🇧🇪 Brussels in 48 hours: what to see, where to eat and what to bring 🍫
In the regional trinity ” Paris -Amsterdam- Brussels,” the latter feels like a poor relative. He is not spoiled by the attention of tourists, less people talk about him
How to get around the city
Basic advice – with tickets. Because the fine for traveling as a “hare” is impressive – 107 euros. Tickets can be divided into two types:
1 Ordinary paper ones, they are suitable for single trips within an hour with the right to transfer. It is recommended to keep them until the end of the trip, since at the exit from the stations they also need to be applied to the validator (in this the control system is similar to Paris). A single ticket will cost 2.4 euros (3.2 euros for the XL option, which includes the surrounding areas of the capital).
2 MOBIB card. There you can upload several types of trips – one-time, daily, multi-tickets, etc. The disadvantage of the card is that it costs 5 euros. But it’s more convenient than searching for points of sale of paper tickets. You can also apply for it online.
To get to Belgium itself, look for cheap air tickets on TravelHub. And lifehacks for saving on tickets are collected here.
Attractions
Brussels is equally home to architectural masterpieces, parks, museums and restaurants. This capital of Belgium is a surprisingly harmonious city. We will begin our inspection with architecture.
Grand Place
And without wasting time, we go straight to the heart of the capital, which will certainly remain in your heart. The Grand Place is the most photogenic, most memorable and most beautiful place in Brussels, if not the whole country.
When you look at it, you get the impression that it is the fruit of the labors of a giant stone and wood carver. Its details are so clearly chiseled, made in the styles of different eras: here are the dignified Brabant Gothic, and the pretentious Baroque, and a tribute to the fashion of the 19th century – Neo-Gothic.
Surprisingly, each of the 39 houses in the square has its own name. There are also the majestic “King of Spain” with the “Hermitage”, and there are also hardly mockery of arrogant neighbors, houses with the names “Tin Pot” and “Donkey”.
Readers of this publication are especially lucky; you have the chance to plan a visit to Brussels for one of the most exciting events in the city in every sense. On even years in August, landscape designers create a floral carpet on the Grand Place for the Day of the Assumption. A million colorful begonias cover an area equal to two square kilometers. Do you like a flower extravaganza? Read about the Las Fallas festival in Valencia.
Royal House
Among all the “stone inhabitants” of the square, the Royal House certainly stands out. True, it acquired its famous name only in the 15th century. Before that, the building was wooden and was called very prosaically – “Bread House”, because of the bread sold in it. In the 15th century, it was rebuilt in stone for the Duke of Brabant, who later became the king of all-powerful Spain.
Today the building houses the Brussels City Museum. A ticket for an adult costs 8 euros. It’s worth a visit, if only because the museum contains the surviving originals of the statues from the Grand Place.
Town Hall
Another prominent building that will be hard to miss in the Grand Place is the 96-meter-high City Hall. This is the only authentic medieval building on the square; all the others have been rebuilt to a greater or lesser extent.
Since the 15th century, the Town Hall has served as a haven for the city magistrate (city hall in the modern style). Let's leave the powers that be to decide the issues of city management, and let's turn our attention to the architectural delights of the exteriors. The facade of the building is decorated with numerous sculptures of local nobility, clergy, saints and mythical figures.
If you look closely, you will find that the town hall is not in the middle of the building, but slightly offset. According to legend, the architect, upon discovering the mistake, became so upset that he threw himself from the tower and fell to his death.
Royal Palace
And again royal! Well, what can you do if royalty wants real estate? But do not confuse this building with the Royal House on the Grand Place. The Royal Palace is the official residence of the Belgian royal family in the middle of Brussels Park.
However, you will not be able to stumble upon the king walking in his slippers. Belgian monarchs use the residence only for official ceremonies, preferring to reside in the more modest Laeken Palace.
You can enjoy the magnificent interior of the halls completely free of charge. Of particular note is the Imperial Hall with 11 golden pots, each color symbolizing a province of the kingdom. And also the Throne Room, created for the most luxurious balls of its time by order of the famous King of the Belgians, Leopold II.
If you are attracted to royal houses, then you will definitely like the list of the most beautiful castles in Germany.
Basilica of Sacré-Coeur
“We built and built and finally built it,” I remember Cheburashka’s “fiery speech” from the cartoon at the opening of the school. She quite describes the fate of the most beautiful building in Brussels – the Sacré-Coeur Basilica (Basilica of the Sacred Heart).
Inspired by the basilica of the same name in Paris (a separate publication is dedicated to the trip there), her Belgian sister began her life’s journey in 1905. It saw enough of two world wars and combined two styles (neo-Gothic and art deco) before it was finally completed in 1970. And it immediately became the largest Art Deco building in the world. And also the sixth largest Catholic cathedral on the planet.
Not only the architecture of the church is of interest, but also its modern functions. The temple now houses a Catholic radio station, a restaurant, a theater, two museums and a training center for climbers. In general, the house of God opened its doors to the most diverse flock.
Church of Our Lady of Victories
Another Brussels church, the beauty of its architecture is equal to the beauty of the legends about it. According to legend, the first chapel on the site of the modern church appeared in the 14th century at the expense of the crossbowmen's guild, thereby celebrating their victory in a certain competition. Later, representatives of other military guilds also took part in the reconstruction of the church. And each was responsible for their own part of the temple. Isn’t it a wonderful example of the constructive, rather than destructive, work of the military.
Let us supplement the unusual biography of the church with the history of the replenishment of its artifacts. It is believed that the fame of the temple increased many times after a certain lady Beatrice Sotnix stole a statue of the Madonna from one of the churches in Antwerp in 1348 and brought it to this chapel. Of course, at the behest of the Mother of God who appeared to her… After such stories, you involuntarily ask the question: is this really a temple?
Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula (Brussels Cathedral)
It would be criminal to ignore the next spiritual institution – the Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula. This is one of the oldest buildings in the city. Its construction began at the end of the 13th century and ended at the end of the 15th century.
If your eyes are bored by the traditional Brabant Gothic style on the outside, complement it with the impressions of the huge stained glass windows inside. The oldest of them is already half a millennium old.
Pissing boy
A few years ago, the most famous landmark of Brussels celebrated its 400th anniversary. Don't miss in your search: an inconspicuous half-meter statue is located at the intersection of Dubovoy and Bannaya streets not far from the Grand Place.
Like every ancient relic, the Manneken Pis has many legends. According to one of them, during the war, a cradle with the young ruler of Brabant, Godfrey III, was hung on a tree to inspire the soldiers. The little ruler decided to take a more active part in the battle and… urinated on the warriors fighting under the tree. According to another legend, the statue was originally intended to remind the townspeople of the boy who extinguished the ammunition set on fire by the enemy with a stream of urine.
As true guardians of European values, the Belgians sought to ensure total equality. The result was the sculpture of the Pissing Girl, which appeared in Brussels in the 1980s. And in the late 1990s, it was the turn of the Pissing Dog. Are you ready to collect the whole trio in your photos?
50th Anniversary Park
If the proximity of France still gnaws at your heart, there is a cure for that – go to the 50th Anniversary Park. Its entrance is crowned by the local Arc de Triomphe, and the landscape here and there is reminiscent of the Tuileries Gardens and Versailles Park.
Exhibition pavilions are located next to the arch and the entrance to the park. It houses the Auto World Museum (adult ticket €15), the Royal Army and Military History Museum and the Royal Museum of Art and History (both €10).
Mini Europe Park
When visiting Brussels, you can save a lot on other tours in Europe (guess, by the way, which European destinations are the most popular now). Just go to the Mini-Europe park, where there are dozens of miniature copies of the continent's most famous buildings. At a scale of 1:25 you will find 350 landmarks from 80 cities and even reconstructions of some historical events: the eruption of Vesuvius, a bullfight in Spain and the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The cost of entry to the park is 20 euros, you can buy a ticket in advance on the website. Interestingly, children receive free admission, but not depending on their age, but on their height. If your child is up to 115 centimeters, it will save the family budget.
It is highly advisable to combine a visit to Mini-Europe with a visit to the Atomium nearby. A general ticket costs 32.2 euros per adult (there is some humor here too – a child under 115 centimeters pays 0.35 euros).
Atomium
What is Atomium, where do we recommend buying a combined ticket? The Strugatsky brothers mentioned it in their work “Monday Begins on Saturday.” The Atomium is a 102-meter-tall futuristic object depicting an iron molecule magnified by as much as 65 billion times!
It will be like a mockery of the laws of chemistry and physics. What is quite possible: six of the nine spheres (atoms) are open to visit. The spheres are connected by 23-meter-long pipes containing escalators and connecting corridors. The middle atom also contains an elevator that can take visitors to the restaurant and observation platform located in the upper ball of the Atomium in 25 seconds.
Rue des Bouchers
After such a walk around Brussels, it’s not a sin to refresh yourself. What we recommend you do on the most gastronomic street in the capital – Rue des Bouchers. Here are the oldest restaurants in the city, grocery stores and simply excellent views of shopping arcades.
If you're looking for a culinary legend, check out Chez Léon, spread over four buildings. His title dish is French fries and mussels. We have collected other oldest restaurants in the world for you here.
Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate
In the capital of Belgium, you can ignore any museum, but not this one. After all, Brussels elevated the confectionery craft to the rank of art. Therefore, Choco-Story Brussels near the Grand Place is on the must-see list.
Inside, you'll discover an interactive history of cocoa, from the ancient Mayan drinks and their journey on Cortez's ships to Europe to the creation of the world-famous pralines. Right in front of you, the master chocolatier will create several delights, share secrets and teach you to distinguish different varieties with your eyes closed. Tasting is of course included in the price! A ticket for an adult costs 14 euros, for children from three to 11 years old – 7.5 euros.
Royal Galleries of Saint-Hubert
Before leaving the city that has undoubtedly captivated your soul, stop by the Royal Galleries of Saint-Hubert for souvenirs. In addition to the variety of goods and charming architecture (the glass dome alone is worth it), they captivate the hearts and minds of tourists with the reputation of being the oldest in Europe. And thus they enter into an unspoken dispute with the Milanese indoor shopping galleries. No matter how you look at it, shopping here will be a pleasure.