Brussels

Grand-Place

Few European squares are as beautiful as the Grand-Place, with its opulent baroque guildhalls & private homes.

Royal Library of Belgium

The Royal Library is where the illuminated-manuscripts collection of the Dukes of Burgundy shines.

Magritte Museum

The Magritte Museum celebrates the life & work of the acclaimed surrealist painter René Magritte.

Train World

Dedicated to the history of the Belgian railways, Train World is one of the best museums in Brussels for families.

Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium

The Old Masters Museum is a must-see (and therefore my children totally hate it).

Hôtel Solvay

The most luxurious of four major townhouses designed by the noted art-nouveau architect Victor Horta.

Autoworld

Museum retracing the history of the automobile from its birth in the 19th century to the modern age.

Atomium

The main pavilion of the Universal Exposition of 1958, the Atomium is Belgium’s most iconic landmark.

Royal Museum for Central Africa

Decolonized ethnological museum that is mainly about the former Belgian Congo.

Gaasbeek Castle

One hour away from Brussels’ city centre, Gaasbeek Castle is a fine example of Renaissance Revival architecture.

Art & History Museum

Museum of antiquities and ethnographic & decorative arts.

Autrique House

Art-nouveau house by architect Victor Horta.

BELvue Museum

Museum dedicated to Belgium & its history.

Bibliotheca Wittockiana

Book arts & bookbinding museum.

Bigg Cake

Cozy café serving good coffee & a wide variety of cakes.

Bozar

Cultural venue by architect Victor Horta.

Cauchie House

Art-nouveau house by architect Paul Cauchie.

Charlier Museum

Museum featuring Belgian art from the 19th century.

City Hall

Brabantine Gothic city hall.

Comics Art Museum

Museum dedicated to comic-strip art.

Design Museum Brussels

Fashion & Lace Museum

Halle Gate

Museum about the medieval city of Brussels.

Horta Museum

Museum dedicated to art-nouveau architect Victor Horta.

House of European History

Museum about the continent’s recent history & the European integration process.

Jewish Museum of Belgium

Closed for renovation until 2028.

Kanal

Museum for modern & contemporary art.

Koekelberg Basilica

One of the largest art-deco buildings in the world.

Maison Antoine

Classic Belgian fries, since 1948.

Maison Hannon

Art-nouveau house by architect Jules Brunfaut.

Manneken Pis

Statue of a small boy urinating into a fountain’s basin.

Meunier Museum

Museum dedicated to painter & sculptor Constantin Meunier.

MOOF Museum

Smurfs & other collectibles from vintage cartoons.

Museum of Ixelles

Belgian art of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.

Museum of Natural Sciences

Natural history museum.

Museum of the City of Brussels

Local history museum.

Museum of the National Bank of Belgium

Museum about money & the role of central banks.

Musical Instruments Museum

Restaurant Le Cirio

Traditional Belgian brasserie in art-nouveau style, est. 1886.

Restaurant Les Brigittines

Belgian cuisine.

Royal Galleries of St Hubert

19th-century shopping centre.

Royal Military Museum

Not the most exciting military museum in Europe.

Royal Palace of Brussels

Open to the public every summer.

Sewer Museum

Museum explaining the function & history of the Brussels sewer system.

St Michael & St Gudula Cathedral

Brabantine Gothic cathedral.

Stoclet Palace

Lavish stately home by architect Josef Hoffman (not open to visitors).

Temple of Human Passions

Victor Horta’s ‘marble brothel’, housing Jef Lambeaux’s relief The Human Passions.

Tram Museum

Public transport museum.

Van Buuren Museum & Gardens

Amsterdam School house with an art-deco interior.

Villa Empain

Art-deco villa by architect Josef Hoffman.

Waterloo Memorial

Memorial commemorating the Battle of Waterloo.

Wiertz Museum

Museum dedicated to painter & sculptor Antoine Wiertz.