Brussels in 5 days

Europe's underrated capital: a stunning Grand-Place, world-class beer, waffles, chocolate and Art Nouveau. Best time to visit: April-June and September-October. Average daily budget: $90 to $150 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: Grand-Place & Îlot Sacré, The ornate central square and the lanes around it, packed with chocolatiers, waffle stands and historic bars.

Morning: Grand-Place. Stand in one of Europe's grandest squares, ringed by gilded guildhalls and the Gothic Town Hall.

Afternoon: Explore Grand-Place & Îlot Sacré, The ornate central square and the lanes around it, packed with chocolatiers, waffle stands and historic bars.

Evening: Belgian beer in a classic café. Try a Trappist or lambic in an institution like Delirium or A la Mort Subite.

Eat: Moules-frites, mussels with a mountain of fries

Day 2, Iconic sights

Base: Sablon, Upmarket antiques, top chocolate shops and a pretty church, between the centre and the Royal Quarter.

Morning: Magritte Museum. A huge collection of the Belgian surrealist master, near the Royal palaces.

Afternoon: Explore Sablon, Upmarket antiques, top chocolate shops and a pretty church, between the centre and the Royal Quarter.

Evening: Waffles, frites & chocolate. Eat a real Liège waffle, frites with sauce and pralines from a top chocolatier.

Eat: Belgian frites with sauce from a friterie

Day 3, Local neighbourhoods

Base: Saint-Géry & Dansaert, The hip nightlife and design district with cocktail bars, boutiques and a young crowd.

Morning: The Art Nouveau masterpiece of the Victor Horta Museum in Saint-Gilles.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Saint-Géry & Dansaert, The hip nightlife and design district with cocktail bars, boutiques and a young crowd.

Evening: Comic-strip murals dotted across the centre celebrating Tintin and friends.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: A warm, caramelised Liège waffle

Day 4, Day trip or nature

Base: European Quarter & Ixelles, EU institutions beside leafy Ixelles, with Art Nouveau houses, the Horta Museum and student energy.

Morning: The peaceful, glass-roofed Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert shopping arcade.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore European Quarter & Ixelles, EU institutions beside leafy Ixelles, with Art Nouveau houses, the Horta Museum and student energy.

Evening: Sour, funky gueuze and lambic beers tasted at a traditional brewery like Cantillon.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Pralines and fresh chocolate from a master chocolatier

Day 5, Slow finish

Base: Grand-Place & Îlot Sacré, The ornate central square and the lanes around it, packed with chocolatiers, waffle stands and historic bars.

Morning: Slow start: coffee in Grand-Place & Îlot Sacré, then an unhurried walk before the heat or the crowds.

Afternoon: Explore Grand-Place & Îlot Sacré, The ornate central square and the lanes around it, packed with chocolatiers, waffle stands and historic bars.

Evening: Dinner at Moules-frites, mussels with a mountain of fries, then a quiet drink wherever the locals are in Grand-Place & Îlot Sacré.

Eat: Moules-frites, mussels with a mountain of fries

Hidden gems

The Art Nouveau masterpiece of the Victor Horta Museum in Saint-Gilles.
Comic-strip murals dotted across the centre celebrating Tintin and friends.
The peaceful, glass-roofed Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert shopping arcade.
Sour, funky gueuze and lambic beers tasted at a traditional brewery like Cantillon.

Getting around

Central Brussels is compact and easy to walk, with most sights within 20 minutes of the Grand-Place. The STIB network of metro, tram and bus covers longer hops, and a single ticket works across all of them. Trains link the airport and other Belgian cities in minutes from the central stations. Note the centre is hilly between the Lower and Upper towns.

Safety

Brussels is generally safe and comfortable for solo travellers including women, though it's a big city so usual urban caution applies. Pickpocketing happens around the Grand-Place, on busy metro lines and at the main stations (Gare du Midi in particular). Some areas around Gare du Midi and parts of Molenbeek feel rougher at night; stick to well-lit, busy streets after dark.

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