Brussels in 2 Days: everything you need to know
If you're spending two days in Brussels, you probably won't stop for long, as you don't want to miss out on everything the city has to offer. Take note, and discover everything you can't miss on your next trip.
Brussels, Belgium | ©María López Jorge
Brussels is not a particularly large city. It can be covered on foot, especially if we are talking about the central area, but because it has so many interesting proposals, you should have a fairly tight itinerary to try to see all the attractions that Brussels has to offer to its visitors.
Day 1: Grand Place, Stock Exchange building and Palace of Justice
On your first day of your 2-day tour of Brussels, you should check out some of the best Brussels tours of this magnificent city.
By booking a guided tour of Brussels you can see places like the Grand Place, the Stock Exchange building, the Palais de Justice, the garden of the Place du Petit Sablon, the Gothic church of Notre-Dame du Sablon and other spectacular sights.
Start the day with a stroll around the Grand Place
The Grand Place is the central square of the city of Brussels. Its main attractions are the ornaments, of which it is full, but that's not all. It is considered one of the most beautiful squares in the world and is also declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Here, you will stop and you are sure to want to take lots of pictures. Also, don't miss touching the arm of the bronze statue of Everard t'Serclaes- they say it brings good luck to those who do! It is, frankly, one of the things you must do in Brussels. You never know.
Walk to the Stock Exchange building and visit the Manneken Pis
Next, I recommend going to the Stock Exchange building, which is one of the most impressive buildings in the city. It is a neoclassical building and is one of the great emblems of Brussels.
From there, walk a few metres down Rue du Midi: another great symbol of Brussels awaits you, the Manneken Pis. It is a small bronze statue dating from the 17th century. It is a representation of a boy urinating and has the peculiarity of changing his clothes depending on the occasion.
In fact, in the Grand Place itself, you can visit the Maison du Roi and see the entire collection of costumes that have dressed him. There are more than 800 of them!
Have a delicious waffle for breakfast: all you have to do is choose from the stalls
You're already at the Manneken Pis. Around the Manneken Pis, there are stalls where you can choose to try a delicious waffle. In case you don't know, a waffle is a Brussels sweet similar to a waffle, but different in the way it is cooked and, consequently, also in taste.
What better way to start the day than with a typical breakfast? Any experience that claims to be complete should include such an element, don't you think?
Visit the imposing Palais de Justice and Place du Petit Sablon
The Palais de Justice is located in the Le Sablon district. You can enter for free and when you do you will find an incredible lobby, which measures more than 100 metres.
At the exit, you can walk along Rue de la Régence, leading to the garden of the Place du Petit Sablon. First, take a break. Choose one of the benches and take a break. Then, you can see one of the 48 bronze statues around the park. Each one is a representation of one of the ancient medieval guilds.
- Opening hours of the Palace of Justice: Monday from 9am to 5pm.
- Price: Free of charge.
- Address: Pl. Poelaert 1, 1000
Don't miss the Gothic church of Notre-Dame du Sablon
This church is located next to the small Place du Petit Sablon and should definitely be part of your 2-day tour of Brussels. It is a 15th century church that was patronised by the nobles and wealthier citizens of Brussels.
The most attractive feature of the church is the wooden pulpit, not to mention the huge stained glass windows inside.
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 6pm.
- Price: Free.
- Address: Rue des Sablons, 1000
Place du Grand Sablon and Lunch Break
If you are going to visit Brussels in two days you should have a busy itinerary. But that doesn't mean I'm going to encourage you to skip every meal of the day. It would be unhealthy and you probably won't have the energy to keep up the pace.
That's why, when you leave the church, you can visit the Place du Grand Sablon. In this neighbourhood there are many chocolate shops, antique shops and boutiques. If you're a sweet tooth like me, be sure to check out thebest chocolate tastings you should do in Brussels.
However, my recommendation is to stop for real food and not so much sweets. So you can go to a local eatery, for example the C'est bon c'est belge and order the dish you like best. Of course, I encourage you to try a typical recipe, to maximise the experience. How about a carbonnades flamandes? The choice is yours.
Brussels Atomium Tour
In the afternoon, I recommend you to resume the itinerary by visiting the Brussels Atomium. This is an audio tour that will start near the Heysel metro station. Once at the Atomium, you will enjoy a breathtaking view of the city of Brussels. And an audio guide on your mobile app will accompany you on your tour of the museum. This tour will take you an hour and a half.
After the tour you can visit the ADAM Brussels Design Museum.
The tour includes admission to the Atomium and the museum, access to the permanent and temporary exhibitions of both, audio guide in English and skip-the-line service. You must remember to bring your own headphones: this is essential, as you won't be given any. You can find all the information about tickets to the Atomium in this article.
- Opening hours: 10am to 4pm.
- Price: 20 €.
- Address: Pl. de l'Atomium 1, 1020
A journey within a journey: visit Mini-Europe
Mini-Europe is less than two hundred metres from the Atomium, making it an ideal way to end the first of 2 days in Brussels. In the park, you will see 350 miniature buildings, representing 80 European cities.
It's like a trip within a trip: you'll get to know the whole of Europe, smaller than usual, while getting to know the Belgian city. It's among the top 10 things to do in Brussels with kids, too. Because of the opening hours, this will be a good option to add to your itinerary if you're travelling to Brussels in summer.
- Opening hours: From 14 March to 30 June: 9.30am to 6pm.
1 July to 31 August: 9.30am-8pm. 1 October to 6 January: 10am-6pm. 4 January to 12 March: closed.
- Price: Adults: 16,50 € (18,10 US$)
Children under 12: €12 (US$13.20) Seniors over 65: €16.50 (US$18.10) Children under 120 centimetres: free admission.
- Address: Av. du Football 1, 1020
Evening in Brussels: end your day with a delicious meal
Near the Atomium you will find several tourist restaurants to end the first of two days in Brussels with a full belly. If you want, you can have a beer in one of Brussels' best breweries, book a beer tasting or choose a local restaurant, such as Gou or Jon's Garden. Choose what you want to eat and wait your turn. Then it's time to relax.
Day 2: Comic strip route, European Quarter and beer
On the second of your 2-day tour of Brussels you can visit the Comic Strip Route, the European Parliament, the Cinquantenaire Palace, the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, Rue Neuve and... beer!
Don't miss the Comic Strip Route
The Comic Strip Route is a must-see, especially for those who, of course, love comics. But not only for them, as this is a very picturesque route, where you can see incredible building façades painted with murals of Belgium's most famous comic strips.
It's also a great place to visit with children. Don't forget to get a map from the tourist office.
The tour ends at the Comic Strip Museum, a must-see for comic book fans.
The European Quarter is full of attractions
Take bus 71 to the Luxembourg stop. Once in the European Quarter, you can visit the European Parliament. It's free and you will be given a multimedia guide in English.
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 6pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 6pm.
- Address: Pl. du Luxembourg 100, 1050
Afterwards, I recommend you to go and see the Justus Lipsius building, the Belayrmont and the Leopold Park.
If you walk a few more metres from this point you will find the following must-see attractions:
- The Museum of Military History, which is surely among the best museums to visit in Brussels.
- The Cinquantenaire Palace, for which you can book tickets online.
- Also, I recommend you book tickets for the Autoworld museum: it has one of the most magnificent collections of cars in the world.
Lunchtime: Do you like Italian food?
Yeah, right. You want to keep touring. But first things first. You need to recharge your batteries. In this area, I recommend the Costa D'Amalfi, which sells delicious Italian food and is one of the best restaurants in the Belgian capital.
Buy souvenirs on Rue Neuve
You've finished your tour. But one thing is missing: gifts, souvenirs or souvenirs. For this, head to the Rue Neuve, Brussels' pedestrianised Rue Neuve, which is full of shops.
Shop all you want and then head to Place Ste. Catherine to find somewhere to drink a nice Belgian beer or just have dinner.
You can't leave Brussels without tasting its famous beers.
Yes, I've already told you: drink a nice Belgian beer or just have dinner. That' s up to you, whether you drink or not, or whether you feel like it.
If your answer is yes, you can choose between several options: you have numerous bars at your disposal... or you can try the traditional Belgian beer tasting tour. In my opinion, this is a wonderful alternative. Then you won't be left wanting to try anything.
The tour includes an interactive beer course and a tasting of five types of beer. You think about it, but I think you should definitely sign up.
Tips for visiting Brussels in two days
Buying the Brussels Card is a great way to get around the city in two days. It gives you free entry to 49 museums and monuments in Brussels and saves you a few euros.
The Brussels Card also gives you discounts in shops, restaurants and bars. Among other things, it includes entry to the Belgian Comic Strip Centre and the Cinquantenaire Museum. It will also offer you discounts on other attractions, such as the Mini-Europe with up to 35% savings.
On the other hand, to speed up your journeys and get to the city's main monuments, I recommend you book a seat on the Brussels Toot tourist bus, with which you will be able to get around in the greatest comfort, while still learning about the city as you go. If you don't want to miss anything, you should take into account the option of using the tourist buses to gain comfort and time.