A Trip to Brussels , What to See and Do

The capital of Belgium and the European Union awaits you!

It's a picturesque and historic city that has plenty to offer all its intrepid visitors. There are many activities that will keep you busy for days – especially if you're a fan of beer.

Book your flights from Travelo, read our guide and enjoy your trip to Brussels and Belgium!

The Royal Palace of Brussels

This palace was originally built in the 18^th century. It’s where the King and Queen hosted state affairs, without actually living there permanently.

To give you an idea of the palace's true size, its facade is 50% larger than Buckingham Palace!

Notre Dame du Sablon Brussels

This 15^th-century Catholic church was the place of worship and pilgrimage for all the city's wealthy residents. The official name of the church is “The Church of Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon”.

In the church, you can also admire two magnificent baroque chapels that were added to the building in the 17^th century.

The Palace of Justice

The city's most important court, the Palace of Justice, was built in the 19^th century and was then the largest building constructed in the entire century.

This enormous building is actually larger than St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and cost approximately 45 million Belgian francs to build.

Manneken Pis and Jeanneke Pis

These are the two most famous statues in the city. One is a 17^th-century replica (the little boy), while the other is a more modern addition built to boost the city's tourism.

What makes them so interesting, and perhaps a little peculiar, is that they depict two children urinating. Their purpose is to reflect the Belgian sense of humour, which is why they are so extremely popular in the city.

Around 1998, Zinneke Pis, the dog urinating on a pole on the pavement, joined the group.

Petit Sablon

This park contains a collection of 48 statues, each representing a historical profession common in the city.

Each statue and pillar has a unique design, as does each section of the wrought-iron fence.

The central fountain is surrounded by a semicircle of famous 16^th-century personalities.

European Parliament

Book a guided tour and get a taste of the unofficial capital of the European Union. These tours are extremely informative regarding how the European Union operates and how changes that affect all member states are made.

Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert

This is Europe's oldest shopping arcade. There you'll find many cafés, restaurants and shops selling the most delicious Belgian chocolates.

It was designed to create a well-lit shopping area to avoid illicit and bad behaviour (essentially, it was built so that the wealthy would feel safer when going to the market).

Cantillon Brewery

The Cantillon Brewery was founded in 1900 and is now open to the public. On a tour, you'll have the opportunity to observe the entire beer production process and learn everything about the equipment and older brewing methods. Of course, you'll also get to taste some of the amazing beers produced at the brewery.

Drink beer at the Delirium

At Delirium, you'll find the world's largest beer list, boasting over 2000 beers (it has won a Guinness award for this list!). There are beers from more than 60 countries, including a very large collection of Belgian beers. It's almost always packed with tourists, but it's an incredible experience and a fantastic opportunity to try local beers!

Travel Tips for Brussels

To make the most of your visit to the city of Brussels, check out some tips we've prepared for you below!

Brussels is a very small city, ideal for walking. Don't waste money on public transport and just walk wherever you want to go.

The area near the Palace of Justice is ideal for food and drinks.

If your plane lands at Charleroi Airport (the low-cost airline airport), make sure you've booked your transfer to the city in advance. FlixBus is a very affordable option, as the ticket costs just €5.

Rent Villo bikes: These bicycles are available in the city for free for the first half-hour of use. If you need them longer, the charge for one day is €1.60 and for 7 days it's €8.20.

If you're going to use public transport, it's a good idea to get a metro pass. A single metro journey costs €2.50, and a pass for the entire day is €7.50. However, you can also get the MOBIB basic card, which costs €5 to purchase and then you top it up with money for your journeys. It will save you about €1 on each journey.

Flights to Belgium – Brussels

You will find flights to Belgium from both Athens and Thessaloniki, to the city's two airports. If you book Aegean tickets, you'll land at Brussels' main airport, while with the low-cost airline Ryanair, which also operates direct flights, you'll arrive at Brussels' regional, smaller airport.

Search through Travelo and find the cheapest flights to Brussels!