Brussels Attractions

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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 details

Mannekin-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 details

Hôtel 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 details

Galeries 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 details

Palais 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 details

Royal 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 details

The 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 details

Belgian 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 details

Museum 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 details

Royal 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

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