A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Brussels

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We recently spent a short time in Brussels with our primary goal to see as much of the city as we could by walking. While we are not experts in this area, we put together our own self-guided walking tour of Brussels, thanks to advice from fellow bloggers and our AirBnB hosts’ recommendations.

As you’ll see, it was a rainy morning but we had a great time!

What you’ll find in this post:

– Two Brussels self-guided walking tour maps and itineraries (free interactive access via email form)
– Photos and descriptions of each stop on the map
– Recommendations for where to stay in Brussels

Brussels Walking Route Map

A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Brussels, Belgium | Intentional Travelers
 

 

* Get access to our Brussels walking map here *

 


Save time and money with the 24|48|72 hours Brussels Card

– Enjoy free access to 30 museums in Brussels
– Benefit from discounts in restaurants and tourist attractions
– Get free use of the public transport system during the validity of your card
Click here to see all that’s included with the Brussels Card


 

Brussels Walking Itinerary Highlights

These are the attractions you’ll discover on our self guided walking tour of Brussels.

1) Parc de Bruxelles

Parc de Bruxelles | Self-Guided Walking Tour of Brussels, Belgium | Intentional TravelersOur apartment rental was closest to the Parc de Bruxelles, so that’s where we started. The park is a huge, a great place to run laps (if you’re into that), and contains a number of Belgian government buildings.

2) Royal Palace

Royal Palace of Brussels | Self-Guided Walking Tour of Brussels, Belgium | Intentional TravelersAt the South end of the park, you’ll find the Royal Palace, which is only open to the public in late summer. Walking through the large halls, ballrooms, and exhibits takes at least half an hour; entry is free.

3 + 4) Place Royale, View, and Meeting Center Clock

This historic square is just around the corner from the palace. Continue walking Northwest from here and you’ll get a charming view, then pass through the Meeting Center and Mont des Arts with its gigantic clock (or carillon) and bells.

The clock is surrounded by twelve historical figures from Belgian history and perched above it is a bourgeois figure, the Jacquemart, who rings a large bell.

5) Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula

Cathedral | Self-Guided Walking Tour of Brussels, Belgium | Intentional TravelersThis gigantic Catholic church from the 11th Century is named after the patron saints of Brussels. Entrance is free and when we were there, a gentleman was playing the impressively large organ.

Note: Technically if you want to make the walking tour into a nice loop, you can visit the Cathedral at the end and skip ahead to #6.

6) Grand Place

Grand Place / Grote Markt | Self-Guided Walking Tour of Brussels, Belgium | Intentional TravelersThe Grand Place, or Grote Markt, is the central square of Brussels and possibly the most awe-inspiring part of the city. It is the site of both historical and current, cultural events.

7) Mannequin Pis

Mannequin Pis | Self-Guided Walking Tour of Brussels, Belgium | Intentional TravelersThis small, bronze statue/fountain of a little boy peeing has become a national landmark.

Apparently, there is a non-profit that manages the Manneken’s weekly costume changes. When we were there, he was dressed in Mexican garb and sombrero. (Jedd was thoroughly confused by the tiny pissing boy attracting all this attention.)

Waffle Factory | Self-Guided Walking Tour of Brussels, Belgium | Intentional Travelers
P.S. We used Yelp to find a good waffle place and it led us one block up from the statue, on Lombard, to Waffle Factory. Good stuff!

8) Place de la Bourse

Place de la Bourse | Self-Guided Walking Tour of Brussels, Belgium | Intentional TravelersThe large, pillared building here is the location of the Brussels Stock Exchange. It’s also the intersection of major shopping streets and a hot spot for events. And it’s next door to a popular fries place we sampled called Fritland.

Fritland | Self-Guided Walking Tour of Brussels, Belgium | Intentional Travelers9) Restaurants on Rue de Bouchers

Restaurants on Rue de Bouchers | Self-Guided Walking Tour of Brussels, Belgium | Intentional TravelersThere are countless eateries in Brussels but you’ll find a high concentration on Rue de Bouchers. Often more geared toward tourists, you may opt to just walk through to enjoy the ambiance. It has a very similar feeling to the Latin Quarter in Paris.

10) Les Galeries Royales de St. Hubert

Galeries Royales | Self-Guided Walking Tour of Brussels, Belgium | Intentional TravelersThe Galeries Royales (also called the Galerie de la Reine, it seems) are a series of luxury boutiques set along a stunning covered walkway. Whether you’re shopping or just enjoying the creative window displays, this place is a must see.


Other Brussels Tours

 

Bonus Route: Brussels ‘Parks and Politics’ Walking Tour

We took another afternoon, following our big sight-seeing day, to explore more of the sights that were out East of the city center. Whether you’re walking to sight-see or you’re a jogger needing exercise, this is another route we recommend.

Map #2: Self-Guided Walking Tour of Brussels, Belgium | Intentional Travelers

* Access our free Brussels walking maps here *

1) Square Marie-Louise and Ambiorix

Water fountain | Brussels-Belgium-Walking-Tour-RouteIn the Quartier des Squares, these two adjacent parks offer a charming setting for rest or play. The lower, Square Marie Louise, features a beautiful pond. You’ll also find a playground, dog park, and gardens nearby.

2) Parc de la Cinquentenaire

Parc de la Cinquentenaire | Brussels-Belgium-Walking-Tour-RouteThis massive park features the grand Arcade du Cinquentenaire alongside gardens, sports fields, and a mosque. It is also home to the Royal Museum of Art and History and Royal Military History Museum as well as Autoworld. This park rivals those found in any other major European city.

3) Parc du Leopold and Parliament

European Parliament | Self-Guided Walking Tour of Brussels, Belgium | Intentional TravelersBesides the beautiful park featuring a lovely pond and school down below, you’ll find some very important buildings. Here stands the home of the European Council, Commission, Parliament, and other key institutions. The Parlamentarium there serves as the Visitor Center.

4) Berlaymont Building

European Commission Berlaymont Building | Self-Guided Walking Tour of Brussels, Belgium | Intentional TravelersJust off the Schuman round-about stands the four-winged Berlaymont building, which houses the headquarters of the European Commission, the executive of the European Union. Now you should truly feel that you’re at the heart of Europe!


Where to Stay in Brussels

We chose our rental apartment in a neighborhood within easy walking distance of the metro line that could get us to and from the train station. This was also convenient if we found ourselves across town and didn’t want to walk back.

B&B Be In Brussels $$$
Boutique B&B just five minutes from Grand Place. Breakfast included, shared lounge area. Click here to check prices and availability

Aparthotel Midi Residence $$
Budget studio or King studio with self-catered breakfast and kitchenette, right next to Midi Station. Click here to check prices and availability

Jacques Brel Youth Hostel $
Well-liked youth hostel with dorm beds as well as private rooms and shared kitchen. Click here to check prices and availability


Our Top Tips for Intentional Travel in Brussels

Try to make a local connection, whether it’s meeting a friend-of-a-friend you find through social media, staying with locals, or hiring a local guide.

Shop at locally owned, independent businesses rather than familiar global chains like Starbucks.

For more guidance, see: how to have authentic, meaningful travel experiences in touristy areas and our simple rules for intentional travel series.

Take this article with you as your guide! Upload this post for free to your phone with the GPSmyCity app. You can also upgrade to get an offline GPS map that guides you to each location we mention. Or subscribe to access all articles and maps around the world for a full year.

Want to see more of Belgium quickly? Take a full-day tour to beautiful Bruges and Ghent. This top-rated tour includes guide and transportation – bring your walking shoes! Click here to check day tour prices >

Traveling onward by train? We like to pre-book train tickets through Rail Europe. Or get your multi-country rail passes from Eurail.

Protect your Brussels trip with insurance. We’ve started using Nomad Insurance by Safety Wing for affordable evacuation, international medical, and trip coverage.

 
 

You might also like: Top 5 Things To Do in Bruges


Have you been to Brussels? What did we miss that we should see next time? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Get our 2 Brussels walking maps

Access both of our free self-guided walking routes to see the top monuments and sights in Brussels on an interactive map. (Available on MapMyRun and GoogleMyMaps.)

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3 Comments

  1. Brussels is an underrated city to visit. Will have to see it someday, Thanks for sharing!

    1. Alie, It really depends on how long you spend at each stop. If you simply walked the route without stopping, each walking route can be done in less than an hour.

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