Brusselsis the capital of Belgium and the most important administrative seat of the EU. Possibly due to the fact that it has the highest number of politicians per square metre on the continent, it has a certain reputation for being rather dull. Not so. Politicians know how to have a good time, and the Belgian capital is full of places to have a great time, as well as having an extraordinary historical and artistic heritage worth knowing and enjoying.
There are many charming places to see in Brussels, especially in the city centre, which, being relatively small and with many pedestrianized areas, allows you to discover its monuments on a leisurely stroll, with stops for lunch and a beer. Here's a guide to what to see in Brussels in a day, so you can make the most of your time.
What to see in Brussels in a day
The route we suggest is one of the many routes you can take to get to know the centre of Brussels, although we consider it to be the best. Let's get started.
Mont d'Arts viewpoint
This viewpoint, located at the Gare Central metro station, is a great way to get a general view of the city before you start walking through the streets of the centre of Brussels. From there you can stroll down to the Grand Place, which will take you no more than 10 minutes.
Grand Place
The real heart of Brussels, world-famous for its ornamental richness, is surrounded by the King's House, the Town Hall and the guild houses. A World Heritage Site, it hosts numerous cultural and festive events throughout the year. It might be worth a quick visit to the Museum of the City of Brussels, where you can buy fun souvenirs and postcards in its shop.
Manneken Pis
A small statue thatis to Brussels what The Little Mermaid is to Copenhagen. It represents a boy peeing (hence the name) and is, along with the Grand Place and the Atomium, one of the great symbols of Brussels. The visit can be a good opportunity to have a tasty waffle while you wait for your turn to take a selfie with the incontinent little boy.
Royal Galleries Saint Hubert
From the small statue, you can head towards the famousGalleries Royales Saint-Hubert, a glassed-in shopping arcade that was built in the mid-19th century and was the inspiration for other well-known galleries such as Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. With its Italian Cinquecento style, there are few places more elegant in the world to shop.
Jeanneke Pis
Less than 5 minutes from the Galleries, in the alley Impasse de la Fidélité, is the "sister" of the Manneken Pis, which has also suffered from incontinence since its inauguration in 1987. You can take advantage of your visit to refresh your gullet with one of the excellent Belgian beers at the legendary Delirium brewery, just across the street from the endearing Jeanneke.
St Michael and St Gudula Cathedral
You can't travel to a Cathedral City without visiting it, and Brussels is no exception. Located very close to the Central Station, this Gothic-style temple took a whopping 300 years to build, from the 13th to the 16th century. One of the must-see places in Brussels.
Rue de la Régence
Along this important street in thecentre of Brussels, you can enjoy the gardens of the Place du Petit Sablon, with the beautiful Church of Notre Dame du Sablon just opposite, or continue up the street until you reach the Palace of Justice, whose interior you can visit.
To end the day, you can have dinnerin the Les Marolles or Saint Géry neighbourhoods, the liveliest nightlife areas in the city.
As you can see, there is nothing boring about the Belgian capital, with plenty of things to do and see in Brussels, with the advantage of being able to do it on foot, without the hassle of taking the metro or bus or having to dig deep into your wallet by hiring taxis. If you have time, take the opportunity to visit some of its great museums, such as the Fine Arts Museum, the Musical Instruments Museum, or the Magritte Museum.
