Truth be told, we actually didn’t care much for Brussels at first, but we’ve really come around to love this city. And we hope you will too.
That’s why we’ve decided to make this Brussels 2-day itinerary where we show you the highlights of one of Europe’s most important capitals.
In this city guide, we’ll help you fall in love with Brussels by sharing all the best things to do, what to pack for your trip, where to stay, how much it will cost, and much more.
This itinerary is especially good for the first time visitor in Brussels, but really, we hope all of you can benefit one way or the other. Now, let’s start exploring Brussels.
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Full Brussels itinerary – what to do in just 2 days?
Below is our full 2-day itinerary of what to do in Brussels.
We’ve divided this itinerary into Day 1 and Day 2, so that you can do something different on each of your days in Brussels. Now let’s jump right into it.
DAY 1: Explore the old city center
During your first day in Brussels, we recommend you to go explore all the great attractions that Brussels city center has to offer.
This itinerary is especially great if it’s your first time in Brussels because we’ll guide you through some of the must-see attractions. But we also added a few hidden gems that not many tourists know about, so you’ll get a bit of both worlds.
If you prefer to learn about Brussels on a guided tour, then check out this top-rated walking tour where you’ll see many of the places described in our itinerary.
Marvel at the Grand Place
The first stop on your 2 days in Brussels should without a doubt be “La Grand-Place”.
The Grand Place is the heart of Brussels, and it’s been an inscribed UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.
It’s one of the most beautiful squares in all of Europe because of its old incredible buildings. All the buildings in the Grand Place has a significant history, but the most extravagant one is Brussels’ City Hall with its 96-meter tall tower.
The Grand Place is definitely where you want to begin your exploration of Brussels.
Have a laugh at Manneken Pis
Manneken Pis is one of the most underwhelming statues in the world, yet it’s rightfully the most famous statue in Belgium.
I remember the first time I looked at this tiny statue, I thought, “What’s the big deal?”, but once you learn its history and the sarcasm behind it, you’ll love it.
At first, the Manneken Pis was just a practical fountain that was made for distributing drinking water to the people of Brussels, but with time it became more of a symbol playing an important role in the Brussels Folklore.
And today the Manneken Pis is an image of the good-humored people of Brussels.
On top of that, Manneken Pis is regularly dressed up in different clothes depending on what’s happening in Belgium and the world. He’s been dressed up as Dracula, Santa Claus, a nurse, a fireman, and even as the Pope.
Enjoy a Belgian Waffle
Right next to Manneken Pis, you’ll find so many places that sell Belgian waffles. Now is your time to go get a little snack before visiting the next attraction on your Brussels itinerary.
You can either get a smaller Liège Waffle with rounded corners or a rectangular Bruxelles Waffle with deep pockets which you can fill up with your choice of yummy toppings.
A waffle with topping often cost between €2,5-4 depending on your choice of topping, although you can get a simple Liège Waffle without topping for just €1.
You must try a Belgian waffle during your time in Brussels. After all, waffles, beers, chocolates, and fries are part of Belgium’s heritage! If you want to try to make your own waffle during your trip to Belgium, then check out this fun Waffle Workshop.
Go find Jeanneken Pis
Before Glenn told me about Jeanneken Pis, I had no idea that she even existed.
Apparently, one little pissing child statue wasn’t enough for Brussels, so they decided to make one more – a little pissing girl statue.
Jeanneken Pis is only located 500 meters away from Manneken Pis. So grab your warm waffle and go visit her. You’ll find her in a small alley by the, “Delirium Village” in Brussels city center. And while you’re there, why not stop for a delicious Delirium? – one of our favorite Belgian beers.
Visit the Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries
The Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries is also a must visit on your 2-day itinerary in Brussels. The beautiful Royal Galleries were designed by young architect Jean-Pierre Cluysenaer and constructed between 1846 and 1847.
So make sure to take a stroll through the Galleries where you’ll find many upscale shops that sell everything from quality chocolate, leather, and glasses.
Even if you’re not interested in buying anything, it’s still free to wander through this beautiful architectural place in Brussels.
Explore Brussels’ many churches
Brussels have so many beautiful old churches that you can visit during your 2 days, plus they’re all free to enter.
We didn’t intend to visit any churches in particular, but just by walking around the city center, we saw the following churches:
See the Royal Palace & Brussels Park
You can’t call yourself a proper tourist in Brussels if you don’t visit the Royal Palace during one of your 2 days stay.
The Royal Palace is officially the administrative workplace of the King and Queen of Belgium. Not a bad place to have your office, right?
You can only visit the Royal Palace during summer time when it’s open to the public between end of July until beginning of September. But it’s always possible to walk by and have a look from the outside.
After you’ve visited the Royal Palace, then make sure to go for a mandatory stroll in Brussels Park. It’s right by the palace, and it’s a great place to do some people watching.
Enjoy the viewpoints over Brussels
What better way to wrap up your first day of sightseeing in Brussels than by experiencing one of the viewpoints over the city? They’re not the best viewpoints in the world, but we still think they’re worth a visit because there is just something about watching a city from above.
We know that there are a few viewpoints scattered around, but we’ve only visited 2 of them so far.
The first and most popular viewpoint in Brussels is located by the Mont des Arts Garden right between the Royal Palace and the Central Station.
The second one is located at Place Poelaert, approximately one kilometer from the first viewpoint. This is the best viewpoint in our opinion.
At Place Poelaert you’ll also find “The View” – a big ferris wheel which you can ride for €10 per adult and €6 per child. There is an even better view from the top of the ferris wheel.
When you’re done at the Place Poelaert Viewpoint, you can take the free glass elevator back down to street level and continue your walk back into the city center.
Get lost in the streets of Brussels
We think that it’s the small things that makes a place unique.
We just love to wander aimlessly through the cobblestone streets and squares, which you’ll find scattered all over the city center of Brussels.
So make sure to go down some of the smaller cute-looking alleys where you might find a nice bar or a cozy coffeeshop. This is really what Brussels is all about in our opinion – to get lost in the streets and enjoy a drink while the city passes by.
Remember to keep your eyes open while you wander the streets of Brussels! Because you might be able to spot some of Brussels’ cool street art – also known as the Comic Book Route.
DAY 2: Get out of Brussels city center
Now that you’ve seen all the main attractions in the heart of the city, we recommend you to get a bit out of the city center.
So here are some great attractions you can put on your itinerary for your second day in Brussels.
Visit the World Expo Atomium
About 7 kilometers from Brussels City Center, you’ll find a massive strange-looking sculpture, which resembles an atom. This is the Atomium.
The Atomium was built at the World Expo in 1958 as the main attraction of the fair. Just like most of the buildings in the World Fairs, it was only designed to stand there for 6 months.
However, it was never destroyed, and it’s now a popular landmark of Brussels, which you can easily visit.
It’s quite the unique experience to walk inside the Atomium since it looks like something from a spaceship. Apart from the unique interior, you get some of the best views of Brussels here, and you can even dine in a restaurant located 100 meters above ground.
The Atomium is open every day of the week from 10 AM – 6 PM. The adult entry fee is €16, although there are some reductions for children, students, and seniors. Notice you can also get a combo ticket for the Atomium, Mini Europe Museum, and the Design Museum for €31,30.
You can buy your ticket to the Atomium here or simply show up at the ticket office on the day of your visit.
Explore the open-air Mini Europe
Mini Europe is an open-air museum that’s located right next to the Atomium.
It’s basically a park filled with miniature buildings, landmarks, and vegetation from all over Europe. In fact, there are 350 European monuments in the park, which have been reduced to a scale of 1/25.
If you’ve already visited a couple of countries in Europe, then you’ll probably find this attractions really fun.
The park has different opening hours depending on the season of your visit, so check the Mini Europe website beforehand. The adult entrance fee is €20.
Enjoy a walk in Laeken Park
After your visit to Atomium and Mini Europe, you can visit the nearby Laeken Park.
It’s free to go enjoy the green park and have a peek at Laeken Castle, which is the residence of the King and Queen of Belgium.
What to pack for 2 days in Brussels
Great! Now that you have an idea of how to form your 2-day itinerary in Brussels, it’s time to look at some of the more practical things concerning your trip. So let’s look at what you need to pack for a trip to Brussels.
Your packing list highly depends on which season you’re visiting Belgium.
You can expect the temperatures to be high in the summer where it can reach past 30+ degrees Celsius during the day, or much lower in the winter where you can have minus degrees – and even snow!
So check the weather before packing your clothes. Below are 11 tips on what to pack for your Brussels Itinerary.
- Pack your clothes depending on the season you’re visiting.
- Bring your necessary toiletries – remember only bring up to 100 ml bottles in flight hand luggage.
- Remember a good pair of sneakers because sightseeing requires a lot of walking.
- Get some Sunscreen or an umbrella depending on what the weather is going to be like.
- Pack a camera to take some pictures of all the great places to visit in Brussels.
- Bring a water bottle to fill during the day, then you don’t have to buy plastic bottles.
- Download an offline map and bring it on your phone so you won’t get lost.
- Buy paracetamol just in case you wake up with a headache after all those strong Belgian beers.
- Take out some Euro Bills from the ATM because many bars in Belgium don’t take credit cards.
- Bring all your essential travel documents – like your passport!
- Decide on a comfy daypack or a small suitcase that you can pack all of these essentials in.
That’s it. You really don’t need to pack a lot for just 2 days in Brussels.
Where to stay during your 2 days in Brussels
If you’re only staying for 2 days in Brussels, then we suggest you to stay in a central location. If you stay near Brussels Central Station and Brussels old city center, then you’re in walking distance to all the main attractions.
We’ve done some research on Booking.com and listed our top suggestions of where to stay for your 2 days in Brussels – depending on your budget.
Hostels: Affordable but nice and clean
- Hostel Bruegel: Basic but cheap hostel in the city center.
- Sleep Well Youth Hostel: Modern and affordable hostel in the city center.
Good 4-star hotels: Mid-range+ budget
- Hotel des Galeries: A boutique hotel by the famous “Royal S.H. Galleries”.
- Hotel Le Dixseptième: Stay in the heart of Brussels in a hotel with luxury decor.
Excellent 5-star hotels: Expensive but luxurious
- Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo: Historical luxurious 5-star hotel right at the Grand Place.
- Radisson Grand Place Brussels: Modern 5-star luxury hotel in the city center.
How much does this 2-day itinerary in Brussels cost
The cost of your weekend in Brussels depends on where you stay and eat, the activities you want to do during the 2 days, and whether you’re traveling alone or as a couple.
We’ve made this short list over what we found to be the average prices in Brussels. This can hopefully work as a guide, so you can estimate a realistic budget for your 2-day itinerary in Brussels.
Accommodation Prices
- Low budget: €30+ per night for one bed in a hostel
- Mid-range budget: €100+ per night for a basic double room
- Luxury budget: €200+ per night for a double room in a 4- or 5-star hotel
Food & Drink Prices
- Cheap eats: €4-6 for a sandwich
- Mid-range restaurants: €15-25 for a dish
- Upscale restaurants: €30+ for a dish
- Drink prices in bars: Coffee €2,5-4 // Beer €3-6 // Glass of wine €4-6
Activities Prices
- Grand Place, Manneken Pis, Jeanneken Pis, churches, viewpoints, Royal Galleries, Royal Palace & Park, Laeken Park: All these activities are free
- Atomium & Mini Europe combined ticket: €31,30
Transportation Prices
- Brussels Airport to Brussels Central Station: €10,80 with train
- Metro prices in Brussels: €2,40 per journey
Are 2 days in Brussels long enough
It depends.
2 days in Brussels are enough if you just want to explore the main attractions and highlights of the city.
We find Brussels to be a kind of “work”-capital, which means it’s more like an economic center rather than a popular tourist destination like Bruges for example.
This means that Brussels is full of life and great people watching opportunities.
But you will not really have the time to sit down and enjoy the bustling city on a street café if you only have 2 days in Brussels.
Therefore, we would suggest you to come back some day for another trip where you don’t run around to the main attractions, but instead sit down and enjoy the fast pace of the city – preferably with a Belgian beer in hand.
It personally took me more than 2 days to fall in love with Brussels, and now that I’ve been here a couple of times, I could easily spend many days wandering the capital of Belgium.
So let this 2-day itinerary be a “Taste of Brussels” to you, and then make yourself a promise to come back in the future for more exploration.
We hope you found this 2-day itinerary useful for your next trip to Brussels.
If you have any questions about visiting Brussels, then please leave a comment below, and we’ll get back to you.
Thanks for reading and happy travels!
Check out some other great cities to visit in Belgium:
