My husband and I took a day trip to Brussels from Amsterdam in March of 2019. We met friends who were in Paris at the time, and used this as a halfway meeting point. This itinerary is based on that experience, and is perfect if you are looking for things to do in Brussels if you only have a few hours. Want more visual inspiration? Check out the video of the trip!
Transport: We utilized NS International (The Netherlands train system; buy tickets online, 3 hour journey) on the way to Belgium, and Eurostar on the way home (2 hour journey). Eurostar is my favorite train as it is high speed and more comfortable; however, they can have limited times and the potential to be expensive. Depending on which train you take, you will either end up at Brussel-Centraal Station or Brussels-South Railway Station (Bruxelles-Midi). If you want to use transit within the city, they have buses and trams.
Getting Around: We walked the entire day; totaling about 7.5 mi/12 km. If you have more time or are wanting to go out of the city, there is the Godiva Outlet store about 20 minutes outside the city center or the Atomium (sculpture, museum) about 40 minutes outside the city center (these time estimates are for public transit).
What better way to start your day in Belgium than a Belgian waffle? I suggest Maison Dandoy; a tea house known for their speculoos cookies (common in the Belgium and Netherlands area, similar - but highly superior - to a gingerbread cookie). I ordered a waffle and coffee; AMAZING. Right around the corner is Grand Place: the main plaza in the city center. This was probably the highlight of the day. Most cities will have impressive city centers, but this one is pretty spectacular. Here you will see Brussels Town Hall, the Everard 'T Serclaes sculpture, Maison Grand-Place, the Broodhuis and much more.
Next, make your way by the Saint Nicholas Church and Brussels Stock Exchange on your way to the Black Tower; a medieval tower among modern buildings. This is also near Saint Catherine Church. In need of chocolate? Stop by Atelier Sainte Catherine Pur Chocolat d'Origine. From here, you can make a loop around the city, and catch the first of three infamous statues in the city; Zinneke Pis. You can then stop at Fritland for a cone of fries (with a side mayo of course) before continuing to the next statue, Manneken Pis. Need more chocolate? Loop back behind the Grand Palace, to the Galerie de la Reine; a beautiful shopping center with Chocolaterie Mary and GODIVA Haagen Dazs Galerie de la Reine.
Let us not forget about Belgian beer, and the best place to experience all Belgium has to offer is Delirium Village. There are eight bars in total, we walked through some of them and had drinks at the Delirium Café (home to the 2,004 beers - a Guinness World Record) and the Delirium Tap house. This is also the area where you will find the third statue, Jeanneke-Pis. In need of food? Head to Spago for some pizza or pasta, but not before heading to Carrefour, a grocery store chain where you can pick up chocolate without the tourist price tag (my favorite is Chocolade Jacques).
Pass by the Mary Magdalene Chapel on your way to Panoramic Hall The Square; an overlook of the Mont des Arts Garden with the Brussels Town Hall in the distance. Continue on towards Koningsplein, where you will find the Royal Palace of Brussels. This area of town has a lot of museums as well. For the final sightseeing of the day, nearby you will find the Square of Petit Sablon; a beautifully landscaped garden that is the definition of serene. Kitty-corner you will find the Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon; it’s free to enter and has a beautiful interior.
Want more Belgium? Consider a trip to Antwerp!
Things to Note:
We only had a general idea of what we wanted to see, especially as there were four of us, which resulted in backtracking and walking more than we needed to.
My suggestion? Mark everything on your google maps, that way you can more easily guide yourself around the city. Google is also (in my opinion) the best pedestrian and bike navigation app.
Other:
Planning for a trip, especially overseas, can be stressful and overwhelming. Hopefully this gave you a realistic itinerary of things to do in Brussels if you have only one day. I try to do as many quick links as possible, to send you directly to the website so you can get the most accurate and up-to-date information possible (fees and timetables).
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Safe and Happy Wandering.
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