Square · UNESCO
Grand-Place
Brussels, Belgium
Brussels' gilded market square, ringed by guild houses and the town hall.
City · Belgium · Brussels-Capital Region
Brussels
A bilingual capital of Art Nouveau, comic strips, chocolate shops and the most dazzling square in Europe.
about 5 h
For storytellers
Why Brussels matters
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and a seat of the European Union, but it is also a city of surprises. At the centre sits the Grand-Place, ringed by gilded guild halls. Around it are chocolate shops, covered arcades, Art Nouveau houses and murals of comic-strip heroes. Add waffles, mussels, and a thriving beer culture, and you can easily spend a few days here.
Talking points
- The Grand-Place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Comic-strip murals decorate walls across the centre.
- Both French and Dutch are spoken, and you will hear plenty of English too.
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What to see in Brussels
Monument
Atomium
Brussels, Belgium
A giant model of an iron crystal, built for the 1958 World's Fair and now an icon of Brussels.
Monument
Manneken Pis
Brussels, Belgium
The tiny fountain statue of a boy, one of Brussels' quirkiest symbols.
Shopping
Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries
Brussels, Belgium
One of Europe's earliest glass-roofed shopping arcades, filled with chocolate shops and cafes.
Museum
Belgian Comic Strip Center
Brussels, Belgium
A museum in an Art Nouveau building celebrating Tintin, the Smurfs and Belgian comics.
Church, mosque or temple
Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula
Brussels, Belgium
The Gothic cathedral on a hill above the centre, with stained glass and two twin towers.
Palace
Royal Palace of Brussels
Brussels, Belgium
The official palace of the Belgian monarchy, opened to visitors in summer.
Neighbourhood
Sablon
Brussels, Belgium
An elegant district of antique shops, chocolatiers and a Gothic church.
Park
Cinquantenaire Park
Brussels, Belgium
A large park with a triumphal arch and several major museums.
Also nearby
Within about 40 km, closest first.