What to Do in Brussels in 4 Days? Travel Guide and Tips

Day 1 | Morning

Atomium

Opening Hours: Open from 10:00am-6:00pm

Ticket Price: 15 EUR

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: Atomium Square | Laeken, Brussels 1020, Belgium

The Brussels Atomium is located in the Imundo Municipal Park in the northwestern suburb of Brussels. It was designed by Belgian engineer André Waterkeyn for the Brussels World Exposition in 1958 and has now become a representative Belgian landmark. Unconventional structure This atomic tower adopts the cubic crystal structure of alpha iron magnified by 165 billion times. It consists of 9 large aluminum spheres with a diameter of 18 meters. Each sphere represents an atom and also represents the nine provinces of Belgium. , The balls are connected by hollow steel pipes, each steel pipe is about 29 meters long. The total weight of 9 spheres plus the steel frame structure is 2,200 tons, and the highest sphere is 102 meters above the ground. The surface of each ball is welded with 5800 triangular arc aluminum sheets. Under the sunlight, this imposing building shimmers with silver light, which can be called an unconventional scientific work of art. Top Sphere Overlook At present, 4 spheres of the Atomium are open to the public, and the other spheres are used for research work or rental. From the ground-level circular reception hall, you can take the elevator to the high header ball. This elevator has a speed of up to 5 meters per second, which is the fastest elevator in Europe. The top ball is designed for tourists to enjoy the scenery, surrounded by a fixed circle of tempered plexiglass windows and equipped with multiple telescopes. From the top of the ball, you can see the entire city of Brussels near and far: Brussels City Hall, Sacred Heart National Basilica, Miniature Europe and other buildings can be seen. The tour guide comes down from the top ball, and the metal pipes that run diagonally between the balls can go down to other balls in turn. In these spheres, exhibits on solar energy, atomic energy, aerospace technology, astronomy, and the history of Belgian meteorology are displayed in different categories. At the observation deck on the sixth floor, you can view the Atomium and the 5 balls in it from a very unique angle, which is very interesting. The top half of the delicious restaurant is equipped with a viewing restaurant, and the scenery outside the window is very charming. The restaurant is only open to groups at noon, but you can have dinner here. It is recommended to make a reservation in advance. Dining at an altitude of 100 meters above the ground is an unforgettable experience. There is a dining bar on the bottom of the atomic ball. If you are tired, you can come here to rest and replenish energy. The souvenir shop on the same floor is also not to be missed. There are all kinds of original mugs, earrings, and pens here, which are very creative and can be purchased as appropriate. When night falls, the 9 circles of light bulbs outside each sphere alternately chase and glow. The wonderful lights dot the night scene of Brussels, which is worth seeing.

Day 1 | Afternoon

Now we come to another great highlight in the city: City Hall of Brussels.

City Hall of Brussels

Opening Hours: Open from 9:00am-5:00pm

Ticket Price: 8 EUR

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: Grand Place 1, 1000 Brussels

Among the many buildings on the Grand Place in Brussels, the most striking is the City Hall, this Gothic building is the landmark of Brussels. Historical background The building was built in two phases, the larger left half was built in 1402, and when the right half was built in 1455, the tower and the 96-meter-high minaret were built under the auspices of Philipele Bon. There is a 5-meter-high weather vane at the top of the tower, which is the statue of Saint Michel, the patron saint of Brussels. Legend has it that the lord of Brussels was saved by Saint Michel, who awarded Saint Michel the title of Patronus of Brussels. The corridors of the city hall are covered with murals. Among the many portraits are the monarchs of Belgium, the kings of Spain, the Netherlands, France and other countries who once ruled Brussels, as well as Napoleon.

Reviews from Real Guests:

Bluetory: Very beautiful, worth visiting a lot of tourists.

Day 1 | Evening

If you want to explore other popular attractions later, Juliana Hotel Brussels is a suitable place for you to stay and refresh.

Juliana Hotel Brussels

The Juliana Hotel Brussels is an ideal spot for travelers wanting to discover the city. The Juliana Hotel Brussels offers a pleasant stay in Brussels for those traveling for business or leisure.

The hotel is conveniently located just 1km from Brussels Central Station and 16km from Brussels National Airport. The closest major public transportation, De Brouckère Metro Station, is only 500m away. There's plenty to do nearby, with Church of Notre-Dame Du Finistere, Koninklijke Muntschouwburg and Waterstone's all within a short distance.

This hotel makes a great place to kick back and relax after a long day of sightseeing. For those driving themselves, parking is provided on site.

According to our trusted guests, the facilities at this hotel are first-rate.

Day 2 | Morning

Belgian Comic Strip Center

Opening Hours: Sun - Sat 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Ticket Price: 10 EUR

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: 20 rue des Sables, B-1000 Brussels

The world-renowned comics museum, in addition to introducing the history of comics in Belgium, there are also well-known comics characters such as Tintin and the Smurfs. Numerous exhibits combine comic art with ArtNouveau (Art Nouveau).

Day 2 | Afternoon

When time permits after visiting Belgian Comic Strip Center, don’t forget pay a visit to Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate.

Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate

Opening Hours: Open from 10:00am-6:00pm

Ticket Price: 5.5 EUR

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-3 Hours

Location: Guldenhoofdstraat 9, 1000 Brussels

This chocolate museum is a private museum established in 1998. Founded by Belgian chocolate artist Gabrielle Draps. Various chocolate-making processes can be seen in the museum. Still very interesting. And you can also learn about all the knowledge of cocoa and chocolate, such as the planting process of cocoa beans, the production process of chocolate, and the ability to taste chocolate, which is very interesting.

Day 2 | Evening

Don’t forget to book Sofitel Brussels Europe in advance, because all the tourists head to Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate love staying at it.

Sofitel Brussels Europe

Set in the heart of Brussels, in direct connection to the Grand Place, next to the European District, Sofitel Brussels Europe is a truly elegant 5 star hotel, ideally located on the vibrant Place Jourdan, one of the last typical Brussels atmosphere square. Close to the famous Cinquantenaire parc and musea, the hotel offers the best location for all trips. Enjoy traditionnal Food market on Sundays and the typical "Ambiance Bruxelloise". Tailor made events in 11 meeting rooms. Private parking.

Day 3 | Morning

Mini-Europe

Opening Hours: Open on Mon-Fri,4:15am-5:00am,7:15am-1:00pm,4:15pm-8:20pm;Open on Sat-Sun,4:15am-5:00am,7:15am-8:30pm

Ticket Price: 16.5 EUR

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: 1020 Brussels, Belgium

Mini Europe is composed of more than 300 small and exquisite models, which are very interesting miniature landscape parks in Europe, such as the London Parliament Building, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Colosseum and other iconic buildings in each city can be viewed one by one. Tour Highlights Mini Europe was built in 1989 and contains 80 major cities in Europe and more than 350 building models reduced by 1:25. Among them are Big Ben, gondola and mandolin to guide you to discover the charm of Venice, and to take the high-speed train from Paris to the south of France. You can even operate various special activities such as the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the bullfighting in Seville, which are worth watching.

Day 3 | Afternoon

After finishing the tour at Mini-Europe, you can head to Brussels City Museum, the most worth visiting place around the corner.

Brussels City Museum

Opening Hours: Open on Tue-Sun,10:00am-5:00pm;Closed on Mon

Ticket Price: 8 EUR

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-1 Hours

The King's Building is located on the Grand Place in Brussels, once the administrative and judicial center, and now serves as the Stedelijk Museum. Among them, the third floor exhibits the clothes presented by governments and celebrities to "the first citizen of Brussels" Xiaolian, which is worth seeing. Despite its name, the King's Building has been rebuilt many times. No king has ever lived here, but in the 16th century it served as an administrative and judicial center, collecting taxes in the name of the Spanish king. The present Gothic building was built after 1874. It was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998. Now as a city museum, it exhibits exquisite brocade paintings, ceramic works of art, brass utensils, platinum furniture and so on. The exhibits on the third floor are gifts of Xiaolian clothes for governments and celebrities.

Day 3 | Evening

Don’t forget to book Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo in advance, because all the tourists head to Brussels City Museum love staying at it.

Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo

The 5-star Hotel Amigo boasts elegant rooms with designer features, on the corner of Grand Place. It combines modern facilities, a gym and an award-winning restaurant with a picturesque historic setting. Flat-screen interactive cable TV, a work desk and a minibar stocked with drinks and Galler chocolates are provided in the rooms at Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo. Each air-conditioned room has a seating area and a luxurious bathroom with mosaic details. The Manneken Pis Statue is only 200 metres away. Le Sablon antiques area and the Magritte Museum are both less than a 15-minute walk from Rocco Forte Hotel. Bourse Metro Station is only a 5-minute walk away. The award-winning Ristorante Bocconi serves Italian dishes and Mediterranean cuisine in an elegant yet relaxed setting. Amigo offers a range of extra services including concierges, 24-hour room services and a valet parking service.

Day 4 | Morning

Musical Instruments Museum

Opening Hours: Open on Fri,Sun,10:00am-5:00pm;Open on Mon-Thu,9:30am-5:00pm

Ticket Price: 8 EUR

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: Rue Montagne de la Cour 2, Brussels 1000, Belgium

The Musical Instrument Museum is a well-known musical instrument museum in Belgium. There are more than 8,000 pieces in the museum, which fully demonstrates the evolution of musical instruments. Arguably one of Belgium's most beautiful neoclassical and Art Nouveau attractions. Historical background The Musical Instrument Museum is located near the Royal Palace in Brussels. It was built in 1877 and only moved to its current address in 2000. The entire museum is composed of steel and glass elements that symbolize music, and the appearance of the Art Nouveau architectural style is very eye-catching. There are four floors of exhibition halls in the tour guide hall, which collects more than 8,000 musical instruments from all over the world, including traditional musical instruments and culture, Western music and art, string and keyboard instruments, mechanical instruments and electronic synthesizers. Learn about the history and evolution of musical instruments in Belgium and around the world. Delicious dining is on the top floor of the building, as well as the museum's indoor and outdoor restaurants, where you can sit and dine with panoramic views of Brussels, which is very comfortable.

Day 4 | Afternoon

Having the chance to enjoy the charming Musical Instruments Museum, Battle of Waterloo Re-enactments next to it is another great place that you will never want to miss!

Battle of Waterloo Re-enactments

Opening Hours: Open from 10:00am-6:30pm

Ticket Price: 16 EUR

Recommended Length of Stay: 0.5-1 Days

Location: Chem. des Vertes Bornes, 1420 Braine-l'Alleud

The site of the Waterloo Battlefield is located near the town of Waterloo at the end of the Sowani Forest, 18 kilometers south of Brussels. On the evening of June 18, 1815, the British and Dutch forces commanded by the Duke of Wellington besieged and defeated Napoleon here, thus ending the war. A legendary figure traverses the history of Europe.

* All reviews in the blog are machine-translated.