brussels sights, attractions and itinerary

Welcome to the Drink in the Sights Brussels itinerary. Here you'll find information on travelling to see the best Brussels sights and Attractions. If you want to go on a Brussels pubs crawl I have also created a guide to the best pubs in Brussels.

Giant Atoms, Mini Monuments, Tintin and Pis

Welcome to not only the capital of Belgium, but also the unofficial capital of the European Union. Brussels has very much found itself at the heart of the worlds biggest trading bloc and largest economy, so not surprisingly it's thriving. When you think of Belgium your mind probably wanders off to a quaint land of chocolate, mussels and fries, a small child pissing, ridiculously strong and tasty Trappist beers, Tintin, and The Smurfs. And to be fair they're all there, along with so many other Brussels sights.

One thing you'll find particularly pleasing about Belgium, and Brussels in particular if you're a beer drinker is just how seriously they take their national beverage. Beer is certainly one of the top Brussels attractions. Firstly the selection is absolutely massive, secondly if you find anything below 6% proof you've done well, and thirdly every beer comes with it's own special glass. La Corne comes in a drinking horn, Kwak comes in weird test tube type thing, and so on. Each one is designed to match the beer and enhance the flavour. I don't know for sure if it does, but it makes for a fun experience. And some beers even come served in skulls.

The whole of Belgium is world renowned for the beauty of its cities. Bruges, Antwerp and Ghent in particular hold special places in many travellers hearts, and rightly so. However for me they are day trips from Brussels, not city breaks in their own right, and I'll be encouraging you to visit them later in this piece. Certainly if you want to relax somewhere scenic for a few days you can't go wrong with Bruges, but if you want lots to see and do you have to go to Brussels, it's a proper lively city that still maintains that quint essentially Belgium beauty.

You may be asking yourself how such a relatively small unassuming country more synonymous with chocolate than world domination  came to head such a massive organisation as the EU, and the answer is surprisingly simple, alphabetical order. But what about Austria? I hear you ask. Well the EU was formed in 1993 and Austria only joined in 1995, so lets just say slow and steady didn't win the race. I also have a feeling that of the six original EU members (Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium) Belgium had a linguistic advantage as it has three official languages French, German, and Dutch, but don't worry everyone you meet will speak English too so you wont have any trouble ordering your beer.

Belgium has spent a fair amount of time getting into big organisations first. It's a founding member of not only the EU but also the Eurozone, NATO, the WTO, and the OECD. Among the many impressive buildings in Brussels you'll find the NATO Headquarters and the European Parliament Building among numerous other world headquarters. 

I guess when you're bordered by much larger, and more powerful countries such as France and Germany it pays to set yourself out as the continents great peacemakers. The fact that Belgium spent a large part of the early 20th century as a battleground for the great European powers has probably also influences its desire to join organisations designed to prevent international conflicts.

There have been settlements in Brussels since the Stone Age, but like the rest of Belgium Brussels has spent most of the last 1000 years under either Dutch or French control. Belgium finally became independent in 1830 after a revolution that began in Brussels only to find itself under German occupation during both the First and Second World Wars. Following its liberation Brussels has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the most politically, and economically significant cities in the world, while also been one of the most beautiful.

Getting to Brussels

Before we talk about our Brussels itinerary we need to get you there. You can fly to Brussels from London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham or Manchester, but you don't want too. By far the easiest way to get to Brussels is the Eurostar. It'll cost around about £39 each way and takes just under 2 hours. There's no huge queues at customs, you don't have to arrive two hours before leaving, and if like me you don't live in London it's fine because it's just across from Kings Cross Station. You can also take your own food and drink onto the Eurostar, and it stops right in the center of Brussels so there's no messing around finding transfers. It's just a much better way to travel than flying. So now we're there lets drink in the Brussels sights.

Brussels Sights 

The Atomium

Built in 1958 for the World Fair The Atomium is one of my all time favourite European sights so it just has to top my list of Brussels attractions. For a start it looks absolutely amazing, and was clearly an amazing feat of engineering when it was built. The Visit Brussels website will tell you that 'The nine spheres represent an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times.' No doubt I was also told that during the exhibition, but it's a very exact fact to store to memory. This icon of Brussels is just stunning from every angle. And then you go inside.

At 16 euros you may think the entrance fee to The Atomium is a little steep, but it's worth every cent. It probably helps that I'm a little bit of a nerd when it comes to fun science stuff, but I think everyone would have fun here. The elevator takes you up to the central sphere, and from here you can enter the 6 exhibition spheres. The top one is 95 meters up and has a restaurant with 360 degree views of Brussels. It's not cheap so we didn't eat, but you can still go for the views, and boy are they great views.

There's only one permanent exhibition which  is all about the construction of this magnificent attraction and the world expo/fair that it was created for. The rest are a mixture of temporary exhibitions, a kids sphere, and places for concerts and parties. Bizarrely one of my favourite bits of the Atomium is just walking through the tunnels connecting the spheres which feel like they belong in a sci-fi movie.   

I wont talk too much about the temporary exhibits just because the ones I saw wont be there when you arrive, such is the fleeting nature of temporary things. I presume they are all science related though. When I went it was a veritable visual and scientific feast. However rather than talk to you about something you're unlikely to get to see I'll just leave some more pictures of what was there, and views over the city before moving onto the next attraction. You can book Atomium tickets here. This really should top your Brussels itinerary.

Mini Europe

In Brussels it appears size really does matter. Remember when I said The Atomium was an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times? Well this is Europe's greatest landmarks reduced in size 25 times. I mention this as much as anything because it really does demonstrate just how small an iron crystal is. Mini Europe does exactly what it says on the tin with over 300 of Europe's greatest landmarks in miniature form, there's even an erupting Mount Vesuvius wreaking havoc on Pompeii. 

If I'm honest at 15 euros to get in Mini Europe is a little on the extortionate side, but on the other hand visiting the full size versions of all these attractions would cost thousands. Ultimately it's quite good fun to look down on ​the Eiffel Tower, Acropolis or Big Ben like some giant beast from a bad disaster movie, and it's surprisingly difficult to resist thinking Hulk smash. You really are paying for a bit of fun, but there's nothing wrong with that. You can pre-book Mini Europe tickets here. This is certainly one of the top Brussels attractions.

Do a Brussels Walking Tour

As with any city I think the best way to get to know it is by doing a walking tour. It's the safest way to ensure you don't miss any of the main Brussels sights, get your bearings quickly, and learn about the history and culture of the city. The standard two hour Brussels Walking tour for £13 is an excellent starting point and can be booked here. Doing a walking tour will also help you find other things for your Brussels itinerary.

Brussels Attractions

St Michael and St Gudala Cathedral

This 16th century Gothic cathedral bares a striking resemblance to the now severely fire damaged Notre Dame in Paris, so if you didn't get to see it's better known twin before the fire broke out don't fear you can just visit this beauty instead. Construction actually began in the 11th century so this building was a long time coming. 

The two towers were designed by Jan Van Ruysbroeck, who also designed the Town Hall, so he is effectively the architect of the Brussels skyline. The cathedral like all Gothic buildings is beautiful, and the interior is littered with statues and some of the best stained glass windows you'll ever see. Rather unusually these days the cathedral is free to enter so you should certainly have a look around. 

Grand Place

This is Brussels absolutely gorgeous main square. Beyond any doubt it's one of the most beautiful squares in Europe, and very much worthy of its UNESCO World Heritage status. The dominant building is the Town Hall, opposite this is the Brussels City Museum, and both are surrounded by exquisite houses spanning the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. It's very much the centre of the city, and the easiest location to use as a meeting point or point of reference when exploring. Beyond any doubt this is one of the top Brussels sights.

AutoWorld

For 12 euros you can see loads of cars, you can also learn about loads of cars. OK I'm not that interested in cars but my friends made me go, and I'm glad they did. It really is fascinating to see the whole evolution of the automobile under one roof, and gain an insight into the technical evolution's that made each upgrade possible. You also get to sit in a racing car which been 6'4 I found quite a challenge, but you might enjoy the squeeze if you're a little shorter than I am. It wasn't my favourite Brussels attraction, but if you like cars it might be yours.

Parlamentarium

I'd probably best describe this as one of the things to add to your Brussels itinerary if you wind up with a free hour, or you need somewhere to shelter from the rain when it's too early to start drinking. That is unless you have a really keen interest in European parliamentary systems or just really like neon lights. It's a very informative introduction to the workings of the EU, how the EU came into existence, and exactly who it is that actually works for the EU. As a little freebie it's not a bad way to spend an hour, but you do get the impression it's catering primarily for people with kids.

Brussels Art and History Museum

This is very much a museum which does exactly what it says on the tin, there's lots of art, and lots of history. It's also one of the largest museums in Europe, and it has to be with pieces spanning pre-history right through to the 20th century. The museum is split into four sections covering National Archaeology, Classical Antiquity, European Art, and Non-European Civilisations. If I'm brutally honest you wont find anything hugely unique here, and there's certainly no massively famous pieces to draw you in.

However that's not to say you don't get your 10 euros worth. The Asian exhibits in particular really caught my attention and were worth the entrance fee alone. On top of that there's the usual array of sarcophagi in the Egyptian section, and more Roman and Greek artefacts than you could shake a stick at in their respective areas. The Americas section also includes a huge amount of native American pieces including a pretty impressive totem pole, so the museum is well worth visiting for a couple of hours.

Brussels Itinerary Extra's

The Brussels Obsession with Pis

It'd be impossible for any Brussels travel guide not to talk about Pis. Pis is certainly an unusual Brussels attraction, and I'm not going to try to explain the excessive amounts of statues dedicated to urination in Brussels, I'm just going to tell you that there's at least three of them. There's Jeanneke Pis, which is basically a young girl squatting, there's Het Zinneke, which is a dog shall we say marking its territory, and then there's the massively famous Manneken Pis. 

Due to its fame the Manneken Pis is very much the one we have to talk about. It's a small naked boy urinating, and this along with The Atomium is now the symbol of Brussels and one of its key sights. The statue actually has a 500 year history in a variety of forms, so he's certainly not a newcomer to the city. At the last count the Manneken Pis had over 1000 different costumes, which he periodically adorns to celebrate a wide variety of festivals, birthdays and special occasions.

As you'd expect for such a beloved character there's a whole host of stories about who he was, and why he's urinating. The legend our guide told us was that an invading force planned to use explosives to destroy the city, the boy saw what they were doing and urinated on the burning fuse to foil the dastardly plot. The truth is no-one knows who he was, what he did, or if he even ever existed, but the people of Brussels truly love their little Pis and he's a very unique Brussels sight.

Tintin, The Smurfs and Street Art.

Who doesn't love Tintin? Who doesn't love The Smurfs? And who doesn't love street art? Fortunately you'll find them all as soon as you step off the Eurostar, and on numerous street corners after that. Tintin creator Georges Remi and Smurfs creator Peyo are both Belgium born and raised so it's only fitting their artwork can be found all over the city. I always enjoy it when a city embraces street art, and Brussels certainly does that. Street art is one of the great free Brussels attractions.

Bruges and Ghent Day Trip from Brussels

You can book this excellent day trip for less than £50 here.

Why see one great Flemish city on a day trip when you have time to see two? The first stop is in the city of Ghent, the capital of the Flemish region of Belgium, and its third biggest city. This is a beautiful city with a stunning cathedral whose black and white interior is among the most striking I've ever seen. The architecture of Ghent is predominantly still medieval and an absolute joy to take in.

The second stop is the smaller but much more famous town of Bruges, and it was famous long before the Colin Farrell film In Bruges was released. The whole city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it's a city on most peoples bucket lists for good reasons. A boat ride along the vast canal network is an absolute must, as is a trip up the belfry. However what you really want to do in Bruges is just get lost in the exquisite streets and parks. Try to spot the statue of The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse while you're wondering around. You wouldn't want to miss the end of the world after all. This trip is a lovely way to spend a day once you've done all your Brussels itinerary.

You can book this excellent day trip for less than £50 here.

I hope you found my Brussels Itinerary useful. Now you know the main Brussels attractions it's time for you to go see the Brussels sights for yourself. Search Expedia for your trip using the search box below. Please also check out my guide to the best bars in Brussels

Help Planning Your Brussels Trip

If you want more help planning your Brussels trip why not use the Drink in the Sights Free Holiday Planning Service where all you have to do is contact me on the form provided or via Facebook messenger and I'll help you plan your next trip. I'll look for the right flights, hotels, transfers and tours just for you, and it wont cost you a penny.