Things to do in Brussels
Brussels is packed tight with historic buildings, monuments and museums that constitute a seemingly endless 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 fans and chocolate connoisseurs, for instance, will find institutions that cater exclusively to their interests among the city's roughly 75 museums, which alternate between explaining Belgium's long history, showcasing its art and architecture, and just plain fun.
Of course, the city has several landmarks that can't be passed up, the most important of which is a visit to Manneken-Pis: the famous centuries-old statue of a boy peeing. After this rather irreverent and quirky highlight, visitors should make for Brussels's larger tourist attractions, most of which are within walking distance of what is considered the heart of Brussels, the Grand Place.
The 600-year-old Hotel de Ville is Brussels's best example of early architecture and is almost as grand a sight as the Royal Palace. Several of the world's best museums are within the city limits, including the Museum of Ancient Art and the Museum of Modern Art, both housing Brussels's best art treasures. Otherwise, the plan should be to relax, enjoy and take it all in between pints of the city's best export, Belgium beer.
Grand Place (Central Square)
The Grand Place is the beating heart of Brussels and has been since the Middle Ages. One of Europe's more beautiful squares, it lies at the centre of a maze of small cobbled street…
Manneken-Pis
This distinctive statue of a naked boy urinating is thought to represent Brussels's irreverent spirit. History has many tales about its beginnings, with one especially whimsical st…
Hotel de Ville
Brussels's town hall is rated as one of the most splendid civic buildings in Europe. The foundations were laid in 1402 and survived the bombing during World War II when most of the…
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 drawcard for the…
Palais Royal
Belgium's magnificent Royal Palace was finished in the 19th century and is the official residence of the Belgian Royal family. Today, the king and his family live at the Royal Pala…
Royal Museums of Fine Arts
Unmissable for art lovers, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts are Brussels's premier art museums and comprise the Musée Old Masters Museum, Musee Modern Museum, Musee Wiertz Museum, M…
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 one of the pioneers of modern Belgiu…
Royal Museum of Central Africa
Under the direction of King Leopold, the Belgian Congo sent fantastic riches to Belgium in the 19th century, yet the people of that colony paid a terrible price. This museum was fo…
