Brussels in 1 Day: Step-by-Step Itinerary with the Best Things to See

1 day in Brussels is enough to see the city’s highlights—if you know exactly where to go. I’ve been to Brussels several times, and as both a foodie and an EU Quarter nerd, I even extended my stay just to fit in more of its world-class museums. Here’s a little tip from someone who’s been: Grand Place looks completely different morning versus night, so it’s worth going twice.

In this guide, you’ll get my complete Brussels 1 day itinerary based on my real experience: the must-sees like Grand Place, Manneken Pis, the EU Quarter, and the Atomium, plus food stops for Belgian waffles, fries, mussels, and beer. It’s a step-by-step plan with a map and all the practical details included.

What sets this itinerary apart? It’s honest, efficient, and tested by me—I’ve curated everything so you can see all the best things to do in Brussels in one day without wasting time or needing to look up extra details. 

Read more from my Belgium travel blog.

Enjoying a peaceful walk through Leopold Park

 

What is Brussels best known for?

Brussels (Belgium’s capital) is famous for a few obvious things and must-see attractions in Brussels: the over-the-top Grand Place (main square with gorgeous buildings), enough beer, chocolate, and waffles to sink you, the shiny EU quarter, and the cool Atomium. There’s also the city’s love of comics—Tintin, the Smurfs, you’ll see them everywhere. 

And the one thing that made me fall for Brussels: the incredible museums. You can see they have a big budget with how thoughtful and interactive they are. Unfortunately, with only 1 day in Brussels, you won’t have time to see many of them. 

Here's how to spend one perfect day in Brussels without missing any highlights (aside from crying about the museums you don’t have time for):

If you have happen to have an extra day in Brussels, consider visiting the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces—one of the city’s most impressive museums

 

 

How to make the most of one day in Brussels? 

If you only have a single day in Brussels, this is the most efficient walking itinerary for Brussels to see all the best things the city has to offer:

• Stop 1: Start at Grand Place Brussels (Grote Markt), the city’s UNESCO-listed main square.
• Stop 2: Grab a hot Belgian waffle at Eight and Three or Obe Belgian Waffles.
• Stop 3: Walk over to the Manneken Pis statue, the overrated but famous peeing boy.
• Stop 4: Spend an hour at Choco Story Brussels, the ultimate chocolate museum with tastings.
• Stop 5: Follow the Comic Strip Trail through the historic center and spot murals like Tintin and Broussaille (or visit the Comics Art Museum).
• Stop 6: Break for lunch and Belgian beer—Nüetnigenough is my top pick (with beer sommeliers!).
• Stop 7: Stroll up to Mont des Arts viewpoint.
• Stop 8: Glance at the Royal Palace Brussels and its gardens.
• Stop 9: Head into the EU Quarter & Parlamentarium, and relax in Leopold Park.
• Stop 10: End your day at the Atomium Brussels, ideally at sunset, then have dinner nearby.

 

 

Map of Brussels with things to do in one day

The perfect 1-day Brussels itinerary!

 

Is 1 day in Brussels enough?

No, but Brussels is compact just enough to make the absolute highlights doable in one day. On my first visit, I had 2 days, and still didn’t have enough time in Brussels. With just one day in Brussels, you can see the highlights like Grand Place, Manneken Pis, the Atomium, and the EU Quarter, but not deeper museums, and you won’t even get to further out places like Cinquantenaire Park or Mini-Europe (which almost topped my list of things to do in Brussels) unless you replace another must-do. Decisions, decisions.

 

 

At the very least, stay the night! My hotel tip: Radisson Red (I stay there whenever I travel to Brussels).

 

1 day Brussels itinerary: step-by-step plan

Now I’ll walk you through exactly how find the best things to do in Brussels in one day—stop by stop, with timing, distances, visitor info, and practical tips—so you can follow it without second-guessing or losing track of time.

 

Morning in Brussels historic center

Wandering through the stunning Grand Place, Brussels' most iconic square

 

Stop 1: Grand Place Brussels (Grote Markt)

• Time spent here: 20 minutes

There’s no better place to start a day in Brussels than in Grand Place—a showstopper of a main square. I couldn’t stop looking at all the buildings dripping with gold embellishments, you can just feel how rich this city is. All that’s missing is city employees throwing cash out the windows. 

The crown jewel is the Town Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site—there are tours available but you’re short on time, so skip it and just stare at the incredible outside. Take a good look at the extra-tall tower—you can use it as a beacon for the rest of your 1-day Brussels itinerary. Whenever I lost my orientation in the city, I just looked for the Town Hall tower!

Another notable building on Grand Place is Brussels City Museum in the so-called “King’s House” (named that even though no king ever lived there), where the original Manneken Pis and all of his outfits are displayed, among other things. Your timeframe of a single day in Brussels doesn’t allow you to visit the museum this time around—check out my 3-day Brussels itinerary if you want to know more about it. 

Note: Brussels is officially bilingual, so you’ll see signs with both the French name—Grand Place—and the Dutch name—Grote Markt. 

Soaking in the rich details of Grand Place’s gilded guildhalls

 

Stop 2: Eat a Belgian waffle!

Treat yourself during your one day in Brussels

 

No list of things to do in Brussels in one day is complete without a waffle stop, and the good news is there’s a waffle shop on every corner. The bad news is also that there is a waffle shop on every corner—finding a non-touristy one is like finding a waffle in a haystack. 

Try these: I did the heavy lifting and researched with my own taste buds. I recommend walking just a couple of steps from Grand Place Brussels to Eight and Three or Obe Belgian waffles where I can confirm that the waffles are delicious (and, of course, piled with sugar, fruit, or chocolate). 

Secret tip: The absolute best waffles I’ve ever had in Belgium were in Bruges at Otto Waffle Atelier.

Skip the tourist traps—Obe Belgian Waffles or Eight and Three near Grand Place is a sweet spot worth stopping at during your 1-day Brussels itinerary

 

 

Stop 3: Manneken Pis statue (the peeing boy), a mandatory stop on a 1-day Brussels itinerary

The quirky Manneken Pis statue might be small, but it’s one of Brussels' most iconic sights

 

• Distance from last stop: 160 m/ 0.1 mi, 2–minute walk
• Time spent here: 5 minutes

Get this Brussels must-see over with, because it’s literally just a small statue of a boy peeing, and it’s about as exciting as you’d guess—but it’s also mandatory on any one day in Brussels itinerary. I went, I saw, I snapped the photo, and I was done. 

Funny enough, there is a person whose job it is to dress Manneken Pis in one of his many costumes every 3 days. He spends 2 days dressed, one day naked, and then gets an outfit change. Repeat indefinitely. 

 

Stop 4: Choco Story Brussels (chocolate museum with tasting)

Dive into the sweet world of chocolate at Choco-Story Brussels, where you’ll learn all about cacao—from bean to bar

 

Visitor information: 

• Distance from last stop: 1 minute walk
• Time spent here: 1.5 hours
• Price: €14 
• Opening hours: 10 am–6 pm (last ticket slot at 5 pm) 

I’ve been to over 10 chocolate museums all over the world and the Brussels chocolate museum is my favorite one out of all of them! You need to visit this place on your Brussels 1-day itinerary.

Of course, you know that one of the famous things that Belgium is known for is chocolate, so during your one day in Brussels go learn about it at the museum called Choco Story. All I can say is it’s a super fun museum, delightfully tasty (yes, you get to try samples!), and educational too. 

Pro tip: Get your tickets and time slot online a few days in advance, because the lines to get in get crazy at this place. 

Don’t spend too much time at the gift shop before you move on, it’s easy to lose track of time in there!

Chocolate masterpieces on display at Choco-Story Brussels

 

Stop 5: Find comics murals in Brussels and (maybe) visit the Comics Art Museum

Another spot on the Comic Strip Trail: Tintin and friends running down a wall like they own the city

 

• Time spent here: 1 hour (more if going to the museum)

One of the easiest ways to get a feel for Brussels in one day is simply walking the historic center—specifically the area between Grand Place and the Boulevard Anspach. The streets here are full of cafés and guildhalls, and perfect for stumbling into the city’s other obsession: comic strip murals.

Belgium basically invented half of Europe’s comic heroes like Asterix, the Smurfs, Tintin, and Spirou. You’ll see some on building walls even without trying, or you can follow the official Comic Strip Trail. Don’t try to see the whole thing (it’s 60+ murals), but weaving a few into your one day Brussels itinerary gives you an easy peak at another thing Belgium is famous for.

Murals to spot while walking from Choco Story Brussels and Manneken Pis are:

• Tintin mural (Rue de l’Etuve 37)—one of the more famous ones, impossible to miss as it’s right on the corner next to Choco Story.

• Olivier Rameau (Rue du Chêne 9)

• Ric Hochet (close by)

• Victor Sackville (Rue du Marché au Charbon 60)

• Broussaille (Rue du Marché au Charbon 41)—the very first Brussels mural, painted in 1991.

I wanted to learn more about the comics in Belgium, so I also visited the Comics Art Museum, which was fine. I think they didn’t use the full potential of such a fun topic. You can find details about my experience at the museum in my Things to do in Brussels Guide.

A fun stop for comic lovers – from Tintin to the Smurfs at Brussels' Comic Art Museum

 

Bonus points: The peeing statue hattrick

If you’ve got energy and a knack for collecting oddities, wander a little further past Boulevard Anspach out to Zinneke Pis (the peeing dog statue) and then to Jeanneke Pis, the peeing little girl on Rue de Bon Secours 4 (closer to the Comics Art Museum). Now you can say you’ve seen all 3. 

 

Afternoon: gardens, palaces, and EU quarter

Stop 6: Eat lunch and drink Belgian beer 

Trying authentic Belgian food is a must—even if it’s just a quick lunch during your one day in Brussels

 

• Time spent here: 1 hour

Here are my top 3 restaurant tips for Brussels:

1. My favorite restaurant in Brussels is close to Choco Story and it’s called Nüetnigenough. I come here every time I have a day in Brussels. It’s THE place for Belgian fries and stew and literally hundreds of types of Belgian beer—you’ll even get a beer sommelier to help you pair your pint to your stew. Epic and so, so good. 
    
2. Or, if you want to eat near Jeanneke Pis and the Comics Art Museum, Wolf Sharing Food Market is the place to go, and it’s a great addition to your 1-day Brussels itinerary if you want something less formal than a classic restaurant. You order on a tablet from an extensive offer of 16 restaurants preparing everything from classic Belgian food to burgers, poke bowls, and truffle pasta. 
    
3. I also had dinner one night at Le Rendez-Vous des Artistes—they are known for their mussels, which I personally hate, so I had a lovely beef tartare instead. But yeah, it’s the place for mussels for you weirdos that actually like them. 

Pro tip: If you’re dead set on eating on or near Grand Place, expect a lot of tourist traps and overpriced restaurants. Check reviews before sitting down anywhere (I like to use Google Maps)!

 

Fuel up for your Brussels adventure with Belgian classics like stew and steak, crispy fries, and a local beer

 

Stop 7: Mont des Arts Brussels viewpoint

Take in the picture-perfect view from Mont des Arts—one of the best spots to admire the skyline of central Brussels

 

• Distance from last stop: depends on the restaurant you eat at, but as a reference, it’s about 10min walk from Grand Place
• Time spent here: 20 minutes

Time to walk off those calories—Belgian food is known to be comfy and heavy. You’ll want to stroll towards the Royal Palace, stopping at Mont des Arts (the “Hill of Arts”). It’s a big garden square surrounded by buildings like the Royal Library or the Congress Palace, but the main tourist draw is the view. 

Pro tip: St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral, which is Belgium’s national church, is an easy detour depending on where you’re coming from. It houses what is apparently a piece of the wood from Jesus’ cross. Free entry. 

At Mont des Arts, walk up the stairs, passing King Albert I of Belgium on his horse, and then keep going to the back of the garden where the view is best. Since it’s slightly elevated, you can spend a few minutes of your one day in Brussels itinerary staring at Brussels with the colorful flowers in the foreground and the Town Hall tower proudly topping it all off in the distance. 

 

Stop 8: Royal Palace Brussels (outside only)

Make a quick stop by the Royal Palace of Brussels during your one day in the city to admire its majestic neoclassical architecture

 

• Distance from last stop: 450 m/ 0.3 mi, 7–minute walk
• Time spent here: 20 minutes
• Price: Free 

Right next to Mont des Arts is Brussels Royal Palace and Gardens. This is another “look from the outside only” type place, because the self-guided tours of the palace are only available in the summers, and you need to breeze through since you’re trying to see Brussels in one day anyway. 

Take a peak at the palace exterior, have a little walk through the nearest part of the gardens, and move on. 

In case you’re wondering, this is not where the Belgian monarchy lives—they reside at the Castle of Laeken out by the Atomium. The Royal Palace is a place of royal business only.    

Pro tip: Read my Things to do in Brussels guide for details of the tour if you are interested in going inside and are in Brussels in July through September. 

Optional stop: If you didn’t see St. Michael’s Cathedral on your way to Mont des Arts and you really want to see a church in Brussels, now’s your chance to visit one close to the Royal Palace: Notre Dame du Sablon. It’s Gothic and, um, it’s a church. 

 

Stop 9: EU Quarter Brussels & Parlamentarium & Leopold Park

Visit the European Parliament (Parlamentarium) in Brussels for a glimpse into the heart of EU politics and an iconic modern landmark

 

Visitor information: 

• Distance from last stop: 1 km/ 0.6 mi, 15–minute walk
• Time spent here: 1–1.5 hours
• Price for Parlamentarium: Free, but you have to make a reservation online, but it’s easy and free
• Opening hours for Parlamentarium: Open daily: Mondays 1 pm–6 pm, Tuesday to Friday 9 am–6 pm, weekends 10 am–6 pm 

I love the EU. I love what it stands for, and visiting Brussels in one day is still long enough to pay homage to the bureaucratic mothership. From the Royal Palace, it’s about a 15-minute walk to the European Parliament and the Parlamentarium—the visitor center that you absolutely have to visit. There are multimedia exhibits and things like a massive floor map that shows the EU stretching across the continent. Spend an hour there.

The entire EU Quarter is a neighborhood of official-looking glass-and-steel institutions, all of which you’ll just glance at from the outside unless you have a meeting with a commissioner. But still, for me it was thrilling to just be here—the place where decisions are made that affect 27 countries and 450 million people.

Right outside is Parc Leopold, where EU staffers go when they need to get some fresh air. It’s a nice historic park with a pond and trees and yeah… then it’s time to head to the other side of Brussels for your one day Brussels itinerary finale—the Atomium. You’ll want to hop in a taxi or metro for this last part. 

 

Evening: the Atomium and dinner

A one day in Brussels isn’t complete without seeing the futuristic Atomium

 

Stop 10: Atomium, Brussels’ famous landmark

Visitor information: 

• Distance from last stop: about 10 km/6 miles, about 15 minutes by taxi or 30 minutes by metro line 6 (to Heysel/Heizel station)
• Time spent here: 15 minutes to 1 hour if you’re going inside too
• Price: €16 and it’s best to buy them online to avoid lines
• Opening hours: daily 10 am–6 pm (last entry at 5:30 pm)

I’ve been inside the Atomium but I still think that it’s most impressive when you see it from the outside. This thing is huge! 

So, even if you don’t get here before it closes at an annoyingly early time (6 pm most days), it’s ok. You’re here to see it, not necessarily poke around the inside. If you time it right, you’ll even catch it at sunset for some cool photos (and memories).

If you end up going in, know that five of the nine spheres are open for visitors, and they include exhibits, a restaurant, a gift shop, and a light & sound display. The very top orb is a viewing platform. 

 

The Atomium is stunning from the outside—and even if you don’t go in, it’s absolutely worth the visit

 

Stop 11: Where to have dinner near the Atomium? 

Alright, time for dinner. This Brussels day trip has been long, amazing, and you deserve some more of Brussels’ signature food! 

Two places are now of that are close to the Atomium are: Salon 58 for a fancier, modern Belgian menu and Brasserie Bruxelles for hearty classics like steak-frites and carbonnade. 

 

Final thoughts: What you miss with only one day in Brussels

A 1-day Brussels itinerary gives you the essentials—Grand Place, Manneken Pis, Mont des Arts, and the Atomium—but of course it means leaving plenty out, wishing you had more than a day in Brussels.

You won’t have time for the museums at Cinquantenaire Park, from Autoworld to the vast Armed Forces collection (and that famous viewpoint on the gates). You’ll skip Mini-Europe, where I spent 4 hours (kidless, mind you!) enjoying Europe’s landmarks in miniature. You’ll have to forget about the sweeping views from the Palace of Justice and even the historic, glass-roofed shopping arcade called Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert. 

When I first planned a trip to Brussels, I honestly thought it wouldn’t be that interesting. But the more I researched, and then the more I visited, the more the city surprised me. There’s far more here than most people expect when they start searching for a 1-day itinerary for Brussels. Spending an extra day or two is worth it. See my full 3-day Brussels itinerary for the ultimate Brussels trip plan. 

 

Stops you won’t get to visit on this 1-day Brussels itinerary: St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral and the elegant Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert

 

If you have extra time in Brussels, Mini-Europe is a super fun place to explore famous landmarks in miniature—I was there for 4 hours

 

Visiting Brussels, Belgium: Quick travel tips

• Pack for sudden rain. The weather changes fast—clear skies mean nothing.
• Atomium closes early. Most days it shuts at 6 pm, which feels absurd for an icon. If you want to go inside, plan it earlier; if not, swing by at sunset for the best view.
• Don’t expect nightlife in the EU (Leopold) Quarter. It’s impressive by day, but dead quiet once office hours end. 
• See Grand Place twice. Go once in the morning before the crowds, and catch it again at night when it’s all lit up if you have time—it feels like two different places.
• Use Bolt if you’re tight on time. Brussels historic center is walkable and you can use the metro and tram are fine, but a Bolt is cheap, quick, and better when you only have one day in Brussels (or if you, like me, have a mild allergy to public transportation).
• Finally, my hotel recommendation for Brussels: Radisson Red. It’s stylish, comfortable, and the place I keep coming back to—that must count for something.

 

Best time to visit Brussels (with top events)

• The sweet spot for visiting Brussels is June or September— when the weather is mild and you’re not gambling as much with rain. July and August are busier, but compared to Paris or Rome, Brussels is still very manageable, so even summer is fine in Brussels.
• December is time for the Brussels Christmas market, but it’ll obviously be a colder and darker city visit. 
• If you want more crowds, plan your trip around one of the city’s big events. 
  • Every two years in August, the Flower Carpet transforms Grand Place into a massive mosaic of flowers.
  • The Ommegang pageant (early July) brings medieval Brussels back to life with processions and costumes.
  • There’s also the Belgian Beer Weekend (early September), when Grand Place fills with brewers and you can sample the country’s best without leaving the square. To be honest this seems pointless to me—you can drink incredible Belgian beer any day of the week, who wants to be wedged in a crowd at Grand Place to do it?

Explore Belgium’s cultural treasures at the Art & History Museum in Park Cinquantenaire

 

Getting to Brussels and transport in the city

• Airports: Always fly into Brussels Zaventem (the real airport, 20 minutes from the center). Charleroi is the Ryanair option—cheaper flights but it’s over an hour away by bus!
• Trains: Brussels is easy to reach on high-speed rail. Eurostar, Thalys, TGV, and ICE trains all make it easy to do a Brussels day trip from Paris/Amsterdam/London (and vice versa!).
• Getting around the city: The historic center is walkable. For the Atomium or EU Quarter, you’ll need the metro or tram (it works, but I rarely bother).
• Bolt: I often just call a Bolt instead—cheap, fast, and easier than figuring out metro lines when you’ve only got one day in Brussels anyway.

 

It’s worth taking a trip from Brussels to Ghent if you have extra time

 

Where to next after Brussels? Day trips and nearby cities

Belgium is small and the train system is fantastic, which makes day trips ridiculously easy. From Brussels, you can be in another city within an hour:

• Antwerp: a stylish port city with edgy modern vibes.

• Ghent: medieval town with youthful energy and canals, one of my personal favorite places in Belgium.

• Bruges: canals, cobblestones, and crowded streets.

• Day trips from Brussels: more ideas if you want to branch out beyond the classics.

 

 

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