2 or 3 Days in Brussels, Belgium: The Perfect Brussels Itinerary!
Doing a city break in Brussels and need a plan? After reading this Brussels itinerary, you’ll know exactly what to do for 2 or 3 days in Brussels like eating Belgian waffles, visiting the EU headquarters and sipping beer.
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Contents
Here is an ultimate guide to two or three days in Brussels, Belgium which I researched and experienced for myself in March!
3 Days in Brussels Overview
Day 1: All things Belgian like the Landmarks, Waffles and Beer
Day 2: Comic Book Route, EU Flags and Mini Europe (my favourite thing)
Day 3: Celebrity houses, The Chocolate Trail and Outdoor Market
Brussels Itinerary: Fast-Tracked
Stay connected: Get this Airalo esim for data, calls and texts in Belgium
Airport transfer: Private transfer from Brussels International Airport to city
Where to stay in Brussels: Hotel Le Plaza Brussels is central, has an 8.1 rating and metro access
Top-rated Brussels tour: Hungry Mary’s Beer and Chocolate Tour
Belgium car hire: Use Discover Cars to compare prices
Planning Your Three Days in Brussels
How to Get to Brussels
Bus: There are routes to Brussels from all over Europe via Flixbus. I used Flixbus to get from Rotterdam to Brussels and back for under €20!
Car: If you’re on a road trip through Europe, you will have probably already got your rental car. If not, try this site to find the perfect wheels. Know that they drive on the right hand side in Belgium but as with any capital city, you will need to find accommodation with suitable parking options.
Train: I use Trainline for all of my train journeys within Europe. The main train station in Brussels is Brussel-Centraal and can be reached by local transportation and international destinations in Western and Central Europe.
Flight: The main airport is Brussels Airport Zaventem and is 7 miles / 11km from the centre taking about 20 minutes by train.
Getting Around Brussels: For getting around the city, you can use the public bus/train. Except for a few outside the city centre activities Brussels is a very walkable city and getting around by foot (except for maybe Atomium and Mini Europe) is the best option.
3 Days Brussels Resources
Accommodation for a Brussels Long Weekend
I stayed in Hotel Van Belle the Anderlecht neighbourhood of Brussels because I like staying outside of the central area. This hotel was cheap, clean, friendly staff and excellent location with great Arabic food in the area.
The best-rated and best-located hotel online is Hotel Le Plaza Brussels but to find your own search here:
Info for Brussels 3 Days Itinerary
- Population is 2 million.
- Currency used is Euro €.
- Language is French.
- Belgium’s capital city is excellently located in Europe so makes for the perfect base for day tours from Brussels.
- Brussels is home to the headquarters of the European Union!
- Now read on for an ideal 2-day Brussels itinerary or Brussels in 3 days!
How Many Days in Brussels?
I spent 3 days in Brussels and think it was the perfect amount of time to see everything at a slower pace and explore parts of the city I wouldn’t if I had less time.
I do think that you can take the best parts of this Brussels trip and squeeze into your own Brussels 2 days itinerary or even just a day!
Scroll to the bottom if you want longer in Brussels or ideas for day trips from Brussels to other places in Belgium, France, Germany or Netherlands.
Best Time to Visit Brussels Belgium
I visited in late March and we had surprisingly nice weather which really helped us do everything we wanted for our 2 days in Brussels itinerary.
With the extra day I got to do a chocolate tour, see celebrity houses and wander the market which were some of the best things to do in Brussels.
For budget and quieter: March to May and September and October are the shoulder seasons in Belgium so this is a great time for less crowds and cheaper accommodation.
For weather: Summer in Europe is June, July and August so this is the best best time to visit Brussels for uninterrupted summer activities.
For unique things to do: December is a great time to visit if you want to go to the Christmas markets. August and September is good if you want unique festivals like Latin Reggaeton, Brussels Food and Brussels Tomato Festival. Brussels is also a close destination to Antwerp for the famous Tomorrowland festival in July.
3-Day Brussels Itinerary
This Brussels 3 day itinerary will take you through history, showcase the country’s culture, feed you good and surprise you with strange statues.
Day 1 of Weekend Itinerary Brussels
Go to Grand Place
Grand place is the typical square you’ll find in most European cities. Brussels’ square is one of the most interesting with the variety of architecture that surrounds the piazza.
If you do a 360 view of all the buildings, you’ll notice how much they differ in structure and style due to different styles by different leaders over the years. So you can literally see the changeover of ruling in Belgium in this one area!
Taste Belgian Beer & Visit The Belgium Beer Museum
You can’t visit Belgium, especially the capital city, without trying their famous beer. The quality of the Belgium Beer is at a very high standard and drinking a beer is a cultural experience.
UNESCO added Belgian Beer Culture to its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016 so there’s no better place to experience this cultural heritage than in Brussels at any bar of cafe!
Beer Tasting Experience in Brussels – Join this beer tasting in a private venue to try 5 Belgian beers, learn the basics and how to pick and order beer at a bar in Belgium.
Afterwards, take a tour through the Belgium Beer Museum to learn more about the beer here as well as try some classics!
Discover Manneken Pis & The Peeing Statues
When looking for what to do in Brussels, I bet you didn’t think that visiting a statue of a boy who pees would be on this list. But it is. And it’s a hugely popular thing to do in Brussels!
You might be thinking that you’ll definitely skip this one but I promise you, the lure will make you see it (plus it’s in the heart of the city so you’re bound to pass it anyway).
See the outfit calendar here so you can plan your visit accordingly (I went everyday to see the different costumes)!
Not only is the peeing boy something to see here, but you can also visit Jeanneke Pis which is a statue of a girl peeing and to complete the family, Het Zinneke which is a statue of a dog peeing. So random I know but will keep you occupied for 2 days in Brussels Belgium!
Manneken Pis Location: 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Jeanneke Pis Location: Imp. de la Fidélité 10-12, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
Zinneke Pis Location: Corner of Kartuizersstraat and Oude Graanmarkt
Eat Belgian Waffles: A Must On Trip to Brussels!
..and lots of them!
Trying the waffles in Belgium is one of the best things to do in Brussels because for a smaller country, they have a big appetite and have definitely made their mark on European cuisine.
There are actually two types of Waffle: Brussels and Liege. The Brussels is rectangular and light whereas the Liege is oval-shaped, thicker and sweeter.
Waffles at Maison Antoine is one of the best spots for things to do in Brussels in 2 days.
Brussels Waffle Workshop – Learn the art of making these famous waffles for yourself at this cooking class in Brussels and eat unlimited waffles plus a complimentary drink.
Stroll Mont Des Arts
Mont Des Arts is an excellent place for green space in the city and for a scenic photograph in Brussels. Get to the top with the gardens in the background for your iconic Brussels shot!
You’ll also find museums and the Royal Library of Belgium here.
Hang Out in Delirium Cafe
Delirium Cafe is known for having so many beers you’ll find yourself comparing notes on IPAs and region subtleties. Okay I didn’t quite do this but I loved the sound of some of the beers so went for the funky ones that I’d never tried before!
I love the decor in this bar too and so interesting looking at all the beer mats, plates and memorabilia. In 2004, the bar made (and holds) the Guinness World Record for the most beers available for tasting which was 2004 beers.
The cafe is also next door to J Pis so you can combine these for your Brussels in 2 days itinerary.
Optional: Visit the Brussels Autoworld Museum housing over 250 vehicles and learn about its evolution!
Brussels 2 Day Itinerary
Head to the EU Quarter
Brussels is home to the headquarters of the European Union so naturally there are some important buildings here. Most of the things to do in Brussels EU Quarter is completely free like House of European History, Parliamentarian, and the Hemicycle.
The most fun things to do on a 2 day itinerary Brussels is to see if you can guess the countries of each flag of the EU outside the buildings.
Explore Mini Europe
Belgium was the second country on our Europe backpacking trip in 2022 and there was something here that was in my top five things to do which was visiting Mini Europe.
I know this might sound crazy because I was about to travel to the actual places but seeing the landmarks all in mini form excites me something chronic.
I can’t explain it but it’s the same feeling I get with looking at maps and bucket lists – I just love it all in front of me. Sadly it was closed on my last two days in Brussels! Check times for your trip and enjoy it for me – it’s the first thing I’m doing when I go on my next trips to Brussels Belgium.
See the Atomium
The Atomium is iconic for things to see in Brussels in 2 days! Why? It’s a uniquely-shaped monument; silver, steel spheres connected with silver, steel pipes, that stands as a landmark of the capital of Europe.
It is 335 feet tall and each of the spheres can be explored at your leisure for exhibitions, workshops and restaurants.
Try Brussels Mussels When in Brussels Two Days!
How can you come to a place without trying the food that rhymes with its name?! Of course that’s a fun part but it’s not the reason to try this food; the reason is because it’s bloody delicious. I’m of course talking about Mussels in Brussels!
Go to Chez Leon. It’s said to be the best in town. We went and got the xx and xx and I was in my own little seafood bubble that I never wanted to burst.
Tip: before you go sign up to their newsletter online and spin the wheel for the chance to get something complimentary! I had a free beer😎👌
Read Next: Complete Food Guide to Brussels, Belgium!
Follow the Comic Book Route & Street Art
Did you know that Tintin and The Smurfs is Belgian-invented?! Very cool, I know.
What’s cooler is that Brussels proudly celebrates this accolade and is home to the Brussels Comic Book Strip Walk which has over 50 murals around the city of comic book characters.
This is a MUST for what to see in Brussels in 3 days, or any amount of time really.
Walking the entire route to see all the street art is a big undertaking so I recommend finding out where your favourites are located and heading straight there.
Tintin is in the centre on Rue de l’Etuve, The Smurfs is on Rue Infante Isabelle, and Broussaille is on Rue du Marche au Charbon (pictured).
Optional: Brussels Architecture Tour
Day 3 of 3 Day Brussels Itinerary!
Wander Gare Du Midi Market
For some lesser-known what to do in Brussels Belgium activity, head to the Gare du Midi neighbourhood and explore the big market located underneath the trainline for some local produce, cheap goods and delicious street food.
The market is open every Sunday between 7am and 2pm so whether you have a 2 day Brussels itinerary or 3 days in Brussels itinerary, you can only include this stop if you’re there on a Sunday morning.
Find Audrey Hepburn’s House
You can visit the birthplace of Audrey Hepburn who was born and lived for 5 years in the neighbourhood of Ixelles in Brussels, Belgium. Hepburn was one of Hollywood’s biggest stars in the 50s and you’ll recognise her famously from Breakfast at Tiffany’s or My Fair Lady.
Audrey Hepburn birthplace Brussels: Rue Keyenveld 48, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium
+ Jean Claude Van Damme Statue (The Other Muscles from Brussels)
There is a bronze, life-sized statue of the famous Belgian actor in combat position in Brussels.
Van Damme studied martial arts as a child in Belgium and moved to USA where he became a star in movies like Timecop and Kickboxer. He was also a guest star in a FRIENDS episode as himself!
For a Brussels itinerary 3 days is plenty of time to fit in seeing a statue of the Bloodsport actor, native to this city.
Jean Claude Van Damme Statue Brussels: Bd Sylvain Dupuis 433, 1070 Anderlecht, Belgium
Did you know there’s also a statue of Van Damme in Azerbaijan in a village called Vandam!
Devour Belgian Fries
You’ve heard about them. You may have even tried them in other places. But there’s nothing like trying Belgian fries in the motherland! One of the first things I did when I arrived in Belgium was go on the hunt for the best Belgian fries.
This brought me to Fritland Fries where I waited in line for a good 25 minutes where I mulled over the menu, savoured the smell of the fryer and gazed at those sat down with their red cones.
Once I tried one I knew I’d made a good choice. A cone of fries with two sauces is all you need in Brussels and you will not regret it. Take them away and sit in a spot with a view!
Join a Chocolate Shop Tour on Your 3 Day Itinerary Brussels!
The chocolate from Belgium is unmatched. I went on a chocolate tour around Brussels and tasted balls of indulgence, squares of glory and slabs of heaven!
Chocolate is a big part of Belgium’s economy. And though the raw ingredients used to make chocolate are not from Belgium, the making of the product has been used in the country since the 1600’s.
Join this Chocolate Museum tour to learn about the production of cocoa and fun facts about this much-loved product or the Brussels Chocolate Workshop to learn how to make authentic Belgian pralines and take home recipes and a box of chocolates.
Best Day Trip Brussels
Have 4 days in Brussels or longer? You could do multiple day trips Brussels is close to lots of fantastic European destinations like Paris, Cologne, Bruges and Amsterdam!
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After this 3-day Brussels itinerary post, are you ready to visit Brussels Belgium?
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