Tourism Brussels, Belgium

The Grand-Place is the main tourist attraction of the City of Brussels. All through the year it is visited by thousands who like to visit and admire the beautiful buildings or to sit down on one of the many terraces and have a good Belgian beer. Concerts and musical events are arranged through out the year. The most famous events that take place here are the annual Ommegang (an historical procession at the beginning of July). Built as a merchants market in the 13th century, the Grand-Place operates as Brussels’ city centre and is a great place to enjoy Belgian hospitality at one of the many terrace cafes.

As you enter the Grand-Place, the first building you notice is the gothic town hall dating back to the 13th century. Its beautiful frontal feature is the famous needle-like curved spire which is 315 feet in height and is topped by the archangel St. Michael. Tours are available for the interior, which contains 15th century tapestries and works of art.

The Mont des Arts means ‘hill of the arts’ and is a historic site situated in the centre of Brussels. It accommodates lots of museums, theatres and historical monuments which attract visitors.

This statue of a little boy in a somewhat compromising position has been a major tourist attraction in the city. The little boy peeing in a fountain looks amusing and everybody comes to see him. Many people don’t know this small boy is very often dressed and his wardrobe, consisting of around 760 outfits, is in the museum of Brussels.

This elegant glass roofed arcade is placed in the centre of town, lined with cafes, theatres and luxury stores, this was the first shopping arcade in Europe. Built in 1847 and recently refurbished, the Royal Galleries (Galerie de la Reine, du Roi and du Prince) are one of the most astonishing places to visit in Brussels..

Brussels is home to the European Union (EU) which consists of 25 European countries. On any given day there are over 20,000 people working in the offices of the EU. The infrastructure of the EU is separated into 3 big institutions: the European Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament.

The Museum of Musical Instruments is an outstandingly beautiful building in Brussels merging the architectural styles of Neo-Classic and Art Nouveau. This museum has a collection of more than 7000 musical instruments of different types and origins. It also features a restaurant on the top floor, which allows visitors a panoramic view of the whole of Brussels. Above all, it is a world of music where music lovers can find peace.

This is a magnificent cathedral, dedicated to the male and female saints of Brussels. It is situated near Central Station. It is formed in the Brabant Gothic style and it has a white stone facade.

This is the law court of the city, built in neo-classical style using the profits from colonialism. The impressive structure of this monument dominates the Brussels skyline and it can be seen from almost any viewpoint in the city.

This was the official home of the Belgian king, and you will always know if he is in the country when you see the Belgian flag flying on top of the building. The building is a wonderful example of Neo-Classical architecture and overlooks Brussels Park. The Royal Palace is open to the public during the summer months. The royal palace holds a museum called Belle-vue with a collection on the Belgian royal dynasty.

The Atomium square is located next to Mini-Europe Park, besides the king Baudouin stadium. It is basically a structure which exhibits the unit cell of an iron crystal. It has nine spheres made of steel which are connected by tubes along the edges of the cube. Its height is 334.6 ft and its diameter is 59 ft.

The lovely Brussels Park provides comprehensive views of the Royal Palace. This is one of the favourite places for Brussels’ residents to take a stroll, and enjoy the changing colours of nature.

The Musee de la Ville Bruxelles has won the prize for being the most exclusive structure in Brussels’ Grand-Place. It has dark construction with shining gold which makes it an excellent fit for various collections of art focusing on the varied history of Brussels and specifically the Grand-Place. This collection recites the story of the construction of the Grand-Place and its destruction. It has a magnificent wooden staircase and an astounding view of the Grand-Place. It is considered a master piece.

The Royal Greenhouses were built in 1874 by king Leopold II which contains the finest private botanical collection in the world. This complex has 16 interconnected greenhouses, a dining hall, theatre and reception areas. Every year, usually from the last week of April through the 1st week of May, the king invites the public to visit the greenhouses & its excellent beauty.

The Belgium Centre for Comic Strip Art chronicles the history of Belgium comics. It exhibits the most favourite comic characters of Belgium- Tintin and Snowy and their creator Herge. This museum displays the artwork of almost 670 remarkable cartoonists. It is arranged over the three levels and it also has a library and an art nouveau brewery.

This is the world’s largest museum dedicated to dinosaurs which can impart amazing facts about dinosaurs. It contains 30 pieces of fossilized Iguanodon skeletons which were discovered in 1878 in Bernissart. This museum has a research department and a public exhibit department. This is a great museum for children.

Cantillon Brewery (Brasserie-Brouwerij Cantillon) is a small Belgian traditional family brewery based in Brussels and launched in 1900. It was transferred into a working museum which invites the visitors to visit it throughout the year. It prepares lambic beers like kriek and gueuze in the conventional style. It is the last lambic brewery in Brussels. The brewery is located in the municipality of Anderlecht.