How to Spend One Day in Brussels

If you’re reading this then, like me, you probably love to travel. That being the case, you’ll probably also agree that when travel opportunities come knocking, you should open the door! That’s exactly what I did when the chance to take a one day trip to Brussels in Belgium presented itself. I had been through Brussels once before when I was travelling to another of Belgium’s beautiful cities, Brugge, but this was to be my first actual visit to the Belgian capital.

Although one day isn’t a long time, there is still plenty to see and do and in this post I’ll tell you exactly what you can do in 1 day in Brussels. I’ll also give you a few suggestions for other activities you can add to your Brussels itinerary together with a general travel guide and some travel tips so you can get the most out of your day trip to Brussels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Before we get to the list of things you can do during a day in Brussels, it’s helpful to answer a couple of FAQs:

1. Is it worth visiting Brussels for a day?

Yes! Brussels is a small enough city that you can spend one day there and still see a lot. Of course, the longer you stay somewhere the more you can see, but its history, architecture and food make Brussels a perfect place to spend the day.

2. Is Brussels walkable?

Definitely! Most of your time on a day trip will be spent wandering around the old streets of Brussels so be sure you wear comfortable shoes.

Getting to Brussels

There are various ways you can get to Brussels…depending of course on where you are coming from! The options are:

1. Plane

There are 2 airports in Brussels – Brussels Airport (BRU) and Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL). The closest to the city center is Brussels Airport. To travel from BRU to the city will take upwards of 20 minutes depending on which station you alight at. Travelling from CRL to the city center will take around an hour.

You can review flights to either airport and book here:

Travel Tip: if you are flying into Brussels, try to arrive on an early flight and leave on a late one as this will allow you more time to explore the city before having to return to the airport.

2. Train

There are 5 main railway stations in Brussels:

• Central Station
• South Station (also referred to as Brussels Midi) for the Eurostar to London, Amsterdam and Paris and the TGV High Speed rail service to France
• North Station for trains to Amsterdam
• Luxembourg Station for trains to Luxembourg
• Schuman Station for trains to European institutions

Travel Tip: Central Station is located in the city centre and is therefore the station you will want to get to. If you arrive into South Station as I did you can walk the 1 mile or so into the city centre, however in the interests of maximizing your time, it might be easier to catch the train. Don’t forget to buy a ticket though!

For those thinking of arriving by train, you can check availability, including for Eurostar services here:

3. Bus

Buses operate between Brussels and other major European cities such as Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam.

Travel Tip: bus journeys will take longer than train journeys so you may want to consider using the train in order to maximize your time in Brussels.

4. Car

You can of course drive to Brussels, however you should be aware that Brussels is a low emission zone and certain vehicles are therefore banned. You can check whether your vehicle is permitted on the official low emission zone website. This site is also helpful in providing information regarding registration of foreign vehicles and alternative options in the event that your vehicle is not permitted.

5. Boat

You wouldn’t automatically think of boats and Brussels in the same sentence…at least I don’t! That said, the Brussels cruise terminal at the Port of Brussels is also an entry point to the city for guests on river cruises.

Currency

Belgium is a member of the European Union and as such it has adopted and uses the Euro (€).

Brussels Card

As part of finalizing your one day Brussels itinerary, you may want to consider purchasing a Brussels Card. This card provides free or discounted access to some of the most popular activities and sites in Brussels including the following:

• Atomium – built for the 1958 Brussels Worlds Fair, entry fee is discounted with the Brussels Card
• Comic Strip Museum – showcasing what else, comics, entry is free with the Brussels Card
• Musical Instruments Museum – set in an impressive art nouveau building, entry is free with the Brussels Card
• interestingly named Fantastic Art Museum – a weird and wonderful parallel universe, entry is free with the Brussels Card
• Belgian Beer World Experience – a beer museum and interactive experience, entry is free with the Brussels Card
• Choco-Story Brussels – a hands on museum experience, entry is free with the Brussels Card
• Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium – a collection of museums to visit (including Musée Magritte Museum), entry is free to permanent collections with the Brussels Card,

to name but a few! Check the official Brussels Card website for information as to pricing and all inclusions.

How to Spend One Day in Brussels

As I mentioned above, a day trip to Brussels will involve a bit of walking but you can reward yourself with a few treats I’ve mentioned below!

Here are my suggested things to do in Brussels in one day:

1. Explore the Grand Place

It goes without saying that all roads lead here. This historic centre of Brussels is home to the ornate Town Hall, the King’s House, guildhalls and houses. Construction of the Grand-Place began in the 11th century. Although much of it was destroyed in 1695 during the Nine Years War, the Town Hall, which dates from the 1400s, survived French bombardment.

The Town Hall is open to visitors (although not on Tuesdays and Thursdays) and tickets cost €15 (concessions available). Check the official Town Hall website for visitor information. Note that entry is free with the Brussels Card I mentioned earlier. 

The Kings House is located opposite the Town Hall. Back in the 12th century there was a wooden building on that spot selling bread. In the 15th century, the wooden building was replaced. It was then rebuilt in the 16th century and restored again after bombardment in 1695. There have also been subsequent restorations.

Today it houses the Brussels City Museum. Check the official City Museum website for visiting information – note that visiting is free on the first Sunday of the month and for those with the Brussels Card. 

2. See Manneken Pis and Jeanneke Pis

Located southwest of the Town Hall is Manneken Pis, the famous ‘wee’ (61cm tall) statue of a urinating boy. The earliest mention of the existence of Manneken Pis (also sometimes written, Mannekin Pis) was in documents dating from 1451-1452. This statute dates from 1965 although earlier ones dates from the 1600s.

He attracts a large crowd of onlookers despite his diminutive size and apparently has an outfit for every occasion!

Travel Tip: Prepare yourself for the fact that Manneken Pis is smaller than you expect so don’t be too disappointed. Be aware also that the area where he is located gets very busy with tourists!

In the interests of equality, you also need to see little Jeanneke Pis – the feminist answer to Manneken Pis! Commissioned in 1985 and erected in 1987, she is 50cm high and protected by iron bars. 

3. Eat Belgian Waffles

You can’t spend a day in Brussels without enjoying some Belgian chocolate, either in the form of the beautifully made boxed variety or as a topping on the ubiquitous Belgian waffles!

There are plenty of chocolate shops and waffle shops around the city so you won’t have a problem finding them…the trouble starts when deciding what toppings to have! In the end, I landed on this beauty – I chose the strawberries because they’re healthy!

In addition to Belgian waffles, no trip to Brussels is complete without mussels (moules), fries (frites) and coffee (and a Belgian beer or 2 – in my defense, it was a hot day!). You will find plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars throughout the city serving delicious food and drink so you won’t go hungry or thirsty!

Travel Tip: Pace yourself…you don’t want to eat too much or stop for too long if you have a lot more exploring to do!

4. Stop by the Cathedral of St. Michael & St. Gudula

A short walk from the Grand Place is the medieval Roman Catholic Cathedral of St Michael & St Gudula.

Construction of the Cathedral took place between the 11th to 15th centuries with the façade and towers built in 1485. The Cathedral is a designated historic monument. Check the official Cathedral website for visiting hours and information.

Travel Tip: Across from the Cathedral is a lovely quiet park. Locals were taking their lunch here during my visit, however it is also a nice place for tourists to stop and catch some respite from what will likely be a hectic day of sightseeing! 

5. Enjoy the Street Scenes and Shops

Although we were on a tight timetable, Brussels is a vibrant city with much to see both at street level and if you look up. The shopping streets were busy and there are a number of great shops to visit.

Belgium is also the home of Tin Tin so be sure to keep an eye open for some great street art.

Travel Tip: Take a walk through Les Galeries Royales Saint Hubert. This beautiful shopping arcade dates from the mid-1840s and is located not far from the Grand Place. It comprises 3 arcades – the Kings Gallery, the Queens Gallery and the Princes Gallery and is home to many lovely shops!

Even More Things To Do!

If you are looking for some different options or alternative ways to spend your one day in Brussels then you may want to consider some of the following:

• take a historical walking tour with chocolate and waffle tasting
• walk through the Mont des Arts Garden
• join a beer tasting tour
• visit the Royal Palace (open during summer months from end of July, although closed for renovations until 2026)
• join a bicycle sightseeing tour
• visit the late Gothic Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon (Eglise Notre Dame du Sablon)

For those spending just one day in Brussels but with extra time to spare, you may want to consider a day trip to Ghent and Bruges or a day trip to Luxembourg.

Whatever time you have available, you can review many more options and book here (although day trippers should keep your departure time in mind!):

Final Thoughts

Brussels is a very walkable, interesting city and you can see quite a bit even if you’re visiting for just one day. Beautiful architecture and a long history not to mention all that chocolate make for a great way to spend the day! I can also imagine just how magical the historic centre of Brussels will look and feel during the Christmas season – a definite contender for a Christmas markets trip!

If you need any further assistance with planning your visit to Brussels, then do check out my Resources page.

If you are interested in visiting other European destinations, take a look at the posts on my Europe page and for those considering combining a visit to Brussels with visiting Luxembourg, do read my posts How to Spend One Day in Luxembourg City and How to Visit Vianden Castle, Luxembourg.

Disclaimer – Information correct at the time of writing but do check before visiting.