Brussels is a city with many destinations worth your attention.
Aside from the Atomium, there are multiple attractions that you can explore fully in a short time.
A Brussels itinerary may have a lot to offer in a fun way, as there is no shortage of captivating activities.
Depending on the duration of your stay, one may follow a single or multiple-day itinerary.
With Atomium and Tootbus: Electric Bus Hop-on Hop-off Tour, the ideal route to discover the city’s major attractions, you can discover the best of Brussels leisurely.
Go through the various itineraries in the article and pick the Brussels itinerary that suits you best.
1-Day Itinerary in Brussels
There is a lot to see, even on a day in Brussels.
You can cover good ground from destinations to restaurants in a short time. Here is a Brussels 1 day itinerary:
Morning
- Start with The Grand Place
From here, you can visit multiple famous Brussels buildings.
See the Town Hall and museums, get breakfast if needed, or visit the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert.
The Grand Place is a good starting point.
- Mont Des Arts
A 10-minute walk from the city center gets you to Mont Des Arts.
This historic region features the Congress Palace of Brussels and the Royal Library of Belgium.
From here, you also get a birds-eye view of Brussels, a sight to behold.
Afternoon
- Restaurants and chocolates
Belgium is world famous for its chocolates. This is your opportunity to treat yourselves to Belgian chocolates and other tasty food in the restaurants.
The recommended restaurants are Maison Dandoy for the best waffles in Brussels and Frit Flagey for tasty fries and other snacks.
- Brussels Cathedral
The “One Day in Brussels itinerary” moves on to a long-standing monument in Brussels Cathedral.
The construction of this church began as early as the 11th century, according to historical documents.
It saw modifications until the 15th century, with the two towers at the front built-in 1485.
Appreciate its excellent architecture and roam the cathedral to take in the special feeling you get when visiting here.
- Visit the Atomium
Move north of the city center to visit Atomium, one of the most beautiful attractions in Brussels.
You will need entry tickets, but they are reasonably priced. You can spend 1-2 hours exploring the Atomium comfortably.
The most famous atom in the world is constructed in the shape of an iron crystal.
To put the size of an atom in perspective, the Atomium is a 165 billion times magnified replica of an iron crystal.
Evening
- Museum of Freemasonry
You can make your tour more special with a trip to a hidden gem in the city, the Belgium Museum of Freemasonry.
Freemasonry played an important part historically in Brussels’ social, political, cultural, and economic life.
The museum has a wonderful collection of textiles, books, artwork, jewelry, and much more from the 18th century. - Tram Experience
Finish up the Brussels day trip itinerary with the Tram Experience. A dinner on a tram is a unique experience.
Travel through the city to where you want to go while munching on delicious Belgian cuisine.
Enjoy a huge meal prepared by some of the city’s top chefs to close your Brussels visit.
Brussels 2-Day itinerary
If you have more time, you can space out your one-day Brussels itinerary or go for a Brussels two day itinerary.
Day 1
- Start with the Grand Place. There are lots of options in this city center. Explore the architectural excellence and the vibrant feeling.
- Go to the Brussels City Museum. A wide range of historically significant art and antiques are on display.
It also houses the original Mannekin Pis, an infamous statue with historical lore, whose replica stands near Grand Place and attracts many visitors. You’ll raise your eyes in culture shock as you hear more about it. - Visit Les Galeries Saint Hubert, where you can purchase books, taste incredible chocolates, or just roam around in the calm surroundings.
- Enjoy a light meal, including Belgian Frites, and hot chips with mayonnaise or Andalusian.
Recharge quickly with the utterly delicious snacks and roam the streets while enjoying them.
Recommended Restaurants: Maison Dandoy, Friterie Tabora
- The European Quarters are next on our Brussels 2-day itinerary. The European Quarters are home to landmarks like the European Commission and European Parliament.
Also, check out Autoworld for an impressive collection of cars. - Move on to Parc du Cinquantenaire from Autoworld. It is a very popular park in the city, with some of the oldest monuments, museums, artworks, and serene gardens.
There is a long list of attractions at Parc du Cinquantenaire, or Jubelpark. Some of the top ones are the Art and History Museum and the Great Mosque of Brussels.
End the first day of your Brussels itinerary by getting dinner at any of the alluring restaurants, or you can have it back during your stay.
Day 2
- Start your day off with breakfast at Grand Place. There are multiple options to choose from. Then, set off to the north of the city center to see the main highlight of your day – Atomium.
- Get to the Atomium. Climb the interior of the 102 m structure. This is one of the most famous attractions in Brussels and provides a hugely enjoyable experience.
Then, visit Mini Europe, a park featuring replicas of famous European monuments like Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower on a 1:25 scale. - After Atomium and Mini Europe, you can visit Basilique Nationale Sacre-Coeur; the basilica can be seen from far away owing to its positioning on a hilltop.
It is the 5th largest church in the world. It provides an unmatched view of Brussels and even the neighboring city of Mechelen!
The architecture, the views, and the beauty – there is much to admire here. - Head over to Mont des Arts next. It features the Congress Palace of Brussels and the Royal Library of Belgium. It also gives a pleasant view of the city.
From there, you can attend a chocolate-making workshop and learn how to make this king of snacks.
Not only that, but you also get to try out multiple varieties, which makes for a sweet and fun time overall.
If you want more or different types of food, Brussels is also very famous for its waffles. Multiple restaurants are available to get your fill.
- For something different, we next move to Rue du Musee. The buildings in this area have unique and fantastic architectural designs.
Other than that, there are multiple museums, most interestingly the Museum of Musical Instruments, which is a unique visit.
- To end your visit, get the Tram Experience. Travel through the streets of Brussels on the tram and enjoy a five-course meal or anything else you desire.
Note: If your two day stay in Brussels falls on Saturday and Sunday, you can use this as a weekend in Brussels itinerary. Just tweak a few things according to the opening hours of the monuments, and you will be good to go.
Brussels 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Starting the day off at The Grand Place is always ideal. You not only get to explore a bunch of attractions near each other but also enjoy a great variety of food.
- Mont des Arts is the next stop. Also known as Art Hill, this is another great cultural and historical site with a pleasing view of the city as an added bonus.
Famous attractions include the Congress Palace of Brussels and the Royal Library of Belgium.
- Shop beautiful items and souvenirs in the many shops, flea markets, and surrounding areas.
Sablon has fashionable restaurants, shops, bars, and chocolate outlets.
It is a sophisticated neighborhood and an appropriate place to shop and collect souvenirs.
Along with shopping, pass by architectural marvels like churches and other buildings and take in the gorgeous splendor of the Petit Sablon gardens.
- Brussels is also famous for its beers, waffles, and chocolates.
Delirium provides a wide variety of beers; if that interests you, Delirium will be right up your alley.
Day 2
- Day 2 of your three day visit starts as you set off for the European Quarters.
It may not sound as exciting, but it has beautiful buildings, and it takes a while to admire all of them as they attract you towards them.
You can also visit the buildings and explore the interior.
- At walking distance from the European Quarters, there is Jubelpark or Parc du Cinquantenaire.
Like all other places, there is plenty of architecture to admire as you get in touch with nature in a calm and tranquil environment.
You can also pay a visit to some of the museums, artworks, and other attractions here.
Since you’re on a schedule, we advise limiting the attractions to those you feel are the best, as all the buildings here will tempt you to look inside.
- Journey to the Atomium next. It may take a while, but it will be worth it. The huge structure resembling an iron crystal was built in 1958 and attracts many visitors.
Visiting Atomium also puts you within walking distance of Mini Europe. It is an adorable park with 1:25 scale replicas of at least 80 popular European monuments.
Day 3
- You can start your third day in Brussels by visiting a familiar place. It can be any place you enjoyed more than others in your first two days, such as the Grand Place or Sablon.
This is so that you can check out the places you couldn’t visit the first time, such as museums, shops, churches and more. This allows you to cover the city in a better way. - The Brussels City Museum is not too far from the Sablon or the Grand Place. It houses a lot of antiques with great historical weight.
You can click photos of the Mannekin Pis near the fountain and then see the original Mannekin Pis and several other things inside the museum.
While you’re there, you can also visit Les Galeries Saint Hubert. - Take a break and enjoy waffles, chocolates, and other local cuisine in the numerous restaurants in the region. There are lots of ideal options.
- Staying in the area, check out the Museum of Musical Instruments and the architecture of the surrounding buildings.
- From there, move on to Basilique Nationale du Sacre-Coeur (National Basilica of the Sacred Heart). The fifth-largest church in the world resides on a hilltop and is a major highlight of a visit to Brussels.
Admire the view from high up, enjoy the windy, calm, and relaxing atmosphere, and marvel at the extraordinary architecture. - End your Brussels itinerary with the Tram Experience. Relax and help yourselves to a fine dining meal as you travel in the Tram.
If you are short on time and energy, you can enjoy a restaurant meal before heading to the hotel.
Brussels Itinerary 4 days
Day 1
- Start your day by visiting the Grand Place. There are a lot of attractions in this city center. Visit the Brussels City Museum, Les Galeries Saint Hubert, statues, restaurants, and more.
- Head to Atomium and Mini Europe. It is perhaps the most well-known area of Brussels regarding tourism.
- For the rest of your day, you can indulge in shopping and raid restaurants for waffles, chocolates and beers, among many delicacies.
Day 2
- Get breakfast at Grand Place to start your morning fresh. Go to the Belgian Comic Strip if you’re interested in the comic museum.
Also, visit Mont des Arts, St. Michael, and St. Gudula Cathedral.
- Shop in the flea markets and Sablon, and spend some time in the petit Sablon. The pretty gardens will make your visit go from good to great.
- Set off to Parc de Laeken after Grand Place. Check out Atomium and Mini Europe again briefly if you would like to.
- Visit the Train World Museum close by. It details the history of rail in Belgium and showcases locomotives and trains from various points in Belgian history.
- Eat at the Beaucoup Fish restaurant. It is the top seafood restaurant in Brussels and provides a healthy and tasty meal.
Day 3 and 4
- Since you have 4 days in Brussels, seeking out neighboring places is also recommended.
Traveling in Europe is easy because of the short distances between cities and even countries.
- You can travel to Ghent, a neighboring city that is a cultural hub. Take in the views from St. Michaels Bridge.
Visit Belfry of Ghent, St. Nicholas’ Church, Het Gravensteen, the 12th-century castle and enjoy the food in the city.
- Continue your trip to Bruges, a lively city with cobbled streets, serene canals and beautiful historic buildings.
Go to the Grote Markt and see the Belfry of Bruges, the most popular monument in the city.
Visit the city hall and Groeninge museum, browse the cute shopping places around the city and don’t forget to spend some time near the canals for beautiful city views. - If you return to Brussels, enjoy the Tram experience to finish your trip.
Brussels Itinerary 5 days
Day 1
- As with other itineraries, begin things with The Grand Place. Architecture from the 1500s, museums, restaurants, artworks and much more are present at this city center.
- Attend a chocolate-making workshop, visit museums such as Brussels City Museum, browse the Les Galeries Saint Hubert, and spend some time in the Petit Sablon.
Eat at Chez Leon, Mokafe Taverne or any other restaurant you wish. - Go to the Atomium and Mini Europe. These attractions are a lot of fun, and time flies by.
- Enjoy a dinner meal at any restaurant or enter the Delirium cafe for a beer tour with a collection from around the world.
Day 2
- Visit the Coudenberg Palace, not too far from the Grand Place, to give your tour a historical element.
This is an archaeological site featuring the remains of a once extravagant palace.
It is underground, so ensure you’re comfortable before exploring. This is a fascinating place with a lot of interesting history.
- Continue the historical theme of your tour by visiting the Museum of Natural Sciences a kilometer and a half away.
Learn about natural history and interesting topics such as dinosaurs. This is an entertaining tour that is a goldmine of biodiversity knowledge. - Take a break and enjoy the waffles and chocolates in any restaurant. Almost all restaurants provide great taste and variety.
- Next, learn about the army history in the Royal Museum of Armed Forces and Military History.
There is a lot of war history in Europe, and it left its marks behind, which can still be seen today.
Learn about Belgium’s war history and walk through art galleries dedicated to World War I and II.
Day 3
- On day 3, visit popular places but not as crowded as the others.
Parc du Cinquantenaire, Ambiorix Square and House of European History are some places you can visit for a quiet and peaceful time with lots to admire. - Don’t forget to shop in flea markets or other shops, mainly in Sablon. Visit Les Galeries Saint Hubert.
- Pay a visit to Autoworld, with a grand collection of cars, including racing, vintage, and so much more.
Day 4 and 5
- The last two days would be a good time to branch out your visit and explore Ghent and Burges.
The neighboring cities are not too far, and you can comfortably spread out your visit for one or two days in these cities.
Some top places to visit in Bruges besides the canals and shops are Belfry of Bruges, Burg Square, Choco-Story Chocolate Museum and Groeninge Museum.
Top places in Ghent include Gravensteen, St. Michaels Bridge, Belfry of Ghent, Graslei and Kornlei.
- If you return to Brussels, check out the Basilique Nationale du Sacre-Coeur, the beautiful European quarters, and if time allows, get the Tram Experience.
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