Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is a charming city with a lot of history and a lot of fun things to do. It is certain that you will feel interested when making a trip to this destination. Read on to know interesting things to do in Brussels that you shouldn’t miss.
Interesting Things to Do in Brussels
1. Visit Grand Place
The Grand Place is indeed grand. As the city’s central square, it is a most visited landmark, home to two of the main attractions in Brussel, the Town Hall, and City Museum, as well as former guildhalls. Also known as Grote Markt, the Grand Place was a major marketplace that dates back to the 10th century. The large square is filled with a carpet made from flowers every second of August. Today it’s lined with many cafes, making it a good place to sample traditional Brussels’ foods, such as moules (mussels), waffles, and french fries, which originated in Belgium, not France.
2. Step back in time at the Old England Building
The Old England Building in Brussels was formerly a department store and was built in the very last year of the 19th Century. The building attracts visitors because of its stunning facade but also due of the fascinating and vast musical museum it houses. The museum is home to more than 2000 musical instruments with historic value and gives guests a chance to listen to many of them. The cafe on the roof of the building provides memorable panoramic views of the city.
3. Spend time at the Museum of Musical Instruments
The museum displays instruments from lots of different periods in history, some of them small and simple, some of them massive and magnificent.
There are over 7,000 instruments to view, and you’ll get a headset that plays the instrument for you when you stand in front of it. This is super cool because you’ll be staring at a weird instrument from the middle ages, having no clue what it sounds like, and then your headphones will actually play the music for you so you can understand the instrument better.
On the tenth floor of the museum, you can witness an amazing view of the city.
4. Explore Atomium
Originally created for the Brussels World’s Fair in 1958, Atomium is now a significant landmark and museum of the city. The massive iron spheres are meant to show the composition of an iron crystal, and the whole structure stands at 102 meters tall.
Designed by engineer André Waterkeyn, the landmark symbolizes the importance of science. To enter Atomium, it costs €12 and you can visit all but three of the spheres. Inside is an exhibition that changes from year to year.
The top sphere has a nice restaurant, and there are also event spaces inside for various happenings in Brussels.
5. Admire Le Botanique
Le Botanique was historically the botanical garden of the city and still attracts a large number of guests in the modern-day. The greenhouse, which dates back to the 19th Century, now regularly plays host to a range of performing arts and makes the place feel like more of a cultural center than just a garden. However, if you are into greenery then the surrounding gardens are still intact and present in all their glory and make for a welcoming change of pace from the city itself.
6. Visit Town Hall
While many cities rush to build modern town halls, the City of Brussels is sticking with its early 15th-century Gothic town hall. It is the last remaining medieval building on Grand Place. Of course, there’s a newer addition, but it’s not as interesting. The old town hall is decorated with 137 statues of important people, like nobles and saints, in the city’s history. Visitors will only see copies there, as the originals are in the nearby city museum. The building is topped with an elegant spire that itself is topped with a 5-meter (16-foot) high statue of the archangel Michael.
7. See Brussels Cathedral
The Brussels Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula is a truly magnificent structure. The main part of this Catholic church dates to the 11th century while the towers were constructed in the 13th century. All told, it took about 300 years to build this impressive stone church. Named after the country’s patron saints, it is Belgium’s main church. Visitors will be awed by the beautiful stained glass windows, especially the ones by Bernard van Orley, a 16th-century painter. The Last Judgment window is lit from within at night.
In conclusion, we have given you several interesting things to do in Brussels. Hoping that you will have an unforgettable trip.
