Brussels · Belgium
Brussels Tours, Tickets & Things to Do
Discover the best Brussels tours, Grand Place walks, chocolate and beer tastings, waffle food tours, the Atomium and comic-strip murals, plus day trips to fairytale Bruges and Ghent. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Brussels itinerary.
681 experiences Free cancellation Top-rated tours Instant booking
Sunset tours in Brussels
Departures that are under way when the sun sets in the coming weeks — start times checked against the local sunset.
Good for families in Brussels
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Browse
Explore Brussels by interest
Whatever brings you to Brussels — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Grand Place & old town
The famous square and Manneken Pis.
ExploreChocolate & beer
Tastings of Belgium’s finest.
ExploreFood & waffles
Waffles, frites and local bites.
ExploreAtomium
The futuristic 1958 landmark.
ExploreComic-strip murals
Tintin, the Smurfs and street art.
ExploreBruges
The fairytale canal city.
ExploreGhent
Medieval guild houses and a castle.
ExploreAntwerp
The diamond and fashion city.
ExploreWhat to see
Top attractions in Brussels
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Grand Place
One of the world’s most beautiful squares.
80+ toursView tours
Chocolate & beer
Tastings of Belgium’s finest.
90 toursView tours
Waffles & frites
The tastiest Brussels classics.
60 toursView tours
Atomium
The futuristic 1958 landmark.
40 toursView tours
Comic-strip murals
Tintin, the Smurfs and street art.
30 toursView tours
Bruges
The fairytale canal city.
100 toursView tours
Ghent
Medieval guild houses and a castle.
70 toursView tours
Antwerp
The diamond and fashion city.
40 toursView tours
1 day
Brussels in 1 day
- 1Grand Place & old town
- 2Chocolate & waffles
- 3Manneken Pis & galleries
- 4Beer in the evening
2 days
Brussels in 2 days
- 1Day 1: old town & tastings
- 2Atomium
- 3Day 2: Bruges or Ghent
- 4Canals & chocolate
3 days
Brussels in 3 days
- 1Day 1: old town & tastings
- 2Day 2: Bruges
- 3Day 3: Ghent or Antwerp
- 4Belgian evenings
With kids
Brussels with kids
- 1Atomium & Mini-Europe
- 2Comic-strip murals
- 3Chocolate & waffles
- 4Bruges boat ride
Food & drink
Brussels chocolate, beer & food
- 1Belgian chocolate tasting & workshop
- 2Craft beer and brewery tour
- 3Waffles, fries & Belgian street food
- 4Grand Place tasting finale
Day trips
Bruges & Ghent day trips
- 1Bruges: canals & medieval belfry
- 2Ghent: old town & Gravensteen castle
- 3Antwerp: cathedral & old city
- 4Back in Brussels by evening
1 hr awayBruges
The fairytale medieval canal city.
from €50View trips
30 min awayGhent
Medieval guild houses and a castle.
from €45View trips
45 min awayAntwerp
The diamond and fashion city.
from €50View trips
1.5 hrs awayDinant & Ardennes
A clifftop citadel on the Meuse.
from €65View trips
3 hrs awayLuxembourg
The dramatic clifftop capital city.
from €75View trips
30 min awayWaterloo
The famous 1815 battlefield.
from €50View trips
Practical guide
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Brussels visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September) bring the mildest, brightest weather — the best times to visit.
Spring (Mar–May)
Fresh, blossoming days, ideal for the Grand Place and walking, with the odd shower.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Mild and lively with festivals and long days; the Grand Place flower carpet appears in August (even years).
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Crisp, golden days with thinner crowds — a lovely time for the city and day trips.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Cold and grey but cosy, with a magical Christmas market and Winter Wonders lights.
Flower Carpet
Every two years in mid-August, a spectacular carpet of flowers fills the Grand Place for a few days.
One day
Enough for the Grand Place, chocolate, beer and waffles.
Two days
Add the Atomium and a day trip to Bruges or Ghent.
Three days
The sweet spot: Brussels plus Bruges and Ghent or Antwerp.
Four to five days
Add more cities, Waterloo and the Ardennes.
A week or more
Use Brussels as a base to tour all of Belgium by train.
Travelling with kids
Mix the Atomium, comics and chocolate with a Bruges boat ride.
On foot
The historic centre around the Grand Place is compact and best explored on foot.
Metro, tram & bus
An efficient metro, tram and bus network (STIB/MIVB) covers the city, including the Atomium at Heysel.
Trains to other cities
Fast, frequent trains link Brussels to Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp in under an hour — perfect for day trips.
Bikes
Villo! shared bikes and lanes help you get around, though cobbles and traffic call for care.
Day-trip transport
Coaches and tours bundle Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp; trains from the central stations are quick and cheap.
From the airport
Brussels Airport links to the centre by train in about 20 minutes; Charleroi (budget flights) is further out.
Book tastings ahead
Popular chocolate, beer and food tours have limited places and fill up at weekends — book ahead.
The Grand Place is free
Admiring the Grand Place, Manneken Pis and the galleries costs nothing; budget for tastings and museums.
Currency & tipping
Belgium uses the euro; service is included, but rounding up or leaving small change for good service is appreciated.
Use the train for day trips
Trains to Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp are fast, frequent and cheap — often better value than coach tours.
Eat Belgian
Try moules-frites, carbonnade and waffles, and buy frites from a friterie — step off the Grand Place for better value.
Brussels Card
The Brussels Card covers museums and transport — good value if you plan to visit several attractions.
Chocolate & beer tastings
Popular tastings and workshops have limited places — book ahead.
Bruges & Ghent trips
Day trips fill up, especially at weekends — reserve early.
Food & waffle tours
Small-group tours fill up — book ahead.
Atomium
Pre-book to skip the queue at this popular landmark.
Comic-strip tours
Guided mural tours have limited places — reserve ahead.
Christmas market
December weekends fill hotels and tours — plan early.
Grand Place walks
Around €15–30 for a guided old town walking tour.
Chocolate & beer
Roughly €30–60 for a chocolate or beer tasting tour or workshop.
Food & waffle tours
About €45–75 for a guided food tour with multiple tastings.
Bruges & Ghent trips
Around €45–70 for a guided day trip; trains cost less if you go independently.
Atomium
About €16 for Atomium entry, with combined Mini-Europe tickets available.
How to save
Admire the free Grand Place, buy frites from a friterie, and take the train for cheaper day trips.
When to visit
Brussels through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Spring
Mar–May
- Best for
- Fresh, blossoming days for the Grand Place.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Pack a layer and umbrella for showers.
Summer
Jun–Aug
- Best for
- Mild, lively days with festivals.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- See the August flower carpet in even years.
Autumn
Sep–Nov
- Best for
- Crisp, golden days with thinner crowds.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A lovely time for the city and day trips.
Winter
Dec–Feb
- Best for
- Cosy days with the Christmas market.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Wrap up warm; enjoy the Winter Wonders lights.
People also ask
Brussels travel FAQ
What are the best tours in Brussels?
The highest-rated Brussels experiences are a Grand Place and old town walk, a chocolate and beer tasting, a waffle food tour, the Atomium, a comic-strip mural tour, and a day trip to Bruges or Ghent.
What should I book in advance in Brussels?
Book popular chocolate and beer tastings, food tours and Bruges and Ghent day trips ahead, especially at weekends and in summer.
How many days do I need in Brussels?
Two to three days is ideal — the Grand Place and tastings, the Atomium, and day trips to Bruges, Ghent or Antwerp.
What is the Grand Place in Brussels?
The Grand Place is Brussels’ magnificent UNESCO-listed central square, ringed by gilded guild houses, the Gothic Town Hall and the King’s House — one of the most beautiful squares in the world.
What are the best day trips from Brussels?
Bruges is the most magical with its canals; Ghent is grand and less crowded; and Antwerp is the stylish diamond city — all within an hour by train.
When is the best time to visit Brussels?
Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September) offer the mildest, brightest weather; summer is lively with festivals, and winter brings a magical Christmas market.
How do you get around Brussels?
Brussels’ compact centre is walkable, with an efficient metro, tram and bus network, and fast, frequent trains linking Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp in under an hour. The airport is 20 minutes by train.
681 Brussels experiencesfrom €18 · free cancellation
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