10 Things to Do in the Brussels City Center

Elegant buildings, majestic squares, palaces, parks, gardens and museums to visit are just some of the things to see and do in Brussels. I invite you to explore the city that is also known as the capital of the European Union, as it is home to most of the EU institutions.

To get the most out of this city, I'm going to mix the past and the present in every corner of this list. Without further ado, let's start our tour of the most popular attractions in the heart of Brussels.

The Grand Place is famous for housing some of the most iconic palaces and monuments in the entire city, an area that will bring us closer to discovering the great historical wealth of the capital. It is included in most guided tours of Brussels, which I recommend joining. It contains monuments such as:

• The Town Hall, considered an architectural gem and the oldest building you will find in the square.
• The King's House, known as the "Maison du Roi", was for many years the residence of the reigning monarchy.
• The City Museum.

This is also an area where you can enjoy a wide range of restaurants and shops. For example, it is perfectly located for visiting some of the best breweries in Brussels and browsing the most famous shops selling chocolates, cakes and other Belgian delicacies.

Also known as Brussels Park, this is one of the locals' favourite places to spend a leisurely afternoon in the city centre. It is famous for its activities open to the public in summer and winter, perfect for enjoying peaceful walks adorned with fountains, monuments and gardens.

In my opinion, it is one of the ideal places to include in your itinerary if you visit Brussels in summer, and there are other interesting places nearby , such as some of the best museums you have to see in Brussels.

• The Royal Museum of Fine Arts
• Or the curious Museum of Musical Instruments: housed in one of the most famous Art Nouveau buildings, it has an extensive collection of over 1,000 musical instruments from all periods. Upon entering, you will be given headphones that automatically reproduce the sound of each instrument.

Belgium has a long tradition of comic books and is the country with the most comic book authors per square metre. Tintin, The Smurfs, Lucky Luke... They all originated in this country. So, if you love this art form, you'll be in your element, where you can:

• Visit the Comic Strip Museum: it offers temporary and permanent exhibitions that take visitors on a journey to discover the countless facets of comic strips. You'll find original sketches, unpublished documents, 3D reconstructions of characters and interactive games that will transport you to a world of fantasy, whatever your age.
• Take the comic strip tour: learn all about the history of Franco-Belgian comics and discover all the murals, street art and shops dedicated to this art form. Brussels is home to some truly gigantic murals featuring many of the characters most loved by readers.

Discover the little man who pees

Since it was placed in the old part of the Belgian capital in 1388, between L'Etuve and Chene streets, Manneken Pis has been one of the city's most beloved and representative symbols.

The statue of a naked boy urinating into a fountain has become famous for representing the liberal and independent spirit of the city's inhabitants. The original figure was made of stone and, due to its originality, was stolen several times until it was replaced in 1619 by a copper one that remains to this day.

On special occasions, and in accordance with important events in the country's calendar, it is traditional to dress up the statue. Today, the wardrobe of this friendly little man has more than 800 costumes, which are kept in the Musée de la Ville de Bruxelles, located in the King's House.

Do you know his little friend?

You may also be interested to know that this unusual feature of Brussels also has a lesser-known female counterpart. In the opposite direction, near a small alley called Impasse de la Fidélité, you will find Jeanneke Pis.

This statue depicts a crouching girl urinating with a mocking expression. It was created in 1987 and commissioned by the owner of a local restaurant. Today, it is a little better known, although less so than its male counterpart, but both are usually included in most tours of Brussels.

One thing you can't miss is a visit to one of Brussels' best breweries. One of my favourites in the city centre is the Delirium Cafe, world-famous for its 2,004 varieties of beer from all over the world, including some unusual ones such as chocolate, banana and coconut beers, and for its entry in the Guinness Book of Records.

In addition to beer, this bar offers coffee, a special gin tasting and other drinks such as whisky, tequila and vodka, which you can accompany with a select collection of appetisers featuring the city's best cheeses and artisan cured meats. The café has friendly bar staff who can help you decide what to order.

Although you can find many craft beer bars in Brussels, I would like to tell you that you can go on beer tastings if you are a lover of humanity's most traditional drink. Something I highly recommend.

Every city has its own distinctive smell, and Brussels smells of chocolate. Round, square, ball-shaped, filled, bitter, liquid, frozen... The Belgian tradition of using cocoa goes back a long way.

If chocolate is your weakness, I recommend the experience offered by certain tours where you can learn how to make delicious Belgian chocolate bars. These options include Brussels Choco Story Tickets and tasting the preparations**.

It's the perfect activity to get some fresh air and relax while sampling delicious Brussels chocolates.

A little bit of history

A few years after the discovery of America, the cocoa bean began its journey to conquer Europe. A delicacy for kings and rulers, the cocoa trade developed into a key industry in the Belgian economy.

But perhaps the most famous figure in this story is the pharmacist Jean Neuhaus, who in 1987 developed a novel technique to mask the unpleasant taste of medicines with none other than chocolate. In an alchemy of this gift from the gods, he replaced medicines with different ingredients, giving rise to one of the most famous chocolate houses in Europe.

I still think that tourist buses that tour city centres are a relaxed and quick way to get a good idea of a place and decide which places you'd like to explore in more detail.

Brussels is no exception, and I also recommend booking a ticket on a tourist bus tour of the city. This plan allows you to cover a large part of the city and choose when to hop on and off.

These tours usually have knowledgeable guides and audio guides are available in multiple languages. The buses are heated in winter and air-conditioned in summer.

Located in one of Brussels' most popular neighbourhoods, stretching from the centre to the Place du Jeu de Balle, this neighbourhood is known for being home to one of the city's most interesting flea markets, featuring second-hand and vintage markets.

This old neighbourhood of humble origins, with a bohemian and avant-garde character, is home to modern techno clubs, pubs, fashion and independent music shops, record stores and antiques, as well as art galleries exhibiting works by local and international artists.

We can also admire one of the most controversial works: the Palace of Justice. This imposing building covers 26,000 square metres, is over 104 metres high and has one of the most magnificent domes in Europe. Its construction began in 1883 and involved the eviction and demolition of 3,000 homes.

If you have time and want to learn more about the historical legacy of the European confederation, I recommend exploring the Parlamentarium building, a free museum that takes visitors on a journey through the long history of cooperation between nations and shows what MEPs are doing to tackle today's challenges.

As I mentioned earlier, Brussels is also famous for being the seat of several important European institutions, such as the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and even NATO's military headquarters.

When you enter the Parlamentarium, you can request an audio guide available in any of the 24 official languages of the community. It is open seven days a week and is accessible to people with reduced mobility or disabilities.

The Saint-Hubert Galleries are just a 10-minute walk from Brussels Park and offer over 200 metres of shopping in a stunning architectural setting.

Inside, you'll find not only luxury shops and jewellers, but also terraces and chocolate shops where you can enjoy a delicious coffee. Some shops may be too expensive to buy anything, but remember that walking and looking is free.

Technically, in two or three days you can see most of the city, and by following my recommendations, you can marvel at everything this city has to offer. Are you ready to embark on the adventure?

• Brussels offers a wide range of plans and excursions to other famous Belgian cities such as Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp, lasting one or more days. I recommend checking out the tourist attractions in these places and treating yourself to even more memories of this beautiful country.
• If you're on a tight budget, I also recommend checking out the free city tour guides available or considering the Brussels Card, which offers discounts and free travel on public transport and admission to the Atomium.