Visiting Brussels in 2 days is the perfect addition to any European itinerary – whether its 2 weeks from Amsterdam to Paris or an amazing 2 month trip all around Europe. I loved my two day trip to Brussels – I felt like it was the perfect amount of time. Brussels was the first city in Belgium that I visited, and it was the perfect introduction to Belgian culture and this amazing, underrated country!
Keep reading to find out how to visit Brussels in 2 days.
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Brussels Background Info
- Location: Western Europe (bordering Netherlands, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the North Sea), it’s the capital city of Belgium
- Currency: Euro
- Official languages: French, German, Dutch
Brussels in 2 Days at a Glance
Day One:
- Free Walking Tour
- Lunch – Wolf market
- Atomium & Mini Europe
- Visit the Old Town again at night and grab a Belgium beer
Day Two:
- A few options: Return to your favourite places from the walking tour yesterday and take some awesome photos, visit a museum, or take another tour.
- Grab a waffle and try some Belgian fries
- Lunch
- Head to the other pis statues
- Royal Palace
- Try Belgium chocolate
Brussels 2 Day Itinerary!
Day 1 in Brussels
Get ready for your first day in Brussels – make sure to wear comfortable shoes and your camera is charged!
Start your day off with breakfast – I loved eating at Wasbar while travelling Belgium. Wasbar is a Belgian restaurant located in Belgian cities (Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, Bruges, Mechelen, Leuven, and Hasselt). You can eat and do your laundry at the same time here – but I just loved the food!
I’m not a big breakfast eater, and so their Sunny-Side Up bagel (bagel top with egg and bacon) was perfect and only Є6.50 (at the time of visit in 2023). They do have bigger breakfast options as well.
Free Walking Tour
My favourite thing to do when first arriving in a new city is taking a free walking tour. In Brussels, I LOVED the Sandeman’s Free Walking Tour with our guide named Adrien. Unfortunately you can’t really choose your guide, but if you happen to get Adrien, you’re definitely in for a great tour!
This tour will give you a nice look at Brussels, mainly hot spots in the Old Town and background information about Brussels and the city’s history.
The other reason I love free walking tours is because the guide is usually either a local, or someone who has lived in the city for a while. They know all the best spots and are an amazing person to ask for recommendations and any questions you have!
Free walking tours are based on a tipping system – the guides aren’t actually paid by the company, and so the tips at the end are how they make their money. Make sure to bring some cash and tip how much you think the tour was worth at the end!
If I had to pick one thing you can’t miss in Brussels during your 2 days – the free walking tour would be it!
Highlights of the walking tour include:
- The Grand Place (a UNESCO World Heritage Site!)
- Brussels Stock Exchange Building
- Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
- Manneken Pis
- St Micheal and St Gudula Cathedral
- Brussels Royal Quarter and Mont Des Arts
Lunch – Wolf Sharing Food Market
The Wolf Food Market is housed in a former bank in Brussels city centre, with a bunch of different cuisines from around the world. You’ll be sure to find something for everyone you’re traveling with here, and it is the perfect spot for lunch in Brussels!
Atomium & Mini Europe
After lunch, head out of the main centre of the city to go see Atomium and Mini Europe.
The Atomium was built for the World Fair in 1958. It’s essentially a huge tower thats shaped like a super magnified iron crystal. You can go inside the structure for a nice view of Brussels, and/or eat at the restaurant for incredible views as well!
Mini Europe is a park that houses a bunch of little mini figurines of famous monuments that are found all around Europe.
There is a cost to enter both The Atomium and Mini Europe. If you’re going to visit both spots, make sure to buy a combined ticket to save some money.
If you’re not interested in visiting this part of Brussels during your 2 days here, you can get lost wandering the streets of the Town Centre, enjoy a drink in the Grand Place, or visit a museum instead!
If you’re visiting Brussels, think about heading to Bruges too! Just over an hour by train, spending 2 days in Bruges is a great next stop for your Belgium itinerary.
Visit the City Center Again at Night and Grab a Belgium beer
Brussels at night is a whole different experience than the daytime. In Europe, a lot of people stay out after the sunsets, walking the streets and just enjoying the city (in Canada a lot of people stay in their homes after sunset, unless going for dinner or a movie or something).
In Brussels, a lot of the places you visited on the walking tour earlier in the day will be lit up – like the Grand Place, St Catharines Church, St Micheal and St Gudula Cathedral, and Mannekin Pis.
Head for a mini walk to see a different perspective of these buildings in Brussels city center, and enjoy a drink at a local pub to try your first Belgian beer! Les Brasseurs is supposed to be a good option to check out.
Day 2 in Brussels
Make sure to wear some comfortable shoes again, because day 2 includes a lot of walking (just like day 1!).
Return to Wasbar for breakfast again, eat at your hotel, or try a new restaurant.
Traveler’s Choice – Photos, Museum, or Another Tour
The first stop of day 2 is really up to you and your interests! Some things you can do are either return to your favourite places from the walking tour yesterday and take some awesome photos (the earlier you go the less people in your photos), visit a museum, or take another tour.
Personally, I’m not a big museum person and I absolutely love to take photos of European architecture, but everyone travels for different seasons – so choose what you want to do!
Some Museums in Brussels (there are over 100!):
- Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
- Art & History Museum
- Belgian Comic Strip Center (comic art musuem)
- Musical Instruments Museum – Houses 1200 instruments!
- Autoworld – Vintage car museum
Tours in Brussels:
Grab a Waffle and Try Some Belgian Fries
After some exploring this morning, now is the time to grab a waffle and some Belgian fries (if you haven’t already). I included this specifically in the 2 day Brussels itinerary because these are things you cannot miss!
The best type of waffle to get in Brussels is the Liege Waffle – they have sugar in the batter and are incredibly delicious!! The place to get a liege waffle in Brussels is from the waffle trucks around the city – that way you know they’re fresh!
I found one of the waffle trucks near the St Micheal and St Gudula Cathedral, but they are all over Brussels so just keep your eye out when exploring!
A ton of places sell Belgian fries as well. To know you’re getting true Belgian fries, make sure you go to a shop that has at least 2 friers (because the fries are supposed to be cooked at 2 different temperatures), and make sure they cook the fries in Beef tallow (as long as you’re not vegetarian or vegan!).
Cafe Georgette is a 3 minute walk from the Grand Place and is the best place for authentic Belgian fries.
Lunch
If you’re not full after your waffles and fries, head some lunch. Either return to Wolf Market or try a new place! Restaurants post their menus outside of their buildings, so you can find somewhere in your price range with food you’re interested in!
Head to the Other Pis Statues
Brussels “claim to fame” is the Manneken Pis statue – which is essentially a statue of a little boy peeing into a fountain, dating back to 1619. You would’ve visited him and heard the stories about the statue on the walking tour yesterday!
There are other pis statues around Brussels you can see as well – Jeanneke Pis (a little girl peeing), and Het Zinneke / Zinneke Pis (a dog peeing).
This is mostly just for laughs as it is a weird/funny trend Brussels is known for – so type these other two statues into google maps and have a good laugh!
Royal Palace
You are able to tour Palais Royal from the end of July to the end of August each year (free of charge!), although it’s not actually the current residence of the Belgian Royal Family. The King does work out of the Royal Palace though – which is probably why it’s only open for one month out of the year!
If you’re visiting Brussels while the Palace is closed, feel free to just admire the outside of the building.
Try Belgium Chocolate
Belgian Chocolate is known for its quality because there actually used to be a law stating that the chocolate had to have a certain amount of cocoa to qualify as Belgian Chocolate. To this day, a lot of Belgian Chocolatiers still use this law as a guideline for quality.
Check out either Mary’s or Neuhaus for delicious Belgian chocolate – they have both held the title of Belgian Royal Warrant Holder!
Other Things to Know About Brussels
Other information to help you plan your 2 days in Brussels including tips on how to get around, where to stay, and when to visit the Belgian capital.
Arriving in Brussels
Most often people arrive in Brussels via train. Brussels has 3 main train stations – Brussels South (Brussels Zuid in Flemish or Bruxelles Midi in French), Brussels Central, and Brussels North (Brussel-Noord in Flemish or Bruxelles-Nord in French).
The train station you arrive in will depend on where you’re staying. Brussels Central Station is closest to the Grand Place and most of the other highlights of Brussels, so if possible, I would recommend planning to arrive in Brussels Central Station!
If you’re flying into Brussels, the closest airport to the city center is Brussels Zaventem (12 km from center). Charleroi Airport is another option as well, and is about 60 km from the center.
Getting Around Brussels
If you’re staying near the city center of Brussels, it is fairly easy to get around Brussels on foot!
The only time you’ll really need to take public transportation is if you’re staying far from the city center or if you’re heading from the center to Atomium and Mini Europe.
Brussels has a metro line that can help you travel distances that aren’t walkable.
Another option to travel around Brussels in 2 days is buying a ticket for Brussel’s Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tours. You can buy either a 1 day pass or a 2 day pass, and it stops at all of the main attractions around Brussels. You can hop on and hop off the bus whenever you want as long as it’s the day your ticket is valid!
Where to Stay During Your Two Days in Brussels
I always recommend staying as close to the city center/main areas as possible. It makes it easier on you while exploring the city, saves you money in transportation (because you can usually walk everywhere), and it’s just waaay more convenient.
Where to stay really depends on your budget. You can check out:
- Brussels Marriott Hotel Grand Place – mid to high budget
- Hotel Metropole – high budget
- Sleep Well Youth Hostel – lower budget
- Meininger Hotel Bruxelles City Center – low to mid budget
Personally, I stayed at the Meininger Hotel Bruxelles City Center during my two days in Brussels. This hotel/hostel has both private rooms and dorm rooms, free wifi, and offers breakfast (for an extra cost). Meininger City Center is about an 18 minute walk to the Grand Place and 22 minutes from Brussels Central Station.
I thought it was a great location for the price I paid and clean! If I returned to Brussels I would stay here again.
Best Time to Visit Brussels
Brussels would be amazing to visit in any season! In the summertime, the trees will be green and Mont Des Arts will be amazing and vibrant.
In the wintertime, Brussels Christmas Market and Winter Wonders runs (mid-November to early January).
Spring and fall are shoulder seasons, so you’ll probably find prices cheaper in these two seasons than if you visited in the summer. The city will also be less busy in the Spring and Fall compared to winter (around Christmas and New Years) and summer.
Visiting Brussels in Winter
I visited Brussels in the winter and it was lovely! If you happen to be in the city between mid-November to early January, you are most likely to be there during the Brussels Christmas Market.
Brussels Christmas Market (Winter Wonders), is spread out over the center of the city, with a bunch of vendor booths, gluhwein (mulled wine, hot wine), and even a ferris wheel to ride!
The best gluhwein is at the booth Chez Prudence, in the market area in front of the Stock Exchange Building, and the Vin Chaud Creole was my favourite.
If you’re visiting Brussels for two days in the winter, make sure to add the Christmas Market into your itinerary, whether during the day or into the evening!
Head Out on a Day trip From Brussels
If you do have more time in Brussels, there is still a lot you can do to fill your time! Brussels is the perfect “home base” for exploring some surrounding cities. Popular day trips from Brussels include a trip to Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp, Amsterdam, and Luxembourg.
If you don’t want to visit on a day trip from Brussels, these are all great cities to just continue your journey onwards after seeing Brussels in 2 days.
Day trip to Ghent, Belgium
Taking a day trip from Brussels to Ghent is the perfect addition to your Brussels itinerary. Ghent is quite close to Brussels, but has a totally different feel. The main area of Ghent is on a river, and is characterized by stunning medieval architecture and being super walkable. I loved my time in Ghent!
To visit Ghent on a day trip from Brussels, you can either DIY your day trip or sign up for a tour!
Travel time from Brussels to Ghent by train: Around 38 minutes from Brussels Central to Ghent St Pieters. After arriving at Ghent St Pieters you would have to take tram line 1 into the center, or walk around 30 minutes into the city center.
Day trip to Bruges, Belgium
Another amazing city to visit if you have more than 2 days in Brussels is the city of Bruges. Bruges is nicknamed the “Venice of the North” and is so incredible. It truly feels like you are transported into a fairytale when visiting!
To visit Bruges on a day trip, you can either DIY it (similar to Ghent mentioned above) or sign up for a tour.
Travel time from Brussels to Bruges by train: The train ride from Brussels Central to Bruges (there is only one train station in Bruges) is just over an hour on a direct train. After arriving in Bruges, you do need to walk into the city center, but Bruges is SO walkable it’s super easy to follow the crowd walking into the city.
Another option is to take a tour combining your day trip to Bruges with a stop at Flanders Fields, or if you’re short on time, combine a trip to Ghent and Bruges into a one day tour (although I think deserve at least a day to themselves).
Day trip to Antwerp, Belgium
Visiting Antwerp on a day trip from Brussels is another great option! Around 40 minutes by train, the trip to Belgium’s capital city is super easy to visit from Brussels. Antwerp is known for its diamonds – it has a Diamond District with a bunch of diamond traders and polishers.
Travel time from Brussels to Antwerp: Around 41 minutes by train from Brussels Central to Antwerp Central.
Day trip to Amsterdam, Netherlands
A little bit of a longer train ride (2-2.5 hours by train), Amsterdam still is a great city to visit on a day trip. Amsterdam Central is located right in the city, you basically walk out of the train station and you’re in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam is also a super walkable city, so it makes a great day trip to head to Amsterdam and just wander the canals. Or join the Free Walking Tour that’s offered here!
Travel time from Brussels to Amsterdam: Around 2-2.5 hours by train. After arriving in Amsterdam Central you’re basically in the main area of the city already.
DIY your Amsterdam daytrip or sign up for a tour!
Brussels Frequently Asked Questions
Spending 2 days in Brussels (either midweek or on a weekend trip to Brussels), is the perfect amount of time to spend here.
2 days will give you enough time to explore the city, learn about the sites, and spend some time visiting a museum or joining a chocolate making workshop.
I visited Brussels in 2 days and felt good about the amount of time I had there!
The BEST fries in Brussels are from Cafe Georgette. You want to make sure the place you’re getting your fries from has 2 friers and are cooked in beef tallow (if you’re not a vegetarian/vegan).
Cafe Georgette has a walk up window for fries – meaning you can grab your fries and keep exploring the city!
The absolute best waffles in Brussels (and maybe even Belgium) are found from the yellow food trucks around the city. Buying a waffle from a truck means it’s cooked fresh, and not just reheated (which seems to be what a lot of stores do).
Surprisingly, the best type of waffle to get isn’t actually the Belgium waffle either, but the Liege waffle! The Liege waffle has sugar actually in the batter, and it’s just so good.
I loved the Liege waffle from the yellow truck parked near St Micheal and St Gudula Cathedral (Belgium’s national church). I loved this waffle so much I snapped a quick photo and ate it immediately – so good!!!
The waffle from the yellow truck cost me Є2.50 in January 2023.
There are two places that were recommended to me to try Belgian chocolate in Brussels – Mary’s and Neuhaus.
Mary’s dates back to 1919, and has been awarded the Belgian Royal Warrant Holder title three times, meaning this is where the Royal Family would get their chocolates!
Neuhaus has also held the title of Belgian Royal Warrant Holder, and is the inventor of the praline. So, if you’re looking to try a praline while in Belgium, this is the place to check out!
The cost of chocolate really varies depending on how much you buy. If you’re on a budget and just want to try chocolate – buy one piece of chocolate since it’s based on weight!
Wrap-up: Brussels in 2 Days
Brussels is an awesome city to visit in 2 days, especially on a weekend trip! I loved my time here and would love to visit again in the summertime! (I visited in the winter).
If you only have one day to spend in Brussels, these are the things I think you cannot miss:
- Free walking tour of Old Town
- The food – Liege waffles from the yellow waffle truck, fries from Cafe Georgette, and chocolate from Mary’s
- Spend time admiring the Grand Place
And if you’re continuing your travels in Belgium, make sure not to miss out on exploring Ghent and Bruges!
Hopefully this post helped you plan your 2 day trip to Brussels! Have you visited Brussels before? Let me know in the comments or on Instagram!
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Hey! I’m Kat. Based in Alberta, Canada I love to travel to the Rockies and explore new places around the world. Follow along on my adventures and find inspiration and tips for your own travels.
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