Brussels, like many other big cities, struggles under the weight of its own size and history. There are swathes of stunning Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings, but also interspersed with modern office blocks. But the magnificent Grand Place, quirky statues, and many cultural pursuits on offer make it a city worth visiting in my book. This guide to 3 days in Brussels will help you to make the most of your long weekend in Belgium’s capital city.
I have visited Brussels three times.. once in June and twice at Christmas, so I have included an extra section on the Brussel’s Christmas Markets.
Where to stay in Brussels
For a first visit, I would suggest staying as centrally as possible. We stayed in the Quartier Nord (just north of Grand Place, at one of our favourite hotel chains, NH Collection Brussels Centre. This area is only a few blocks from Grand-Place, and near to metro stations and Gare de Bruxelles-Nord train station.
- Luxury option – For a 5-star experience in Brussels, you can’t beat the Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo
- Mid range options – Ibis has two hotels right in the centre, and is a reliable and affordable option for travellers. The Ibis Central is near the Church of Saint Catherine to the north of the centre; and the Ibis Hotel Brussels off Grand’Place is on the Palace side, near Brussels Central Station.
- Budget options – There are two 2GO4 hostels in the centre of Brussels for budget travellers wanting to be in the thick of it. 2GO4 Grand Place, and 2GO4 Brussels Centre in Quartier Des Quai.
Other areas outside the old centre are Ixelles, for its great shopping; and Saint Gilles, which is hip, trendy and young!
How to spend 3 days in Brussels
In this complete weekend guide for Brussels I have listed the activities to prioritise when spending a few days in the city. How you arrange these in your itinerary is up to you and your energy levels. The old centre of Brussels is walkable, with the public transport system is really good for any activities out of the centre.
Brussels Card
If you are planning to visit a lot of the paid sights and museums, then buying a Brussels Card could be a good option for you. You can buy them for 24, 48 or 72 hour periods, and they include transport and hop-on-hop-off bus tour options too.
Looking for other winter destinations in Europe? Try Amsterdam in winter.
Grand Place
Grand Place is a magnificent square, surrounded by Baroque and Neo-gothic buildings. Grand-Place was made a UNESCO heritage site in 1998, and shows a variety of architectural features that tell of the history of Brussels. It is the most popular place to visit in Brussels, and you can understand why when you see some of the detail on the various buildings. If you want to learn more about each building, a walking tour of Brussels is a good idea.
My favourite buildings are the Brussels City Museum, the Gothic-style Town Hall, and the cute Art Nouveau restaurants on the north-west side.
The Royal Palace
The Royal Palace is not the royal residence of the Belgian king and queen, but rather their seat of administration. The Palace sits opposite Brussels Park, a beautifully manicured urban park (akin to Central Park in New York).
Museums in Brussels
There is a concentration of museums near the Palace, an area called Mont des Arts. Many of which are free or discounted with the Brussels Card. If you’re planning to visit lots of museum during your 3 days in Brussels, then this city discount card with transport options is a good idea.
- Musical Instrument Museum – with over 8000 musical instruments, this famed collection showcases instruments over the centuries. Originally connected to the Brussels Conservatory of music, it was started to allow music students the opportunity to try different instruments and learn from them.
- Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium – the fine art museum is one of my personal favourites. If If you appreciate paintings, sculpture and drawing in beautiful surroundings, then spend some time here.
- Fin-de-Siècle Museum – explore Art Nouveau and Old Masters at the Fin de Siècle Museum.
- Palais du Coudenberg – Charles V’s Coudenberg Palace burned down and the foundations were paved over. It has now been uncovered and is a fascinating piece of archeology.
- Magritte Museum – Exploring the life and works of Belgian surrealist, René Magritte, this museum is interesting to those who prefer modern art to the old masters.
Brussels Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula is not far from the Royal Palace and is worth a visit. This Brabant Gothic style cathedral is the national church of Brussels and hosts the royal weddings. If you want to discover more of the historical and architectural gems of Brussels, then a private walking tour would suit you.
Note: We were hassled by some scammers trying to take names on a clipboard and then donations of course. As usual with these situations, hold on to your possessions and be assertive.
The Peeing Statues of Brussels
While Manneken Pis is the most famous of the peeing statues of Brussels, there are actually 3 – one boy, one girl, and a dog!
Manneken Pis was designed in the 1600s by Hiëronymus Duquesnoy the Elder, this tiny statue is now the most famous fella in Belgium. He can be found on the corner of Rue de l’Etuve and Rue du Chêne. You can see many of Manneken’s outfits at the City of Brussels Museum (free with the purchase of the Brussels Card).
Jeanneke Pis was created in 1985 by Denis-Adrien Debouvrie, and displayed from 1987 on Impasse de la Fidélité.
Het Zinneke, the peeing dog, was created by Tom Frantzen. It has been ‘peeing’ on a bollard at the corner of Rue des Chartreux and Rue Saint-Christophe since 1998.
If you are short on time, read my 24 hour guide to Brussels instead!
Atomium
This space-age-looking building was constructed for the 1958 World’s Fair. Over 100 metres tall, this post-war imagining has Brutalist leanings and a strange alien demeanour. Atomium is now a museum that examines the life and times of this incredible building. TIP: Atomium can be reached in 45 minutes via the no.3 tram.
Christmas Markets in Brussels
The Christmas markets of Brussels can be found in pockets in and around the centre. Anywhere where there is a plaza or square, they tend to locate the wooden market huts. Except for Grand Place, where they put the nativity scene instead. Grand Place gets so busy with tourists, it would be too much to have the market stalls too.
Brussels Christmas markets have all the traditional fare – bratwurst, glühwein, and Christmas decorations for purchase. Alongside Belgian specialities like waffles, frites, and knick knacks. It is always fun visiting European cities in December for these colourful markets.
We found good variety on Place de la Bourse and Place de Brouckère, which can be found along the long pedestrianised Boulevard Anspach.
Foods to try during your 3 days in Brussels
You can’t spend a weekend in Brussels without trying some of the famous foods.
- Soft, hot waffles with every imaginable topping
- Belgian fries with mayo
- Fondue – both cheese and meat options are common
- Belgian beer – if you’re a beer fan, get a tasting flight, or pick up some bottles to take home
- Belgian chocolate is some of the best in the world – pick some up for yourself and friends!
A Weekend in Brussels
Filled with heady gothic architecture, delicious hearty food and beer, Brussels is a very convivial city. Yes, it can be heaving busy in the centre, but with a large city comes opportunities to find respite from the crowds. There are grand buildings and squares galore, but it’s also a modern city, so don’t let the juxtaposition jar you.
I appreciated the melting pot vibe of Brussels, the myriad of food options (we ate some fantastic Korean food there), and the fantastic museums on offer!
Weekend city breaks are my speciality… Why don’t you try a weekend in Venice or 3 days in Rome?
All photos © Hannah Henderson (unless specifically attributed elsewhere) and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with an iPhone 13 Pro and an old Canon AE1 film camera.
So thankful for the budget airlines over here! Brussels is a nice city but i think particularly so around christmas time so you planned your visit well. I hope you get the chance to go back soon. Personally I’ve only ever been using the Eurostar but might not be a practical option if you’re that far from london.
I loved being able to use the Eurostar when living in London. Sadly we didn’t have that opportunity from Edinburgh, so the budget airlines were a godsend! Now we are in France we use trains a lot more!