Is Brussels Worth Visiting? My Honest Review After Exploring the City

Is Brussels worth visiting? After exploring the city for one day, two days and several days at a time, here’s my honest answer, including who I think will love it, who may not, how long to stay and what makes the city worth your time.

This post may contain affiliate links. Check out my Disclosure & Privacy Policy for more information.

Brussels is the city I kept getting wrong.

On my first trip in 2018, I saw Grand-Place, joined the crowd around Manneken Pis and then moved on to Bruges and Ghent feeling like I’d seen all I needed to see.

A quick Manneken Pis pic and I was off…

Candidly, Brussels did not win me over immediately.

It felt bigger, busier and much less ‘aesthetic’ than the medievally-blessed cities I was using it to reach.

But I kept coming back.

I’ve now experienced Brussels for one day, two days and a few days at a time. I’ve followed the Comic Strip Walk, spent time in Matongé, wandered the antiques market in Sablon, sat in cafés, got cosy in its museums and stayed long enough to see how different the city feels after the day-trip crowds leave.

And my opinion on Brussels has changed a lifetime since then.

So, is Brussels worth visiting? Yes—especially for a weekend. But not because it offers the seamless prettiness of Bruges or the instantly likeable waterfront of Ghent.

Brussels is worth visiting because its best parts keep contradicting one another: medieval wealth, Belgian surrealism, Congolese food, Art Nouveau, comic art, European politics, flea markets, beer halls and one genuinely extraordinary square, all occupying the same capital. And that’s worth the explore.

With that said, here’s my honest review of who would enjoy Brussels, who it may not be for and how to plan a Brussels trip that goes beyond Grand-Place.

Shall we?

About the Author

Hi, I’m Candace — a London-based travel writer and content creator who traded the East Coast of the US for the charm of the UK back in 2016. London’s been my home ever since.

On this blog, you’ll find hundreds of thoughtfully crafted London, UK, Europe and Worldwide travel guides alongside lots of insider London tips, honest hotel and restaurant reviews and advice for content creators.

P.S. – For more trip inspiration, travel videos, and behind-the-scenes adventures, be sure to follow along (and say hello, if you fancy) on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.

🗞️📺 As featured on the BBC, USA Today & Recipe.TV.

Quick Overview: Is Brussels Worth Visiting?

Is Brussels Worth Visiting?

Yes, Brussels is worth visiting—particularly if you give it two days and explore beyond Grand-Place and Manneken Pis.

In my opinion, you’d enjoy the city if you like museums, food, urban history, architecture, neighbourhoods and places that go beyond pretty postcard towns, like Bruges.

But honestly, I think Brussels has to fight for its reputation in large part because it’s often judged against the wrong destination.

Brussels is not just Bruges with more museums. It’s a working, multilingual capital with contrasts everywhere you look—UNESCO-listed squares sit beside busy shopping streets, incredible Art Nouveau houses hide just outside the tourist centre, and major European institutions occupy the city alongside old guildhouses.

With that said, if you arrive expecting all of Brussels to resemble Grand-Place, the city will disappoint you. But if you come with an open mind and an expectation to move between several versions of a real city on your trip, Brussels becomes far more rewarding in my opinion.

My honest verdict: Brussels isn’t the ‘prettiest’ Belgian city from beginning to end, but it’s absolutely the most varied—two days here give you enough time to discover it beyond assumptions.

Why Opinions on Brussels Are So Divided

If you’ve ever searched “is Brussels worth visiting”, or asked someone you know, you’ll most likely have found everything from “skip it completely” to “give it three days”.

I understand both.

Here’s the thing. Most visitors arrive at Brussels-Midi/Zuid Station, head straight to Grand-Place, see Manneken Pis and compare the entire experience with Bruges or Ghent.

With that route, of course Brussels will feel like the less attractive city. And that was certainly true for me.

But longer visits will give you a different side of Brussels: filled with comic murals, Art Nouveau, museums, markets, Matongé, Sablon, cafés and the European Quarter.

In other words, the disagreement isn’t only about taste, but often about how much of Brussels someone actually saw.

The solution? See more of it than the average Grand-Place tourist.

Honest Rankings From My Brussels Visits

Reasons Brussels Is Worth Visiting

1. Grand-Place Really Is That Beautiful

Brussels may be inconsistent, but Grand-Place is definitely not overhyped (minus the crowds if you come at peak hours).

The square was first known in 1174, when it was called the ‘Nedermarckt’ or Lower Market. In the 15th century, the Gothic Brussels Town Hall took shape, while the merchants and guilds that made Brussels wealthy built around the commercial centre.

Most of the square burned during the French bombardment of August 1695. But the Town Hall’s façade and tower survived, along with a small number of stone walls. The surrounding houses were rebuilt in 1697 and 1698.

The result is the tightly and beautifully composed ring of gilded guildhouses, sculpted façades, the King’s House and the Town Hall tower you see now.

It’s been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998, and is definitely a place I’d make time to see both in the morning and after dark.

It’s the most obvious reason Brussels is worth visiting, but it shouldn’t be the last.

For everything I’d do after seeing the Grand-Place, use my best things to do in Brussels guide.

2. Brussels Gets Better Once You Leave Its Two Famous Sights

The mistake I made on my first visit was treating Grand-Place and Manneken Pis as a complete summary of Brussels.

They are absolutely not. And the Comic Strip Walk will show you why.

The first official mural appeared in 1991, and the route now includes more than 80 works, with Tintin, the Smurfs, Lucky Luke and plenty of characters to discover stretched across apartment blocks, cafés and streets you’d never think to wander without them (but you’ll be glad you did).

Named after a district in Kinshasa, the Matongé neighbourhood is closely connected to Brussels’ Congolese community and the long and deeply problematic history between Belgium and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Here you’ll find plenty of shops, salons, galleries and restaurants around Chaussée de Wavre and the Ixelles and Porte de Namur galleries, all telling a completely different story from what you’ll see in the historic centre.

Then there’s the Marolles. Its daily Place du Jeu de Balle flea market moved onto the square in 1873 and still fills with old photographs, furniture, records, clothes, crockery and the occasional object whose purpose is anybody’s guess.

Along the Art Nouveau route through Saint-Gilles and Ixelles, Brussels changes again. Victor Horta completed Tassel House in 1893. Now considered a founding work of Brussels Art Nouveau, it’s one of hundreds of buildings from the movement still found across the city.

Here, the Horta Museum occupies his former house and studio, built between 1898 and 1901, with mosaics, stained glass, wall decoration and furniture preserved.

3. The Museum Choice Here Is Genuinely Excellent

Brussels is an amazing museum city, with truly a little bit of everything.

The Old Masters Museum, part of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, spans the 15th to the 18th centuries. This is where I’d go for Bruegel’s The Fall of the Rebel Angels and The Census at Bethlehem, alongside Rubens, Van Dyck, Bosch, Memling and Jordaens.

The neighbouring Magritte Museum puts Belgian surrealism at the centre of your visit. A few minutes away, the Musical Instruments Museum brings together more than 7,000 instruments, with around 1,200 displayed across four floors inside the former Old England department store—one of Brussels’ most recognisable Art Nouveau buildings.

Comic Art Museum

For something distinctly Brussels, choose the Comic Art Museum. It opened in 1989 inside the Waucquez warehouse, a 1906 Victor Horta building originally used to sell textiles and the last surviving semi-industrial building he designed. Or choose the Brussels City Museum on Grand-Place for the city’s history and the original Manneken Pis.

And in the European Quarter, you can visit the free Parlamentarium, European Parliament Hemicycle and House of European History for an up-close look at politics and modern European history.

4. The Food and Drink Scene Is More Than Belgian Treats

Le Bistro & traditional Belgian cuisine!

Let’s start with the obvious: yes, you should eat the chocolate, fries, croquettes and waffles.

But the Brussels food scene goes beyond a checklist.

Have one traditional meal at Au Vieux Saint Martin in Sablon, open since 1968 and serving a filet américain recipe dating to 1924. Or wander further for the best of traditional Belgian cuisine at Le Bistro in Porte de Hal.

Brussels’ international food scene is part of the reason to leave the centre too. L’Horloge du Sud in Matongé is an African restaurant and cultural venue, with divine food, talks, music and neighbourhood events under one roof.

The café scene deserves your time as well. Go to BOUCHE Specialty Coffee for an incredible local cup, BARKBOY for coffee and a side of handmade buns and chunky cookies, or The Unusual for hot chocolate made with real melt-in-your-mouth Belgian chocolate.

Or let my best cafés in Brussels guide lead a day of café-hopping.

Then, onto the beer scene. The city offers everything from the vast selection at Delirium Village to Belgian Beer World inside La Bourse, with its beer exhibition, tasting and rooftop view.

And if you want food and history handled in one go, this Brussels city-centre food tour with tastings is the one I’d choose.

P.S. – Read my where to eat in Brussels guide for all my recommendations!

5. Brussels Is One of Europe’s Easiest Weekend Trips by Train

For travellers coming from London, Paris or Amsterdam, Brussels is unusually convenient.

The direct Eurostar from London reaches Brussels-Midi/Zuid Station in under two hours of train time (my Eurostar to Brussels guide covers the full journey, station details and what to expect).

You can also compare London to Brussels trains, Paris to Brussels trains and Amsterdam to Brussels trains before your trip.

Once you arrive, Grand-Place is just a short onward journey from Brussels-Midi and most of the historic centre is walkable from Brussels-Central Station.

Brussels also makes a practical base for the rest of Belgium. Bruges and Ghent are both easy by train, but read my best day trips from Brussels guide for all my recommendations.

Full Transparency: The Downsides of Brussels

Brussels Is Not Beautiful Everywhere

Grand-Place is magnificent. Some of the surrounding streets are not.

Brussels can move quickly from ornate architecture to a heavy tourist centre, office blocks, construction, traffic or streets that feel noticeably scruffier than the one before it. And the areas around major train stations can make especially poor first impressions.

I don’t think that makes Brussels bad, but it does mean the city lacks the visual consistency that makes other destinations like Bruges or Ghent so effortless to enjoy.

The Tourist Centre Can Give You a Very Generic Trip

If you spend your entire day between Grand-Place, Manneken Pis, souvenir chocolate shops and the busiest restaurant streets, Brussels may feel like one large tourist area attached to a train station.

That’s not because the city has nothing else to offer. But many of the places that make Brussels interesting require you to choose them deliberately.

It’s Hillier and More Spread Out Than It Looks

Although the historic centre is compact, climbing towards Mont des Arts, the Royal Palace and Sablon is more effort than Google Maps suggests.

Matongé, the European Quarter, the Horta Museum and the Atomium will also pull you outside the tight central loop, so make sure to get a quick rundown on Brussels public transport. You can tap in on all the buses and trams here with your bank card, phone or smartwatch—so no need to buy tickets.

Some Famous Attractions Are More Amusing Than Impressive

Let’s talk about it. Manneken Pis is very small. And underwhelming. But I still think you should see it once.

Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder created the bronze statue in 1619, and the original is now protected inside the Brussels City Museum, so the figure surrounded by phones outside is a copy. His costumes, folklore and strange level of fame are unmistakably Brussels, but don’t build your expectations around a monumental sight.

Walk over, have your “is that it?” moment, then continue into the comic murals and the rest of the city.

Who Will Enjoy Brussels?

It’s not all doom-and-gloom. Here’s who I think would love Brussels.

• Museum lovers who want a city with several strong collections vs. one headline gallery.
• Food-focused travellers interested in Belgian dishes, chocolate, beer, cafés and Brussels’ international communities.
• Architecture fans for the Grand-Place, Art Nouveau and the city’s more unusual contrasts.
• Travellers coming by train from London, Paris, Amsterdam or elsewhere in Belgium for an easy city break.
• Travellers who prefer a working capital, where government buildings, neighbourhood restaurants and nightlife sit with the historic attractions (vs. just a pretty European town).
• Anyone planning a wider Belgium trip who wants an easy base for Bruges, Ghent and other day trips.

Who Might Want to Skip Brussels—or Keep It Short?

• You only have time for one Belgian city and your main priority is canals, medieval streets and immediate prettiness.
• You dislike busy capitals, mixed architecture and neighbourhoods that require public transport.
• You want your entire trip to feel calm, romantic and small-scale.
• You’re not especially interested in museums, food, beer, comics, architecture or European politics.

In that case, Bruges may be the better first choice, or Ghent for a middle ground between a lived-in city and postcard European beauty.

Read my Bruges or Ghent comparison if you’re deciding between the two.

How Many Days Do You Need in Brussels?

One Day in Brussels

One day is enough for Grand-Place, Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, Manneken Pis, a central section of the Comic Strip Walk, Mont des Arts and one museum or neighbourhood.

It’s a good introduction, but it risks leaving Brussels feeling like you saw a collection of central sights. Use my one-day Brussels itinerary to make the route more interesting than a quick photo stop.

Two Days in Brussels

Two days is my recommendation for a first trip.

You can use the first day for the historic centre, food and one museum, then use the second for Sablon, Matongé, the European Quarter, a market or the Royal Quarter.

Read More: My Brussels weekend itinerary.

Three Days or More

With three days, add the Atomium and Design Museum, a longer Art Nouveau route, several museums or a full day trip from Brussels.

A week in Brussels would be too long, in my opinion, for first-time tourists if your plan is only central sightseeing. But it can work well if Brussels is your base for a slower Belgium trip, a work stay or several rail day trips from the city centre.

Is Brussels Worth Visiting for a Day?

Yes. Brussels is worth visiting for a day if that’s the time you have, particularly from another Belgian city or on an early train from London or Paris.

Just keep your expectations realistic. Although a day gives you the famous centre and one extra layer, it does not give you enough time for the historic centre plus the Atomium, European Quarter, Art Nouveau, Matongé and several museums.

P.S. – If Bruges is your real priority, use Brussels as your arrival point and follow my Brussels to Bruges day-trip guide.

Is Brussels Worth Visiting With Kids?

Yes, but I would build the trip differently from an adults-only museum weekend.

The Comic Strip Walk can turn your sightseeing into a mural hunt, while the Comic Art Museum gives the characters and artists more context and a fun indoor activity on your trip.

This Belgian chocolate-making workshop is a nice hands-on alternative to another gallery, and the Atomium and Mini-Europe make an easy family pairing away from the historic centre.

The House of European History also has some family bits and materials, so the European Quarter doesn’t have to feel like an adults-only EU lesson.

Is Brussels Worth Visiting in December?

Yes—December is one of the easiest times to appreciate the beauty of Brussels.

The annual Winter Wonders programme brings Christmas markets, lights, food stalls, rides and seasonal events through Grand-Place and the surrounding city centre.

But there are also plenty of covered and indoor places when the winter weather hits: from Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert to museums, churches, chocolate shops, cafés and Belgian Beer World.

The trade-off is cold, short days and busy central streets, so I would use daylight for neighbourhoods and outdoor sights, then return to Grand-Place and Winter Wonders after dark.

Is Brussels Worth Visiting From Amsterdam?

Yes! Especially as an overnight stay or weekend.

Direct trains connect Amsterdam and Brussels in around two hours, which makes the cities easy to combine. But I wouldn’t automatically turn Brussels into a same-day return from Amsterdam unless you’re comfortable with a long day and a very early start.

Is Brussels Expensive?

Brussels can be expensive around Grand-Place, particularly for central hotels, sit-down meals and tourist-focused chocolate shops. But it doesn’t have to be an expensive city break from morning to night.

Grand-Place, the Comic Strip Walk, Mont des Arts, Brussels Park, the Marolles flea market and neighbourhood wandering are free. The Parlamentarium, Hemicycle and House of European History are also free, although you should check current access requirements before arriving (like bringing your passport).

For a useful current benchmark, a contactless STIB/MIVB journey costs from €2.40 and daily contactless spending is capped at €8.50. Adult admission is currently €13 at the Old Masters Museum and €14 at the Comic Art Museum. Check again before your trip, but just to give you a realistic base vs. thinking every Brussels museum costs €20.

You can control the rest by choosing one paid museum, using public transport only when needed and eating at cafés, markets or casual food stops between one proper Belgian meal.

In other words, it all depends on what you choose to experience!

Is Brussels Safe?

Brussels is a major European capital, and I would approach it with the same awareness I use in London, Paris or any busy city.

Keep your phone and valuables secure around crowded tourist areas, public transport and the main train stations. Don’t engage with strangers trying to ‘sell you a bracelet’, flowers or a petition and overall—keep your wits about you.

Brussels-Midi Station is also much less polished than the historic centre, so I’d avoid standing outside with your phone and luggage here while working out where to go.

Read my Brussels travel tips for more practical bits before your trip.

Is Brussels or Bruges Better to Visit?

I won’t say one is better than the next, but I will say it depends.

Choose Brussels for museums, food, comic art, nightlife, neighbourhoods, Art Nouveau, European history and a larger city break.

Choose Bruges for canals, medieval streets, a smaller historic centre and the strongest immediate “I’m in Belgium” feeling.

If this is your first Belgium trip and you have enough time, I would not choose one. Spend two days in Brussels, then add Bruges and Ghent.

If you genuinely only have one day, read my honest Bruges review alongside this one and decide whether you want beauty and canals or variety and a capital-city experience.

Where to Stay in Brussels

For a first trip, I would stay close enough to the historic centre that you can return to your hotel between sightseeing and dinner.

I stayed at and recommend NH Collection Brussels Centre, a grand historic hotel on Boulevard Adolphe Max with stylish rooms, a delicious rooftop breakfast and central Brussels within easy walking distance.

It’s a short walk or tram from all of Brussels’ main historic sights and works especially well for staying out later, seeing Grand-Place after dark and returning to a comfortable hotel without crossing the city.

Read my full NH Collection Brussels Centre review for more, or compare areas and hotels in my guide to the best hotels near Brussels Central Station.

What I’d Book Before Visiting Brussels

• The historical Brussels tour with chocolate and waffle tastings for a guided first introduction to the city centre.
• The Brussels city-centre food tour if food matters more to you than fitting in another museum.
• The Belgian chocolate-making workshop for a hands-on afternoon or family activity.
• Belgian Beer World tickets if you want the beer exhibition, tasting and rooftop view inside the former Stock Exchange.
• The full-day Bruges and Ghent tour from Brussels only if Brussels is your base and your wider Belgium schedule is very tight.

Personally, I’d choose just one or two for your trip!

Final Thoughts: Is Brussels Worth Visiting?

The first time I visited Brussels, I did not appreciate it.

I saw Grand-Place, photographed Manneken Pis and moved on to prettier cities waiting farther along the train line.

But coming back for longer truly changed the city for me.

I followed comic-book characters through ordinary streets, spent time in Matongé, browsed markets, sat in cafés, went beyond the first museum that appeared on Google and stopped asking Brussels to look like Bruges.

That’s when it became worth visiting.

Brussels is not a flawless city break. It can be scruffy, busy, uneven and strangely difficult to summarise. But that also means it has more substance than the quick stopover people often allow it.

Give it one day and you’ll see an extraordinary square. Give it two and you may finally see the city.

Have the best trip.

Happy travels,

Candace x

FAQ: Is Brussels Worth Visiting?

Is Brussels worth visiting?

Yes. Brussels is worth visiting for Grand-Place, museums, Belgian food and beer, comic art, Art Nouveau, Matongé, markets and the European Quarter. I recommend two days for a first trip so you can see both the historic centre and a less obvious part of the city.

Is Brussels boring?

Brussels can feel boring if your entire visit is Grand-Place, Manneken Pis and a generic tourist restaurant. It becomes far more interesting when you add the Comic Strip Walk, Matongé, Sablon, the Marolles market, Art Nouveau, museums or the European Quarter.

How many days do you need in Brussels?

Two days is ideal for a first trip. One day covers the main centre and one museum or neighbourhood, while three days give you time for the Atomium, Art Nouveau, more museums or a day trip.

Is Brussels worth visiting for a day?

Yes. Use one day for Grand-Place, Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, Manneken Pis, part of the Comic Strip Walk, Mont des Arts and one extra museum or neighbourhood. Use my one-day Brussels itinerary for a full route.

What is Brussels known for?

Brussels is known for Grand-Place, Manneken Pis, Belgian chocolate and beer, comic art, Art Nouveau and major European Union institutions. It’s also Belgium’s capital and home to the Royal Palace, federal government and several important museums.

Is Brussels worth visiting with kids?

Yes. The Comic Strip Walk, Comic Art Museum, chocolate workshops, Atomium and Mini-Europe are the easiest for families, I’d say. The House of European History also has family activities and trails for a lovely family day out.

Is Brussels worth visiting in December?

Yes, especially for the Winter Wonders programme, Christmas markets and Grand-Place after dark. Expect cold weather and short days, and keep museums, covered galleries, cafés and Belgian Beer World saved in your plan.

Is Brussels expensive for tourists?

Central hotels, restaurants and tourist chocolate shops can be expensive, but many major experiences are free. Taking in sights and activities like the Grand-Place, the Comic Strip Walk, parks, markets and the European Parliament visitor sites can all keep your trip affordable.

Is Brussels safe for tourists?

Yes, if you keep your wits about you and exercise normal big city precautions. Brussels is a busy capital, so watch your belongings, especially in crowded tourist areas, on public transport and around major train stations, and don’t engage with strangers offering you things like flowers, petitions or bracelets.

Is Brussels walkable?

The historic city centre is walkable, but Brussels is hillier and more spread out than it appears. Use public transport for Matongé, the European Quarter, Art Nouveau areas or the Atomium when your walking stops being enjoyable…

Is Brussels or Bruges better?

Brussels is better for museums, food, neighbourhoods, nightlife, comic art and a larger city break. Bruges is better for canals, medieval architecture and immediate beauty. If possible, visit both rather than treating them as substitutes.

Is Brussels worth visiting from Amsterdam?

Yes. Direct trains take around two hours, making Brussels incredibly easy to combine with Amsterdam. With that said, I would stay at least one night rather than doing a rushed same-day return, unless your schedule is extremely tight.

Is Brussels worth visiting in winter?

Definitely, if you’re happy to build the trip around museums, cafés, covered galleries and Belgian food. In late November and December, you’ll get the festive atmosphere of Winter Wonders. In January and February, it’s quieter—but more likely to be colder, darker and greyer on your visit.

What is the best month to visit Brussels?

Late spring and early autumn are the best for sightseeing in Brussels without relying entirely on indoor plans. December is best for Christmas markets and Winter Wonders, and summer is best for longer days, parks and seasonal access to places like the Royal Palace.

Plan the rest of your Brussels trip

Still planning? Here’s more of my Brussels guides to help you decide where to stay, what to book and how to make the most of your trip.

Before you book

• Is Brussels Worth Visiting? My Honest Review After Exploring the City
• Brussels Tips: Everything to Know Before Your Trip

Brussels itineraries and day trips

• One Day in Brussels: My Perfect Brussels Day Trip Itinerary
• My Brussels Weekend Itinerary: How I’d Spend 2 Days in the City
• Eurostar to Brussels from London: Travel Time, Tickets and What to Expect
• The Best Day Trips from Brussels by Train: Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and More
• The Perfect Day Trip from Brussels to Bruges: Train, Tours & My Itinerary
• Brussels to Ghent by Train: My Experience, Ticket Tips & Day Trip Guide
• How to Visit Groot-Bijgaarden Castle: Belgium’s Hidden Spring Flower Garden Near Brussels

Where to stay and what to book

• The Best Hotels Near Brussels Central Station: Where I Stayed and My Top Picks
• NH Collection Brussels Centre Review: My Honest Stay in Brussels
• The Best Tours in Brussels: Walking Tours, Food Experiences and Unique Things to Do
• The Best Brussels Beer Tours and Tastings: Which One Is Best for Your Trip?

What to do and where to eat

• The Best Things to Do in Brussels: Grand-Place, Comic Murals, Belgian Food & More
• Brussels Comic Strip Walk: Full Route, Map and My Favourite Murals
• Exploring Matongé Brussels: Black Culture, Food and My Favourite Stops
• The Best Restaurants in Brussels, Belgium: My Favourite Places to Eat
• The Best Cafés in Brussels: My Favourite Coffee and Brunch Spots