This guide of what to see in Brussels in one day It will help you prepare the best route through the city, making the most of the time, without forgetting any of the most important visits.
Keep in mind that although we know that 24 hours is a short time, the historic center of Brussels revolves around the Grand Place, so it is quite small and can be walked perfectly on foot, something that will allow you to reduce times considerably and thus be able to see more things.
In case you want to get away from the center a little to get to know the European Quarter or the Atomium, more recommended if you have more time, you can use the city's efficient public transport.
Based on our two trips to the Belgian capital, the first one combines Bruges and Brussels and the second on a trip to Ghent, Leuven and Antwerp, we have designed the best route of Brussels in one day so you can enjoy the maximum experiences that this city offers. We start!
How to get from the airport to Brussels
Brussels has at the airports of Charleroi and Zaventem, the two most common entrance gates that tourists use to reach the city.
If you do not find cheap flights to Zaventem airport, located 15 kilometers from the capital, we advise you to look for flights to Charleroi, located 55 kilometers away and where most low cost companies like Ryanair operate.
The best means of transport to transfer from the two airports to your hotel in Brussels are:
- Bus: The FlibCo bus that leaves every half hour from Charleroi airport will take you to Brussels-Midi or South station in one hour for 17 euros. From this station you can take the local bus or the tram that will bring you closer to the center, located about 20 minutes walk.
Lines 12 and 21 leave from Zaventem airport, which will take you to the Schuman stop in 30 minutes for 4.5 euros or 6 euros, if you buy the driver's ticket. From this stop you can take the subway that will bring you closer to the city center. - Train: to arrive by train to Brussels from Charleroi, first you have to take the Airport express bus, which will leave you at Charleroi station, and from there take the train towards Antwerp that will leave you at the 3 main stations of the capital. The total journey time is just under 80 minutes and the price is around 15 euros.
From Zaventem you have trains every 10 minutes 24 hours a day, which leave you at the central, south and north stations of Brussels, in less than 20 minutes for 8.5 euros. - Private transport: If you hire this comfortable service, a driver will wait for you at the airport raising a sign with your name, which will take you to the door of your hotel in 20 minutes from Zaventem and in one hour from Charleroi. You can book this transfer here.
- Cab: The price of a taxi is 45 euros from Zaventem and around 100 euros from Charleroi.
For more information on the transfer you can check this post on how to go from Brussels airport to downtown.
Where to sleep in Brussels
Our recommended hotel to make a Brussels route in one day It is the Park Inn by Radisson Brussels Midi Hotel, which has a good connection to the city's airports, being located next to the Midi Station and a 15-minute walk from the old town. In addition to its excellent location, the hotel has modern facilities, a full breakfast and attentive staff.
For more information on the best hotels and neighborhoods we recommend you check this post of where to stay in Brussels.
Tips for a trip to Brussels
Following this series of tips and recommendations can help you on your first visit to this well-known Belgian city:
- Complete this list of essential places to visit in Brussels and this one of the best things to do in Brussels.
- If you have a day and want to know some points farther from the center such as the Atomium or the European Parliament, it is advisable to book the tourist bus with comments recorded in Spanish of the main tourist attractions of the city.
- If you are going to travel a lot by public transport it is better to buy 10 tickets for 14 euros or the one-day ticket for 7.5 euros, than to buy each way for 2.10 euros.
- To know the history of the city and not miss anything important, it is very interesting to book some of the best free tours in Brussels with a guide in Spanish or this guided tour of the city.
- If you are thinking of traveling in August, try to match your visit with the carpet of flowers that covers the Grand Place, which will make this moment unique and unforgettable.
- In addition to trying some delicious Belgian waffles in a street stall, do not forget to order in the restaurants the traditional mussels with potatoes (moules et frites) and delight the palate with the renowned Belgian chocolate in one of the famous chocolate shops like Godiva
- If you have a tight budget, book the hotels months in advance and check the prices of the menu before entering any restaurant, it is a rather expensive city.
- Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot. You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
For more recommendations you can consult this post of tips to travel to Brussels essential.
What to see in Brussels in one day
The route of Brussels in one day Start arriving early in the Grand Place, to see one of the most beautiful squares in the world with few people.
This square is surrounded by large historic buildings and trade union headquarters with beautiful facades, including Hotel de Ville, Le Piegeon, Maison des Brasseurs, Maison du Roi, Maison des Ducs de Brabant, Le Renard, Le Cornet and Le Roy d'Espagne.
As a story in the Le Pigeon building lived the French novelist Victor Hugo during his exile in Belgium.
Grand place
You can leave the square on rue Charles Buls, where it is located on one of its sides, the bronze statue of Everard t'Serclaes, which tells the legend that if you rub your arm with your hand it will bring you luck.
A few meters walk from the square is the huge building of the Neo-Renaissance Stock Exchange and another of the emblems of the city, which you can not miss.
The Brussels route in one day Continue with a walk through the narrow streets of the old town such as Rue du Midi, where you will see the Manneken Pis, the most famous sculpture in the city.
This small bronze statue of 1619 acts as a fountain and changes its costume every few days, depending on the local festivities, if you have wanted to see more costumes of Manneken Pis, you can approach the Maison du Roi, in the Grand Place, where a good sample of the 800 that make up the entire collection are exhibited.
Manneken Pis
Walking away from the Grand Place you will walk to the imposing Palace of Justice, located in Le Sablon, one of the most charming neighborhoods in the city. If you have little time, visit the palace you can limit to enter for free to its fantastic lobby of more than 100 meters high.
Another of the places worthwhile in the neighborhood is the garden of the Place du Petit Sablon, where you will see a beautiful square surrounded by 48 bronze statues, representing each of the old medieval guilds and other large Belgian celebrities .
Jardin du Petit Sablon
After resting for a while sitting on a bench in this small square, you can visit Notre-Dame du Sablon, the next stop of the Brussels in one day. This 15th-century Gothic church has beautiful stained glass windows and a wooden pulpit inside.
On the other side of this church is the older sister of the Place du Petit Sablon, the Grand Sablon, larger and less charming.
In the Place du Gran Sablon there is also Neuhaus, one of the most famous chocolatiers in the city and a real temptation for anyone who passes in front of their shop window, in which we recommend you at this time of day, give yourself a little treat.
And if you are a great chocolate lover we recommend you book this chocolate tour with a guide in Spanish that includes chocolate and praline tasting.
Chocolate shops, one of the stops in Brussels in one day
In this neighborhood, in addition to some of the best chocolate shops in the city, you will find boutiques, antique shops, coffee shops and patisseries such as the Maison Dandoy that sells some delicious cookies.
But before losing your hunger with these desserts, we recommend you enter the restaurant C'est Bon C'est Belge, one of the best restaurants to eat in Brussels and where you can try the best local dishes such as moules et frites (mussels steamed with french fries) and flamandes carbonnades (stewed meat in Belgian beer).
After eating, the Brussels in one day Continue with a quiet walk to Old England, an Art Nouveau architecture building. If you have time you can visit inside where the Museum of Musical Instruments is located, included in the Brussels Card.
This museum is not far from the Royal Palace, former residence of Belgian royalty and can only be visited during the summer. Inside there are some of the most impressive rooms such as the Mirrors, the Throne or Goya.
Royal Palace
The palace is located on one side of the Brussels Park, a green space in the middle of the city that is filled with locals and tourists in good weather.
The next stop of Brussels in one day It is the Cathedral of San Miguel and Santa Gúdula of Gothic style, which has inside the treasure of the church, a wooden pulpit and huge stained glass windows.
After the visit, you can head to the Grand Place to visit the Saint Hubert Galleries, the oldest commercial galleries in Europe that are divided into three parts: the Queen's Gallery, the King's Gallery and the Prince's Gallery.
During the 200 meters of gallery you can see the windows of exclusive stores, enter a chocolate shop and buy as a souvenir a figure of the famous Tintin comic, in the official store.
Saint Hubert Galleries
Before finishing the visits of Brussels in one dayWe recommend you to take a break at the Delirium Café, to try the famous Belgian craft beers.
If you want to taste more types of craft beer and learn a little more about them, we recommend you book this tour with a guide in Spanish, which stops at some of the best breweries.
A few meters from the Delirium Café is hidden behind a fence, the Jeanneke Pis, the female version of the Manneken Pis, which you can not miss and that we are sure, will surprise you for different reasons.
After the visits of the day, you can take a small night tour of Rue des Bouchers, full of tourist restaurants, and arrive at the Grand Place at night that at this time dresses up with the perfect lighting of its most representative buildings, that will make this square and this moment unforgettable.
To put the icing on Brussels in 24 hours, nothing better than going to dinner at the restaurant Le Marmiton, one of the most recommended in the city.
If you have more days you can follow this Brussels guide in two days.
Map of Brussels in 24 hours
Do you want to organize this trip to Brussels in one day?
Get it here:
The best offers of Flights to Brussels here
The best hotels at the best prices in Brussels here
Get € 35 for your reservation with AirBnb here
Book the best tours and excursions in Brussels in Spanish here
Book your Brussels Airport transfer here
The 5 best tours and excursions in Brussels
Rent your car in Belgium at the best price here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
The best offers of Flights to Brussels here
The best hotels at the best prices in Brussels here
Get € 35 for your reservation with AirBnb here
Book the best tours and excursions in Brussels in Spanish here
Book your Brussels Airport transfer here
The 5 best tours and excursions in Brussels
Rent your car in Belgium at the best price here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
