15 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Everyone
Open all day
Must See~£14
Atomium
Heysel
A giant model of an iron crystal built for the 1958 World’s Fair, with exhibitions and a viewing sphere.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Families
Daily
Culture~£10
Magritte Museum
Mont des Arts
The world’s largest collection of works by the surrealist René Magritte, in the Royal Museums of Fine Arts.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Culture lovers
Closed Mondays
Hidden Gems
See all 4 Beyond the checklist
Hidden GemsFree
Comic Strip Route
Centre
A walk past huge wall murals of Belgian comic heroes such as Tintin, the Smurfs and Lucky Luke.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Families
Open all day
Hidden Gems~£10
Horta Museum
Saint-Gilles
The Art Nouveau home and studio of the architect Victor Horta, perfectly preserved with stained glass and curving staircases.
- Suggested time: 1h 15m
- Book ahead
- Suits: Culture lovers
Closed Mondays
Hidden GemsFree
Marolles Flea Market
Marolles
A daily flea market on Place du Jeu de Balle, with antiques, curiosities and cafés in an authentic working-class district.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Food lovers
Daily, best in the morning
Hidden GemsFree
Ixelles Ponds
Ixelles
A pair of ponds in a leafy residential neighbourhood, with great cafés, Art Nouveau houses and a market.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- No booking needed
- Suits: Outdoor lovers
Open all day
Hotels
All 3 hotels Best-value hotels in Brussels
Well reviewed and fairly priced for what you get: not simply the cheapest.
Best ValueBest Mid-Range Hotel
Example listingSablon Boutique
Sablon, Brussels
Very good valueValue score 79 out of 100
Rated 8.8/10, priced in line with similar 4★ hotels in Brussels, in a central location.
From £115 per night · check current availability
Best Location
Example listingGrand-Place Palace
Centre, Brussels
Very good valueValue score 78 out of 100
Rated 8.9/10, priced in line with similar 4★ hotels in Brussels, in a central location.
From £120 per night · check current availability
Best Budget Choice
Example listingEurostar Corner Hotel
Midi, Brussels
Very good valueValue score 72 out of 100
Rated 8.4/10, priced in line with similar 3★ hotels in Brussels, in Midi.
From £70 per night · check current availability
Food & Restaurants
See all 5 Where to eat
Maison Dandoy
A historic biscuit shop making speculoos, waffles and gingerbread since 1829.
Known for: Speculoos biscuits, waffles
Under about £17 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Families
Fritland
A beloved frites stand with crispy fries and a long list of sauces, a Brussels classic.
Known for: Frites with sauces
Under about £17 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
Frit Flagey
A famous frites stand on Place Flagey with a loyal local following.
Known for: Frites
Under about £17 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
À la Mort Subite
An historic café bar from 1928 with mirrors and wooden panelling, serving gueuze and cherry beer.
Known for: Gueuze and fruit beers
About £17–35 per person
Local favourite Good for Groups · Couples
A suggested Brussels itinerary
3 nights Couple
Brussels · Highlights
Brussels in 3 nights
A balanced first-visit plan built from our Brussels picks: the headline sights, a local favourite or two and time to breathe.
- Day 1 · Grand-Place, Manneken Pis, Sablon Square and Antiques Market, Mont des Arts Viewpoint
- Day 2 · Atomium
- Day 3 · Magritte Museum, Comic Strip Route, Cinquantenaire Park
Plan Brussels your way
Tell us your dates, who’s travelling and what you enjoy. We’ll build a first draft you can edit.