Attractions
Brussels is packed tight with historic buildings, monuments and
museums making a nearly impossibly long list of worthwhile
attractions. The best way to sightsee in Brussels is to pick
several personal niche interests and follow a tourist map
accordingly. Comic book fan? - there is a museum for you;
chocolate connoisseur (who isn't)? - another for you. In fact,
there are nearly 75 great museums in Brussels alternating between
explaining Belgium's long history, showcasing its art and
architecture, and just plain fun (more often than not, doing all
three at once).
Of course, several city landmarks cannot be missed, the most
important is a visit to Mannekin-Pis, which when read carefully
accurately describes the statue of a boy peeing. After that rather
weird tradition, visitors are free to roam Brussels' larger
highlights mostly walkable from the heart of Brussels, the Grand
Place.
The ancient Hotel de Ville is Brussels best example of early
architecture and is almost as grand a sight as the Royal Palace.
Several of the best museums in the world include the Museum of
Ancient Art and the Museum of Modern Art, both housing Brussels
best art treasures. For the rest, much like the Belgians, relax,
enjoy and take it all in between pints of the city's best
attraction, Belgium beer.
Grand Place (Central Square)
The Grand Place is the heart of Brussels and has been since the
Middle Ages. One of Europe's more beautiful squares, it lies in the
centre of a confusion of small cobbled streets, and is surrounded
by richly decorated 17th century Baroque Guildhouses,...
see full detailsMannekin-Pis
The distinctive statue has been described as the Eiffel Tower of
Brussels and tourists throng the streets in search of the tiny
urinating urchin. The bronze Mannekin is thought to represent the
'irreverent spirit' of Brussels, but there are numerous tales about
its beginnings....
see full detailsHôtel de Ville
Brussels' city hall is rated as the most splendid civic building
in Europe. The foundations were laid in 1402 and it survived the
mercifully inaccurate bombing during World War 2 when most of the
other buildings on the Grand Place were destroyed. The
façade...
see full detailsGaleries Royales Saint Hubert
Mall lovers everywhere should make a pilgrimage to the Galeries
Royales Saint Hubert, the very first shopping arcade in Europe.
Opened in 1847, the arcade became a draw card for the cream of 19th
century society and today continues to inspire shoppers and
browsers...
see full detailsPalais Royal
Belgium's magnificent Royal Palace was built in the 19th century
as the official residence of the Belgian Royal family although
today is used for official functions and other ceremonial purposes.
The palace is positioned in front of Brussels Park, itself well
worth exploring, and...
see full detailsRoyal Museums of Fine Arts
An unmissable attraction for art lovers: the twin Museum of
Ancient Art and the Museum of Modern Art are Brussels' premier art
museums. They feature art from the 15th to 18th centuries (ancient)
and 19th century to the present day (modern). The larger...
see full detailsThe Atomium
Forget the Mannekin Pis - this is the structure that best
symbolises Brussels and certainly the one locals are more proud of.
Built for the 1958 World Fair, the Atomium takes its shape and
proportions from the internal lattice of an iron atom....
see full detailsBelgian Centre of Comic Strip Art
Belgium's love of wacky humour and comic book art come together
in this wonderful museum housed in a fabulous Art Nouveau building
designed by Victor Horta. You'll see plenty of its most famous
subject, Hergé's Tintin
, as well as the
Smurfs and art from...
see full detailsMuseum of Cocoa and Chocolate
The Chocolate Museum is a fitting tribute to both the history of
the cocoa bean and the Belgian's famed love of chocolate. The first
chocolatier in the city appeared in the 1600s and today Belgians
eat an average of 9kg a year! Visit...
see full detailsRoyal Museum of Central Africa
Under the direction of King Leopold, the Belgian Congo returned
fantastic riches to Belgium in the 19th century, yet the people of
that colony paid a terrible price. This museum was founded to
explore the relationship between European colonial powers and the
people they...
see full details