A Great Two-Day Itinerary in Brussels
A common stopover in Western Europe, Brussels is an awesome place to spend a weekend before hopping over to a larger destination in Europe. It is reasonably priced given the multitude of food and tourist attractions, and it never felt overwhelming. We had the chance to visit in the spring of 2023, and loved how we spent our weekend! Here’s a recipe for spending 2 great days in the city.
Day 1: See the Main Palaces + Views of Brussels
While boasting a population of over 2 million people, Brussels is an extremely condensed city that you can explore in great depth over a weekend. I suggest starting in the center of the city, specifically at Grand-Place, a plaza ensconced with buildings from the 1500s. It has a very European feel to it & is a great place to take pictures. Nearby Grand-Place are other famous buildings such as Palais de Bruxelles, Palais de Justice, and St. Michael Cathedral that are all worth checking out in the area.
After stopping to get some coffee and waffles (seriously, you can’t get enough of these two foods in Brussels and you won’t tire of them!), take the overground train to the Atomium to get a great view of all of Brussels. Built for the 1958 Brussels World Fair, it’s a tall model of an atom that you can take an elevator up inside of. It’s a great panoramic view, particularly allowing you to see the Mini-Europe complex constructed nearby it.
Wrap up your first day in Brussels at Delirium Village, a corner of Belgian bars that boasts over 2,000 beers! We really enjoyed the metre-long flight they provide and the atmosphere was awesome to start a night out.
Day 2: Check out a Museum + Take a Chocolate-Making Class
After a nice breakfast, start your day at the trendy Nord-Est neighborhood doing a little bit of shopping before heading to Autoworld. One of the most famous car museums, it is a cool spot to check out Belgian engineering and a vital part of the country’s economy. The cars are majestic and it’s a great spot to take some pictures.
Belgium is certainly known for their chocolate more than anything else, so instead of simply sampling it at a store or a museum, go ahead and learn how to make it yourself at Belgian Chocolate Workshop! An English-taught class, you get to see all parts of the chocolate-making process and come away with some delicious samples of your own.
Wrap up your weekend with a fun night out at Le Réservoir Bar, a cool drinking spot in the center of the city. We met a friend of the owner of the place during the day who insisted we come out to the bar, and it’s a great place to drink and dance your last night in Belgium away!
