Belgium / AEROBOP

Brussels

Places, experiences, your kind of trip.

Brussels combines the Grand-Place’s ornate façades with Art Nouveau, comics and food-filled neighbourhoods. Walk around the centre, then use trams or the metro to explore further.

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SEE & EXPERIENCE

Places to put on your list

Grand-Place & Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries

Look upwards around the Grand-Place to spot gilding, sculpted details and elaborate gables on the guild houses surrounding the town hall. Move between corners to appreciate the whole square. The Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries continue the experience beneath a glass roof, with shopfronts, cafés and chocolate shops; comfortable footwear helps on the cobbles.

Mont des Arts & Sablon

Mont des Arts frames Brussels with a formal garden in the foreground and the city centre beyond. Nearby Sablon brings a different atmosphere, with its Gothic church, antiques shops and chocolatiers. Notice the façades and choose a place to pause as you explore; allow for the slopes linking these upper and lower neighbourhoods.

Atomium

Created for the 1958 World’s Fair, the Atomium enlarges an iron crystal structure into monumental architecture. Start outside to appreciate the connections between its spheres. Inside, exhibition spaces and a panorama add another perspective, depending on the accessible route. Check visiting arrangements and plan the journey to Heysel from the city centre.

ART, CULTURE & CURIOSITY

Museums worth exploring

Magritte Museum

Explore the surrealist painter’s world near Place Royale.

Brussels City Museum

In the King’s House opposite City Hall: the capital’s history, arts and transformation.

Musical Instruments Museum

Instruments from across the world inside the striking Old England building.

STEP OUTSIDE

Nature, beaches and nearby places

Cinquantenaire Park

Broad views and paths for a break near the European quarter.

Sonian Forest

Choose a marked walk through beech woods on the edge of the city.

Leuven or Ghent

Two possible rail excursions, each deserving a full day rather than a rushed stop.

DISCOVER TOGETHER

Things to do with family

Dinosaurs and biodiversity

At the Institute of Natural Sciences, the Bernissart iguanodons bring impressive scale to a family visit. Invite children to compare skeletons, then choose an animal in the biodiversity displays. Select a few galleries around their interests and check which family activities are available.

A miniature journey at Mini-Europe

Mini-Europe turns geography into an outdoor observation game. Find landmarks you have already encountered, compare their shapes and let each child pick an imaginary next destination. The miniature monuments reward close attention, so follow their curiosity and dress for the weather when travelling out to Heysel.

TIME TOGETHER

Ideas for couples

Grand-Place and a chocolate pause

Study the Grand-Place façades before wandering into the Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries beneath their glass roof. Choose a chocolate shop or café together, then follow the surrounding lanes at your own pace. Alternating open squares and covered passages makes this an appealing option when the weather changes.

Unwind in the Sonian Forest

The Sonian Forest offers a leafy escape from central Brussels, with tall trees and woodland paths to explore together. Choose an entrance and a marked loop before setting off, then enjoy the changing light beneath the canopy. Bring suitable shoes and a map to keep the return straightforward.

THE JOY OF DISCOVERY

With children

Explore our family ideas together. Check age limits, access and booking requirements with each venue before visiting.

Explore family activities ↑

The story behind the city

Medieval trade enriched central Brussels, whose guild houses line the Grand-Place. The city became Belgium’s capital and a major centre for European institutions. Its Art Nouveau neighbourhoods reflect architectural innovation around 1900.

Practical pointers for your stay

Getting around and enjoying the city

Walk around the centre and use STIB/MIVB for farther neighbourhoods. Try waffles, fries, chocolate and brasserie dishes. Brussels Airport (BRU) and Charleroi (CRL) are separate airports: plan the correct transfer.

Seasons & weather

Rain is possible in every season. From May to September, longer days suit terraces and walks. Winter lends itself to alternating museums and cafés. Layers and a waterproof jacket are useful throughout the year.

Find your way around

Useful local contacts

visit.brussels ↗

Tourist office: information, museums and tours.

Brussels By Foot ↗

Local organiser of cultural and food walks.

Sources and visitor information

Official sources checked on 27 October 2026. Confirm opening times, bookings and conditions with the venues.

Photo credits

Photographs cropped to fit the layout.