What to see in Brussels in one day

Are you planning a trip to Brussels and don't know where to start planning your day? That's how we were before visiting Brussels for Christmas but don't worry, in this article we'll tell you about some of the city's main tourist attractions so you can make the most of a day or two in Brussels Brussels. Below we leave you as always, a map where you have located all the places worth visiting: From the famous shopping street Rue Neuve the incredible Grand Place or the impressive Brussels Park passing through the district of Saint Géry and its graffiti Belgian comics, we assure you that you will not get bored. In addition, we give you some recommendations and tips to make your day in Brussels even more special.

This selection of places to see in Brussels can be done in a one-day express visit, although we recommend that you spend at least two days in the city if you want to see everything at your leisure. If you are going to spend more days in Belgium, you can take the opportunity to do some sightseeing in Brussels. excursion to Bruges, Ghent y Antwerp.

👀 Take a look!
Free Tour of Brussels
Private tour of Brussels with English speaking guide

1. Rue Neuve

The Rue Neuve is the street of stores Brussels' most famous street. You can find a wide variety of brands and fashion stores, as well as many restaurants and cafes. It is a busy area for tourists and locals alike, making it a great place to shop or just stroll around.

🍟🧇 Food!
When you visit you will see that it is full of places to eat fries and waffles. Two of the most typical Belgian foods. If you want to know the best restaurants to eat in Brussels go to our article.

2. Grand Place

The Grand Place is the most emblematic square in Brussels. It houses the city's town hall and is known for its impressive gothic buildings. You will also find the statue of Everard 'T Serclaes, which is said to bring good luck if you touch his arm.

If you have time, we recommend you to go up to the town hall and enjoy the panoramic views of the square.

3. Saint Hubert Galleries

The Saint Hubert Galleries are two covered passages full of stores with some of the best places to shop chocolate of the city. They are considered the oldest shopping arcades in Europe and are located very close to the center of Brussels, within walking distance of the Grand Place. They are worth a visit if only for go for a walk inside the area and take a look at the shop windows.

4. Delirium Café and Jeanneke Pis

Right next to the galleries you will find the famous statue of the Jeanneke Pis, a female version of the famous Manneken Pis statue, cleverly placed here by the owners of the Delirium Café, known to be the most famous beer bar in Brussels, which now runs the whole street with different versions of its premises.

At night they cover the statue of Jeanneke Pis with bars to keep it in the best possible condition so if you want to see it we recommend you to go to this street when it is still daylight. If not, you will have to go a little closer to appreciate it.

🍻 Do you like beer?
If you like craft beers, we recommend you try some of the more than 3,000 varieties they have available. Their price is not cheap if you are used to the bars in Spain but it is worth trying some of them.

4. Brussels Stock Exchange

The Brussels Stock Exchange is the building where the city's stock exchange operations used to take place. If you are interested in the financial world, it is an interesting place to visit and learn more about how the stock exchange works. Its main attraction lies in the fact that it is located in the center of the city in a historic building impressive. We caught it under construction so we could not go in to see it.

5. Manneken Pis

The Manneken Pis is one of the most famous statues in Brussels. It is a small sculpture of a boy peeing, which is located in a square near the Grand Place. Although it is very small, it is a popular place by tourists. If you like curiosities, we inform you that the Manneken Pis has more than a thousand costumes and is sometimes dressed in themed costumes depending on the occasion.

Near the Manneken there is a store in which expose Some of the costumes with which they are dressing the little statue, in addition, just in front of the statue you can see a calendar with the costume schedule for the week so you can plan to go to see the ones that interest you the most.

6. Rue des bouchers

Rue des bouchers is a street full of restaurants and bars for tourists. Here you can enjoy the famous Belgian food as the waffles and the potatoes fries, as well as tasting some of the more than 2,000 varieties of beer that are produced in the country. If you are looking for a place to spend a fun night Rue des bouchers is a good choice.

7. Saint Géry district

The Saint Géry district is an area known for its markets, such as the halles de St Gery. You will also find here some graffiti of famous Belgian comic characters such as Tintin (at 37 Rue de l'Etuve, Asterix (Rue de la Buanderie, 25) and Lucky Luke (at Rue de la Buanderie, 45)

8. Sablon neighborhood

The Sablon district is known for its animated nightlife and for its elegant stores and art galleries. Some places you can't miss here are:

• Palace of Justice
• The Place du Petit Sablon
• The Notre Dame au Sablon
• The Place du Grand Sablon

9. Brussels Park

The Parc de Bruxelles is a beautiful green space in the center of the city. Here you can take a stroll on your way to visit the building Old England and the Royal Palace The park is located in the surroundings of the park:

• Old England Building Victorian era located near the Parc de Bruxelles. It was built in 1883 as a department store and today is a museum of musical instruments.
• Royal Palace Former official residence of the King of Belgium, they currently live in another palace on the outskirts of the city. It is an impressive neoclassical building that was built in the early nineteenth century. Right now access to the palace is restricted.

10. St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral

The San Miguel Cathedral y St. Gudula is an impressive Gothic church located in the center of Brussels. It is a place of great historical and cultural importance, and is a must-see for any visitor.

The cathedral is located in the Sainte-Gudule hill The church is located in the historical area of the city. It was built in the early 13th century and is one of the most impressive Gothic buildings in Brussels. The cathedral has been expanded and renovated over the centuries, and today is a mixture of architectural styles ranging from Gothic to neoclassical.

In addition to its architectural beauty, the cathedral of San Miguel y St. Gudula is a place of worship and is the seat of the Archdiocese of Brussels. Some of the highlights of the cathedral include the impressive facade principal, the altar and the choir and the crypt.

The cathedral is open to the public every day of the week and it is free to visit, although there are some areas, which require an entrance fee. If you want to learn more about the history and significance of the cathedral, you can participate in one of the guided tours offered.

11. European Parliament

The European Quarter is the political center of Brussels and houses the European Parliament. It is an interesting area to learn more about the politics and functioning of the European Union.

The European Parliament is the place where EU laws are debated and voted on and is the only place where democratic decisions are made throughout Europe. Visitors can attend plenary sessions and others public events and you can also visit the building and learn more about the work of Parliament.

In order to make any visit, it is necessary to request a ticket in advance on the following website Parliament website. Visits are made in groups and there are two modalities: a guided tour of the building and a plenary session in which laws are debated and voted on. Plenary session schedules vary, so it is important to check the agenda before planning your visit.

It is important to note that visits to the European Parliament are free for EU residents. If you are not an EU resident, you can apply for a ticket, but you must pay a fee of 10 euros for the visit. Visiting hours are uninterrupted until 17h but they are very strict with the schedule so we recommend you to arrive before your time.

12. Atomium

The Atomium is an impressive steel structure that has become a symbol of Brussels. To get here, we recommend taking the metro. This famous monument was built in 1958 for the Brussels Expo and represents a atom iron scale. The structure consists of nine steel spheres representing the nine nuclei of an iron atom and connected by steel tubes. Each of the spheres has a diameter of 18 meters It is divided into several floors and we loved it!

It is an ideal place to take pictures and enjoy a panoramic view of the city. The easiest way to get here is to take the subway and get off at the Heyzel station. From there, you can walk to the Atomium in about 15 minutes.

Once at the Atomium, you will be able to climb the spheres and visit the different floors, which house an exhibition on the history and evolution of the Atomium. You can also enjoy a panoramic view from the highest sphere, which is located at one height of 103 meters.

13. René Magritte Museum

The René Magritte Museum is a must for any art fan. Here you can see a large collection of works by the famous Belgian painter René Magritte as well as other contemporary artists.

💰 You can enter museums for free.
If you visit the museum on the first Wednesday of every month from 13:00, you can access it for free, so take this opportunity to learn more about the Brussels art scene.

In short, Brussels is a city full of things to see and do. From the famous Rue Neuve and the Grand Place to the Atomium and the René Magritte Museum, there are many tourist attractions you can't miss. Remember to follow our recommendations and tips to make the most of your day in Brussels and enjoy everything this amazing city has to offer.

Map to see Brussels in one day

If you want to read other articles ideal for your trip that complement What to see in Brussels in one day you can visit our posts about Belgium.