The Ultimate Guide for a Weekend in Brussels, Belgium
Brussels is a great city to go to on a weekend break, at anytime of the year this city is beautiful.
I went to Brussels for 3 days in Febuary of 2022 and I was so pleasantly surprised with how pretty the city is and how it is bursting with things to do.
In this blog I will be giving a run down on how to spend a weekend in Brussels, from things to do, to where to stay and where you should go to eat.
So, this is my ultimate guide to a weekend in Brussels!
Things To Do:
- The Exhibition Hub
This art gallery offers immersive art experiences, which is a super cool activity even if you aren’t big into art.
While we were in Brussels, the Klimt immersive exhibition was available while we were visiting but this can change every few months.
Projections showcase art from Klimt on huge screens, which is absolutely breathtaking to see.
The gallery also offers a virtual reality experience along with the exhibition, which is definitely worth doing.
This art gallery is located at Rue Du Marché Aux Herbes 116 Galerie Horta and is open from 10.30am to 6pm everyday.
- Atomium
This landmark was constructed as a centrepiece of the 1958 Brussel’s World Fair and is now a popular tourist attraction.
Not only does it offer the most beautiful views of Brussels, but the experience that is created by light art inside the museum is amazing.
The Atomium is opened from 6pm to 8pm everyday and costs €16 per person to enter.
Although it is slightly outside the city centre you can get a metro directly from the centre to the Atomium entrance.
- Mini Europe
Directly next to the Atomium is another popular tourist attraction known as Mini Europe, which is a mini land that is made up of the countries within the European Union.
Although I wouldn’t go all this way out of the city for this experience alone, going to the Atomium and Mini Europe in the same trip was a nice way to spend the afternoon.
Entry into Mini Europe starts from €19 per person and the attraction is open 9.30am-5pm everyday.
- The Royal Palace
A free and friendly activity to do while in Brussels is head out to the Royal Palace and walk around the grounds of this beautiful building.
This is the official palace to the King and Queen of Belgium, however, they do not reside here.
As we went in February, we were not allowed inside the Palace, however, each summer the palace opens its doors to the public.
Even if you cannot enter the palace, it is still worth heading over here to see the beautiful architecture of this building.
- Brussels Park
Located right at the foot of the Royal Palace is Brussels Park, which is a stunning green area that is perfect for a stroll in nature.
While we were here work was being done to the park but it was still a beautiful area to walk around and get out of the city for a brief period.
- Grand Palace
This is the central square of Brussls, and is home to the most beautiful architecture in the city.
In this square you will find opulent Baroque guildhalls of the former Guilds of Brussels, two larger edifices, the city’s Flamboyant Town Hall, and the neo-Gothic King’s House of Bread House building, and the Brussels City Museum.
There is so much that surrounds the Grand Palace, including some of the most amazing shops, chocolate factories and restaurants.
- Botanical Garden
Brussels has one of the most beautiful Botanical Gardens I have ever been to. It is a large green area, that is so beautiful to walk around and explore.
The Botanical Garden is also located near Rue Neuve, which is the shopping street in Brussels, so after some shopping, you could head over to take in the gardens beauty.
- European Parliament
You can enter the European Parliament for free and tour around the building to see the premises.
If you are interested in politics, this could be a great activity for you to do, but even if you aren’t is is very interesting and might be worth a trip over to see this building.
Where To Stay:
We stayed in the Vintage Hotel Brussels, which was a very basic 3 star hotel but we really loved it.
It is located in Saint-Gilles which is really close to the major shopping district, as well as only a 20 minute walk from the Grand Palace. We walk everywhere, so we didn’t mind that it was a little outside the main centre.
Vintage Hotel Brussels, Bruselas – Precios actualizados 2023 (booking.com)
This hotel was €214 between us for 3 nights, which was very reasonable compared to other places we priced at the time.
Other hotels we considered staying at were:
- The Scott Hotel Brussels
- Motel One Brussels
- Aris Grand Place Hotel
- Le Berger Hotel
- Beverly Hills Hotel
All these hotels were in and around the same price as the Vintage Hotel Brussels when we were booking our accomodation for this trip, but it all depends on the time of year you are going.
Where To Eat/Drink:
- Lloyds Coffee Eatery – Really yummy breakfast and coffee
- Maison Dandoy – Best waffles and butter biscuits
- La Pharmacie Anglaise – Super cool cocktail bar designed in the style of an old library
- The Wolf Market – Amazing street food
- Nona – Two separate restaurants, one only serves pasta and only only serves pizza
- Nomade Cupcakes – Delicious dessert
- Chicago Cafe – Great lunch and breakfast
- Maison Antoine – For frites
- Bouche – Great coffee
- Rictotta and Parmesan – Some of the best Italian food I have ever tasted
- Cafe Tiera – Really tasty breakfast
So, that is how I spent a weekend in Brussels! I think 3 days is a perfect amount of time to spend in this city, although it is big, you can fit it all in within a weekend.
I hope you enjoyed this blog and let me know in the comments if you use any of these recommendations.
