3 ways to visit Brussels during a weekend

Because there are different ways to discover a city, we offer 3 weekend ideas to visit Brussels!

“Brussels, I love you”: you must hear this new anthem of Angelus on all the radios! The Belgian capital has the coast, and rightly because it is ideal to spend a great weekend with friends or couples. In addition, a trip train Paris-Bruxelles only takes one and a half hour! So you have no excuse not to discover Brussels, and to appreciate the charm of the different districts of the Walloon enclave.

During a weekend in Brussels, you will have plenty of time to explore its places of interest like the Grand Place or the Atomium, to visit some museums, to enjoy parks and markets, and to eat... fries. Yes, the fries will be part of the stay, believe us. In this guide we offer three theme weekend ideas to visit Brussels in the best possible ways.

Weekend in Brussels around the must-sees

If you come to spend a weekend in Brussels coming from Paris or elsewhere, you will surely want to check out the list of must-sees. It falls well, we've prepared a small journey around important sites so you don't miss anything. In fact, you can even put on a bike to enjoy it more, and go faster!

Saturday morning: centre of Brussels

We will start this adventure on the famous Grand-Place , where you will be surrounded by 14th century buildings, including city hotel and House of the King . Moreover, it would be the most beautiful place in the world after Victor Hugo! Enjoy it to admire this UNESCO heritage site and take your most beautiful photos. A few blocks from here, you will also find the famous Manneken-Pis who wears a different costume depending on his moods.

After surveying the different alleys of the center, with a stop of rigor to the charming Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert , head to the Brussels Scholarship . The latter has a specific interest: it exposes works of art! If you want an inspiring break, don’t hesitate to take a tour...

A little hollow? Stop it! Halles Saint-Géry ! This former covered market very active in the 19th century is now a cultural place where you can restore and drink a drink.

Saturday afternoon: Royal Quarter

The Royal district is a historic district, and an unmistakable stage during a weekend in Brussels. First, you can stroll through the Brussels park , to arrive later Brussels Palace . This establishment of the constitutional monarchy consists of several special hotels. In charge of history, it is worth a look! However, if you are more art than history, we recommend it Magritte Museum which is nearby.

Continue your way to Mont des Arts : an impressive complex with absolutely magnificent gardens. Located on the heights of Brussels, the park allows you to rest after a day of walking while enjoying a breathtaking view. Observe the houses around, with traditional architecture... No doubt, you'll be overwhelmed! Moreover, the place is very charming for a romantic sunset.

Finally, and if you still have time and energy, make a tour at Cathedral of Saints Michel and Gudule : an impressive Gothic religious building, a place of funeral and royal weddings. Just that.

Sunday morning: the Sablons and Marolles

Step away from the center from the time of a beautiful morning to discover two iconic districts of Brussels: the Sablons and Marolles . In the Sablons you can admire the famous Notre-Dame church in the Sablon That's worth the detour. The district also houses one of the most important museums in the Belgian capital: the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium . The latter includes no less than 20,000 works that mix different arts: painting, sculpture or drawing.

As you go to the Marolles, you will go to the Palais de Justice . Impressively, this neoclassical building surmounted by a majestic cupola is the largest courthouse in the country. Bypassing it, you will find yourself in the middle of the Marolles: a popular area where the houses are built in red bricks. In the past, the place was gentrified, but kept traces of its former cosmopolitanism. There you will find a lot of street art , but also small vintage shops, cozy cafés, micro-brewery, traditional restaurants and other original bars.

Sunday afternoon: Laeken Castle and Atomium

Spend your last afternoon as royal as possible! We'll take you to Château de Laeken , located in the middle of a charming estate. Count about 40 minutes of public transport to achieve this.

The Château de Laeken was built by the Austrians. It is now a property of the Royal Donation: it is therefore the residence of the Belgian royal family. Under these conditions, you will not be able to enter into this building, but free to discover the wonderful gardens, including the royal greenhouses built under the reign of King Leopold II. Guaranteed drink!

Above the park and the castle, still in the Laeken district, is another iconic monument in Brussels: the Atomium . Built on the occasion of the 1958 Universal Exhibition, this funny building represents a conventional mesh of iron crystal enlarged 165 billion times. You can visit the exhibition of the Atomium within its museum and climb to the museum to admire a beautiful view of Brussels! Ideal, so, to finish this weekend around the must-sees in Brussels.

Weekend around the gastronomy

Do you like good things? It falls well: the Belgian capital has it under the sole to feed your soul. Gaufres, fries, chocolate, or beer dishes... You will have the embarrassment of choice. If you are planning to spend a weekend in Brussels under the sign of greed, we offer you a few spots not to miss.

Where to eat the best fries in Brussels?

Let's start with the real question: why are Belgian fries so good? Well because unlike other French, Belgians have found the ideal cooking to turn these potato sticks into real delights. Ideally cooked, a pre-cooking at 160° in vegetable oil, then a second cooking at 180° in unfinished beef fat. And... miracle happens.

In Brussels, you can eat the best fries in French fries. We recommend you test the Frite Flagey Ixelles, or Friterie de la Barrière Saint-Gilles is a 30-year-old institution. Finally, don’t hesitate to test the fries of the Maison Antoine Place Jourdan. They would be the best fries in the world after the New York Times (nothing!).

Bars to refresh yourself

Beer culture in Belgium is very rich! This drink varies between traditional “pils” and more made-in-Belgium specialties such as high fermentation beers. You can drink Trappist, Moinette and Abbey Beer. Also test lambic beer and red beer, with the original fermentation system.

The most famous bar to visit during a weekend in Brussels is the Delirium , where you can choose from a dizzy list of more than 3,000 beers. This bar is also listed in the book Guinness des Records! Otherwise, you will find excellent beers in local artisanal breweries, or in 100% local microbrewery. Test it. Brasserie Cantillon or the Brasserie de la Senne .

Also, if you’re passionate about “houblonnerie”, make a tour Museum of the Beer ! The latter is located near the Grand Place and will allow you to learn everything you need to know about Belgian beer.

Other treats not to be missed

Know that the Belgians have an appetence for the sweets. So don’t miss out on the city’s delicious treats during a visit to Brussels! For example, you can eat delicious chocolates coated with pralines Neuhaus in the Queen's Gallery. And if you want to be in the heart of chocolate, take a tour of the Sablons: the neighborhood is full of chocolate-makers like Pierre Marcolini or Wittamer . And of course, if you really like chocolate, a visit to the museum Choco-Story Brussels is indispensable.

Our Belgian neighbours also have a certain fascination for waffles. Thus, during a weekend in Brussels, you will be required to enjoy a few. For an authentic Brussels waffle, go to home House Dandoy . And if you like to have a choice in your fillings (or topping ), appointment to the Funambule .

Weekend around the BD

Did you know? Belgium is a fertile soil for many comics artists. It is a true art in the country! In particular, Hergé, father of Tintin, offered Belgium the impetus it deserves in terms of BD. The Journal of Tintin , then The Journal of Spirou both allowed Belgium to radiate in this art. Therefore, if you like the BD, then Brussels will be the place to be to feed your appetite for a weekend.

Discover the Belgian BD Centre

Enjoy a visit to Brussels to spend half a day (or more!) at the Belgian Comic Strip Centre, or BD Museum . Created in 1989, this establishment offers a chronology of BD’s art in Belgium and highlights influential BD authors as Hergé , of course, but also Peyo or Walthéry . You can admire different styles through different eras.

The building also offers enriching guided tours, meetings, temporary exhibitions, a library (colossale) and other animations. No doubt: you will come out conquered.

Make a BD course

This activity is perfect for a weekend in Brussels! The City of Brussels has decided to pay tribute to the great artists of the BD by exposing, on the walls of the city, different iconic characters: Leonardo, Spirou, Titeuf, Tintin, Schtroumpfs, or Cubitus, Tamara, Ducobu, Asterix & Obélix, and Lucky-Luke. It is up to you to find them via a path that will make you discover Brussels. You can find the list of the route directly on the City of Brussels website.

This course was launched in the 1990s and has expanded widely since with more than 60 frescoes to discover. Don’t forget your camera to photograph all the walls you’ll see! Moreover, the course of BD tends to modernize with the addition of more contemporary artists.

And that's all... 1h20 by train from Paris. Let yourself be tempted by one of our routes and tell us what you thought of it in comment.