chloedickensonLast Updated on 20th May 2025
This 2 day Brussels itinerary contains affiliate links.
As much as I adore frequenting beaches, exploring mountains and heading off on epic road trips around different countries, my true travel passion lies within city breaks.
So, when we started planning our two-week interrailing trip around Europe, I couldn’t wait to add the beautiful Belgian city of Brussels to our itinerary.
Renowned as the “capital of Europe” due to it being the seat of the EU, Bruxelles is an excellent European city break that I’d firmly recommend adding to your travel bucket list. It might not be as beloved as Paris or as infamous as Rome, but Brussels exudes its own wonderful charm and I fell head over heels in love with it during the 2 days we spent there.
In my detailed guide below, I’ve put together a jam-packed 2 day Brussels itinerary to help you plan the perfect trip. I’ve covered all the top sights in the city, all the best places to eat and drink, plus a few additional travel tips for visiting Bruxelles!
BRUSSELS TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
Flights: Kiwi.com
Accommodation: Booking.com / Hostelworld
Transport: Flixbus / Trainline
Activities/tours: Get Your Guide / Viator
Travel insurance: SafetyWing
Reviews: TripAdvisor
My backpacking essentials: Amazon
How to get to Brussels
By air: We flew from Manchester Airport to Brussels Charleroi Airport with Ryanair and paid £66 each for one-way flights (we flew home from Bratislava after a two-week interrailing trip) and priority boarding (which included a 10kg cabin bag each). We booked our flights just two weeks before the trip for the beginning of August and they were really cheap, even with the added priority boarding so that we could have a larger carry-on bag each.
One thing to bear in mind if you’re flying to Brussels is that the city has two airports; Brussels Airport (BRU) and Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL). We didn’t actually realise this when we booked to fly into Charleroi Airport as this one is located an hour’s drive from the city centre.
However, it’s super easy to get to and from the airport via bus (we used Flibco and paid €15.50 each) which was really easy to find at the airport and the journey only took an hour and dropped us off at the Gare du Midi Zuidstation (Rue de France) train station.
By train: You can also get the Eurostar from London to Brussels but this can often be more expensive than flying, especially during the peak summer months. If you’re travelling within Europe, you may also want to book an Interrail Pass (we did this to travel between Brussels, Munich, Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava) or you can check trains for shorter trips between cities in Europe.
Read more: The Best 2-Week Europe Interrailing Route – Ultimate Europe Interrail Itinerary
How to get around Brussels
We normally only exclusively walk around a city (as long as it’s manageable!) so that we get to see and experience as much of it as possible, so we only used the metro system once in Brussels when we were exhausted one evening after walking 25,000+ steps, but it was super easy to navigate and tickets only cost €2.10 for a one-way journey.
If you plan on using the metro more during your trip, you can buy a five-trip ticket for €8 or a ten-trip ticket for €14 so it’s pretty affordable.
Bruxelles definitely is a very walkable city and while you might feel a little exhausted after a busy day, I always recommend walking as much as possible, especially when visiting a new city for the first time so that you don’t miss out on seeing anything by using the underground.
I’ve put together a very rough map below of the walking travel itinerary we used to plan our days in Brussels. The Atomium is a bit of a walk (over an hour and a half!) so it’s best to get the metro there instead.
Where to stay in Brussels
We stayed at the beautiful Bedford Hotel & Congress Centre and while its name might sound very much like a business hotel, it was actually a really great place to stay in the city centre of Bruxelles.
Our room was incredibly spacious, with a large, comfy bed, a sizeable bathroom complete with a great bathtub, plus a TV, fridge and desk area.
The hotel lobby was so beautiful and there were plenty of spaces to sit and enjoy a drink while we waited to be able to check-in. There’s also a rooftop bar and restaurant area with stunning views over the city!
I’d highly recommend a stay at the Bedford Hotel & Congress Centre while you’re in Brussels; we paid just over £80 a night for two nights at the beginning of August and we only booked one week in advance, so I thought that was a pretty good price, especially considering how lovely the hotel was.
Find somewhere to stay in Brussels!
Booking.comBest things to do in Brussels
Below, I’ve put together the perfect Brussels itinerary of all the best things to see, do and eat in the remarkable city during a weekend (or mid-week!) trip.
The capital city of Belgium might just be one of my very favourite European cities and I’m convinced you’ll love it too! If you’re looking for inspiration for the best things to do in Brussels, check out my huge guide and itinerary!
1. Admire the spectacular Grand Place – 2 day Brussels itinerary
If you’ve visited any cities in Europe, you’ll likely be aware that most of them have their own version of a main “square”.
Munich has Marienplatz, Venice has the Piazza San Marco, Prague has the Old Town Square and Brussels has La Grand Place.
This spectacular square is home to the Town Hall (more on that below), as well as numerous guild houses, unrivalled feats of architecture, cafes, restaurants and more. Naturally, as it resides at the heart of the city, it’s one of the busiest tourist places in Bruxelles but if you can stomach the crowd, it’s well worth having a mooch around the Grand Place as it’s such a stunning part of the city.
Address: Grote Markt, 1000 Brussel, Belgium.
2. Marvel at the beautiful Brussels Town Hall
Residing right in the heart of the action in Grand Place, Brussels Town Hall is a phenomenal structure that dates all the way back to the 15th century.
Its imposing presence and spectacular façade, both during the day and at night, make it one of the top places to visit in Brussels during a 2-day trip.
You can embark on a guided tour of the Town Hall on Wednesdays and Sundays or just marvel at its magnificent complexities from the outside square. Be sure to pack your camera when visiting as it’s a picture that you’ll never forget!
Address: La Meuse et l’Escaut, Grand Place 1, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
3. Spend time in the remarkable Parc du Cinquantenaire
Often cited as the ‘Arc de Triomphe’ of Brussels, the memorial arch known as the Cinquantenaire Arch inside Parc du Cinquantenaire cannot be missed on a 2-day trip to Bruxelles.
As Brussels is nowhere near as busy as Paris, I found the Cinquantenaire Arch to be arguably even more enjoyable than the Arc de Triomphe, largely due to the fact that there was hardly anyone around!
The triple arch is such a huge, imposing presence inside the park and it makes for a wonderful photo opportunity, especially if you can snap a pic with minimal people in the background.
The park is also a joy to stroll through and it’s definitely one of the best free things to do in Brussels.
Address: 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
4. Attend a chocolate-making class – 2 day Brussels itinerary
No visit to Brussels is complete without trying some of the city’s infamous confectionary, but you can take your sweet tooth one step further and attend a chocolate-making class while you’re there!
We were very kindly gifted tickets to a chocolate-making workshop in Brussels by Get Your Guide and it was one of my highlights from our entire two-week interrailing trip through Europe!
The class we took was only two hours long and began at 10 AM, so it gave us plenty of time during the rest of the day to see more of the city. During our chocolate-making experience, we made pralines, chocolate buttons, hot chocolate and more and we were able to take our delightful creations away with us at the end of the session.
It was so much fun and something that I’d 100% recommend booking in advance of your trip to Brussels!
Address: Voldersstraat 30, 1000 Brussel, Belgium (this is the workshop that we attended and it was incredible!).
Book a chocolate-making workshop in Brussels here!
5. Stroll through Parc de Bruxelles
While it might not be quite as vast and sprawling, you can think of Parc de Bruxelles almost as the city’s (much smaller) answer to New York ’s Central Park.
Spanning a rectangular area of over 13 hectares and residing in the heart of the city near some of the other top sights and attractions in Brussels, this wonderful park is a great place to hang out in the summer months.
There are several cafes to enjoy (including the Woodpecker cafe featured below), plus gorgeous fountains and tree-lined avenues that are picture-perfect all year round.
Address: 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
6. Shop inside the stunning Galeries Royales Saint Hubert
The Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert is a stunning shopping arcade right in the heart of the city centre that’s famous for its ornately decorated ceilings, fancy stores and luxury confectionary shops.
Even if you don’t intend to purchase anything, it’s still worth having a wander through as it’s one of the most beautiful parts of the city and it’s surrounded by lots of lovely bars, cafes and restaurants. It’s also just around the corner from Grand Place so it’s in an excellent location for exploring the city if you only have 2 days in Brussels.
Address: Galerie du Roi 5, 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
7. Tuck into a portion of Belgian frites – 2 day Brussels itinerary
No trip to Brussels, or indeed Belgium as a whole, would be complete without tucking into a hearty portion of Belgian Frites.
Typically coated in salt and served with a dipping sauce of your choice (usually mayonnaise), these golden, crunchy delights are a true work of art and they make for a great snack while you’re exploring the city.
We had fries with several of our meals in Brussels but the cone of frites pictured above is from a lovely little eatery called Maison Antoine which is less than a 5-minute walk from Parc Léopold or a 15-minute walk from Parc du Cinquantenaire. We paid €3.40 plus €0.80 for mayonnaise for a large portion of fries.
Address: Maison Antoine, Pl. Jourdan 1, 1040 Etterbeek, Belgium.
8. Explore the breathtaking Royal Palace of Bruxelles
Unfortunately, we couldn’t go inside the Royal Palace of Bruxelles during our visit as it was closed for a private event, but we did have a good wander around the outside of the magnificent building.
Despite it being the official palace of the King and Queen of Belgium, it’s not actually used as their royal residence as they prefer to stay in the Royal Palace of Laeken in northern Brussels.
The palace is usually only open to the public free of charge in the summer months of July and August, but tickets are usually available on a first-come, first-served basis, so it’s best to reserve a timeslot in advance.
Address: Rue Brederode 16, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
9. Ride the Giant Wheel: The View
The View is now the highest point in Bruxelles, offering unparalleled views for miles across the beautiful city skyline. It’s located just next to the stunning building of the Law Courts of Brussels, which is a great place to visit in itself.
Tickets to ride on the giant wheel cost €9 for adults and €5 for children. There are 42 cabins in total and each cabin can accommodate 6-8 people which takes you to a height of 55 metres in the air for a spectacular vantage point over the city.
Address: Pl. Poelaert, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
10. Gaze up at St Michael and St Gudula Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula is arguably one of the most stunning religious buildings in the city and as it’s located right in the city centre, just mere minutes from Parc de Bruxelles, Mont des Arts and Brussels Vintage Market, it’s the perfect place to visit while wandering around the city.
The initial foundations of the chapel of the cathedral are thought to date all the way back to the 9th century but naturally, most of the cathedral that stands today has been replaced and refurbished over the years.
The front of it actually reminded me somewhat of the front of my beloved York Minster, just on a slightly smaller scale!
Address: Pl. Sainte-Gudule, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
11. Check out all the cool street art – 2 day Brussels itinerary
Bruxelles isn’t particularly famous for its street art and before we arrived, I didn’t even realise that there was any in the city.
However, after an afternoon of strolling around the city, we came across lots of incredible street art creations that were all utterly stunning.
Unfortunately, I completely forgot to write down the addresses of all the street art that we saw, but there’s plenty of it, so I’m sure you’ll come across some on your journey around the city.
12. Stroll through Mont des Arts Garden
Translating to “Hill/Mount of the Arts”, this lovely little park area in the city is also home to the National Archives of Belgium, the Royal Library of Belgium, the Brussels Meeting Centre and a wonderful public garden that’s idyllic for a gentle stroll on a summer’s day.
From the aptly named Panorama scenic viewpoint, you can enjoy a delightful view of the garden, the Statue du Roi Albert 1er and even as far as the tall spire of the Town Hall in Grand Place.
Address: 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
13. Enjoy the view from the Palais de Justice (Law Courts of Brussels)
I’ve already briefly mentioned visiting the Palais de Justice in the section above about The View Ferris wheel but as it’s such a beautiful-looking building, I think it deserves its own place on this list of the best things to do in Brussels.
As well as admiring the gorgeous Law Courts building, be sure to check out the epic view of the city from its high vantage point. This is a great alternative viewpoint if you don’t fancy soaring an additional 55m into the sky by riding The View!
Address: Pl. Poelaert 1, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
14. Pay a visit to the Church of Our Lady of the Chapel
The Church of Our Lady of the Chapel, or simply, the Chapel Church, is another stunning religious building that you need to add to your 2 day Brussels itinerary.
It’s undergone plenty of restoration and transformation since its original inception in the 12th century as a Benedictine priory and today it remains as the parish church of the Polish Catholic community in the city.
Address: Pl. de la Chapelle, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
15. Enjoy a cocktail at La Pharmacie Anglaise
Located just a couple of minutes from Mont des Arts garden, the splendid exterior of La Pharmacie Anglaise cocktail bar instantly piqued my interest thanks to its gorgeous façade.
Once inside, you’re treated to an extravagant cocktail menu consisting of timeless classics such as an Old Fashioned or a simple G&T. It’s certainly one of the more expensive places to indulge in a beverage or two, with some cocktails costing as much as €25, so it’s perhaps a place to bookmark if you’re visiting Brussels for a special occasion!
Alternatively, forgo a visit inside and instead enjoy the arresting exterior of the building.
Address: Coudenberg 66, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
16. Giggle at Mannekin Pis – 2 day Brussels itinerary
I want to preface this particular thing to see in Bruxelles by saying that I was remarkably underwhelmed when we first saw Mannekin Pis, so much so that we actually walked straight past it at first until we realised what the huge crowd of people were gathered around!
The hilarious statue depicting a little naked boy urinating into the fountain is one of the most famous elements of the city of Brussels and yet the whole statue and fountain area are much smaller than I thought!
I personally wouldn’t even bother seeing it, but if you happen to pass by, it’s probably worth taking a quick peak considering it’s incredibly famous!
Address: Rue du Chêne 2, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium. (This is the address of the chocolate shop next door which is arguably much more enjoyable to visit!).
17. Eat some scrumptious Belgian waffles
Eating a delicious portion of Belgian fries definitely needs to be on your Brussels bucket list and so does inhaling a lavish Belgian waffle!
These sweet treat delicacies are undoubtedly one of the best things about visiting Belgium and there are so many places in the city where you can pick up a delightful creation coated with plenty of toppings of your choice!
My personal favourite is chocolate sauce and strawberries or a sticky salted caramel drizzle and the beauty of waffles is that you can choose just about any topping and they’re sure to taste utterly delectable!
18. Have a quick nosey at the Brussels Stock Exchange
The Brussels Stock Exchange is another glorious building in the city centre but it was undergoing a bit of restoration work during our 2-day trip so it wasn’t looking its absolute best.
The interior of the building is closed to the public for obvious financial reasons, but the outside is so beautiful that it’s still worth venturing past if you’re nearby. We spent a couple of hours at a great pub just around the corner from the Stock Exchange building.
Address: Pl. de la Bourse, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
19. Explore the Anneessens Tower (Fortifications of Brussels)
Knowns as the fortifications of Brussels, these towering city wall ruins date all the way back to the 13th century when they were built for both defensive and administrative purposes.
The Anneessens Tower (Angle Tower) remain relatively intact and while they’re not quite as epic as the City Walls in my hometown of York (in my opinion, at least!), they’re still pretty impressive to see, especially when you consider how old they are!
Address: Anneessenstoren, Bd de l’Empereur 35, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
20. Enjoy the beauty of the Church of Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon
Yet another glorious church in the city; the Church of Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon is quite a mouthful to say and quite a sight to behold!
Its striking Gothic exterior is just as marvellous as its ornate interior and if you can visit both the inside and outside of the church, I promise you won’t regret it!
Address: Rue des Sablon, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
21. Stroll through Agoraplein Grasmarkt – 2 day Brussels itinerary
Agoraplein Grasmarkt is a small square in the city centre, especially compared to the grandeur of Grand Place, but it’s still a gorgeous part of Bruxelles that should be explored.
There’s a mini fountain in the middle that’s surrounded by boutique shops, local eateries and of course, plenty of waffle stalls to satisfy your sweet tooth!
Address: Rue de la Montagne 4B, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
22. Relax in the Square du Petit Sablon
As well as the many magnificent buildings in the city, there are also plenty of gorgeous outdoor spaces to relax or frolic in and one of the smallest, yet nicest garden areas in Bruxelles is the Square du Petit Sablon.
Situated just around the corner from the Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon, this lovely little park area is a dream space in the summer months. Head to a nearby cafe or bakery and pick up something delicious to eat and spend half an hour or so luxuriating in the sizzling summer sunshine.
Address: Pl. du Petit Sablon 12, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
23. Pose with the statue of Pieter Bruegel
Residing just next to Chapel Church, the statue is a memorial dedicated to Pieter Bruegel the Elder who is renowned for being the most significant artist of Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painting.
It’s not exactly overwhelmingly exciting, but if you’re visiting the nearby church anyway, it’s worth having a quick nosey at the sculpture as it’s pretty cool to see.
Address: Pl. de la Chapelle 9045, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
24. Check out the Church of Saint Catherine
Famed for its Christmas light show and projections, the Church of Saint Catherine is yet another prominent religious building in the city.
It was built over the course of 20 years between 1854 and 1874 and today it remains as one of the most prominent churches in the city of Bruxelles.
Address: Pl. Sainte-Catherine 50, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
25. Visit the Atomium – 2 day Brussels itinerary
Unfortunately, we didn’t actually venture all the way to the Atomium when we spent 2 days in Brussels (hence the terrible zoomed-in picture of it!) as we just didn’t fancy it, but it definitely is something you can squeeze into a 2-day Brussels itinerary.
The Atomium is a cool and quirky monument just outside of the city that was originally constructed as a temporary attraction for the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair.
Today, it welcomes more than 600,000 visitors each and every year to explore its marvellous complexities and to offer extraordinary views from its panoramic viewpoint and restaurant.
There are plenty of cultural exhibitions to immerse yourself in and it’s only a stone’s throw away from Mini Europe; another excellent attraction that we forgo visiting on our recent trip to the city.
Address: Pl. de l’Atomium 1, 1020 Bruxelles, Belgium.
26. Explore vintage cars at Autoworld
If you’re a fan of fancy, vintage motors, a trip to Autoworld should definitely be on your Bruxelles itinerary.
Situated within the glorious grounds of Parc du Cinquantenaire, Autoworld is a museum that boasts a collection of more than 250 vintage cars and motor memorabilia.
Tickets cost €13 (approx £11) per adult and once you’re in the museum, you can spend as long as you want exploring the plethora of antique vehicles.
Address: Parc du Cinquantenaire, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
27. Check out the events at Halles Saint-Géry – 2 day Brussels itinerary
Halles Saint-Géry is a gorgeous covered former market hall that’s now used as an event space during the day and a fancy bar area at night.
The interior is constantly changing, so the beach bar set-up that we experienced when we visited might not be there during your trip, but it’s worth heading there for a little nosey anyway as the landscape is always swapping and changing.
Address: Pl. Saint-Géry 1, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
28. See the façade of the Drug Opera restaurant
We didn’t actually dine inside the Drug Opera restaurant as I already had an intended list of places that I wanted to eat at while we were in the city but I thought that it looked like an incredibly cool building when we walked past, so I wanted to recommend it in this guide anyway.
Even if you don’t eat there, it’s so centrally located (just a 5-minute walk from Grand Place) that you’ll likely walk past anyway, so be sure to check it out if you’re nearby.
Address: Rue Grétry 51, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
29. Pay a visit to the Fine Arts Museum
The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium are actually a group of six museums comprising the Magritte Museum, the Fin-de-Siècle Museum, the Oldmasters Museum, the Antoine Wiertz Museum, the Constantin Meunier Museum and the Modern Museum.
It’s a huge space in the centre of the city and while you probably won’t have the chance to explore every single museum and exhibition, if you find yourself with some spare time during your 48 hours in Brussels, it’s worth having a little mooch around.
Address: Rue de la Régence 3, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
30. Stroll through Place de Brouckère – 2 day Brussels itinerary
We stumbled across Place de Brouckère completely by accident but it was a happy coincidence as we also discovered the pop-up roller skating rink which resides just opposite the Cheese Cake Cafe.
As far as I’m aware, the roller skating rink is only open during the summer months, but the square itself is a lovely part of the city and it’s surrounded by plenty of places to eat, drink and shop.
Address: Pl. De Brouckère, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
31. Explore the market stalls around the Église Notre-Dame Immaculée
The Church of Our Lady Immaculate is one of the newer parish churches in the city, having only been built in 1854 for the Capuchin Fathers who made it their parish.
It resides in a lovely little square where the city’s main flea market (marché aux puces) is held, so you can technically explore two sights in Bruxelles in one.
Address: Pl. du Jeu de Balle 23/25, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
32. Check out the Old England department store
The elegant façade of the Art Noveau Old England department store in the city centre is yet another classic example of the truly tremendous architecture to be found in Brussels.
It now houses the Musical Instruments Museum (MIM) which isn’t something that took my fancy, so I can only recommend taking a quick peek at the stunning exterior of the building.
Address: Rue Montagne de la Cour 2, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
33. Visit the House of European History – 2 day Brussels itinerary
It seems only fitting that the epicentre of the European Union houses an entire museum dedicated to the history of Europe.
Inside the House of European History, you’ll find dozens of permanent and temporary exhibitions depicting the enigmatic and turbulent history of Europe as a continent, as well as plenty of detailed exhibitions focusing on the political side of the European Union.
It’s not a museum that particularly took my fancy, but if you’re interested in that sort of history, I’m sure it’s wildly fascinating.
Address: Rue Belliard 135, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
34. See the beautiful building of Cour des Comptes (Belgian Court of Audit)
While naturally, the inside of the Belgian Court of Audit is strictly off-limits to the public, the exterior of the building is free and easy to see and as it’s yet another truly spectacular piece of architecture in the city, I’d recommend adding a quick visit to your 2-day Brussels itinerary.
It’s also located just opposite the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium and it’s just around the corner from Place Royale Bruxelles, so you’ll likely be walking past it anyway at some point!
Address: Rue de la Régence 2, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
35. Spend time around Place Royale (Koningsplein)
The Place Royale or Koningsplein as it’s often referred to is a lush square in the heart of the city that houses several important buildings and sits adjacent to the Parc de Bruxelles.
It reminded me somewhat of the area around Buckingham Palace in London and as the buildings are so stunning in this area, make sure that you’re equipped with your camera to snap some pictures!
Address: Pl. Royale, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
36. Wander around the city at night
As with any city break that I write about on my blog, one thing that I always make sure to recommend is wandering around the city at night and that advice also applies to a 2-day city break in Brussels.
Be sure to at least visit Grand Place at night while you’re in the city as it’s arguably the most beautiful square we’ve ever visited at nighttime. The buildings lit up in the dark looked so postcard-perfect that I had to pinch myself to make sure the view was real and not a green screen!
Where to eat and drink in Brussels
There are so many incredible places to eat in Brussels and the food that we ate during our 48 hours in the city completely blew me away! Aside from all the stunning architecture, incredible parks and wonderful culture, I’d definitely head back to Bruxelles for the food alone!
Here’s a taster (wahey!) of some of the delicious food we ate in Brussels.
1. Le Plattesteen
We ate at Le Plattesteen on our first night in the city and after contemplating whether or not to find somewhere on TripAdvisor to eat (like we do for pretty much every meal in a new city to ensure we’re eating at the best places!), we decided to wing it and came across Le Plattesteen while wandering around the city and I’m so glad we found this gem of a place as it was the best meal we had in Brussels!
I had the chicken vol au vent with fries (€16.50) which was a little different from the type of food I’d usually order as I’m never really one for ordering dishes that are super saucy but this was utterly divine and I’ve genuinely thought about it every single day since we left!
As it was served with the classic Belgian frites, the sauce was mopped up beautifully and the vol au vent itself was absolutely exquisite. I really couldn’t recommend this dish enough if you dine at Le Plattesteen!
Matt decided to try a traditional Belgian dish of Flemish carbonades of beef (€16) which is essentially a rich, delicious beef stew with thick sauce and chunky pieces of meat. His was also served with fries which paired very well with the sauce of the stew and while I personally preferred my dish, Matt preferred his, so you know that you’ve got two excellent options if you dine at Le Plattesteen!
I’m actually really glad that we didn’t check the reviews of this place as it only receives a 3.5* on TripAdvisor and 3.7* on Google reviews which I think is remarkably harsh considering how wonderful everything was!
The only slight issue we had was that the service was incredibly slow as there were only two waiters working, but with the state of the hospitality industry after the pandemic, this is more than understandable and didn’t bother us at all.
Address: Rue du Marché au Charbon Kolenmarkt 41, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
2. Delirium Monasterium
We came across Delirium Monasterium on our first night in the city after exploring the area around Galeries Royales Saint Hubert but we weren’t really in the mood to drink a metre of beer (their speciality!) or 10 shots of flavoured vodka so we returned on our second evening in the city to try it out!
Their signature “drink” is a metre of 10 different beers that are served on a spectacular metre-long stick. Matt would have definitely preferred to try this but I can’t stand beer so we opted for the “metre” of vodka instead.
Unfortunately, the vodka stick doesn’t look as cool as it’s not actually a metre long at all and is instead just 10 shots of flavoured vodka but it was still really cool, albeit pretty gross to drink that many shots of vodka!
It’s €30 for 10 shots of flavoured vodka and even though they have dozens of flavours to choose from (including strawberry, raspberry, vanilla, apple, bubble gum, caramel, orange, mango and many more), we weren’t allowed to choose our flavours as the bar was so busy so they just handed us a rack of shots of random flavours.
Address: Imp. de la Fidélité 4, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
3. The Big Game Brussels Sports Bar
After arriving in Brussels and immediately walking almost 20,000 steps, we decided that it was time for a refreshing beverage at The Big Game Brussels Sports Bar.
They have a happy “hour” offer from 12 PM to 12 AM which consists of awesome deals such as 3 Smirnoff Ice for €10, a Jupiler pint for €3 and beer deals such as 3 Corona for €10, so naturally, we obliged in a tipple or two to rest our legs and enjoy the people-watching in a brand new city.
Address: Rue Henri Maus 5, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
4. Café du Sablon
Café du Sablon is a great little spot for lunch or just coffee as it’s just over the road from the Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon so you get to tuck into yummy food and drink while enjoying an exquisite view of one of the most beautiful buildings in Bruxelles.
The cafe serves light bites such as croissants and pain au chocolat, as well as heavier lunchtime dishes such as soup, toasties, paninis and bagels. I opted for a refreshing strawberry milkshake which was the perfect choice on a 30°C+ day in the middle of summer!
Address: 1000, Rue de la Régence 26, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
5. Snack St. Catherine
On our second night in Bruxelles, after snacking on and off all day, we both really fancied more Belgian fries and a dirty kebab which we found after reading the awesome reviews of Snack St. Catherine.
Everything was freshly prepared right in front of our eyes and instead of feeling like a greasy kebab that you get after a heavy night out, our gyros were so bloody delicious!
It was only €17 for two gyro meals that came with fries, sauce and a drink each which is pretty cheap compared to some of the restaurant meals you can find! If you’re looking for an easy bite to eat in Brussels, I really can’t recommend Snack St. Catherine enough.
Address: Rue Sainte-Catherine 44, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
6. Maison Antoine
I mentioned Maison Antoine in the section above about the best places to get Belgian frites and I wanted to include it in this section of the best places to eat in Brussels as well as it’s definitely somewhere you should consider for a light snack or a sharing portion of fries.
We ordered a large portion of fries which cost €3.40 plus an extra €0.80 for mayo; it was such a substantial portion and they were great for sharing between two people. There’s also tonnes of other stuff on the menu including sandwiches, toasties, meat skewers and more.
Address: Maison Antoine, Pl. Jourdan 1, 1040 Etterbeek, Belgium.
7. Relish Café
We grabbed a bite to eat at Relish Café on our way to the chocolate-making workshop that we attended to ensure that we had plenty of energy to create lots of delicious treats!
It was only a 2-minute walk from our hotel in Brussels and it’s clearly a cafe that all the locals frequent as there were constantly people coming and going for breakfast bites.
We had a croissant each (€1.20) and Matt had an orange (€0.70) and a coffee (€1) and we couldn’t believe how cheap and delicious it was.
Address: Pl. Fontainas 14, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
8. Pierre Marcolini Sablon
The extravagant exterior of the Pierre Marcolini in Bruxelles is what drew my attention to this fantastic confectionary shop and inside you’ll find a world of chocolate delights that could rival those of Willy Wonka.
With boxes of chocolate truffles, heavenly chocolate bars, macarons and patisseries plus so much more, this is the place to visit if you’re a chocolate fiend.
Address: Rue des Minimes 1, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
9. Woodpecker Cafe
Located within Parc de Bruxelles, the Woodpecker Cafe is a great little spot if you fancy a bite to eat or drink away from the main hubbub of the city.
Nestled within the confines of the trees, providing some much-needed respite from the intense summer sun, this is a great place to indulge in a hot dog, burger, sandwich, salad or just a refreshing drink.
Address: Pl. des Palais 5, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
10. Guinguette Maurice – 2 Day Brussels Itinerary
Similarly to the Woodpecker, Guinguette Maurice also resides in a park in the city, only you’ll find this one inside the Parc du Cinquantenaire.
Boasting a similar menu to the Woodpecker cafe, plus plenty of scrumptious cocktails, beer and sumptuous wines to choose from, Guinguette Maurice makes for the perfect summertime haunt.
Address: Parc du Cinquantenaire, 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
Is 2 days enough for Brussels?
We spent pretty much exactly 48 hours in Brussels and while I would have happily stayed for another day or two, I do think that 2 days is a sufficient amount of time to see and do most things in Brussels.
I would have liked to have stayed longer purely because there were so many places I wanted to eat, but in terms of seeing and doing everything in the city, I think 2 days in Bruxelles is a great amount of time.
Is Brussels a boring city?
Despite being the “capital of Europe”, I’d heard a lot of things about Brussels being a “boring” city before we visited. After spending 2 days in Brussels, however, I can safely say that I didn’t find it boring in the slightest!
It might not be as vast and exciting as some of its European capital city counterparts (such as Paris, Amsterdam, London or Berlin , for example), but that doesn’t mean to say that it’s boring by any means!
It’s got a great food scene, some truly breathtaking pieces of architecture and the people are ever-so friendly.
I’d highly recommend Brussels for a weekend city break in Europe!
Which is better – Bruges or Brussels?
At the time of writing this post, I haven’t actually visited Bruges so I’m afraid I can’t comment on how the two Belgian cities compare.
I can, however, vouch for how lovely Brussels is and while I’ve heard tremendous things about Bruges, I currently have to say that I prefer Bruxelles for obvious reasons ;).
What is Brussels best known for?
Alongside its fabulous architecture and gorgeous parks, Brussels is probably most well-known for its Belgian frites, waffles, chocolate and the hilarious statue of Manneken Pis.
Best day trips from Brussels
Brussels is such a fantastically located city in Europe that makes it the perfect place to base yourself for several day trips.
Some of the best day trips from Bruxelles include:
I hope you found this huge 2-day travel itinerary to Brussels useful and I hope you enjoy your trip to this remarkable Belgian city!
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- The Best 2-Week Europe Interrailing Route – Ultimate Europe Interrail Itinerary
- 2 Days In Vienna – A Weekend Itinerary For First-Time Visitors
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Have you ever been to Brussels? Is it somewhere you’d like to visit after reading this guide? Let me know in the comments or in my Interrail Facebook Group!
