Showing 45 attractions · Sorted by importance
Art & History Museum
📍 Brussels
🖼 Art GalleryLocated in the scenic Cinquantenaire Park, this museum offers a vast journey through human history via Belgian archaeology, ancient civilisations, European decorative arts, and non-European cultural objects.
Atomium
📍 Brussels
🔬 ScienceA landmark modernist structure representing an iron crystal, housing permanent exhibitions on science, technology, and the 1958 World's Fair.
BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts
📍 Brussels
🖼 Art GalleryA multidisciplinary cultural venue designed by Victor Horta, hosting world-class exhibitions and art installations in an Art Deco setting.
Brussels Flower Carpet
📍 Brussels
🎭 EventMid-August (biennial, even-numbered years), 4-day duration. This world-renowned event features a 1,800-square-meter tapestry made of over 500,000 fresh begonias and dahlias on the Grand Place. Attracting hundreds of thousands of international visitors, the event offers family-friendly evening sound-and-light shows and panoramic balcony viewing from the Brussels Town Hall.
GR 12: Amsterdam-Brussels-Paris
📍 Brussels (Laeken)
🥾 Hiking & Cycling985km international trail connecting three capitals. The Brussels section is a moderate day hike of roughly 25km, 6 hours, featuring the Atomium and the Royal Domain of Laeken. Hiking gear: Karibee (karibee.be).
Grand-Place
📍 Brussels
🏰 CastleThis UNESCO World Heritage site is the city's central square, surrounded by opulent 17th-century guildhalls and the magnificent Gothic Town Hall.
Magritte Museum
📍 Brussels
🖼 Art GalleryThe world's largest collection of works by the Belgian surrealist René Magritte, featuring over 200 paintings, drawings, and sculptures.
Manneken Pis
📍 Brussels
🏛 LandmarkThe iconic and humorous small bronze fountain sculpture of a urinating boy that has served as a symbol of the city's rebellious spirit for centuries.
Mini-Europe
📍 Brussels
🎢 Theme ParkA miniature park featuring 1:25 scale replicas of famous European landmarks with interactive animations and moving trains.
Museum of Natural Sciences
📍 Brussels
🔬 ScienceHome to the world-famous Iguanodons of Bernissart, this museum features Europe's largest dinosaur gallery and fascinating evolution exhibits.
Oldmasters Museum
📍 Brussels
🖼 Art GalleryHouses an extensive collection of Flemish paintings from the 15th to the 18th century, including works by Bruegel and Rubens.
Parc du Cinquantenaire
📍 Brussels
🏔 Scenic ViewA grand 19th-century park dominated by a massive triple triumphal arch, offering wide lawns and scenic walking paths.
Promenade Verte (The Green Walk)
📍 Brussels
🥾 Hiking & Cycling60km loop encircling the entire Brussels-Capital Region. Easy difficulty, typically completed in 12-15 hours of hiking or 4-5 hours of cycling with 400m elevation gain. Divided into 7 sections featuring parks, nature reserves, and urban forests. Bike rental: Pro Velo (provelo.org) or CyCLO (cyclo.org).
Royal Palace of Brussels
📍 Brussels
🏰 CastleThe official palace of the Belgian King, featuring grand neoclassical architecture and open to the public for free tours during the summer months.
Sonian Forest
📍 Brussels
🏔 Scenic ViewAn ancient beech forest and UNESCO World Heritage site offering miles of tranquil trails for family hiking and cycling.
St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral
📍 Brussels
🏰 CastleA stunning Gothic cathedral dating back to the 11th century, famous for its impressive twin towers and beautiful 16th-century stained glass windows.
The Royal Quarter (Place Royale)
📍 Brussels
🏘 Town / VillageA neoclassical historic area hosting the Royal Palace, the Coudenberg archaeological site, and the city's most prestigious museums.
EuroVelo 5 (Via Romea Francigena) - Brussels Section
📍 Brussels
🥾 Hiking & CyclingInternational cycling route traversing Europe; the Brussels segment is approximately 20km and easy, taking 1.5 hours with 120m elevation gain. Connects the European Quarter with the Sonian Forest. Bike rental: Pro Velo (provelo.org).
The Belgian Art Cities Route
📍 Brussels
🚗 Road Trip332km iconic cycling route connecting the art cities of Brussels, Leuven, Mechelen, Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges, right to the coast at Ostend. The route passes centuries-old heritage, canals, rivers and old railway tracks, offering access to medieval belfries and world-renowned Flemish art collections.
The Green Belt (Groene Gordel) Scenic Circuit
📍 Circular
🚗 Road Trip157km walking and cycling trail encircling the Brussels-Capital Region through Flemish Brabant. The route passes through the rolling 'Bruegel' landscapes of Pajottenland, Brabantse Kouters and Dijleland, with medieval castles, authentic pubs and rolling farmlands, highlighting the rural beauty surrounding the city.
Bois de la Cambre
📍 Brussels
🏔 Scenic ViewAn expansive English-style park featuring a large central lake with an island accessible by a charming wooden ferry.
Brussels Town Hall
📍 Brussels
🏰 CastleThe only remaining medieval building on the Grand-Place, offering guided tours of its historic council chambers and royal reception rooms.
Cinquantenaire Arch
📍 Brussels
🏛 LandmarkA monumental triple triumphal arch built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Belgian state, located within a sprawling city park.
Coudenberg Palace
📍 Brussels
🏰 CastleAn evocative underground archaeological site where families can explore the excavated remains of the former palace of Charles V.
Gardens of the Abbey of La Cambre
📍 Brussels
🌿 GardenBeautifully terraced formal gardens surrounding a 13th-century Cistercian abbey, ideal for peaceful family walks and picnics.
Jardin du Petit Sablon
📍 Brussels
🌿 GardenAn elegant neo-Renaissance garden featuring 48 bronze statuettes representing the medieval trade guilds of Brussels and a beautiful central fountain.
Le Botanique (Botanical Garden of Brussels)
📍 Brussels
🌿 GardenA historic botanical garden now serving as a cultural center, featuring terraced slopes and a landmark 19th-century orangery building.
Nemo33
📍 Brussels
🌊 Water ParkA world-renowned diving complex featuring one of the deepest indoor pools in existence, complete with underwater caves and a viewing restaurant.
Planetarium of the Royal Observatory of Belgium
📍 Brussels
🔬 ScienceOne of the largest planetariums in Europe, offering families an immersive 360-degree voyage through the stars and the solar system.
Rouge-Cloître
📍 Brussels
🌲 NatureA historic former abbey site and nature reserve within the Sonian Forest featuring tranquil ponds, medieval ruins, and family-friendly walking paths.
Royal Galeries of Saint-Hubert
📍 Brussels
🏛 LandmarkOne of the oldest glazed shopping arcades in Europe, housing elegant boutiques, chocolatiers, and historic cafes under a beautiful glass roof.
The Napoleon Route (Route Napoléon en Wallonie)
📍 Brussels/Waterloo
🚗 Road Trip94km paved historic route (2 days) starting just south of Brussels in Waterloo and heading toward the French border. It follows the 1815 path of Napoleon's army, featuring the Lion’s Mound, the Waterloo Battlefield, and the historic fortifications of Charleroi and Beaumont.
The Sablon District
📍 Brussels
🏘 Town / VillageA charming historic neighborhood known for its Gothic church, prestigious antique shops, and world-renowned Belgian chocolatiers.
Ferme Nos Pilifs
📍 Brussels
🐄 FarmA beautiful social-enterprise farm featuring a variety of animals, nature walks, and an organic cafe, perfect for a peaceful family escape.
GR 126: Brussels to Semois Valley
📍 Brussels
🥾 Hiking & Cycling240km long-distance hiking trail starting at the Grand Place. Moderate difficulty, 10-12 days duration for the full route, with 3,500m total elevation gain. The first stage traverses the city center and the Sonian Forest. Hiking equipment: AS Adventure (asadventure.com).
GR 579: Brussels to Liège
📍 Brussels
🥾 Hiking & Cycling160km long-distance trail starting at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula. Moderate difficulty, 7-8 days duration, 1,800m elevation gain. It leads hikers from the urban center into the rolling hills of Brabant. Hiking equipment: AS Adventure (asadventure.com).
LEGO Discovery Centre Brussels
📍 Brussels
🎢 Theme ParkAn indoor LEGO-themed attraction featuring creative workshops, a 4D cinema, and miniature Brussels landmarks built from bricks.
Van Buuren Museum and Gardens
📍 Brussels
🌿 GardenUnique Art Deco gardens including a picturesque labyrinth and the romantic Garden of Hearts that will enchant children and adults alike.
MIMA - Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art
📍 Brussels
🖼 Art GalleryA contemporary art museum located in a former brewery, focusing on 'Culture 2.0' and urban art that appeals to all ages.
Mont des Arts
📍 Brussels
🏛 LandmarkAn elevated urban garden offering one of the most famous photographic views of Brussels, framed by the city's museums and library.
The Avenue de Tervuren Scenic Drive
📍 Brussels
🚗 Road Trip10km paved urban boulevard (20 minutes). Originally commissioned by King Leopold II, this grand tree-lined road connects the Cinquantenaire Park to the outskirts of the Sonian Forest and the Tervuren Park, passing the Royal Museum for Central Africa and the Tram Museum.
Villa Empain
📍 Brussels
🖼 Art GalleryA masterpiece of Art Deco architecture that serves as a center for art and dialogue between Eastern and Western cultures.