What to do in Brussels in One Day

Wondering what to do in Brussels in one day? Here’s how to eat all the good stuff while discovering the best tourist places in Brussels.

Belgium. Why not? It seemed to be a smart stop between Paris and Amsterdam. I surprised myself thinking “What am I going to do in Brussels”. Guilty here. I had no idea. I certainly knew what I would eat but, I wasn’t sure about the doing part.

Does it have something to do with chocolate, waffles and Belgian fries? Of course.

Life as I knew it before simply changed. You can’t beat this, my friend. This is the Belgian Heaven (because, yeah; it deserves capital letters).

The best time to visit Brussels is during the summertime. Although, I would also recommend visiting during the winter as it’s fun to see Brussels during the winter.

Is Brussels worth visiting and fun? YES! Especially if you enjoy Belgian food!

Here’s how to make the most of Brussels in one day! Let’s talk about the best places to visit in Brussels as well as the best things to eat in Brussels.

Want to get free accommodation in exchange for work? Sign up for Worldpackers (and get a discount)!

How to See Brussels in One Day

Eat Waffles.

Please, notice here that waffle has an “S” which means you should at least eat two of them. Who knows? You might never come back to Brussels, so you better create decent memories.

Where to eat the cheapest (and the best) waffles in Brussels: In this street (have a look at the map below), all waffles are only 1 euro. For this price, it doesn’t include any toppings, but you should know that you don’t even need one.

Toppings are for tourists. Locals eat their waffles plain. It’s going to be sweet. Don’t worry.

Here’s the thing. You should have a street plain waffle at least once. And you should try another one with toppings in a restaurant (this time with a Belgian hot chocolate). #JustSaying

Brussels in one day

Eat Belgian Fries.

I hear you; “is there anything else to do other than eating in Brussels?” Of course, there is, keep reading my friend. I’m just making sure you won’t miss the best part about Brussels, especially if you’re only here for a day.

Where to eat the best Belgian fries in Brussels: Fritland

fritland brussels

Eat Chocolate.

Oh Hello. You can’t miss this either. You should grab your chocolate stash in one of those shops where you can also try the chocolate previously: La Belgique Gourmande. Take plenty. Eat plenty. This is pure happiness.

You could also visit this chocolate museum or learn how to make chocolate… or just eat it!

Walk around the Grand-Place.

This big square is quite impressive as it’s surrounded by massive buildings. There are many Cafés, restaurants and temptations everywhere. It’s also the meeting point for free walking tours around Brussels.

Check Out La Bourse

La Bourse is a pretty big building. It’s one of the meeting points around Brussels and it’s also where people showed their love, respect and solidarity after the bombing attacks of March 2016.

One day in Brussels

Check Out Manneken Pis Outfit.

This is probably the biggest Brussels landmark. The little man peeing statue has a trending wardrobe which means that you could see him in different outfits every day of the week if you wanted too.

This statue has been stolen many times and also has a female equivalent; Jeanneke Pis which is located in the Party area.

Places to visit in Brussels in one day

Cool Tours That Are Below EUR 30:
Belgian Beer Tasting Experience – Check the price!
Locals Pub and Club Crawl – Check the price!
Belgian Chocolate Tasting Tour – Check the price!
Alternative Tour – Check the price!

Have Some Belgian Fun.

Did I just say “Party area”? There are a few bars you should check out if you’re a party animal. (I’m an angel now, so I can’t say a lot about it, but I’m guessing you’re also planning to taste the Belgian goodies that rhyme with beers?!)

I heard about two awesome places to go out; Delirium Café and Floris Bar. Both are located on Impasse de la Fidélité street (which is quite funny if you speak French). Floris Bar is also known for its exclusive Absynthe.

The best of Brussels during the Winter – Christmas Season:

I went to my first Christmas market when I was in Brussels. It’s located around La Bourse and the Place Sainte-Catherine. There’s also a big Christmas tree right in the middle of the Grand-Place.

You should also check out the light show at the Grand-Place and I’d strongly recommend you watch the one at Sainte-Catherine.

Things to do in Brussels in a day

Where to stay in Brussels, Belgium

I stayed at Jacques Brel Youth Hostel while I was in Brussels. It’s not exactly in the city centre, but it isn’t too far either. I could walk to the Grand-Place easily while exploring the less touristy parts of Brussels around the hostel.

The place was pretty clean, modern and well equipped. There’s a kitchen available on site and you also have a free breakfast (which is amazing by the way). The closest metro is Botanique. Take a look at the other options for hostels here or for hotels here.

What to Pack for Brussels

Here are a few Brussels essentials you should pack for your upcoming trip! Depending on if you’re heading there during the summer or the winter, the essentials could obviously change! (Yes – it’s cold during the winter!) Do you have your travel insurance ready?

European adaptor
For the spring, you should bring a raincoat
For the winter, you should bring some warmer clothes
Portable charger
Day backpack

Cool Day Trips from Brussels

Are you planning on going on day trips from Brussels? Here a few suggestions to consider:

Day trip to Bruges & Ghent
Day trip to Bruges

Traveling in Europe with Busbud:

There are many different ways to travel across Europe. Here’s why you should consider doing it by bus.

It’s quick. You don’t need to show up too far in advance. It’s efficient!

It’s budget-friendly. Most of the time, traveling by bus is the most affordable option.

You can stay connected. Wi-Fi is free and you can even use power sockets!

You can travel with luggage. No need to worry about liquids, gels, or the weight of your luggage. Pack that bag and go!

It’s eco-friendly. The environmental impact is minimal compared to the other transport options.

Busbud is the best way to book bus tickets as it’s all in one place. You can search, compare and book your bus tickets from hundreds of bus companies in 10,000 cities across 63 countries. They propose 500,000 routes and that makes them the biggest bus travel booking website.

Their goal is to make travel accessible to everyone by giving travelers clear and accurate bus travel information such as schedules and fares. Find and book your perfect bus trip now!

Find the perfect room in Brussels!

Let’s look at the flights… just for fun!

BEFORE YOU GO TO BRUSSELS

☑ Book your flight: If your flight isn’t booked yet – check out the flights on Skyscanner or via Google Flights. My top saving tip is flexibility. If you’re flexible, you should be able to find a cheaper flight.

☑ Book your accommodation: I always use Airbnb and Booking.com. If you’d rather stay in a hostel, you should take a look at the options on Hostelworld. If you click on the Airbnb link and you don’t have an account yet – you’ll get a $30 discount on your first booking.

☑ Protect your cute face: Oh, you may want to protect your cute face with a travel medical insurance. I would suggest SafetyWing as they offer the best rates, especially for long-term travelers. Otherwise, you can also take a look at World Nomads.

☑ Pack the essentials: You can consult this list when it’s time to pack your bag! Do not leave without a universal charger, a power bank and your passport!

☑ Do you need a visa? If you aren’t sure if you need a visa, it would be a smart idea to take a quick look before you go. You can use iVisa – it’s super useful and easy to use.

SUPPORT US

Get your monthly (and funny) dose of adventures! Subscribe now! You may also want to follow us on Facebook.

Disclaimer: This post may include affiliate links. If you click one of them, we may receive a cute commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you. I traveled to Brussels with Busbud and Jacque Brel Youth Hostel. As always, all opinions are my own. I’d happily recommend them to you! Happy travels!

vacation deals near me