Brussels Tourism & Travel Guide - Places to see in Brussels

Brussels Tour & Travel Guide - Places to See in Brussels

Grand Place / Town Hall

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Grand Place square houses the Town Hall and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Brussels. This is the central market square, surrounded by many historic buildings dating back to the 15th century. The Town Hall is a magnificent Gothic-style tower and home to a museum displaying tapestries, wood panelling and paintings from the 17th century. It’s beautiful at night, all lit up with golden floodlights.

The Royal Palace

The royal family shifted to a different palace and this one is now open to the public. Still used as the King’s office, the palace consists of four buildings and a museum, displaying the collection of the Belgian royal dynasty.

The Cathedral of Saints Michel and Gudule

This church is situated on the Treurenberg hill and is styled in Gothic architecture. The cathedral is a vibrant cultural place and many concerts and exhibitions take place here. Its history covers 12 centuries and the architecture is beautiful.

St Nicolas Church

This is the oldest church in Brussels and it is named after the patron saint of merchants. It was established in the 11th century and renovated in 2005, and now houses several shops.

Manneken Pis

Literally translating to “little man pee” in Flemish, this is a Bronze statuette is of a little naked boy urinating in the fountain, located at the junction of Rue de'lEtuve & Eikstraat. There are many stories surrounding this statue and it is often dressed up for different occasions, serving as a symbol of the spirit and humour of Brussels.

Coudenberg

The Former Palace of Brussels was excavated and is now a popular tourist attraction in Brussels. A large ceremonial hall, the chapel of Charles Quint, and the great hall of the Dukes of Burgundy have all been unearthed. Take a walk through these ruins, discovering the Rue Isabelle and the other ancient structures.

Atomium

A monument built in 1958 for the Brussels World's Fair exhibition, it represents a metal molecule, which when magnified 165 billon times will look the Atomium structure. The entire structure is made of 9 interconnected steel spheres that tower at 102 meters tall and weighs a massive 2400 tonnes. All the sphere are exhibition halls, but the most interesting one is the top sphere (18 meters in diameter) which provides a panoramic view of Brussels and Brabant.