In the past year, Brussels – the capital of Belgium – has grown massively in Popularity. It is about time too; for too long it has been overlooked in favour of Paris and Amsterdam. I’ve never understood this. The Belgian capital is filled with Gothic squares, tasty restaurants, plenty of artistic charm and more waffles than anyone could ever eat in a weekend. From my experience, 48 hours in Brussels is the optimum time. It gives you a window to indulge in Belgian specialities and to soak up the atmosphere.
Here is my quick guide covering everything you need to know, do and see over a weekend in Brussels. Enjoy.
48 Hours in Brussels | Your Quick Guide
Getting to Brussels
Brussels is extremely well connected. If you are travelling from the UK you have two main options; by plane or by Eurostar.
In terms of price, you’re probably better off with the flight. The city has two major airports (Brussels Airport – Zaventem, and Brussels South Charleroi Airport) and these almost exclusively host budget airlines. Brussels Airport in particular is also only a 20 minute train journey from the centre of the city.
However, for convenience you can’t really beat the Eurostar. You’ll arrive at Brussels Midi, right in the heart of the city, where you can quickly get to your hotel. I have always thought that the city is very walkable; don’t think of it as a Paris or a London. There are also trams and buses to cover longer distances if you are going out of the historic centre.
Where to Stay in Brussels
You have plenty of options of where to stay in Brussels, but I’d recommend staying in the historic centre. All of the major attractions are within a walkable radius and it will be easy to explore.
Here are some of my best recommendations to suit a range of travellers.
| Accommodation Type | Hotel or Self-Catering | Accommodation |
| Budget | Self-Catering | Studio Tintin |
| Midrange | Hotel | Hotel Fleur de Ville |
| Luxury | Hotel | Hotel Amigo |
Day One in Brussels: The Old Town
Early Morning: Grand Place & Surroundings
In Brussels, you need to start your day with a morning coffee and a pastry. There are so many cosy cafés dotted around the Old Town and you can’t really go wrong. I do of course advocate a croissant or other pastry to get you going.
Your first stop needs to be the Grand Place. This is the heart of the city and has to be one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. This square has so much history including the famous Old Hall and the King’s House. It isn’t hard to see why this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but this does mean it gets busy here quickly. My advice would be to get here as early as possible to avoid the tours which run here continually.
Nearby is another iconic site of Brussels, though arguably not what you’d expect as a first-time visitor. Mannekin Pis is a very cheeky little statue and it has become a true symbol of the city. The surrounding area is also quite fun; I always find myself enjoying a waffle at this point.
Late Morning: Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert & Chocolate Tasting
Just down the road from Grand Place is the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert. This is one of Europe’s oldest covered shopping arcades. Inside you have plenty of boutiques and cafés to explore. There’s not much else other than this, it is just a really pretty place to see and somewhere to explore.
One thing to try though is the famous Belgian chocolate. In the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert you have some of the best chocolatiers in the country. Neuhaus, Pierre Marcolini and Leonidas operate shops here
Next, head to the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, one of Europe’s oldest covered shopping arcades. Its glass-roofed galleries are home to elegant boutiques, cafés, and theaters.
This is also the perfect spot for your first Belgian chocolate tasting. Brussels is synonymous with chocolate, and some of the best chocolatiers—Neuhaus, Pierre Marcolini, and Leonidas—have shops here. Treat yourself to pralines or truffles and savor the craftsmanship that Belgium is famous for.
Lunch
If you’re still hungry after your chocolate tasting, then the area around Grand Place has plenty of places to enjoy Belgian classics. Of course, you have the famous moules-frites (mussels served with fries), but you also have a range of classic Brasserie dishes such as stoofvlees (beef stew in a beer sauce) or waterzooi (a creamy chicken / fish stew).
My advice is to not eat right on / near Grand Place. There is a premium for super touristy places and it is often cheaper to go elsewhere. Some recommendations are Chez Charles, a bit further afield but has very good food, and The Lobster House – a pricier option but the fresh fruit de mer is incredible.
Afternoon
In the afternoon, take a train to Saint Giles or Ixelles neighbourhoods. It doesn’t matter which one you pick; both have excellent examples of Art Nouveau architecture. The city is famous for this and many of the old buildings are simply beautiful. You can also peruse the shops and cafés if you want.
Equidistant between the two neighbourhoods is the Horta Museum. This is dedicated to Victor Horta, the visionary architect who designed many buildings in this Art Nouveau style. The museum is just beautiful and is well-worth your time.
The museum is open from 14:00 -17:30 on weekdays, and from 11:00 – 17:30 on weekends, so make sure you time it carefully. The prices also range, but adults cost €14.00, students/ seniors cost €6.00 and children €3.50.
Evening
For the evening, I would recommend a delicious beer in Delirium Café, with over 2,000 beers on tap. I was completely spoilt for choice when we went here, but it was the perfect way to end the day.
Depending on the time of the year, why not head back through Grand Place? The square is arguably more beautiful at night.
Day Two in Brussels: Parks, Politics & Culture
Morning
Begin your day with some breakfast. Of course, you can have a pastry again, or maybe enjoy some brunch. Lloyd Coffee Eatery is a great choice for this.
After food, take the metro to the Heysel neighbourhood to visit the Atomium. Built in 1958, this represents an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times! There are exhibitions to explore and some fantastic views of the city.
In the same vicinity is Little Europe, which is the ultimate miniature village on a large scale. Whilst that may not sound exciting, the attention to detail is immaculate and there are plenty of interesting designs bringing many attractions alive. My favourite though as to be the Colosseum.
Lunch
For lunch, you have a few options. Nearby to the Atomium there are plenty of restaurants to choose from if you want a sit down meal.
I would actually recommend catching the Metro to back to the old town. If you are about on the weekend, have an explore of the local markets in this area. The Flagey Market in particular gets plenty of fresh food and runs some delicious food trucks. Alternatively, enjoy a brasserie lunch.
Afternoon
Aside from gothic architecture, Brussels is most famous for its modern role as the capital of the European Union. No trip is complete without seeing the European Quarter to see the European Parliament and Commission buildings. The best way to enjoy this is through a guided tour of the Parlamentarium where you can learn about the EU and the respective politics.
Nearby is also Parc du Cinquantenaire, a grand park featuring a triumphal arch and plenty of museums. You could spend the time exploring the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces, or the Art and History Museum. The park itself is a great place for a leisurely stroll.
After, take a Metro to the Sablon district. This area of the city is known for the antiques you can find and the Art Museum. Nearby is the famous Mont des Arts, which has to be one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the city. If you are looking for a perfect sunset seat in Brussels, this is it.
Alternatively, you could also follow the Comic Strip Trail. Brussels is obviously the birthplace of the famous Tintin and the route celebrates this. You can follow the murals through the different neighbourhoods and see things off of the beaten track. I think that this is a really fun thing to do, but you might need to dedicate the entire afternoon for this. You can find details of the Comic Strip Trail on the Visit Brussels website.
Evening
For your last evening in Brussels, I would honestly recommend heading to the Old Town and indulging yourself in waffles. Belgaufra is a top recommendation; the waffles are very tasty.
Final Thoughts | 48 Hours in Brussels
Brussels is a small, but very underrated, city. I think that 48 hours in Brussels is probably the perfect amount of time, but you could easily spend a bit longer if you wanted to; there are plenty of day trips. I hope that you found this quick guide useful and if you have any questions, just let me know. I always love hearing from you.
