10 things to do in Brussels

I map my Brussels days by smell and sound, coffee drifting from the Galeries, a tram bell on Rue Royale, a busker near Mont des Arts. The city rewards unhurried wandering, especially if you thread stories between stops. For a route that saves time and steps, download the StoryHunt Brussels audiowalk and let it guide you through the center without glued-to-screen zigzags.

1. Grand Place, the square with stage-light drama

UNESCO listed since 1998, Grand Place is all gilt and geometry. I loop it twice, clockwise to admire the Town Hall and Maison du Roi, counterclockwise to spot cheeky guild carvings. Interiors are targeted, the City Museum is worth it if you like models and archives. Arrive early or very late for space to breathe. 

Did you know? The Flower Carpet tradition began in 1971 and unfurls on the square every two years in August.

2. Eat like a local, from frites to waffles

Brussels comfort eats are simple if you know where to aim. Frites are double-fried and best with andalouse or classic mayo. Gaufres de Liège are dense and caramelized, Brussels waffles are lighter rectangles dusted with sugar. Mussels join frites in season, and stoemp is your cold-day mash. Pace yourself and pick one star per meal. 

Did you know? The lighter rectangular waffle became globally famous after it was branded the Brussels waffle at mid-20th-century fairs.

3. Manneken Pis, five cheeky minutes well spent

The outside statue is a 1965 replica, the 1619 original by Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder lives in the Brussels City Museum on Grand Place. On some days he wears costumes, and the nearby GardeRobe MannekenPis shows off hundreds more. Arrive early for a clear view, then loop quiet backstreets. Pair this stop with StoryHunt to time your route and skip bottlenecks. 

Did you know? His wardrobe includes more than a thousand outfits gifted by groups from around the world.

4. Cantillon Brewery, a living lesson in lambic

At Brasserie Cantillon, also the Brussels Gueuze Museum, you can see traditional equipment and taste spontaneously fermented lambic, made with wild yeasts from the Senne valley. The tour smells gloriously like grain and wood. Bring a light jacket, cellars run cool. Book ahead in peak seasons. 

Did you know? Lambic ferments without added cultured yeast, relying on ambient microflora captured during a narrow brewing season.

5. St Michael and St Gudula Cathedral, stained glass and hush

Construction began on the Brussels Cathedral in the 13th century, around 1226, and the result is textbook Brabantine Gothic. I slip in on weekday mornings for quiet light on the nave and the Baroque pulpit. The treasury and archaeological site under the choir are small but focused.

Did you know? The church is the co-cathedral of the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels and hosts royal ceremonies.

6. Atomium, Expo 58’s giant snapshot of science

A short metro ride takes you to Brussels’ favorite UFO, a 102 meter structure representing an iron crystal magnified roughly 165 billion times. Elevators and stairs connect the spheres, with a panorama at the top. Lines move slower on weekends, so go early. Pair it with a Laeken park stroll for greenery. 

Did you know? The spheres are 18 meters in diameter, and the building was meant to be temporary for the 1958 world fair.

7. Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, glass-roofed elegance

Built in 1847, this glazed arcade unites Galerie de la Reine, du Roi, and des Princes. I wander after rain when the floor mirrors the arches, then reward myself with a praline or two. Prices skew upscale, so window shop here, buy treats on nearby streets. Tip: peek at the theatre marquee mid-passage. Start the StoryHunt audiowalk here for context that turns browsing into time travel. 

Did you know? The filled chocolate praline was created by Jean Neuhaus II in these galleries in 1912.

8. Belgian Comic Strip Center, where Tintin meets the Smurfs

Housed in a 1906 Art Nouveau gem by Victor Horta, this museum traces bande dessinée history from Hergé’s Tintin to Peyo’s Smurfs and beyond. I love how original panels sit beside playful installations. It is family friendly without losing depth for grown-ups.

Did you know? Both Tintin and the Smurfs are Belgian creations, by Hergé and Peyo respectively.

9. Sablon chocolate crawl, glossy windows and deep flavors

Place du Grand Sablon concentrates some of Brussels’ finest chocolatiers. I move counterclockwise, sampling one or two single origins at a time, palate cleansing with water. Keep portions small, quality over quantity. Prices vary widely, so ask for the weight before you decide. StoryHunt can guide you here from Mont des Arts with minimal street-crossing and maximum charm. 

Did you know? Belgian chocolate quality took off thanks to pralines and ballotin boxes developed in the early 1900s.

10. Mont des Arts, Brussels’ postcard terrace

Climb Mont des Arts for the laser-straight view to the Town Hall spire. The garden geometry dates to the 1950s redesign by landscape architect René Pechère, while the area’s first big makeover arrived around the 1910 exhibition. I like sunrise for calm benches and blue hour for silhouettes. Nearby museums make rainy backup plans effortless. 

Did you know? The hill is called Kunstberg in Dutch, meaning the same as Mont des Arts, Hill of the Arts.

Practical pointers for first timers

• Go car free in the center, distances are short and routes are scenic.
• Museum daypacks pass security faster than bulky bags.
• Early morning and late evening deliver the best photos and the fewest crowds.
• Also include Bourse De Bruxelles, Saint Nicholas Catholic Church, Palais Royal and Brussels Park in your itinerary.

If you want a day that feels curated without being scripted, let StoryHunt set the pace between these stops. Your ears will do the guiding, your feet will thank you.