Visit Brussels
Your first glimpse of Brussels might be a flash of gold rooftops, a mural of Tintin racing alongside you or the smell of waffles drifting in through the car window. One moment you’re cruising past grand boulevards lined with stately buildings and royal parks. The next you’re easing into cozy side streets filled with waffle stands, independent chocolate makers and locals chatting outside tiny cafés. Brussels doesn’t try to impress you all at once. It invites you in with layers of character that reveal themselves as you explore.
You might start your journey near the European Quarter, where glass fronts and modern architecture reflect the energy of the continent’s political heart. But drive a few minutes and the atmosphere changes completely as you arrive at the Grand Place, a golden square that hits you with medieval drama and ornate façades glowing like a stage set. Walk a bit further and you’ll find murals celebrating Belgian comics, craft beer bars tucked into corners and street art splashed across unexpected walls.
Brussels is a city of contrasts in the best possible way: refined yet playful, international yet unmistakably Belgian. It’s a place where you can nibble fries from a paper cone while staring at royal palaces. You can discover an Art Nouveau masterpiece just because you took a wrong turn. Every neighborhood, from Ixelles to Saint Gilles to Laeken, has its own identity.
On a road trip, Brussels feels wonderfully unpredictable. It’s the kind of city where you arrive expecting one thing and leave with a completely different story.
Top sights to visit
- Grand Place (Grote Markt) The central square of Brussels is a historic site and is often considered one of the most beautiful squares in the world. It is surrounded by magnificent Baroque and Gothic guildhalls and the stunning Gothic Town Hall.
- Manneken Pis This small bronze statue of a little boy urinating is the city's most famous and cheeky symbol. The best hidden gem about this highlight is his extensive wardrobe, which is occasionally on display at the nearby GardeRobe Manneken Pis museum. Tip: try to find the other status Jeanneke Pis (the girl statue) and Zinneke Pis (the peeing dog statue).
- The Atomium A distinctive landmark built for the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair. It represents a unit cell of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. You can climb inside the spheres for a unique look at the structure and panoramic views of the city.
- Royal Palace & Parc de Bruxelles The Royal Palace opens to the public every summer, allowing visitors to walk through grand ceremonial halls. Even outside of visiting season, its outside is worth the stop. Combine your visit with a walk through Parc de Bruxelles just across the street.
- The Brussels Comic Strip Murals Brussels is the birthplace of many famous comics, including Tintin and The Smurfs. You can discover over 50 massive colorful murals scattered across the city, celebrating Belgian comic art. Following the Comic Strip Walk is a great way to explore different neighborhoods off the main tourist path.
- European Quarter Here you can explore the modern side of Brussel with sleek buildings and the European Parliament. The Parlamentarium provides interactive exhibitions showing how the EU works. The nearby Leopold Park adds a calm green escape right in the middle of the institutions.
- Mont des Arts This elevated cultural district blends gardens, museums and one of the best viewpoints in Brussels. It’s perfect for anyone who loves photography or relaxing between museums. The surrounding streets often have musicians and small pop up performances.
- Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert One of Europe's oldest shopping galleries. This elegant glass-roofed passage is divided into three sections: the Gallery of the King, the Gallery of the Queen and the Gallery of the Princes. It is home to luxury boutique shops, famous chocolatiers and cozy cafes.
- Sablon District Sablon combines antique shops, chocolate boutiques, and elegant cafés in one stylish neighborhood. Its weekend market is full of curiosities, from vintage books to old maps. It’s also one of the best places to taste artisan pralines from Belgium’s top chocolatiers.
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History of Brussels
Brussels didn’t begin as a grand capital. It started as a small fortified island on the Senne River. But from the moment the first wooden walls went up around the 10th century, the city expanded outward in rings like ripples in water. Even today, when you drive into Brussels and see its mix of old façades and bold modern buildings, you can sense those early layers beneath your tires.
By the Middle Ages Brussels had transformed into a place of power, governed by dukes and shaped by wealthy guilds whose influence still shows in the ornate Grand Place. The square wasn’t just a marketplace; it was a stage where the city displayed its pride through celebrations and sometimes political drama. It remains one of Europe’s most breathtaking historic centers.
Brussels’ story becomes more interesting in the centuries that followed. While Antwerp was booming as a trade hub, Brussels was evolving into a political and cultural crossroads. Foreign rulers stamped their mark on the city, from the Burgundians to the Habsburgs, who tied Brussels to the fate of European empires.
The 19th century brought grand boulevards and royal palaces. The 20th century turned it into the administrative heart of a continent, with the European Union setting its headquarters here. But beneath the politics and institutions, the real Brussels is still a place of storytellers, chocolate makers, brewers and surrealist artists.