Should You Visit Brussels?

Is Brussels worth visiting?

This city is a good place to visit for one to five days. 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. Brussels is loved by visitors for many reasons, and is routinely on national "best of" lists, including Tripadvisor's Best Places to Visit in 2023. We first visited in 2022 and have returned several times. During our time here, we fell in love with its gritty and historical personality that mixes authentic charm and fascinating historical sights.

Guildhalls in Grand Place, Brussels

Reasons to Visit Brussels

Shopping
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.

Museums
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.

Food
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).

Historical Sights
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.

Nightlife
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.

Authenticity
Brussels has an authentic vibe where you can experience local culture, cuisine, and activities without the large tourist crowds of other popular destinations.

Is Brussels worth visiting in the Summer?

The high season for travel in Brussels is the summer, so expect to see more tourists than usual. This destination is somewhat touristy, so in the high season it's usually busier.

You'll find the weather to be very nice here during summer with average temperatures around 18°C (65°F).

The activities of the city are numerous, and this is a great time of year to explore all of them. From family-friendly attractions to romantic getaways, as well as budget-friendly things to do, there's something for everyone. Famous landmarks, museums, tours, and more are all available. You'll also find it quite easy to get around on foot, because this is a very walkable city, especially in the nice weather. During this season it's fun to experience the famous sights and museums, the big city activities, and the historic old town. Also, you'll be able to take advantage of the local nightlife.

Is Brussels worth visiting in the Autumn?

You'll find the weather to be very nice here during autumn with average temperatures around 12°C (54°F).

Autumn is the shoulder season for travel in Brussels, which means slightly less visitors than in the peak season. This destination is somewhat busy with tourists, but in the shoulder season you'll find less crowds and better deals.

Autumn is a great time of year to explore the numerous museums and landmarks around town. They are fun for the whole family as well great for couples. Soaking up that old town charm in the autumn is one of the favorite activities of visitors. The quaint scenery combined with the weather this time of year is quite nice. This is a great time of year to admire the historic sights, browse the museums, and enjoy the city's energy.

Is Brussels worth visiting in the Winter?

Winter is the low season for travel in Brussels. This destination is fairly touristy, but in the low season you can find fewer crowds and better deals.

The weather in Brussels can be quite cold during winter, and averages around 3°C (38°F). But be prepared for much lower temperatures, too.

You'll like that you can take public transit easily in the winter, too. You can get around quickly while avoiding bad weather if needed. You'll find plenty to do during winter, as you'll be able to spend time at the museums, dine out at amazing restaurants, and browse around the old town. Also, you can grab some drinks at a bar and discover the big city activities.

Is Brussels worth visiting in the Spring?

This is the shoulder season for travel in Brussels. This destination is somewhat busy with tourists, but in the shoulder season you'll find less crowds and better deals.

The weather in Brussels can be quite cold during spring, and averages around 10°C (49°F). But be prepared for much lower temperatures, too.

Soaking up that old town charm in the spring is one of the favorite activities of visitors. The quaint scenery combined with the weather this time of year is quite nice. During this season it's fun to experience shopping, the museums and landmarks, and the historic old town. Also, you can check out the nightlife.

Related

What is Brussels most famous for?

Brussels is most famous for its beautiful architecture, grand squares, diverse population, and delicious waffles. The city is very popular for its shopping. It is also known for its great museums, food, and historical sights. And many visitors also come to this city for its nightlife. It is often described as multicultural, historic, cosmopolitan, authentic, and colorful.

What is the most famous sight in Brussels?

The most popular sight in Brussels is La Grand Place (Grote Markt). You can see prices and costs for this and other sights in Brussels on our travel costs page.

Or, see tickets, activities, and tours for La Grand Place (Grote Markt) and other attractions here.

How touristy is Brussels? Is it a popular city to visit?

Brussels is more popular with local tourists than with international visitors. Here are some of the most popular activities and tours. (Prices in US Dollars)

• Architecture Tour of Brussels: $27
• Lively Brussels Highlights Bike tour DUTCH: $28
• The Best Of Brussels Walking Tour: $221
• Brussels Beer tour - small groups with real Belgian guide: $97
• Brussels Street Art Walking Tour: $22
• Full-Day City Tour of Ghent and Bruges from Brussels: $87
• Private Evening Tour: The Dark Side of Brussels: $90
• Best intro tour of Brussels with a Local: $140

How long should I spend in Brussels?

The ideal length of time for a trip to Brussels is one to five days. Since Brussels has a variety of activities such as shopping, most people need this much time to see and do everything here.

If you have a specific amount of time for your trip, see our advice about how much time to spend here: Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Brussels?, Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Brussels?, and Should I spend 1 or 2 weeks in Brussels?.