How to Spend 1 Day in Brussels, Belgium

I first visited Belgium in 2012, but instead of choosing to stay in the capital, I headed to picturesque Bruges. I enjoyed it enough, but I wouldn’t say it put exploring more of Belgium high on my to-do list. However, fast forward a number of years, and I found myself in Belgium again. This time as a quick layover as I made my way to Rwanda and Uganda (and then again back to Canada). I figured I’d never been to Brussels and it was a great way to break up the long flight from Canada to Eastern Africa, so I arranged to spend some time exploring. Brussels was small, but charming, and I’m glad I took the opportunity to explore. So, if you too find yourself with one day in Brussels, here is how I suggest you spend it.

Getting into Brussels 

Getting from the airport to the city centre is incredibly easy, so please don’t feel like you need to pay 50 euros (or more) for a taxi! Just hop on the train. The train station is on the bottom level of the airport, just follow the signs. You can buy a ticket from the machine to ‘Brussels Central’ and then hop on the next train. If, like me, you get confused by the schedule, there are people around to ask for help. When I took the train, the direction was to Ghent, but it did stop in Brussels first and I was in the city within about 20 minutes.

Getting Around Brussels

Brussels is not a very big city, at least not the parts you will be wanting to visit as a tourist. So just use your feet! Keep in mind that this is Europe, and you are in the historical area, so there are plenty of cobblestones. Wear comfortable shoes!

Where to Stay in Brussels

Again, the city centre isn’t very big, so there really isn’t a ‘bad’ place to stay if you are looking to stay central. Most places are about 10 minute walk or so from Brussels Central Train station making it very convenient for getting to and from the airport and/or train station depending on your travel plans.

I did a day in the city both at the start and end of my trip and stayed in two different properties.

• Craves Hotel: Very cute boutique hotel in a central area. Rooms (in my experience) are quite small, but the bed was super comfortable and it was a really cute and picturesque property. You can check it out here.
• Bedford hotel: Nothing fancy, but clean and comfortable with bigger rooms. Also, very central, however, the wifi did not work very well for me here despite it being a ‘business hotel’. So, keep that in mind. Staff, however, were lovely. You can check it out here.

How to Spend 1 Day in Brussels

Morning 

If your flight is anything like mine, you might end up in the city bright at early, like 7am early. Which (sadly) is often way too early to check into your hotel. So, drop your bags and go find some breakfast. I really liked Mokafe, which is located in the Royal Gallery of St Hubert, an old shopping arcade. It’s cute, comfortable, and opens early. They have decent prices, especially given their location, and a pretty good breakfast menu. Plus, it’s laid back and relaxed. I sat here for a couple of hours until things started to open.

Most businesses in Brussels open around 10am, so once that time hits, you can explore some of the shops in the Royal Gallery of St. Hubert. There are some chocolate shops, designers, and more to be found here. Book lovers can check out Tropismes bookshop; this is a French bookstore (there is a very small English section), but the architecture inside is beautiful.

At 11am, head to the Grand Place or Grote Markt, which is the main square. This UNESCO World Heritage site is considered to be the prettiest main square in Europe, and for good reason! Aside from being pretty, it’s also the main meeting point for a free (aka tip-based) city walking tour. I love taking these tours as a quick intro to the city, plus it’s a good way to make friends. I took the tour with Sandemans, and you can find them by looking for the red umbrella. You can reserve a spot ahead of time online (probably a good idea in high season, but I was here in the winter so it wasn’t needed).

The walking tour will take about 2 hours or so, depending on the guide and group, and will share a bit of history and stories of the city. During the tour, you will get to see a couple other city highlights including Mannekin Pis and the Old Stock Exchange which is now Belgian Beer World.

Afternoon

Your tour should end between 1 and 2pm, depending on how it goes which gives you a few more hours to explore. You definitely will want to grab something to eat and/or drink (more on that below) but you also still have some time to explore.

I’m a big fan of just wandering around and seeing what I can find. Brussels has lots of fun little boutiques and shops to pop into and some pretty cool street art making it easy to pass a few hours exploring on your own. (I’ll also note I felt very safe walking around as a solo female traveller).

If you are a museum person, there are several in Brussels that you might be interested in:

• The Comic Arts Museum: Brussels is HUGE when it comes to comics. You probably recognize The Adventures of TinTin and the Smurfs, but there are plenty of others and you can check them out at this museum.
• Choco Story Brussels: Love chocolate? This might be the spot for you. This museum takes you through the history of chocolate and the praline here in Belgium. Visits include a demonstration and a tasting and you can get tickets here.
• Belgian Beer World: An interactive experience teaching you all about Belgian beer. The tour ends with a tasting on the rooftop overlooking the city. Get your ticket with tasting here.
• Brussels City Museum: If you are keen on some local history, the Brussels City Museum is located in The Broodhuis, one of the main buildings in the Grand Place.

Be sure to check museum times to fit your visits in! Many places close or have last entry around 6pm.

What to Eat and Drink in Brussels

Fries

My lovely guide, Julie, told me that the best spot in the city was Café Georgette, so I tried them. I’ll be honest, as a Canadian who lives on the border of Quebec (aka the home of poutine), I am VERY picky with my fries. But these were delicious. Sauce is sold separately; mayonnaise is the typical option (and it’s way better than mayonnaise in North America), but they have a myriad of flavours to choose from. If you just want fries, make sure to order from the takeout window. There is some outdoor seating.

Fun fact: fries in Belgium are NOT vegetarian-friendly. They are double-fried in beef fat, so if you are vegetarian, please look for vegetarian-friendly places.

Waffles

Another Belgian classic are the waffles! There are two types the: Brussels waffle and the Liege waffle. The Brussels waffles are light and fluffy, while the Liege waffles are denser, sweeter, and chewier. They can be found all over the city, but I was told that the best ones are found at Maison Dandoy, so that’s where I went, and while I intended to only try to Liege waffle, I ended up with both.

I don’t recommend getting two waffles and it wasn’t the plan but the man behind the counter thought I was choosing wrong and should get a Brussels waffle since I was in Brussels. So, he gave me one with chocolate- on the house- plus the plain Liege waffle I actually ordered.

Both were delicious. I would say Brussels waffle is the typical waffle I expected (but, excellent) and ideal if you want the toppings. But for something plain and sweet, the Liege waffle was delicious and different- so that was my favourite.

Chocolate  

You cannot come to Belgium and not get chocolate! There are chocolate shops everywhere you look so it can be easy to get overwhelmed. But here are a few tips.

First, don’t buy brands you can get at home (looking at you, Godiva). Yes, they are yummy but you already know that. Try something new.

Second, you will see chain shops on every second street, many of them offering deals that seem a little too good to be true. Stay away from them.

So, where do you go? Well, I can’t say where the best is because I didn’t try them all, but here is what I did try and enjoy.

• Mary’s Chocolatier: Dates back to 1919 and is founded by the first female chocolatier. Her shop was frequently visited by royalty and is award-winning. I really love the passion fruit chocolate.
• Elisabeth: Not a chocolate maker in themselves, but they work with some award-winning chocolate makers in the city. My favourite was the salted caramel and the woman behind the counter was lovely!
• BS40: This shop is tiny and not too fancy, but came recommended. The chocolates here were the most affordable I found, and also delicious. I had a sea salt caramel that was to die for.

Beer

Brussels is FULL of bars and places to get beer, and there are options for everyone. I personally like the cherry beers, but it’s also fun to get a Trappiest beer: beers brewed by Trappist Monks making them something a little more unique to try when you are in Belgium, so keep an eye out for those on menus.

If you are looking to bring some home or back to your hotel room, check out De Biertempel which offers hundreds of beers at affordable prices.

Cheese

Last, but certainly not least: cheese! There are lots of cheese shops around the city (and fondue spots!) However, my Brussels cheese recommendations come in the form of sandwiches. I have two amazing ones to recommend.

The most affordable is from a small cheese shop called Le Ptit Normand. They have some fresh made sandwiches in the window for you to grab and go. I had one with goat cheese & cured ham on baguette and it was delicious. Prices are around 6 euros.

Another amazing sandwich was from TonTon Garby. It’s a hole-in-the-wall of a spot and often has a line but it’s super popular with the locals and for good reason. The sandwiches here are so good and super unique. Mine had cranberry goat cheese, mango, raspberries, figs, honey, and salami-type meat, and a bit of chilli. It was pricey; the sandwich and a drink cost me 14 euros. But it was delicious and big enough that I was able to save half for dinner.

If You Have More Time

If you have more than 1 day in Brussels, there’s still lots to see and do. As mentioned above, there are quite a few museums in the city. You can also explore some of the nearby cities as well on a day trip. I love Bruges, and I’ve heard amazing things about Ghent as well. You can easily hop on a local train and get to these cities on your own. Alternatively, you can join a guided tour like this one which visits both as a day trip.

I also did a day trip from Brussels that stopped in Dinant and Luxembourg for those looking to add a new country to their list. You can book that tour here.

Final Tips for 1 Day in Brussels

Brussels isn’t a very big city, so it’s a great spot for a layover or even to explore on your own if you are in town as part of a cruise. Again, I visited here as a solo female traveller and felt very safe walking around. As always, use common sense, but it was easy to navigate and quite friendly. Everyone here speaks English as well, so don’t worry about any language barriers.

I hope you have as much fun in Brussels as I did!  

Ready to Book Your Trip?

Don’t forget travel insurance!

Please do not travel without travel insurance! I’ve had to use it multiple times throughout my travels and it has saved me thousands of dollars. You can learn more about travel insurance here. If you are looking for a provider I love and recommend SafetyWing. For Canadian readers, take a look at SoNomad.

Book your accommodation

I love and recommend booking.com for accommodation. They have a range of hostels, guesthouses, hotels, and resorts. Plus, the platform has a great loyalty program that means the more you book, the more you can save. 

Book your tours

My go-to tour provider that I love to recommend is GetYourGuide. They have options all over the world and partner with local companies for everything from day trips to food experiences and even airport transfers. 

Get connected

If you want to have data while travelling for online maps or any other needs, an esim is one of the easiest solutions. I have used esims around the world from Brazil to Uzbekistan, Greece to the USA- they are super easy and you don’t risk losing your home sim! There are two brands I have used and recommend so I suggest comparing both. 

Airalo: download the app, pick what country you want an esim for, and after you purchase it follow the installation instructions. You can use promo code HANNAH3326 to save $3USD on your next esim purchase.

Sim Local: Another easy to use alternative with competitive pricing. Here’s my link with a promo code.

Truely: This one is easier in that it’s a one-time download instead of downloading an esim for each country. It also allows you to hotspot and tether- which not all esims do. Check out options here.

Not sure what to pack?

I have destination-specific guides for some countries but you can also check my travel essentials and camera gear if you are looking for some ideas. 

Looking for a travel buddy?

Check out my group trips!