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Best Attractions in Brussels (2026)

Brussels packs a remarkable range of sights into a small area. The historic centre revolves around the Grand-Place, a UNESCO-listed square rebuilt after the bombardment of 1695, where the Gothic Town Hall faces the King's House and its Brussels City Museum. A five-minute walk away, the tiny Manneken Pis draws crowds out of all proportion to its size. Uphill in the Royal Quarter, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium hold Flemish masters and the Magritte collection, and the Musical Instruments Museum fills the Art Nouveau Old England building next door. The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula stands between the two parts of town.

Further out, the Atomium on the Heysel plateau is worth half a day, and the Parc du Cinquantenaire combines a triumphal arch with three museums close to the House of European History, which is free and opens on Monday afternoons. Art Nouveau fans should book a slot at the Horta Museum in Saint-Gilles, and families will enjoy the Comic Art Museum in a Horta-designed store. Many museums close on Mondays, so plan museum days from Tuesday to Sunday. The Brussels Card is accepted at several of these sights and can save money if you plan to visit a number of museums.

10 places · Updated October 27, 2026

Our top 3 attractions in Brussels

  1. Grand-Place Historic square, Îlot Sacré (City Centre)Brussels' central market square, rebuilt after the 1695 bombardment, framed by the Gothic Town Hall and ornate guildhalls and listed by UNESCO in 1998.
  2. Manneken Pis Bronze statue and fountain, City CentreBrussels' small bronze fountain of a urinating boy, first cast in the 17th century, famous for its wardrobe of around 1,000 costumes.
  3. Atomium Landmark and exhibition building, Heysel (Laeken)A 102-metre model of an iron crystal built for Expo 58 on the Heysel plateau, with exhibitions, a panoramic top sphere and a restaurant.

Attraction

1. Grand-Place

Historic squareÎlot Sacré (City Centre)

Brussels' central market square, rebuilt after the 1695 bombardment, framed by the Gothic Town Hall and ornate guildhalls and listed by UNESCO in 1998.

View details — Grand-Place

Attraction

2. Manneken Pis

Bronze statue and fountainCity Centre

Brussels' small bronze fountain of a urinating boy, first cast in the 17th century, famous for its wardrobe of around 1,000 costumes.

View details — Manneken Pis

Attraction

3. Atomium

Landmark and exhibition buildingHeysel (Laeken)

A 102-metre model of an iron crystal built for Expo 58 on the Heysel plateau, with exhibitions, a panoramic top sphere and a restaurant.

View details — Atomium

Attraction

7. Horta Museum

Art Nouveau house museumSaint-Gilles

Victor Horta's own house and studio, built between 1898 and 1901 and listed by UNESCO in 2000, a key work of Belgian Art Nouveau.

View details — Horta Museum