Brussels is the capital of Belgium and is home to many of the tourist attractions for those who want to visit Belgium. This is my guide to Brussels to help you get around easily before you go. Brussels wasn’t my favourite stop on my trip around Belgium with Amy but there was a lot to see there so it’s hard to fit it all into one day. I still didn’t get to see everything we wanted to but that means a trip back is always on the cards. Did you know that Brussels is the ninth-most densely populated European Union city?! They are currently behind Paris, Barcelona, Milan and a few more.
THE ULTIMATE BEGINNERS GUIDE TO BRUSSELS
READ MORE: 5 Places To Eat At In Belgium
WHAT TO EXPECT IN BRUSSELS
Brussels is the capital and main city of Belgium so it’s going to be busy and full of energy. I would say there is a lot of homeless and migrants living in Brussels so I would be aware of this and look after yourself and personal belongings to make sure nothing happens to them. Brussels wasn’t my favourite city out of the 4 that I visited, but it wasn’t dreadful and there was still lots to do there. The trouble is the things to do in Belgium are quite far apart from each other and it’s hard to see everything in one day.
HOW TO GET TO BRUSSELS
It depends on where you are travelling from to get to Brussels. If you are coming from outside of Belgium, your best way to get to Brussels is to fly into Zaventem Airport. If you are travelling from inside Belgium, it would be best to get the train into Brussels Midi station. That is in the centre of Brussels with Brussels Nord and Brussels Central either side of Brussels Midi. You can find out more information in my How To Get Around In Belgium blog post.
NAVIGATE YOUR WAY AROUND BRUSSELS…
Open this blog post / map on your phone and use it to navigate when you’re there to find your way around Brussels easily…
THINGS TO DO IN BRUSSELS
- • Shop your way around Galeries Royales Saint Hubert
- • Check out the different Pis statues
- • Visit Hard Rock Cafe
- • Walk to the Congress Column
- • Catch the train to the Atomium
- • Eat Belgian waffles in Maison Dandoy
READ MORE: A Beginners Guide To Brugge
HIGHLIGHTS FROM BRUSSELS
Shop your way around Galeries Royales Saint Hubert
If you love shopping, make sure you check out the Royal Gallery in Brussels. It’s filled with so many different shops from boutique jewellery shops to various Belgian chocolate shops to purchase all of the chocolate. Amy and I had a lovely time walking through the gallery looking at and going into all of the shops filled with chocolates and pretty jewellery.
Eat Belgian waffles in Maison Dandoy
Sadly Amy and I didn’t get to go in but we walked past and their waffles looked amazing. If you want to try traditional waffles whilst in Brussels, definitely check out Maison Dandoy. You can sit outside with a hot drink and yummy waffles whilst watching the world go by.
Check out the different Pis statues
A little silly but it’s something everyone does in Belgium and especially Brussels. There are several statues around Brussels that are off little children having a wee (hence the name Pis). There are a few around the centre of Brussels which are called Manneken Pis and Jeanneke Pis. Tourists tend to take photos of the statues and then throw a coin into the little well for good luck. Manneken Pis is the most well known statue as it’s usually dressed up in different outfits throughout the year and was the first one installed into a drinking fountain around 1618. Amy and I only managed to check out Jeanneke Pis but there are others around the city.
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Has my guide to Brussels helped you? What would you like to know about Brussels? Let me know in the comments below.
Happy travels,
Thanks for sharing your guide to Brussels! It sounds like you had quite an adventure exploring the city. From your descriptions, it seems like there’s a lot to discover, especially with the unique blend of shopping, culture, and of course, those famous Belgian waffles!
I appreciate the insights on navigating around Brussels, especially the tips on transportation. It’s always helpful to know the best ways to get around a new city. And those Pis statues sound like a quirky must-see!
Your guide definitely gave me some ideas for my next trip. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
It looks like such a lovely place to visit! 🙂
Sarah 🌺 || Boxnip || Latest Post
It really was, so much cute and quirky architecture! 🙂
Perfect. Beginners guide is perfect. I have never been to Brussels.
It wasn’t my favourite city in Belgium but worth a visit I guess x
great post! i’ve not done a lot of traveling in my lifetime but i would love to. especially over in Europe so i really love reading travel guides from european countries. your photography is absolutely incredible xx
mich / simplymich.com
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it! I hope my guide has inspired you to book one very soon 😉 That means a lot to me x
I’m so gutted I only stopped off in Brussels for a few hours during my Eurotrip! I will be sure to revisit and use some of these helpful tips. Such a beautifully written post! x
There’s always the excuse to book another trip there then 😉 Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it x
Brussels looks like such a great city! I’ve never been to Belgium before but it looks like such a lovely country. The photos you took were amazing! I also love shopping so that’s sounds perfect for me! X
Definitely add Belgium to your list, it’s such an amazing country! Thank you, I’m glad you like my photos x
I’ve always wanted to go to Brussels. Thanks so much for this post as you have made me want to go even more! great tips and advice xxx
I’m glad my guide has inspired you to go even more so now! I hope it was helpful? If you have any other questions, let me know x 🙂