7 Tips For Spending One Day Visiting Brussels, Belgium

Even though there are so many places to go in Belgium, especially Flanders, you’ll probably visit Brussels when you visit the country. This complex capital city is a melting pot of all things Belgium and is not to be missed. Even finding the time to spend one day in Brussels is worth doing, which I say from personal experience.

My ambitious travel plans in Belgium didn’t leave much time for sightseeing in Brussels, or visiting my local friends there. A day trip to Brussels was all I could manage, split between hitting the highlights on my own and letting my friends show me around (and here’s a substitute if you don’t know people from Brussels).

It was fascinating to see how often these two approaches overlapped, but also just how much I got to see and do. So, here are my tips to maximise your enjoyment when visiting Brussels for one day.

Head straight to the Grand Place

It may be one of the most popular tourist spots, but making your first stop at the Grand Place or Grote Markt is a perfect way to start your visit. This main square in the heart of the Old Town is a feast for the eyes, even if you’re sharing it with plenty of other tourists. On each side of the square, you’ll see elaborate buildings, from the Town Hall to the neighbouring gothic guild halls. It’s one of the city’s greatest spots and the ideal starting point to further explore Brussels.

Indulge in the food of Brussels

When in Belgium, there are some foods to which you just have to treat yourself. While eating waffles in Brussels might be the obvious choice, I think getting some frites is equally important.

Belgians love their frites/fries/chips and once you’ve tasted them you’ll know why. Now you can opt for the cone of frites smothered in the typical mayonnaise or you can go another direction and try a chip sandwich. My friends assured me that Friterie Tabora is the best friture in Brussels, and it certainly does seem to have a good rep online.

Now, my memory of the food may be alcohol-impaired, but it was tasty. On my friend’s recommendation, I went with the Mitraillette, essentially a baguette with frites, meat and sauce. Said to hail from Brussels, it was an excellent choice, especially for soaking up alcohol.

Don’t fear the Delirium

Speaking of alcohol, there’s a good chance you’ll want to sample some Belgian beer whilst visiting Brussels. The Delirium Cafe is as good a place as any for that if you don’t feel like doing a Belgian beer tour. Despite appearing to cater to the tourist market and as a finishing point for Brussels walking tours, the cafe is surprisingly not just a tourist spot.

My friends recommended we go here and there were just as many locals inside as there were tourists. It was however incredibly busy, which made getting a table trickier, despite the fun atmosphere. Like everywhere in Belgium, the beer list is extensive, although I recommend going for a Delirium at least once. I have to say that Delirium Red was one of my favourites among the copious number of different beers I had during my two weeks in Belgium.

Find the Jeanneke Pis

Most tourists know of the Manneken Pis, a statue of a little boy urinating, and one of Brussels’ most oddly popular landmarks. But did you know that the statue also has a female counterpart?

Indeed, and in the same alley as the Delirium Cafe no less. Whereas crowds throng to see the little boy statue, the Jeanneke Pis is half-concealed up an alley, basically out of sight. What a weird fascination for a city, right?

Explore the architecture of Brussels

As with other Belgian cities like Leuven or Ghent, Brussels is home to plenty of Gothic architecture. However, the city is also home to some truly fascinating art nouveau buildings too. Many of these are related to the famed Belgian architect Victor Horta, who resided in Brussels.

Architectural gems include the four townhouses he designed which are recognised on the UNESCO World Heritage list, as well as his warehouse that now hosts the Brussels Comic Strip Centre. Unrelated to Victor Horta but equally as impressive is the Old England department store by the Mont des Arts.

Then there are all the neoclassical buildings scattered around the city as well. From the Bourse Stock Exchange to the Triumphal Arch of the Cinquantenaire, these lend the city that grand imperial nature found throughout Europe. Of course, then there’s all the modern aesthetic found in the buildings of the EU organisations. Brussels does have an odd mix of styles that you can only find by exploring far and wide.

Search for Comic-Inspired Street Art

The Belgian love for comics is certainly one of its more distinctive cultural elements. So when visiting Brussels, you should both check out a comic book store or the Comic Strip Centre, but you’ll also find lots of comic-styled street art during your one day of sightseeing.

It’s such an admirably clever and Belgian approach to the growing trend of street art. Of course, you can find the inevitable ones featuring the famous Tintin, but you don’t need to know the characters to appreciate these artistic additions.

Blend in at the real Brussels bars

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking Brussels is just a meeting point of Belgium’s two halves, Flanders and Wallonia.

This, my friends, assured me, was simply not true; that Brussels had its very own character outside of the regional hubbub. As an international city and home to the EU, that’s what I thought they meant. But no, they meant the city’s local character and they thought the best way for me to see it would be in a local Brussels bar.

The place we went to was understated and quite traditional in appearance. It reminded me somewhat of the reserved atmosphere of an Austrian Beisl. Like the Delirium Cafe, the beer list was gleefully long. Unlike Delirium’s loud and excited energy, however, this local bar was subdued and casual.

My friend asked me not to share the name of their favourite haunt but safe to say you’ll find plenty of them in the general vicinity of Place de la Bourse. You can also take a dedicated beer tour of Brussels to learn more about the local scene. Safe to say, it’s a solid way to end your one day in Brussels before heading home.

If you’ve been, what was your experience like visiting Brussels? Do you think one day in Brussels is too short or just enough for visitors pressed for time? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.