Is the Brussels City Card worth it? Review & Best Uses

In this Brussels City Card review, we’ll go over how the pass works, what’s included, and share a Brussels card itinerary that will maximize your discount to the best attractions.

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What is the Brussels card? How it works

The first thing to know is there are actually multiple Brussels Card options. The standard Brussels card is a tourist pass that gets you into 49 museums throughout Brussels, plus discounts on attractions and tours. There are options to either add unlimited transit or a skip-the-line Atomium ticket.

Standard Brussels Card

• Available in 24-, 48-, and 72-hour passes
• Free entry to 49 museums
• Discounts on tourist attractions, tours, restaurants, and shops
• Receive special offers in restaurants, shops, and other venues
• Free map of the city and free museum map

Order your Brussels Card here >

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Brussels Card + STIB Public Transportation

Same as the standard card, plus:

• Enjoy unlimited access to the public transportation system
• A free ride on Billy Bike and Circ electric scooter

This is our top pick: Order your Brussels Card + STIB here >

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Brussels Card + Atomium

Same as the standard card, plus:

• Skip-the-line ticket to the symbol of Brussels: the Atomium
• A free ride on Billy Bike and Circ electric scooter

Order your Atomium Brussels Card here >

How much is the Brussels card?

The Brussels Card pricing currently includes several options. At the time of this writing, current prices are:

• 24-Hour Brussels Card: $35.26
• 48-Hour Brussels Card: $46.28
• 72-Hour Brussels Card: $53.99
• 24-Hour Brussels Card + STIB: $44.07
• 48-Hour Brussels Card + STIB: $62.80
• 72-Hour Brussels Card + STIB: $74.92
• 24-Hour Brussels Card + Atomium: $48.48
• 48-Hour Brussels Card + Atomium: $59.50
• 72-Hour Brussels Card + Atomium: $67.21

Brussels activities included in the Brussels Card

The Brussels Pass includes access to 49 museums, discounts on tourist attractions and tours, plus discounts in some restaurants, bars and shops.

Here are some of the top attractions and their regular adult admission prices:
*Prices are estimated in US dollars based on the exchange rate at time of publishing

Museums
– Art & History Museum: $11.02
– Choco-Story Brussels: $14.32
– Autoworld Brussels: $16.53
– Belgian Chocolate Village: $8.97
– Planetarium of Brussels: $8.97
– Train World: $16.53
– Brussels City Museum: $11.21
See the full list of museums here 

Discounts included on Card:
*One use per venue but valid even after the card expires

– Attractions
1. Experience.brussels: free entrance + free booklet
2. Koekelberg Basilica: – $2.24 off the individual entrance fee for the panoramic view ($6.73)

– Shops
1. De Biertempel: -25% on purchase of 35€ or more
2. Elisabeth (chocolate store): -15% on purchase of 35€ or more
3. Godiva Manneken Pis (chocolate store): -15% on purchase of 35€ or more
4. Librairie Galerie Brüsel: -5% on every purchase
5. Planète Chocolat: -20% on every purchase and / or -1€ off chocolate demonstrations

– Restaurants and Bars
1. Archiduc: -50% on concerts
2. Aux Armes de Bruxelles: -15% off the bill
3. Brasserie Horta: free coffee (with food purchase)
4, Chez Léon: -15% off the bill
5. La Fleur en Papier Doré: free coffee (with food purchase) or -1€ off drinks
6. Les Filles: free coffee (if ordered with lunch)
7. Moeder Lambic: 1 free tapa (with purchase of 2 beers)
8. Brussels Beer Project: 1 free beer of the month (with purchase of taproom beer)

Brussels Card + STIB Includes:

– Public transit pass for bus, trams, metro: $2.35 – $2.80  for single-fare ticket and  $8.41 for 24-hour ticket
– Electric bike Billy Bike: $1.12 Unlock fee + $0.19 per minute
– Electric Scooter Dott: $1.12 Unlock fee + $0.15 – $0.30 per minute

Brussels Card + Atomium Includes:

– Atomium admission: $20.94
The Atomium, a symbol of Europe’s capital, is Brussels’ most popular tourist attraction. 

Benefits of the Brussels Card

Convenience
With the Brussels city card, you don’t have to manage multiple tickets. It’s especially convenient not to have to figure out the best tickets for buses, metros, trams, and elevators if you get the STIB option. You don’t have to pay at the gate or deal with cash for each attraction and transit ride. All your entry tickets are prepaid, all on one all-inclusive pass.

*Note that advanced reservations are recommended for some museums during the pandemic.

Saving Time
With the free unlimited transit pass, you’ll save time going to and from each attraction on your itinerary. The pass also comes with a free guidebook to help you save time when planning your trip.

Save Money  
The main reason to use an attractions pass is to save money, and you can do just that with the Brussels Card. When using the card strategically, you can potentially save about 55% on admission costs. Plus you can use the discounts in restaurants and shops even after the pass expires!

After just three or four museum visits, the card pays for itself. People who save the most money with this pass are those who visit the most attractions back-to-back.

Is the Brussels card worth it?

The Brussels card can be a great value, depending on your trip goals and schedule. Let’s take a look at who the card is best for.

Who is the Brussels card good for?

Below are the types of travelers who I think can get the most out of a Brussels pass.

Museum Lovers
The Brussels pass is more museum-focused than some other city passes you might see in other destinations. Brussels has museums of nearly everything imaginable. If you love to learn about history, art, and other world wonders when you travel, this card is for you. With the pass, you can hop from one museum to the other whenever you feel like it.

First time visitors 
When visiting Brussels for the first time, there’s probably a lot you want to see and do to make the most out of your vacation. Many paid attractions in Brussels are in this all-inclusive pass, so you won’t miss a thing. The card allows you to pack all the museums and activities into your itinerary that you could want. 

Short trips  
People who save the most money with this pass are those who visit the most expensive attractions back-to-back. An all-inclusive attraction pass will give you the chance to pack in as many activities as you can in a short amount of time. Even if you’re only in Brussels for two days, you can efficiently visit all the major attractions with this pass.

Plus, if you ever visit an attraction you’re not thrilled with, you can move on to the next one without feeling guilty about wasting the cost of admission.

>> Order your Brussels Card here <<

 

When is the Brussels card not worth it? 

If you don’t plan to do very many of the museums and activities included on the Brussels card, then you’ll save more money just paying admission a la carte. The same is true if your schedule doesn’t allow for visiting attractions back-to-back.

Families with young children may also want to pass on this card. Even if you’re “world schooling” or the kids just love museums, most Brussels attractions are free for kids under five and significantly discounted for kids 12 and under. Children five and under also don’t pay for transit tickets, so the STIB option may only be worthwhile for older kids.

Finally, if you’re visiting Brussels on a Monday, know that many museums are closed. This pass is not worth using on a Monday.

Tips for getting the best value from the Brussels Card

The way to get the best value with the Brussels city card is to strategically plan to visit attractions on the same day. 

Remember, the days on the pass do need to be used back to back. You’re given 24, 48, or 72 hours from the first use. So for a 24 hour Brussels card, you could start your first attraction at 1pm on the first day, use the discounts through the evening, and then continue visiting attractions for free until 1pm on the second day.

Note that the STIB public transit option can start separately from the main pass. So if you choose to walk to attractions on the first day, you can wait to “start the clock” on the STIB pass by activating at a 375 GO ticket machine whenever you need to take your first bus, tram, or metro. You’ll still have 24, 48, or 72 hours on public transit, but the hours don’t necessarily have to coincide with the rest of your pass.

Finally, don’t forget to continue using the discounts for restaurants and shops even after your pass expires.

Using the Brussels card for 2 days

The Brussels 24 hour card can be used for one full calendar day if you start early. Or better yet, if you have 48 hours in Brussels, you can use a 24 hour card for two half-days, back to back.

Alternatively, for only about $10 more, you can get a 48-hour card and not be as rushed.

Start at Musée BELvue for an overview of Belgium history. Then delve into the arts with quick stops through the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, Musée Magritte, and Musical Instruments Museum. They’re all a stone’s throw away from each other.

Next, pick your fancy among Fashion & Lace, Toys, or Comics. There’s a museum for each (among others) to check out, as you visit other star attractions in Brussels, like Mannequin Piss and Place Royal.

When you see the iconic Mannequin Piss, be sure to stop by GODIVA on the corner or Planete Chocolat around the block to use your discount on chocolate souvenirs. Continue your Belgian chocolate escapades with free entrance to Choco-Story, a museum dedicated to cocoa. Tastings included.

Visit the luxury Galeries Royale and dine nearby at Chez Leon with your restaurant discount. Shop for beers with your discount at De Biertempel.

Out of pocket cost = $54.87+
24 hour Brussels pass = $35.26
You save $19+ (35%)

In this example, I’ve used the Brussels pass without public transit. With the STIB pass, you could get around quicker and more comfortably. It would also be easier to add on more attractions that are in other parts of town, like the Natural Sciences, Military History, or Art & History museums; Auto World or Train World; or the Planetarium.

How much money can you save with the Brussels Card?

How much you save will depend on your itinerary. If you were to max out a Brussels Card, you could save up to $85, or 55% off attractions.

How to buy the Brussels Card

Does it sound like the Brussels Card is right for you? If so, buy your Brussels Card here.

After purchasing the card, you’ll receive a confirmation and voucher via email. When you buy a Brussels Card through a travel operator like Get Your Guide, you’ll have to exchange your voucher for a physical Brussels Card at a tourism office. The offices are centrally located at Grand Place, 1000 Bruxelles and Mont des Arts BIP, Rue Royale 2.

If you buy your Brussels Card through the official e-shop, you will get a barcode card by email. The barcode can be used directly in the museums, no need to redeem anything. You can print it out or keep it on your mobile device to be scanned at the museums.

To start using the Brussels card, simply present your card at the museum’s ticket desk. It will be electronically validated and activated the first time you use it. You’ll then have free access to the museums and you can visit the same museum as many times as you like.

When you exchange your voucher at one of the local partner’s offices, you’ll also receive a booklet with discounts for attractions, shops, restaurants, and bars. Simply present the Brussels Card and the corresponding voucher to obtain a discount.

The discounts are for single use only but they remain valid even after the expiration of your Brussels Card.

Brussels Card Review: Conclusion

Brussels is a beautiful destination to visit in Belgium, and the Brussels Card can save you money if you’re planning to do a lot of sightseeing.

To really know if the Brussels Card is worth the money for your particular trip, try to draft an itinerary for yourself. Compare what you’re likely to spend on transit, museums, and shopping with the cost of the city pass.

I hope our Brussels card review and example itinerary has helped you decide if this all-inclusive city pass will be worth it for you.

 

More about visiting Belgium

– A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Brussels
– Top 5 Things to Do In Bruges
– 4 Reasons Why You Should Do A Self-Guided Bike Tour 

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