Day trips to Brussels seem to be a growing trend for 2025, with more and more travellers actively searching for ‘1 day in Brussels’ itineraries. And rightly so! While Brussels has a bit of a rough and somewhat dull reputation, I can assure you it’s well worth a visit. Known as the ‘cradle of Art Nouveau,’ Brussels has exquisite architecture, delicious food, and UNESCO-worthy sites. If you’re planning for your day trip to Brussels, you’ve come to the right place. I’ll share a detailed 1 day Brussels itinerary including both free and paid activities, along with food recommendations.
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Table of Contents
1 Day in Brussels Travel Insights
- On public transport: use the blue card reader. The red one is for locals.
- Brussels is a work-heavy city, primarily designed for the European Institutions, which are its biggest employer and central to its daily operations.
- Belgium is a multilingual country and Brussels lies in the French-speaking part. Everyone is fluent in English. Make sure to approach in basic French and then take it from there.
- Approximate costs in Brussels: single ride on public transport 2.60€, brunch 20€ pp, coffee 4€, waffles 9€, museums 9-15€, frietjes 5€
The name “Brussels” originates from “Broekzele”, a settlement (zele) near a swamp (broek). The flower that thrives in swamp areas is the purple Iris, which is also the symbol of the city.
Free 1 Day in Brussels Itinerary
Here is a detailed itinerary for a day trip to Brussels. I have included a mixture of free and paid for activities, as well as food recommendations. The real magic of Brussel’s charm fully evolves when you look up and notice the many details. I agree Brussels is not the most attractive city, but the art nouveau heritage is outstanding, so are the landmarks it is famous for.
1 Day in Brussels: Morning
If you’re visiting for just 1 day in Brussels, I assume you’ll be arriving by train. Most visitors arrive either at Brussels Midi or Centraal. The latter is the better option, as Brussels Midi tends to be quite dodgy, and you can walk into the heart of the city more easily from Centraal. If you do arrive at Brussels Midi, please take metro line 3 or 4 and alight at Bourse or De Brouckère. You can use your card for contactless payment on the metro.
Top Tip: With just 1 day in Brussels, I suggest focusing on the historic city centre, known as the Pentagon, to make the most of your time and minimize travel. There are several interesting sights and landmarks you can easily explore during your short visit. For more information consult Bruxelles A La Carte Pentagone. Fetch a free hard copy at Halles Saint-Gery’s cultural desk.
The following recommendations are all within walking distance. Of course, you can pick and choose the ones that best match your personal interests. Here are some options for your morning, assuming a 2–3 hour time window.
Breakfast at Franks: This laid-back café in Brussels serves Australian dishes, making it one of the most unique brunch locations in the city. Bircher muesli, pancakes, and classics like avocado on toast are popular choices.
Galeries Royales Saint Hubert: After breakfast, flânez through Europe’s oldest shopping arcade, designed in 1847 by Jean-Pierre Cluysenaar. It connects two districts of Brussels, La Monnaie and Grand-Place. Coming from Franks, you’ll enter the arcade via Rue de l’Écuyer. This part is home to a cinema and Tropismes, a bookshop in Art Nouveau style. Notice the intersection and make a quick stop at Miska for Lebanese ice cream dipped in pistachio. The second part of the arcade, the Grand-Place section, has all the chocolate shops lined up. Go in and sample to your heart’s content. My personal favourites are Neuhaus and Corne Port-Royal.
Grand Place: This is a must if you are visiting for only 1 day in Brussels. The UNESCO-certified square is a true highlight in Europe, not only for its lively atmosphere but also for its stunning Gothic architecture, namely the 17th-century guild houses and the Town Hall. Every two years, you can also see the magnificent Flower Carpet event during the summer. The next Flower Carpet will be in 2026.
Town Hall: The impressive building can be visited as part of a guided tour. The 1h tour in English leads you through various chambers, the state rooms and ceremony hall which locals can use for civil ceremonies and weddings. The belfry is closed.
City Museum: The medium-sized museum highlights the most important stages of Brussels’ city development and is home to the original Manneken Pis statue. The top floor is dedicated to the UNESCO-certified area, with interactive touchscreens and close-up details of the square and its historic guild houses.
Bourse Area: The stock exchange has been newly refurbished and is free to visit. It houses the Beer World experience and Bruxella 1238, a recently discovered excavation site from a 13th-century abbey.
Pathe Cinema: Opposite the Stock Exchange is Brussels’ first Art Nouveau cinema. The former warehouse was converted into an art house in 1913 and features lovely Viennese Secession details. The space is free to visit, but be sure to let the staff know you will be exploring the upper floor.
1 Day in Brussels: Midday & Afternoon
If you skipped brunch and prefer to have a substantial meal for lunch, I’ve included some options below. The time frame for midday and lunch is around 3 hours.
Lunch: A perfect area to enjoy lunch is Rue Saint-Catherine, not far from the Stock Exchange. Here are various cool eateries such as Otomat, Nona Pasta, Nona Pizza, Fries Atelier or Spoonful of India.
Saint Catherine Basin: Afterwards, stroll around the square in Saint Catherine’s. It is a very charming part of the city, even though it is directly in the center. Pay attention to the small tower by the church. This is the “Black Tower,” a small remnant of Brussels’ first city wall (13th century).
Zinneke Pis: One of the three peeing statues in Brussels, although this one is not a fountain. “Zinneke” is Brussels dialect for a real local of the city, and also for a stray dog.
Halles Saint-Gery: This is my favorite spot in Brussels for various reasons. At the original birthplace of Brussels stands a market hall, built in 1882, which is now used as a cultural center, event venue, and bar. There are always free Art Nouveau-related exhibitions on display (in the basement and on the upper floor), plus you can pick up free copies of walking guides for any of Brussels’ neighborhoods. There is also a permanent exhibition on the historic breweries that operated in this area, as Halles Saint-Géry was built over the river Zenne, which used to flow here.
Manneken Pis: The most famous Bruxeller is Manneken Pis, a small fountain of a peeing boy. Several legends and myths surround the boy, one of which tells how he rescued the city from a fire by extinguishing the flames with his urine. The original statue from 1388 is housed at the City Museum.
Galerie Bortier: Out of Brussels’ original six arcades, only three have survived today. Galerie Bortier is one of them. Designed in 1847 by Cluysenaar, this small arcade features fine wooden carvings, as well as impressive use of cast iron work and glass.
Brussel Coffee Culture: Belgium is not only famous for its rich architecture but also for its food and drinks. Waffles, beer, and coffee are integral parts of the culture and enjoyed regularly. “Cafés” are often synonymous with pubs in Belgium, but there are also “koffiebars.” For your afternoon coffee cravings, I recommend Lloyds, Café Capitale, and Momade Cupcakes. As I don’t drink, I can only share pubs with impressive interiors, such as Falstaff, Le Ciro, Mappa Mundo, and À La Mort Subite.
READ MORE: Brunch in Brussels Guide: the Best and Worst Cafés
1 Day in Brussels: Late Afternoon & Evening
For your final 2 hours, I can recommend the following museums, which are optional choices and depend on how fatigued you are from sightseeing.
Belgian Comic Culture: With a visit to the Comic Strip Museum, you’ll experience two aspects of Belgian culture: the rich comic tradition set in an Art Nouveau warehouse designed by Victor Horta, Brussels’ most famous city architect. On display are childhood classics such as The Smurfs, Lucky Luke, and Asterix & Obelix. The section on contemporary comics is always changing and offers an interesting opportunity to immerse yourself in creative stories.
Medieval Traces of Brussels: There are a couple of sites scattered across town that are reminiscent of Brussels’ medieval past. The city had two walls from the 13th and 14th centuries, and their fragments are preserved in the Pentagon. The longest part is Villerstoren. Nearby, you can also see Annessenstoren. Other parts can be found at Saint Catherine (Black Tower), the Museum Port de Hal, or Palais Coudenberg (with a reduced entrance fee after 5 p.m.).
Royal Library of Belgium: Located at Mont des Arts in the Museum Quarter, the Royal Library has several scripts, texts, and books on display. The history of printmaking is explained at the beginning of the tour, followed by an ever-changing exhibition, as the library’s collection on historic texts is so comprehensive.
Finish your day by taking in the views atop Mont des Arts. Along with the visit of Grand Place, this is a quintessential Brussels experience not to be missed.
Want to come back for longer? READ: A Complete Brussels 3 Day Itinerary For First Time Visitors
Where to Stay in Brussels
Fetch the train to your next destination, or if you are staying overnight in Brussels, I can share the following accommodation insights with you:
My experience with hotels in Brussels has been consistent in that most accommodations are rather outdated. Clean, but not necessarily modern. Keep in mind that the main reason visitors come to Brussels is for work trips to the EU institutions, and therefore, hotel rates are often quite disproportionate, knowing full well that these expenses are often covered by employers.
Aparthotel Adagio: This aparthotel near De Brouckere is clean, but nothing too special. The location was great and I also appreciated the friendly staff.
Hotels, I would consider in future:
Hotel Hubert* – stylish and modern hotel near the entrance to Galeries Saint Hubert
9 Hotel Sablon – modern and minimalistic hotel near Mont des Arts
The Standard – newly opened hotel in Brussels Nord
The Hoxton – chic modern 4*hotel by the Botanical Gardens
Cardo* – another ultra modern and stylish hotel near Rogier with panorama deck
FAQs for 1 Day in Brussels
I understand that this is quite a long post and you may have a few quick questions about my 1 day in Brussels itinerary. Of course, you can always consult any section of my post and read in more detail about what you need for your trip. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact me. I’m happy to help.
Is 1 Day in Brussels Enough Time?
If you only have 1 day in Brussels, make sure to research and plan ahead to make the most out of your time. My free Brussels itinerary has hopefully given you some inspiration and guidance on what you can do and see within such a short time frame. 1 day in Brussels will give you a great taste of the city’s culture, cuisine and sights. I can promise you, there will be more places of interest for another time if you decide to come back.
Is a Day Trip to Brussels Worth My Time?
Brussels is often overlooked when it comes to European city breaks. I can confirm it is rough and not as manicured as other capital cities. However, it is worth a visit. Of course, spending 1 day in Brussels isn’t enough to see everything, but you can still enjoy highlights like the UNESCO certified Grand Place and Manneken Pis. Grand Place alone is an experience which gets better with every visit and I have yet to meet a person who was not impressed by it. Besides, Brussels has beautiful and unique art nouveau heritage sites, well preserved and treasured. These are further incentives for you to actively plan future visits to Brussels.
What is Your Top Tip for 1 Day in Brussels?
With just 1 day in Brussels, my top tip would be to not dismiss its potential as an interesting, engaging and rewarding city destination. Unfortunately, Brussels is quite unkempt and rough, therefore many rarely give it a chance as a travel destination and may just travel through. The rough edges and charm do take some time getting used to, but beyond the Pentagon are some vibrant neighbourhoods with great art nouveau heritage sites, which are worth coming back to. For this 1 day in Brussels itinerary, I prioritised a mixture of free and paid activities that will hopefully give you the best impression of the city.
Thanks so much for reading. If you’ve enjoyed my free 1 day in Brussels itinerary and would like to support my blog & research, you can do so via Buy Me a Coffee.
Till next time,
Carolin
You may also enjoy my other travel content and free itineraries:
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- Odd Quirks Of Living In Brussels You Should Know About
- The Teufelsberg Graffiti Gallery might be Berlin’s latest Hot Spot
- Complete 3 Days In Amsterdam Itinerary For First Time Visitors
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6 Comments
Mitch
10 February 2025 at 12:56 pmThis is a splendid guide for spending a day in Brussels. All your suggested attractions appeal but there are some that we hadn’t visited on previous trips to the city so we would prioritise those. The City Museum sounds as though it is well curated and interactive, and Halles Saint Gery looks interesting as well. As beer drinkers (Belgian beer is awesome) we’d also want to visit the Beer World Experience in the Bourse Area. I didn’t realise there were multiple peeing statues in Brussels. The first time we tried to see the Mannekin Pis we walked past him three times before spotting him, as he’s very miniature! It’s been way too many years since we visited, so this post has reminded us that we really need to plan a return trip,
Lyn (aka Jazz)
10 February 2025 at 2:31 pmThis looks like a perfect day of exploration in Brussels. The Art Nouveau architecture is always appealing and I always enjoy learning and exploring around UNESCO sites. The Grand Palace looks like it would be a highlight. I appreciate that this on-day itinerary is compact enough to walk but has plenty of variety.
Louis - Red Solo Traveler
13 February 2025 at 1:06 amLooks like a fun day in Brussels1 I’d probably just soak in the architecture and atmosphere for most of the time, but for stops, I would want to check out the Comic Strip Museum, City Museum, and go for a tour of the town hall. I also happen to love Belgian beer, good coffee and good waffles, so half of my day there would probably go to that as well! This also seems like a very walkable city as well, which I like to see more of.
Pam
13 February 2025 at 5:55 pmGreat post! I really enjoyed your 1-day itinerary through Brussels—it felt like I was right there with you, exploring the city’s charming streets and iconic landmarks. Your blend of must-see spots and hidden gems made it clear that even a short visit can be incredibly rewarding. I especially appreciated the practical tips on timing and local eats. I’d love to just wander the streets, it looks like more of a quaint city than a really busy one.
Emma
16 February 2025 at 8:48 pmUntil I visited Belgium I had no idea so many of my favorite cartoons and comics as a kid were Belgian. I love the artwork around Brussels showing the familiar characters. I would also love to go to the Royal Library. I recently did a day in Brussels and I will say it did seem a lot rougher than my last visit. I went in at Midi station and decided to walk, but for an evening train this maybe wasn’t my best idea. Still, lots to do in the city and I really appreciate your guide to some of the more budget conscious ways to enjoy the city
Angela
28 February 2025 at 12:24 pmAwesome post! Although I’ve been to Brussels before, I’ve never had the chance to explore the city properly. I was always given the idea that there was little to see. Contrary to what I was told, this post shows that it is possible to do a wide range of activities and that it is worth dedicating a day to exploring the city.
The guide seems very complete and intuitive, with activities for all tastes.