A Day Tour in Brussels, Belgium

If you find yourself in Paris or Amsterdam and you have a day to spare, a good option would be to take a quick day trip to Brussels, Belgium (assuming you do hold a Schengen Visa). Personally, I have taken Flix Bus from Paris to Brussels. It takes about 4 hours and it only costs around 10-15 Euros per way (if you book months in advance). There is a bus that leaves as early as 7am in the morning. If you fail to catch that first bus, fret not as there are buses that ply this route almost every hour. If you are coming from Amsterdam, aside from taking the bus, you can also take a train. Travel time takes about 2 hours.

If you prefer a DIY approach, once you arrive in Brussels, make your way to the listed places below to see the highlights of this unique and beautiful city. Alternatively, you can book a free walking tour online at Sandemans New Europe. Their walking tours are great (informative and does not take too long) and you can just give the guide a tip of around 10-20 Euros (depending how many you are in your group).

1. Grand Place

First stop should be the Grand Place in Brussels. You can’t miss this as this is the huge central plaza of the city. From the centre of the square, you can see the majestic city hall and various Gothic-style architecture surrounding the area. Most of these buildings are guild houses while some are private establishments (residences, cafes, restaurants, and various shops). If you booked the walking tour, the meeting place will likely be in this place.

2. St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral

From Grand Place, navigate to the famous St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral, one of the most prominent churches in Belgium. It is easily walkable from the city centre and it may just take you a few minutes to get there. Observing from the outside, you can easily see the Gothic inspiration. Take a few selfies, then on to the best part!

3. Belgian Food (Chocolates, Fries, Waffles, and Beer!)

Definitely one of the highlights of this day trip is sampling Belgian delicacies right from the source. Belgian beers, waffles, fries and chocolates are exported all over the world, but to taste them in their country of origin makes for a more authentic experience. For the best chocolates (according to some locals), head over to Galerie de la Reine and visit either Chocolaterie Mary or Neuhaus. For lesser expensive options, there are a lot of stores that sell other Belgian chocolates by the bulk for you to take home (e.g. Guylian, Godiva, etc). If you are craving for some real Belgian fries and waffles, there are also a lot of stalls offering these snacks and you are free to try any of them. Personally, I have tried the fries from Fritland and waffles from The Waffle Factory, both really good. Last but not the least, beer! Head on over to Delirium Cafe, which boasts a repertoire of more than 3,000 different brews! Truly, something not to be missed by the beer connoisseurs.

3. Brussels Park

After consuming all those Belgian delicacies, time to walk off the calories by taking a stroll in Parc de Bruxelles or Brussels Park. Located just near St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral, this huge and clean park is lined with trees, fountains and features numerous bronze statues. If you plan to jog, sit down have a sandwich, or just people watch, this is a good place to visit.

4. Mont des Arts

After the park, you can also visit the famous Mont des Arts. Near the city centre, this park is where King Albert I’s (King of Belgium from 1909-1934) statue is built. This place is also a good venue for some tourist shots and pics for the gram as it is somehow elevated and provides a good perspective of the city.

5. LGBT Village

Last stop on our tour is a quick walk through the LGBT district of Brussels. As one of the most LGBT-friendly cities in the world, Brussels hosts a wide range of LGBT bars, shops and restaurants that can be identified easily with the rainbow flag displayed outside the establishment. Once you are in the area, you can also see the famous Brousaille Mural (depicting a couple where one portrays androgynous characteristics) which serves as the landmark for this district.

Brussels is well known also for its famous comic book artists, particularly Herge, the creator of The Adventures of Tin-Tin. So aside from this mural, you can see various other murals from other artists scattered across the city.

Bonus (optional): Manneken Pis

Although a very famous icon of Brussels, I personally think you can skip this as it is packed with tourists and you can literally just see a small bronze statue of a peeing boy. If you joined a walking tour, you will likely visit this cheeky fountain near the Grand Place. Some would say that the statue is a symbol of Brussels’ rebellious nature. There are also a lot of legends surrounding this statue, one of which includes a little boy peeing on a burning fuse of explosives, saving the city as a result.