Belgium · 3 days · 14 stops
3 days in Brussels – a ready-made itinerary
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and the EU, with an old town, comics, chocolate and Art Nouveau. Day one covers the old town around the Grand-Place, day two the EU quarter and the Horta Museum, and day three the Atomium and the Marolles. The stops are in walking order.
In short
- Length
- 3 days, 14 stops
- Highlights
- Manneken Pis, Parlamentarium, Atomium, Grand-Place, Royal Galleries of Saint-Hubert
- Where to stay
- Around the Grand-Place, Ixelles
- Getting around
- Explore the old town on foot.
- Best time to go
- April to June and September are the most pleasant.
Free, sign in with an email code. In the app you only pick your start date and adjust the plan.
Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. YesTrip editorial team · Updated: .
Day 1
Grand-Place and the old town
Manneken Pis
The little bronze figure is the city's emblem – smaller than many expect. It is often dressed in a costume.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Manneken Pisabout 5 min on foot
Grand-Place
The market square with the town hall and gilded guild houses, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Still empty in the morning.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Grand-Placeabout 5 min on foot
Royal Galleries of Saint-Hubert
A glass-roofed shopping arcade from 1847 with chocolatiers, bookshops and cafés.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Royal Galleries of Saint-Hubertabout 5 min on foot
Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula
Gothic cathedral with two towers and large stained-glass windows. The Belgian royal family marries here.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudulaabout 10 min on foot
Magritte Museum
The largest collection of René Magritte's work, on the Mont des Arts, which has a view over the old town.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Magritte Museumabout 5 min on foot
Place du Grand Sablon
A square with well-known chocolatiers and cafés. There is an antiques market at the weekend.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Place du Grand Sablon
Day 2
EU quarter, Cinquantenaire and Art Nouveau
Parlamentarium
The European Parliament's visitor centre, multimedia and free. Allow about 1.5 hours.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Parlamentariumabout 5 min on foot
Museum of Natural Sciences
A big dinosaur hall with almost 30 iguanodons found in a Belgian coal mine.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Museum of Natural Sciencesabout 20 min on foot
Parc du Cinquantenaire
A park with a huge triumphal arch. The halls next to it house museums of art, military history and cars.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Parc du CinquantenaireMetro and tram to Saint-Gilles, about 30 min.
Horta Museum
The home of Art Nouveau architect Victor Horta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Book a ticket ahead; often closed on Mondays.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Horta Museum
Day 3
Atomium and the Marolles
The metro runs from the centre to the Atomium, about 20 minutes to Heysel.
Atomium
A model of an iron crystal from the 1958 World's Fair. The top sphere looks out over the city. Book tickets online.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): AtomiumMetro back to the centre, about 25 min.
Place du Jeu de Balle
A daily morning flea market in the Marolles district, surrounded by cafés and bistros for lunch.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Place du Jeu de Balleabout 5 min on foot
Palace of Justice
A vast 19th-century building. The square in front has a city view, and a lift goes down into the Marolles.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Palace of Justiceabout 25 min on foot
Place Sainte-Catherine
Once the city's fish market, now lined with seafood restaurants. Good for a last dinner.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Place Sainte-Catherine
Good to know
Best time to go
April to June and September are the most pleasant. It can rain all year, and summers are rarely hot. Every two years in August a flower carpet covers the Grand-Place, and there are Christmas markets in December.
Getting around
Explore the old town on foot. For longer distances there are metro, trams and buses. Buy tickets at the machines or via the app. Trains run from the airport to the centre in about 20 minutes.
Where to stay
Around the Grand-Place
In the heart of the old town, everything on foot. Touristy, but practical for a short visit.
Ixelles
A lively district with cafés, restaurants and Art Nouveau houses. Buses and trams get you to the centre quickly.
Your plan
Start with this plan.
Copy it into YesTrip, pick your dates and make it yours: move stops, drop them or let the AI add more. On the road the app shows you the next stop and how to get there.
Brussels: frequently asked questions
Are 3 days enough for Brussels?
Yes, for the old town, the EU quarter and the Atomium. With more time, take a trip to Bruges, Ghent or Antwerp – all easy by train.
What should I eat in Brussels?
Chips from a friterie, waffles, mussels and pralines. Plus a huge choice of Belgian beers.
Is the Atomium worth it?
For the view and the architecture, yes. Buy tickets online in advance, or the queue can be long.
How do I get from the airport to the city?
By train from Brussels Airport (Zaventem), about 20 minutes to the stations in the centre. Buses run too.
Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. Coordinates checked with Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap (Photon). Photo: Celuici, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. More in Sources & licences. YesTrip is a trip planner, not a travel agency – nothing is booked.
More trip plans
Belgium · 3 daysBruges
Photo: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Netherlands · 3 daysAmsterdam
Photo: Kaz Alting, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
United Kingdom · 3 daysLondon
Photo: Fuzzypiggy, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
