Best things to do in Brussels

The center of Brussels, Grand Place forms an imposing square with opulent buildings, including the city hall. Dating back to 1523, the city's main square was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1998. Take in the grand architecture of the guild halls, and a tour of city hall. The square houses the Museum of the City of Brussels and the Brewers Museum, both of which give a good impression of the essence of Brussels. Despite its relatively small size, the square attracts more visitors than any other attraction in the European capital. Also there, Hôtel de Ville de Bruxelles.

A bizarrely shaped building, Atomium resembles a giant atom. Originally built for Expo 58, Brussels' World Fair in 1958, the landmark now attracts visitors for its impressive views of the capital from above. Designed in the shape of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times, the building is composed of nine huge stainless-steel spheres measuring 18 m (59 ft) in diameter and connected by steel tubes. Visit the five spheres containing exhibit halls, including one permanent exhibit dedicated to Expo 58. The top sphere offers a panoramic view of Brussels. Learn about the building's history, construction, and renovation on a guided tour.

A curiously famous landmark, Manneken Pis depicts a small bronze boy urinating into a fountain. The history behind the statue is contested, with several different legends surrounding the naked boy. Brussels artist Jerome Duquesnoy designed the sculpture in 1619, but because of many thefts over the years, the original statute today sits in the Maison du Roi/Broodhuis in Grand Place. Just a short walk from the main square, you'll know you're getting close when the souvenir shops feature larger-than-life versions of the landmark sculpture. At only 61 cm (24 in), this small sculpture has garnered huge attention, even having a chain of French-fry shops named after him. The little boy is dressed regularly in the attire of an organ builder, mayor of Brussels, and judo practitioner. Visit his female counterpart, Jeanneke Pis, squatting in a street nearby.

Mini-Europe brings Europe's major attractions together in one place at a fraction of their real size. From miniature versions of Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower to the canals of Venice and Athens' Acropolis, you can complete a whirlwind tour of the continent just by exploring the park. The landmarks even come to life, allowing you to recreate moments in history. See Vesuvius erupt, and the watch the Berlin Wall come down. Learn more about the European Union and its history, purpose, and challenges in this interactive exhibit.

Dedicated to the patron saints of Brussels, St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral (Cathedrale St-Michel et Ste-Gudule) cuts an imposing figure in the historic city center. It is co-cathedral of the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels, along with St. Rumbold's Cathedral in Mechelen. The cathedral's two terraced spires reach 64 m (210 ft) tall and were designed by Jan van Ruysbroeck, the same architect responsible for the tower of the city's town hall. Inside, visit the mausoleums of the dukes of Brabant and Archduke Ernest of Austria. Admire the way the sunlight hits the cathedral's stained-glass windows. The cathedral contains a massive organ with 4,300 pipes.

With gourmet Belgian chocolate shops housed in a 19th-century shopping arcade with a glass roof, it's hard to say what the real attraction is at Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert. The shopping center attracts both locals and tourists who want to browse the chocolate shops and clothing boutiques or enjoy a quiet moment in one of the cafes. The glass ceiling brings in sunlight while protecting you from the weather, so you can enjoy the building's beauty at any time of year. Walk along the wide corridor between matching facades, shop the luxury labels, and soak up some culture at one of the museums housed in the galleries.

Take in a wide range of art, including works from the Belgian masters, at Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, a collection of the country's four most important museums. Two of the museums are located in the center of Brussels in the Coudenberg neighborhood: the Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Ancient Art. The Museum of Ancient Art was built as the Palais des Beaux-Arts funded by King Leopold II and showcases the artwork in large galleries. The other two museums are a few kilometers from the city center and house the work of specific artists: the Constantin Meunier Museum and the Antoine Wiertz Museum. Reach the Meunier Museum by tram lines 23, 90, 94 and the Wiertz Museum from the Luxembourg station. These two museums are free to enter and tour. All of the museums are free on the first Wednesday of every month, and with the Brussels Card. Alternatively, buy a combo ticket for all of the museums, including the Magritte Museum, for a discount and for convenience. These tickets are available at any of the museum's reception desks.

Walk through the history of Tintin at the Belgian Comic Strip Center, which celebrates the art of the comic. The center is housed inside a former department store designed by Art Nouveau architect Victor Horta, whose great glass ceiling lets in enough natural light to illuminate the museum galleries. Exhibits showcase French, English, and Dutch comic art from its earliest days to the present. An extensive Tintin exhibit is the main attraction with the history of the artwork and its creator, and even life-size models of the characters. Browse copies of some of Europe's best-known comics and graphic novels in the reading room and library. A self-guided tour is the most popular way to explore the building and the exhibits, because information about each exhibit is available in multiple languages.

Step into Old World charm in Historic Centre of Brugge. Once a medieval settlement, this quiet city center still features preserved Gothic buildings and was at one time considered to be a major commercial city, due mainly to its port. Walk the cobbled streets to find endless chocolate shops, pubs featuring doubles and triples, and a mix of architectural styles. View the historic city on a boat tour through the canals, or sit back during a carriage ride through the canal-lined streets. If you've seen the film "In Bruges," you may want to take a guided tour, which can pinpoint major locations from the film.

Visit the vast collection of botanicals at Serres Royales De Laeken, or "Royal Greenhouses of Laeken." Located just outside the city of Brussels, the glass-covered greenhouses shelter thousands of species of plants and flowers, commissioned by King Leopold II as a series of all-weather pleasure gardens. You'll find a chapel in the greenhouses, nicknamed the "Iron Church." Wear comfortable shoes to tour the huge complex, which covers 2.5 hectares (6 acres). Visit the attraction's website to check the blooming dates, or visiting times, and to synchronize your arrival.