Brussels: How to see 15 sites in 2 hours

Turns out, even though Brussels is a large metropolitan city and hosts the European Union, the actual historic city centre is quite small. Because my mom and I were limited on our amount of time in Brussels, she booked us an Airbnb experience that claimed to show you “15 sites in 2 hours.” We were sold!

When we arrived at the meeting point we looked at each other like this can’t be our guide. There was definitely something odd about him besides the language barrier. None the less, we made the best of the situation and carried on with the tour. Let me tell you, I remember NOTHING this man said about the history of the sites we saw, and I’m not even sure if it was actually 15 total, but we did see a lot in two hours. So I’m going to give you this walking guide for FREE. No crazy tour guide needed!

Stop number 9- Manneken Pis

Start at Agora Square. This is where we start with our first site:

1. Fountain Charles Buls

• Rubbing the mustache brings good luck, rubbing the dog brings good fortune (money). Just watch your hand placement for photos!

Walk down Rue de la Montagne and take a left at the Super Dry. This will lead you into the Grand Place. This famous square hosts MANY wonderful sites and three different styles of architecture- baroque, gothic and Louis XIV style. Here you’ll check off a few featured places:

2. Grand Place

• Every spring they block off the entire center to create a beautiful design made completely out of flowers. It’s said to be the most beautiful square in Europe.

3. Brussels Town Hall

• Fun fact: this building has 7 flaws. Can you spot them all? Note, see first picture.

4. Museum of the City of Brussels

5. Maison Grand Place

6. Beer Museum

Now look between the Beer Museum and Town Hall buildings, there is a small street path, right as you walk down there to your left you will see your next site:

7. Everar ‘T Serclaes

• Reclining statue of a heroic 1300s Brussels citizen, it’s said to bring luck to those who touch it.

Continue walking down this street and you will come up on your left to my favorite stop of Brussels. I came here twice during our 24 hour stay!

8. Le Funambule Waffles

• Belgium Waffles are all the rage, but these are the VERY best I’ve tried. Trust me on this one. I recommend the whipped cream and caramel drizzle option.

I mean how can you NOT be drooling looking at that waffle??

Take your waffle (and grab extra of the teeny tiny forks they give you plus napkins!) to walk just two more store fronts down on your left and BAM! you’ve hit the next site, and probably the most controversial of statues in Brussels:

9. Manneken Pis

• It’s a statue of a little boy peeing. Classy I know. But it actually is a pretty fountain because they decorate it with flowers & dress up the little boy statue in costumes. They have over 900 COSTUMES for this famous statue.

At the Manneken Pis, take a right down Rue de Chene. You’ll see on your right a huge Mural of a Manneken Pis that looks like it’s out of Prince of Bel-Air, but it’s actually the side of our next site.

Costume Museum for Manneken Pis

10. GardeRobe MannekenPis

• This is the costume museum for Manneken Pis. We didn’t get to go inside, but the mural is a great instagram spot.

As you continue to walk, make a left at the fork. You will approach a tiny square. Cross over and down the ivy colored street. This begins Brussels international street. There are restaurants representing countries from all over the world, so you are bound to find something you like to eat here if you are getting sick off of all the chocolate and waffles.

Entrance to “International Row” where there are restaurants representing food from all over the world.

As you walk down this street, it will pop you back out at the Square where the Charles buls fountain was located. Continue to walk across the square and you’ll approach the next delicacy of Belgium:

11. Chocopolis

• Belgium is known for their chocolate, and this is one of the top local chocolate boutiques in Brussels. I would suggest trying multiple chocolate shops around the city, but know this place has great free samples and vegan options.

To the right of Chocopolis, you will see a Smurf statue. Surprisingly, Brussels is all about cartoons and particularly the Smurf characters. This is also an entrance to the Brussels Central station as well as an indoor walking tunnel to get to the Upper Town area. Below are the most popular Upper Town sites:

12. Het Wervelend Oor

• A picture perfect spot that is where the Musical Instruments Museum is located. Head on inside if you have extra time.

13. Koningsplein

• This is the Royal Palace and gardens.

Mont Des Arts is a beautiful site at dusk

14. Mont Des Arts

• Also noted is the statue of Albert I aka King of Belgium during WWI, seen in the photo above and across from him is the statue of Elisabeth. Again, tour guide was getting a little loopy with his information so no clue the significance on the Elisabeth statue other than it is NOT of queen Elizabeth with a Z.

• Edit- after writing the above bit I did some research. Elisabeth was Albert I’s WIFE. She aided the WWI wounded soldiers as she was a nurse. Learn something new everyday people!

As you walk down through the Mont Des Arts park, you’ll end up back again down to the square. This is where you an take a right past the Chocopolis and follow down to see the final site of the tour:

15. Saint Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral

• This is a beautiful church that’s free to enter. Can you believe it took 300 years to complete?!

And that’s all folks! To reward yourself for all that walking, head back down to the lower town and grab a pint at Delirium, the famous Belgium cafe that earned the Guinness world record for most beers on tap (2,004 to be exact).

Sincerely,

Sarah

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