Is Brussels Worth Visiting In 2025? Things To Do & Reasons To Visit
Wondering whether or not Brussels is worth visiting?
You’ve come to the right place as I’m a full-time traveller and I’ve visited Brussels. Travelling full-time means I have a pretty good judgment of whether somewhere is worth visiting.
When deciding on where to go on my next trip, I always research one simple question: is it worth visiting?
Is Brussels worth visiting? This is likely how you ended up on this blog post.
It’s a common question – and one of the best questions to ask before visiting anywhere new.
And I’ve written a complete and in-depth answer to the question.
Is Brussels Worth Visiting? YES!
Yes! Brussels is worth visiting for sure. Without a doubt, anyone will have an incredible time during a trip to Brussels.
There are few places that I would recommend so strongly, but I feel like neither words nor pictures can do Brussels justice.
I think it would be fair to describe Brussels as an underrated European city. People don’t tend to consider it as one of the must-visit destinations like Rome, Paris, Berlin, etc. It’s a little bit excluded from the typical top-tier European cities list.
Brussels has so much to offer and there is something for everyone. Trust me, it’s one of my favourite cities I have ever visited!

If you hate amazing food, beautiful architecture and an incredible atmosphere, then Brussels isn’t for you. Otherwise, you will love Brussels.
It’s a beautiful mix of all the prior mentioned European cities and it has a little bit of everything. As I said, it’s hard to put Brussels into words and do the city justice. You need to visit it for yourself to understand why I wholeheartedly think Brussels is so amazing and one of my favourite places in the world.
Is Brussels worth visiting? Absolutely, I can’t recommend it enough.
20 Best Things To Do In Brussels
But don’t just take my word for it. Take a look for yourself and see what Brussels has to offer. Here are 20 of the best things to do in Brussels to help you decide “Is Brussels worth visiting?” for yourself.
1) See the Grand Place: The Grand Place is what most people think of when they think of Brussels. It’s the most famous square in the city and it’s extraordinarily beautiful. No matter which direction you look or what angle you view the square from, it’s simply impressive. Seeing it at sunset is especially pretty.
2) Visit the European Parliament: One of the parliaments of the European Union is found in Brussels, and you can go inside it yourself. You can book an audio tour and see the hemicycle for yourself. Obviously, it depends on the day, and if there is a debate in progress you will not be allowed in. There is also security and you need a valid ID to get in.

3) See Mannekin Pis: Brussels has a pretty unique statue and that is Mannekin Pis. Put simply, it’s a statue of a young boy, peeing. Brussels locals absolutely love the statue, and it even gets dressed up for occasions throughout the year. It’s quite funny, to be honest, but no trip to Brussels would be complete without seeing Mannekin Pis.
4) Explore Mini Europe: Mini Europe is exactly what it says on the tin. It’s miniature models of European countries. Everything is much smaller but in proportion to each other. For example, the largest model is the Eiffel Tower, which is about 3 times the size of Big Ben. It makes for quite a unique visit, but one definitely worth doing in Brussels.
5) Go up Atomium: One of the main reasons Brussels is worth visiting is to see Atomium. It’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Brussels and it’s really impressive to see in real life. You can also go inside and reach a viewing deck where the view is breathtaking. You can also enjoy light shows inside some of the other spheres, as well as some exhibitions too.

6) Admire the view at Mont des Arts: Mont des Arts provides a beautiful opportunity to get a panoramic view of Brussels from within the city. The greenery and shrubbery also make for a nice sight for the eyes, particularly in the summertime when the red colouring is more vibrant.
7) See Brussels Palace: Another of Brussel’s landmarks is the Palais de Bruxelles, or Brussels Palace in English. It’s a really attractive building with strikingly good architecture. Some of my favourite photos from my trip to Brussels are from outside the palace. During the summer, you can also step inside for a tour of the palace’s interior.
8) Take a cartoon walk: Brussels is known for its comics, having produced lots of famous characters over the years like the Smurfs or Tintin. There are lots of cartoon murals across the city, over 70 in fact. There is an official Brussels Comic Strip Walking Route where you can see the paintings.

9) Learn a bit about Europe at Parlamentarium: Parlamentarium is the visitor centre of the European Parliament area in Brussels. It’s free entry and there are lots of exhibitions where you can learn about the history of Europe, not only the European Union, but of Europe itself. It’s really modern too.
10) See St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral: The most well-known church in Brussels is the St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral which is stunning, both inside and outside. Personally, I don’t love visiting churches and I’m not hugely impressed by the design most of the time, but this cathedral is something different. You have to go!
11) Stroll through Parc de Brussels: Brussels Park makes for some really nice walks with lots of paths to choose from. You’ll find lots of locals jogging, walking dogs and chilling out, which shows it’s a good place to explore for yourself. There are also statues of cartoons all throughout the park which is pretty cool.

12) Have some tasty Belgian chocolate: Belgium is known for its chocolate, and while in Brussels, or anywhere else in Belgium, trying some chocolate is a must. You can choose to visit a chocolate factory or simply buy it from one of the many chocolatiers. Belgian chocolate is so tasty, you’ll want to bring home as much as you can.
13) Enjoy a waffle: Continuing the food trend, Belgium is also known for its waffles and while in Brussels, you can try a Brussels waffle. But to be honest, the waffles called Liege waffles are much nicer. You can get pretty much any toppings you want. Create the waffle of your dreams and enjoy the pure deliciousness. Taking a food tour of Brussels is one of the best ways to experience the city.

14) See the Cinquantenaire Arch: In my opinion, the Cinquantenaire Arch rivals the Arc de Triumph in Paris. It’s an incredible piece of architecture and it’s so pleasing to look at from either side. One nice detail is the paintings on either side of the arch behind the columns which any eye for detail will appreciate.
15) Enjoy a trip to the Museum of Natural Sciences: I’m not the biggest fan of museums in the world, but one museum which I did enjoy visiting was the Museum of Natural Sciences in Brussels. The dinosaur skeletons, evolution of mankind exhibition and the animal exhibitions were great to see and learn about.
16) Take a trip to Autoworld: Autoworld is the national car museum in Belgium, and it’s another museum option in Brussels. It’s right beside the Cinquantenaire Arch and has over 250 cars for you to admire. It’s quite a unique museum and definitely one worth checking out on a trip to Brussels.
17) See Jeanneke Pis: Mannekin Pis, mentioned earlier, is a statue of a little boy peeing. Jeanneke Pis is the female equivalent. It’s a statue of a girl peeing which is slightly less known but definitely worth seeing. Brussels has 3 peeing statues throughout the city.

18) See Zinneke Pis: The third of which is Zinneke Pis, which is a statue of a dog peeing against a barrier. The three peeing statues are all so quirky and cheeky, which completely sums Brussels up.
19) Eat some fries: Contrary to popular belief, fries originated in Belgium, not in France. So a trip to Brussels would not be complete without eating some tasty fries. What makes fries in Belgium so unique is that they are fried twice at two different temperatures, and they are cooked in beef oil, instead of vegetable or sunflower oil. They are so yummy!
20) Go shopping at the Galeries Royales St. Hubert: Last but not least on these things to do in Brusels is to go shopping in the Galeries Royales St. Hubert. The shopping mall has lots of shops to choose from, but even if you don’t intend to buy anything, simply walking through the shopping centre makes for a good pasttime as the design is so majestic.

It appears like there is way too much to do in Brussels for one trip, but don’t worry, my answer to “how many days in Brussels is enough?” is 3. I did all of these things (and more!) in 3 days.
What Is Brussels Known For?
First and foremost, Brussels is known for being the capital city of Belgium. Continuing the political theme, Brussels is also one of the meeting points for the European Union. With one of the parliaments being found in the city, with the other two in Strasbourg and Luxembourg.
During a trip to Brussels, you are able to visit the Parliament of the European Union and see the Hemicycle where the politicians meet and debate about all things Europe and beyond.

Brussels is also famous for its architecture. There are many famous buildings throughout the city such as all of the buildings in the Grand Place, Atomium, Brussels Palace, Cathedral of St. Michael and Gudula and more.
The food scene in Brussels is really thriving too. Belgium is known for producing lots of incredible items, such as waffles, chocolates, fries and even beer. Belgian beer is really popular and there’s no better place to try it than in Brussels!
You may also know Brussels as being a multi-language city. It’s a long and complex history, but essentially Belgium is split into two halves: a Dutch-speaking half and a French-speaking half. Brussels falls within the Dutch half, but the city is also split into two, with a Dutch and French-speaking population, despite being within the Dutch-speaking half of Belgium.

This can make it pretty confusing when visiting the city as you need to be able to distinguish between the two languages when following directions or using Google Translate for menus etc.
Lastly, Brussels is known for its comic character production. There have been lots of famous cartoon characters to come out of Brussels, but the most famous are probably the Smurfs and TinTin. Throughout Brussels, there are lots of murals dedicated to the comic scene in the city.
Best Time To Visit Brussels
If you decide your own personal answer to “Is Brussels worth visiting?” is yes, then you may be interested in the best time to visit the Belgian capital.
Obviously, this answer is very subjective and it depends on what you want to get out of a trip. If you want to see the city lit up with Christmas decorations with snow falling and a cosy atmosphere, then visit in December. If you want to walk around in shorts and t-shirts, then visit in July.
But in my opinion, the best time to visit Brussels is between March and May. I visited Brussels in March so I know exactly what it is like and I would highly recommend it.

Visiting between March and May sees weather that’s okay. It’s just coming out of winter and towards spring and summer, bringing higher temperatures. It’s not beach weather, but it’s okay.
You also avoid the high season of June-August where people visit Brussels in summer during the school break. This means that Brussels isn’t as crowded as other times of the year, resulting in lower prices for accommodation and other things that have flexible pricing like some tour groups.
Where To Stay In Brussels
The best area to stay in in Brussels is near the central station. No matter which city you stay in worldwide, I always suggest staying near the central station.
The central station in Brussels is right in the heart of all of the most popular attractions. It’s a 5-minute walk from the central station to the Grand Place or a 7-minute walk to Mannekin Pis, for two examples.
If you chose to stay in a hotel right by Grand Place, for example, the prices would be more than double staying near the central station.
Being near the central station also makes it really easy to get to and from Brussels Airport, or your next destination. The central station can connect you to pretty much anywhere in Europe by train.
One of the best hotels in the area is the Hotel La Grande Cloche, which is rated 8.5/10 on Booking, and has over 1000 positive reviews. You can’t go wrong with staying here. It’s a great hotel for an even better price. Hotels in Brussels are usually really expensive but this one is one of the more affordable options. The location is perfect for a Brussels stay and the price isn’t extortionate.
If you are a budget traveller like myself or prefer to stay in hostels, you’ll want to check out the Latroupe Grand Place hostel. Unfortunately, hostel beds in Brussels are pretty expensive. But the hostel is fabulous. It’s hard to find a better hostel in Brussels for the price and anyone backpacking Brussels should definitely stay at this hostel.
➡️ Best hotel in Brussels: Hotel La Grande Cloche
➡️ Best budget-friendly hostel in Brussels: Latroupe Grand Place
How To Get Around Brussels
The best way to get around Brussels is by walking. Everything is pretty much within walking distance and that’s one of the reasons I love Brussels so much.
Walking between attractions passes by so quickly as the streets of Brussels are so picturesque and simply walking the city is a pleasant activity.
The only time I would encourage using public transport is to get to and from the Atomium/Mini Europe area, as it’s a good bit out of central Brussels.
You can get a tram which takes about 15-20 minutes and only costs €2.10, you just tap your card when you get on and off. The public transport in Brussels is great if you do choose to use it. The trams, trains and buses all run very smoothly and efficiently.

Is Brussels Worth Visiting: FAQ
Below are some questions relating to “Is Brussels worth visiting?” along with my answers.
Yes, Brussels is definitely worth visiting, even for a day. Most of the main attractions in Brussels are close together meaning you can easily walk between them in one day. Brussels is an amazing city and a day spent in Brussels is a day well spent.
Brussels is an amazing place to visit. The city has a little bit of everything and it’s one of the most underrated cities in Europe. You can see the Grand Place, Atomium, Brussels Palace and more to make the trip worth it.
Yes, without a doubt. There are so many sights to see in Brussels, from the Grand Place and Mannekin Pis to Atomium and Brussels Palace, there are so many things to see in the city. All of the streets are also really picturesque and no matter where you are in the city, it’s probably a pretty attractive place.
Accommodation in Brussels is expensive but other than this, the city isn’t too expensive. When it comes to eating and having waffles or chocolate, head a bit away from the Grand Place and out of the most touristy area for the most authentic and affordable food. It’s always best to eat where the locals eat.
Brussels is known for a number of things, firstly being the capital of Belgium and also being home to one of the parliaments of the European Union. Brussels is also known for having incredible architecture and a delicious food scene. It’s fair to say that Brussels is one of the most underrated European capitals.
Is Brussels Worth Visiting: Conclusion
And there you have it, a complete guide to “Is Brussels worth visiting?”
My answer is yes, definitely. A trip to Brussels will be unforgettable and you are guaranteed to have an amazing time.
I really think Brussels is slept on and I can’t believe it isn’t as popular to visit as other European cities like Amsterdam or Barcelona.
But I hope this article has shown you how perfect Brussels is. If your decision about “Is Brussels worth visiting?” is yes, then I hope you have a great trip! 🙂
Now that you’ve decided taking a trip is worth it, next up for you to do is to learn how much Brussels costs.