Any bus tour through Belgium would be incomplete without a visit to Brussels, renowned as one of the country’s most interesting cities for tourists. While we understand the appeal of staying overnight in Bruges or Ghent (and we might make the same choice), we highly recommend setting aside at least one day to explore Brussels.
Although one day may seem short, Brussels’ historic center and its main attractions are centered around the Grand Place, making it entirely doable to explore the city in a single day. Below, I provide practical details to ensure you and your group have a great day.
Walking itinerary
Your itinerary likely starts in a city like Antwerp, Bruges, or Ghent, where an early rise is advisable to get a head start and avoid the infamous traffic on the highways between Belgium’s cities.
Map of Brussels
While there are many interesting sites to see in Brussels beyond those mentioned in this article, this one-day walking route covers the most emblematic attractions of this charming Belgian city. After this one-day bus tour, you can relax knowing that you have experienced the essentials of Brussels.
What to visit in Brussels in one day?
Your walking tour of Brussels will focus on the historic center, its surroundings, and the Sablon neighborhood, including visits to some of the city’s most important buildings, such as the Royal Palace, the Palace of Justice, and the Cathedral.
Breakfast in the Historic Center of Brussels
First things first: You got out of bed early to arrive in Brussels ahead of time. Now, before starting your walk through the historic center, treat yourself to a Brussels waffle or, if preferred, a decent breakfast.
While there are countless cafés where you can sit down to enjoy a typical Belgian breakfast, one of the best places according to TripAdvisor is Kaffabar (at Place Rouppe 1, 600 meters from the Grand Place); or Corica (at Rue du Marche aux Poulets 49, 200 meters from the Grand Place), where you will find an extensive menu of coffees and teas from around the world.
Another recommended place for breakfast is Vitalgaufre (at Rue Neuve, 23-29 and Quai de Mariemont 53c), ideal for eating waffles at a good price.
Now, with a full stomach, it’s time to begin your tour! You’ll undoubtedly tire yourselves out capturing postcard-perfect moments of the city through the lens of your camera. So, remember to wear comfortable shoes and ensure your mobile phone or camera has enough battery juice to last the day.
Grand Place (Grote Markt)
The ideal starting point for a tour of Brussels is undoubtedly the Grand Place, widely accepted as one of the most beautiful squares in Europe.
Surrounding it, you’ll see a display of guild houses built in the late 17th century with facades decorated to the last detail; the buildings of the Town Hall (and its 100-meter-high tower) and the Maison du Roi (now the city museum), among other things.
You’re standing at one of the city’s most picturesque spots, where you can soak in the vibrant atmosphere. If you’re not quite ready to start walking, grab an extra coffee, find a comfy spot, and enjoy people-watching while taking in the beautiful buildings around you.
Guided group tour of the Town Hall
If you’re eager to explore the inside of the Town Hall, you can hop on one of the guided tours available every day of the week.
Beyond its administrative function, the Town Hall resembles more of a palace. Inside, you’ll find Brussels tapestries dating from the 16th to the 18th centuries, intricate Gothic wood carvings, and the proud emblems of ancient guilds.
The tour costs €15 for adults and €6 for students, youths aged 7 to 18, seniors over 65, and individuals with reduced mobility. Children under 6 years old can join for free.
House of the King – Brussels city museum
For those eager to delve deeper into Brussels’ royal history, a visit to the Maison du Roi (House of the King) is a must. It currently serves as the headquarters of the City Museum.
(Musée de la Ville de Bruxelles).
This space is dedicated to arts and history has a collection that refers to the origins of the city and its development over time. The exhibition includes archaeological objects, tapestries, porcelain objects, altarpieces, sculptures, paintings, engravings, city models, and more.
Shopping in the Royal Galleries of Saint-Hubert
Your group can bask in a royal ambiance and seamlessly transition from royal history to royal shopping. Just a stone’s throw from the Market Square, you’ll discover one of Europe’s oldest covered shopping galleries: the Royal Galleries of Saint-Hubert. Constructed in 1846 to shield Brussels residents from the rain while shopping, these galleries also serve as a convenient route connecting the Grand Place with Rue de Aremberg, where you can proceed towards Brussels Cathedral.
The Royal Galleries of Brussels span 200 meters in length and house a variety of establishments, including luxury shops, chocolate boutiques, bookstores, jewelry stores, a champagne bar, terraces, and more. Additionally, it serves as a gathering spot for local artists. It’s truly a place brimming with discoveries!
Brussels Cathedral
If the Royal Galleries triggered greed and you feel that you should ask for forgiveness or maybe even penance, then you are on the right track because the route continues to the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, a huge Gothic building that you can’t miss in Brussels.
Entry to Brussels Cathedral is free. But, if you want to see the crypt and other areas, you’ll have to pay a small fee.
A group picture at Manneken-Pis
If you’re going to Brussels as a group, you’ll surely want to have a photo all together with the “petit homme qui pisse” (the little man who pees). The Manneken-Pis statue has been in the city since the 15th century. At first, it adorned the fountain that supplied water to the rue du Étuve neighborhood. Nowadays, it is one of the most Instagrammable spots in the city.
A curiosity is that the little man peeing that you’ll see today is not the original, as the statue was stolen twice (in 1745 by the English and two years later by the French). After being recovered, the original piece was moved to the Town Hall for protection, and an exact replica was installed in its place.
It is located a few meters from the Grote Markt square, as it is always surrounded by tourists you’ll not have trouble locating it.
Impasse de la Fidélité and the world’s most famous brewery
Now that you’ve digested the cultural aspects, explored religious art, indulged in luxury chocolates, and even captured the group picture, it’s time to unwind with a real beer.
So, a must-visit spot for any beer enthusiast in Brussels is Impasse de la Fidélité, a narrow alley situated very close to the Grote Markt. In a length of only 30 meters, you’ll discover a fantastic selection of breweries here. The most renowned in the city (and perhaps globally) is Delirium Café, boasting the most diverse and extensive beer menu you’ll ever encounter, with over 2,000 varieties! While I recommend against attempting to sample them all, you should try a couple at least. Choosing is losing, and the array of unique flavours on the menu will undoubtedly leave you indecisive.
Pit stop: lunch
Feeling the effects of the beer? Perhaps your stomach is craving some snacks. It’s time to stop for lunch.
Brussels offers countless options for a satisfying meal. Here are some recommendations:
– Le Marmiton (Rue des Bouchers 43, in the Royal Galleries Saint-Hubert). The ideal place for trying typical dishes such as mussels, waterzooi (a fish or chicken stew), and, of course, Belgium fries with their authentic mayonnaise, well-known for its tangy vinegar and sour taste.
– Bia Mara (Rue du Marche aux Poulets 41), a restaurant specializing in fish and chips with very good value for money.
– À la Mort Subite (Rue Montagne-aux-Herbes Potagères 7), one of the best Belgian breweries and a good place to eat sandwiches or omelettes.
– C’Est Bon C’Est Belge (Rue de Rollebeek ⅗, Sablon neighborhood).
A good option for traditional Belgian cuisine, the restaurant specializes in carbonade flamande: a hearty beef and onion stew cooked in beer and seasoned with thyme and bay leaves.
Mont des Arts garden
To capture one of the best postcard-worthy views of Brussels, head to these gardens situated on a small hill on the outskirts of the city center. Don’t worry about calling your bus driver – it’s less than a 10-minute walk away!
Right next to it is the Old England building. Built in 1899 in the Art Nouveau style, today it houses the headquarters of the Brussels Musical Instruments Museum. It might be an interesting visit for music lovers, but perhaps not the best choice if the beer tasting still has some effects on your body.
Royal Palace and Brussels Park
A few meters from the garden is the Royal Palace of Brussels, one of the most elegant buildings in the city and the former seat of the Belgian monarchy. Inside (which can only be visited in summer) there are very interesting rooms, such as the Mirrors Room, the Throne Room, or the Goya Room.
After taking some photographs of the imposing building, you can take a breath in Brussels Park, located on one of its sides.
A stroll through the Sablon neighborhood
If your group still has energy for more walking and you’d like to add some upscale vibes to your day trip, consider visiting the Sablon neighborhood, known as the most elegant area of Brussels. You can reach the main square, called Place du Sablon, with a 12-15 minute walk, or simply have your bus driver take you there.
As you stroll through its streets, you’ll encounter significant landmarks such as the Palace of Justice, the Church of Our Lady of Sablon (which divides the neighborhood into Grand Sablon and Petit Sablon), and the garden of Place du Petit Sablon.
If time allows, I recommend taking a guided tour of the Palace of Justice. Alternatively, don’t hesitate to step into its lobby, which stands over 100 meters high, and is accessible for free.
The garden of Place du Petit Sablon is another highlight of the neighborhood. It’s a spacious square adorned with 48 bronze statues representing ancient medieval guilds and some Belgian celebrities.
How to get to Brussels?
If you’re already in Belgium, you can reach Brussels quickly and comfortably by train, car, or bus. The country’s small size ensures that travel between cities typically takes no more than 1 or 2 hours, making transportation convenient and efficient.
By train
You can reach Brussels from Antwerp quickly with Thalys high-speed trains or SNCB local trains. The former are faster (taking about 30 minutes) but also more expensive. Local trains are cheaper and take between 45 minutes to an hour to reach Brussels.
By car: total freedom
If you are on a car route through Belgium or simply choose to go on your own, just take the E19 highway and drive for about an hour, depending on traffic. Remember that both Antwerpen and Brussels are important cities, so there is often heavy traffic between the two.
In style: with a private hired and chauffeurred bus
If you’re planning to tour Belgium, and perhaps extend your trip to the Netherlands or France with your group, renting a chauffeured minibus or coach in Antwerp for the entire itinerary is a convenient option. One of the benefits of this arrangement is the flexibility it offers: you can request extra services such as additional stops, last-minute changes to departure times, or extra transfers while on the road.
Another advantage of having a bus exclusively for your group is the ability to leave your bags and shopping securely on the bus while exploring Brussels. This allows for a hassle-free and enjoyable experience as you move around the city.
The budget-friendly choice:
An economical way to travel to Brussels is by taking one of the buses offered by FlixBus. They provide direct services between the two cities, with travel times comparable to trains, albeit potentially slightly slower due to traffic.
The buses depart from Antwerpen-Berchem (Antwerp station) and arrive at either the Brussels bus station (Bruxelles-Nord or Bruxelles-Midi).
In summary
Traveling to Brussels as a group is a great idea. Even if you are a large group touring the main attractions of the country, having the services of a minibus with driver rented in Belgium will be very practical. This way, you can coordinate with your driver to pick you up at a specific point in Antwerp and take you to Brussels without worrying about driving or public transport schedules. On the way back, the driver will be waiting for you to return at the indicated time.
Driving within the city
Brussels is a “30 city”. This means that the maximum speed limit is 30 km/h, except on major roads (where the limit is 50-70 km/h) and residential areas (where you cannot drive more than 20 km/h). In this regard, having a driver who knows Belgian traffic rules will be a great help, especially if you are a group of foreign tourists.
Parking in Brussels
Inside the historic center of Brussels, there are several options for public parking. However, spaces tend to be limited and fill up quickly, especially on weekends or during peak hours. Therefore, to park within the old town, you must arrive early and preferably avoid the weekend.
Within the historic center, we find parking in the Grand Place, Parking 58, and Parking Ecuyer. Some of them are underground and have relatively high rates, especially for long-term parking.
If you prefer, you can choose to park outside the historic center and reach it by public transport or on foot. For example, the Park & Ride parking lot at the Delta metro station or the Ceria-Coovi parking lot.
Touristic bus parking
In the case that you are traveling with a tourist bus, there are specially designated parking spaces for these types of vehicles. Agree with the driver to drop you off near the historic center.
The bus and motor coach parking of Place du Grand Sablon is one of the best options for buses. It is located in the heart of the city and is ideal for groups, as the historic center of Brussels begins just a few blocks away.
Parking 58, mentioned earlier, has parking spaces for buses, but availability is limited, so it is advisable to book in advance. The Brussels city website has a page with all the options for parking buses and minibusses according to the duration of the stay.
Tickets with the Brussels Card, your travel ally
If you’re planning to visit Brussels with the intention of exploring museums, visiting some of its palaces, or using public transportation, having the Brussels Card will be a great help. This tourist card offers free admission to 49 museums, guided tours, discounts at shops, restaurants, and bars in the city, the option to include public transportation, visit Atomium, and more.
If you’re only going to Brussels for a day and don’t plan on visiting many attractions, it might not be worth purchasing the card. Otherwise, don’t hesitate, as it will surely save you some euros.
The card can be purchased online through the Brussels Card app or at various points of sale throughout the city starting from €32. More information can be found here.
Now you have all the necessary information to go to Brussels. All that’s left is to gather the people you want to share the experience with and find a slot in your calendar. Brussels awaits you to experience a different day!
