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Brussels: city view and main sights to see
📷 Aurelio de Sandoval · CC0
✦ TRAVEL GUIDE · BELGIUM

What to see in Brussels in 3 days

3 days 21 experiences 9 where to eat from 5€

3-day itinerary for Brussels (Belgium): what to see, where to eat and skip-the-line tickets. Build your free custom plan.

Brussels blends architecture, art and food at every turn. Here's a 3-day itinerary organised by area, with the must-sees, where to eat and skip-the-line tickets to make the most of your trip.

Practical info · Brussels

📅
Best time to visitAll year
🗓️
Ideal length2-3 days
💶
BudgetMid-range · €€
🚶
Getting aroundMetro & walking
Known forArchitecture, art and food

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What to see in Brussels day by day

Day 1Grand Place and City Centre · Mont des Arts and Sablon

Grand Place
Grand Place
The city's main square, surrounded by baroque guild houses and the Gothic town hall, and a World Heritage Site.
Free
Manneken Pis
Manneken Pis
A small bronze fountain of a urinating boy, one of the city's best-known symbols.
Free
Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries
An elegant covered 19th-century shopping arcade with chocolate shops, cafés and boutiques.
Free
Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula
Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula
A twin-towered Gothic cathedral with notable Renaissance stained glass, seat of the Belgian archdiocese.
Free
Church of San Nicolás
Church of San Nicolás
A medieval church next to the Stock Exchange, one of the city's oldest, with chapels tucked among houses.
Free
Comics Art Museum
A centre devoted to Belgian comics, housed in an Art Nouveau building by Victor Horta.
from 13€
Free Walking Tour of Brussels
A guided walk through the historic centre taking in the Grand Place, Manneken Pis and the cathedral.
Free
Chocolate and Beer Tour
A food tour with tastings of handmade chocolates and typical Belgian beers.
from 39€
Day Trip to Bruges and Ghent
A day exploring two medieval Flemish cities with canals, belfries and historic centres.
from 55€
🍽️ Chez Léon
A traditional house on the restaurant street specialising in mussels and fries.
~25€
🍽️ Fritland
A popular fry shop near the Stock Exchange famous for its fries and hot sandwiches.
~10€
Royal Palace of Brussels
The ceremonial residence of the Belgian monarchy facing Brussels Park, open to visitors in summer.
Free
Mont des Arts
Mont des Arts
A terraced garden between the lower and upper town with panoramic views over the old-town rooftops.
Free
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
A large museum complex of Flemish and old-master painting, from Brueghel to Rubens and Van Dyck.
from 15€
Magritte Museum
A museum holding the world's largest collection devoted to the surrealist painter René Magritte.
from 15€
Church of Our Lady of the Sablon
Church of Our Lady of the Sablon
A flamboyant Gothic church in the Sablon quarter, renowned for its illuminated stained glass.
Free
Palace of Justice
Palace of Justice
A colossal 19th-century eclectic-style courthouse, one of the largest in Europe.
Free
🍽️ Le Perroquet
An Art Nouveau café in the Sablon known for its stuffed pita breads and lively atmosphere.
~15€
🍽️ Wittamer
A chocolatier and patisserie on the Sablon square with a tearoom and handmade chocolates.
~18€

Day 2Atomium and Laeken

Atomium
Atomium
A steel structure shaped like a magnified iron crystal, built for the 1958 World's Fair.
from 16€
Mini-Europe
Mini-Europe
A park with scale models of iconic monuments from European countries, at the foot of the Atomium.
from 18€
Royal Greenhouses of Laeken
Royal Greenhouses of Laeken
A complex of iron-and-glass greenhouses on the royal estate, open to the public only a few weeks in spring.
from 5€

Day 3European Quarter and Cinquantenaire

Cinquantenaire Park
Cinquantenaire Park
A large park dominated by a monumental triumphal arch that houses several museums.
Free
Cinquantenaire Museum
Cinquantenaire Museum
An art and archaeology museum with collections from Antiquity, Egypt and European decorative arts.
from 12€
European Quarter and Parliament
European Quarter and Parliament
The district of the European Union institutions, with the Parliament and the Parlamentarium visitor centre.
Free
🍽️ La Villette
A family restaurant near the fish market specialising in Belgian meat classics.
~28€
🍽️ Maison Antoine
A landmark fries kiosk on Place Jourdan, next to the European Quarter.
~9€

💡 Indicative prices. The current price is shown when you book on Civitatis.

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Frequently asked questions about Brussels

How many days do I need to see Brussels?

With 3 days you can see the must-sees of Brussels. Our tool organizes each day by area so you don't waste time getting around.

When is the best time to visit Brussels?

The best time to visit Brussels is year-round, thanks to its warm climate. That said, Trip Planner builds your itinerary for any season and adapts it to your pace.

How do you get around Brussels?

The easiest way is to combine the metro with walking; the network links the main sights in just a few minutes. Plus, our plan groups each day by area so you barely waste time getting around.

What to visit in Brussels?

The must-sees in Brussels: Grand Place, Manneken Pis, Mont des Arts and Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. This guide organises them day by day, with times, a map and skip-the-line tickets.

How much does it cost to visit Brussels?

It depends on your budget. With Trip Planner you set how much you want to spend per day and the plan adapts, combining free and paid activities.

Where can I buy skip-the-line tickets?

Every bookable activity includes a direct link to Civitatis to buy the ticket or tour online and skip the lines.

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