How much does it cost to travel to Brussels?
You should plan to spend around $148 (€137) per day on your vacation in Brussels. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $41 (€38) on meals
- $18 (€17) on local transportation
- $158 (€146) on hotels
A one week trip to Brussels for two people costs, on average, $2,077 (€1,917). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Brussels has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Brussels expensive to visit?
Prices in Brussels are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Brussels is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to San Gimignano or Cannes.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Brussels Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Brussels?
The average Brussels trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Brussels travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
€146
($158)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
€17
($18)
|
|
Food 2
|
€38
($41)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
€23
($25)
|
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
€3 -
9
($3 - 9)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
€7 -
20
($7 - 21)
|
Accommodation Budget in Brussels
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Brussels is $79 (€73). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Brussels is $158 (€146). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Brussels? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Brussels
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Brussels is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $18 (€17) per person, per day, on local transportation in Brussels.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$18
€17
How much does it cost to go to Brussels? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Brussels will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Typical prices for Transportation in Brussels are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Brussels, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
-
Subway Pass
€4.50
-
Atomium train ticket (2)
€8.00
Food Budget in Brussels
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Brussels can vary, the average cost of food in Brussels is $41 (€38) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Brussels should cost around $17 (€15) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Brussels is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$41
€38
Typical prices for Food in Brussels are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Brussels, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Entertainment Budget in Brussels
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Brussels typically cost an average of $25 (€23) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$25
€23
Tips and Handouts Budget in Brussels
Calculated from travelers like you
Alcohol Budget in Brussels
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $14 (€13) on alcoholic beverages in Brussels per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$14
€13
Typical prices for Alcohol in Brussels are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Brussels, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
-
Bottle of Wine
€10
-
Beer
€6.00
Water Budget in Brussels
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $3.74 (€3.46) on bottled water in Brussels per day. The public water in Brussels is considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$3.74
€3.46
Brussels On a Budget
Guildhalls in Grand Place, Brussels
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and also the sight of the headquarters of the European Union. Generally speaking, it's an expensive city that sees a good amount of travelers. It is also a highly political city that has an air of importance and power. It's an incredibly international city, with people from all over the world flocking to it due to its political, economical, and cultural significance.
Despite this, many travelers rush through, or even overlook Brussels. It has not yet made a major impact in the travel community, but that doesn't mean this city should be skipped. Despite its international feel, Brussels has a unique and personable atmosphere. It manages to hold on to its own unique culture and vibe. There's a deep routed history here, which can be seen not only in its architecture, but also the museums and art galleries that dot the city.
Brussels' weather tends to be wet, with rain falling on an average of 200 days a year. This dampness means the city feels much colder than it actually is. Seasonal temperature changes are small, with summer temperatures rarely going above 22 degrees Celsius. After October the temperature drops and although snow is rare, it can still feel wet and cold.
Sights
As visitors can find many
UNESCO World Heritage sites in Brussels, do yourself a favor and don't just rush in and out of this dynamic city. You can learn so much about the city itself, and Europe as a whole in just one visit.
Popular sights abound in the city and include the
Grand Place-Grote Markt, Parc du Cinquantenaire-Jubelpar, Manneken Pis, Atomium, Basiliek van het Heilig Hart, and
Cantillon Brewery. There are some interesting ways to see the city such as on a bike tour, doing an architectural tour, or taking the horse drawn carriage. This is definitely not necessary however, and many enjoy relaxing and visiting the sights on their own at their own pace. Brussels is an easy city to navigate, so if you don't feel compelled to do a tour, it is not a great loss.
Neighborhoods
Brussels is divided into 19 boroughs which are referred to as Communes or gemeenten. Bruxelles/Brussel is where you will find the most character and the highest concentration of attractions. Decorative buildings are found around Grand Place. Marolles/Marollen is near the middle of the city and it is still possible to hear people speaking Flemish here. There's a daily flea market on the Place du Jeu de Balle that is popular. Ixelles/Elsene is an energetic area with a lot of restaurants and bars. There is a lot of diversity in this area and some great ethnic restaurants. Molenbeek-Saint-Jean has a large Moroccan and Romani population and Saint-Gilles has French, Portuguese, Spanish, Maghrebi and Polish neighborhoods.
Activities
If you're interested in shopping, Brussels is a great city to pick up some fun souvenirs. The city is known for its lace which can be found at Grand Place-Grote Markt. Do make sure that you are actually buying locally produced lace as some places have outsourced the process. Chocolate is another Belgium favorite and you will find chocolate stores everywhere. It's something everyone should sample while they're in town. And of course, Belgium is known for its beer so make sure you allow yourself time to sit back, relax, and enjoy a glass in a good setting.
Food and Dining
Food in Brussels is delicious. There are three main items that Brussels is known for. These include mussels, fries, and chocolate. Each should be tried at least once during your time here. Fries are served with unique toppings and there's debate over which place has the best version. Some recommended places include the fritkot near Barriere de Saint-Gilles, St-Josse's Martin, and Antoine.
Mid range restaurants are found in abundance around Rue des Bouchers-Beenhouwerstraat to the north of Grand Place. It is sometimes possible to negotiate a price before choosing a restaurant. Do be aware of hidden charges.
Vegan options are almost impossible to find, but there are some vegetarian restaurants that offer some good selections if you don't eat meat. It's also possible to get sandwiches that are strictly vegetarian.
Transportation
Most of Brussel's tourist attractions are close together and easily reached on foot. They're concentrated in the oldest part of town and walking is a pleasant way to explore. If you want to go to more outer regions, there is a good public transportation system that includes buses, trams, and metros. There are six metro lines and announcements are made in Dutch, French and English. It's also possible to rent a bike through a bike sharing program called Villo. There are more than 200 bike stations around the city and you can take a bike from one station and return it to another. There are daily and weekly memberships available.
Related:
Looking for a party? Find a
hostel in Amsterdam,
London, or
Paris.
Traveling alone to
Brussels?
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.