Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Brussels?
Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Brussels?
Most visitors spend one to five days in Brussels when visiting. The colorful city offers so many things to see and explore, so you'll want to take full advantage of the limited time you have. Highlights include the big city activities, shopping, the museums and landmarks, and the historic old town.
Brussels offers a perfect combination of beauty and grit. It's a city that remains authentic to its roots while embracing its multicultural character and diverse, mixing bowl environment. You'll find amazing ethnic restaurants, fascinating outdoor markets, and a colorful city with a fun atmosphere. The main square is filled with beautiful architecture and historic ambiance.
Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Brussels? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is 3 days enough time in Brussels?
Three days is the perfect amount of time in Brussels, as many visitors prefer to spend one to five days here. You'll be able to explore the major attractions and take part in the city's most popular things to do such as the big city activities, shopping, the museums and landmarks, and the historic old town. We have some suggestions for what to do and where to start your adventure below.
How to spend 3 days in Brussels
Since Brussels is such a large city, you can spend at least a day exploring the many neighborhoods, attractions, and activities found around town. Break up visiting popular landmarks with the more authentic neighborhoods for shopping and dining. The city is large, multicultural, and filled with energy. There's a lot of activity around the main squares and the streets are filled with restaurants and shops.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Brussels Tootbus Discovery Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour ($38)
- Private Transfer from Brussels hotels to Zeebrugge Cruise Port ($143)
The restaurant and food scene here is top notch, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine. While the city is most known for its waffles and fries, the diversity of dishes and international restaurant selection continues to grow. There are Lebanese, Japanese, and Indian restaurants among others. Popular local dishes include moules-frites, waterzooi (a stew), and stoemp (made with mashed potatoes and vegetables).
A few tour suggestions include:
- Brussels Walking and Tasting Tour ($75)
- Brussels: Historical Walking Tour with Chocolate & Waffle Tasting ($38)
- Discovery hike and tasting in the heart of a natural park ($27)
Brussels is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. If you stay in the historical area, it's easy to walk around and many boulevards are being converted to pedestrian areas.
Shopping in Brussels is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. Although it's famous for diamonds, the city also has many shopping streets where you can find designer brands, vintage shops, and other unique boutiques that are fun to explore.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Independent Shopping Trip to Maasmechelen Village Luxury Outlet from Brussels ($19)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. The city's nightlife is quieter and more mellow than some other major cities around Europe. That doesn't mean there aren't plenty of dance clubs and bars where you can hang out. Keep your wits about you after the sun goes down as some areas are a bit rougher than others.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Brussels Pub Crawl - Nightlife & Party Experience ($17)
The public transit in Brussels is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. Transit options include train, tram, metro, bus, and waterbuses.
Don't miss La Grand Place (Grote Markt) during your trip to Brussels, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Brussels.
Is 4 days enough time in Brussels?
Four days is more than sufficient for an in-depth trip to Brussels, giving you the freedom to set your own pace. Enjoy the chance to discover the big city activities, find the best deals at the shops, browse through museums, and browse around the old town on your own schedule. Then, unwind at your hotel or use Brussels as a hub for some nice day trips in the surrounding area.
How to spend 4 days in Brussels
If you have more than 4 days in Brussels, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the city has to offer.
A number of fantastic museums and famous landmarks are found in Brussels, so spend at least one full day exploring those that look the most appealing to you. Popular sights include Saint-Michel Cathedral, Place Royale, and the Belgian Royal Museum of Fine Arts. The city is filled with impressive architecture, fascinating art museums, and innovative science and technology museums.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Brussels Train World Museum Entrance Ticket ($16)
- Entrance ticket to the Pixel Video Game Museum ($13)
- Brussels Autoworld Museum Entrance Ticket ($16)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Brussels.
Is 5 days enough time in Brussels?
Five days is more than enough time to see everything that Brussels has to offer. Many visitors prefer to spend one to five days here, so you'll be able to take in all of the big city activities, shopping, the museums and landmarks, and the historic old town at your own pace. We have a few suggestions of things to do while you're visiting, and then you can take a day trip if you're looking to explore further around the area.
How to spend 5 days in Brussels
Having 5 days in Brussels will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.
The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. The old town in the city center is where you'll find the greatest concentration of historic sights. The area is surrounded by tree-lined boulevards and is easy to explore.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Brussels: Historical Walking Tour with Chocolate & Waffle Tasting ($38)
- Brussels: The comic book walls walking tour ($16)
- Brussels Chocolate Walking Tour and Workshop ($75)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Brussels.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Brussels, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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.
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.