Things to Do in Brussels
Discover 32 activities and experiences in Brussels, Belgium — from outdoor adventures to cultural events. Curated from real traveler recommendations.
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Musée du Cinema/Filmmuseum
Is part of the Centre for Fine Arts and features a carefully chosen selection of contemporary and classic arthouse films. The best thing about this isn't just the building (due to be restored soon) but also the fact that the entrance fee is cheap. So if you can't live without your dose of Werner Herzog or Jan Svankmajer fret not - this place won't cost you an arm and a leg. ''Royal Film Museum, 9 Rue Baron Horta - Baron Hortastraat''.
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Offscreen
A showcase for unusual, independent and unreleased films, cult classics, extraordinary documentaries and offbeat genres from around the world. Takes place during the month of February and/or March in co-production with '''[http://www.nova-cinema.org/ Cinema Nova]''' and in collaboration with the '''[http://cinematek.be Film Museum of the Royal Belgian Film Archive]'''.
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Bozar Music
Concerts in almost a dozen venues, both at the Centre for Fine Arts and elsewhere in Brussels, with Western classical music from the Middle Ages to our times, as well as non-European classical music, traditional music, jazz, blues, rock, etc. in a great variety of line-ups and genres, from chamber ensembles to big bands, from recitals to concert performances of opera.
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Waffle Workshop
Learn how to make the best Brussels Waffles during this 90' hands on activity! Everything is provided: assistance from start to end, all ingredients, toppings(chocolate, cream, fruits, nutella,...), cookware, take home recipe, a free drink and as many waffles as you can eat! Great for team buildings, stag/hen parties, families & friends.
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- Waffle Workshop starts on Brussels Grand Place, in front of the Tourism Office (biggest white building)
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- Daily at 3:15PM.
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- general €28 - student €25 - kids €18 - family €75 (2 adults & 2 kids)
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Cinema Nova
Is an independent-to-the-bone cinema showcasing the more esoteric side of cinema - films which would not be shown elsewhere are generally shown here. A Korean Ultraman rip-off, a Pakistani documentary or a bleak Chilean cinema vérité flick? Only at Nova. ''Nova Cinema, 3 rue Arenberg-Arenbergstraat''.
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Cinema Wellington
Located in downtown Waterloo with French, Flemish and English spoken films as well as French and Flemish subtitles. - Screencasts most mainstream American films as well as French movies. ''The Wellington Passage - Chaussée de Bruxelles 165, 1410 Waterloo, tel: +32 2 3549359, +32 2 3549359''
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Beer experience in Brussels
One hour interactive & fun course on beer & Belgian brews. Learn everything you always wanted to known about beer & more. Get to meet other travelers and taste 5 beers for free! That's the fastest way to become a beer snob. Booking is compulsory either on our website or by phone.
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- Meeting point located at the bottom of the tallest white tower, nearby the big wooden door on Brussels Grand Place
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- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights at 8PM.
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- €14
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Architectural tours
Atelier de Recherche et d'Action Urbaine, a Francophone Brussels heritage conservation group, runs tours of the city's architectural gems, offering a variety of theme tours to Art Nouveau buildings, Art Deco houses, the EU quarter, the Grand Place area and the Marolles/Marollen.
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- Boulevard Adolphe Maxlaan 55
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- Saturday mornings Mar-Nov, groups year-round
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- 2h walking tours €10; 3h bus tours €17 (under 26 years €13)
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UGC De Brouckère
This is the most centrally located UGC in Brussels. Another UGC exists in Ixelles. As far as programming goes it's the usual Hollywood and mainstream European fare you'd expect from any other UGC in Europe. ''UGC De Brouckère, 38 Place De Brouckère - De Brouckèreplein''.
More info -
Flagey
The old broadcasting headquarters and now houses the regional TV station [http://www.tvbrussel.be/ TVBrussel]. It labels itself 'the sound and images factory'. Quite an apt description arthouse films, theatre pieces or world-renowned musicians are all featured here.
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- Flagey, Place Sainte-Croix Heilig-kruisplein, Ixelles-Elsene
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Bozar Cinema
Has showings of quality films for the general public, a special series for Young Film Fans (in the Henry Le Boeuf Hall), and cross-fertilising events that explore connections between cinema, video, and the other arts (Terarken rooms, Horta Hall).
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Brussels Pub Crawl
Free welcome beer, mini beer tasting, party guide, massive drink discounts and a hell of a night for just seven euro! The tour starts at 9:30PM and finishes after 1AM. We visit 4 bars/club in 3 hours. Book on our website or just show up.
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- At the bottom of the tallest white tower, nearby the big wooden door on Brussels Grand Place
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- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights at 9PM (at 9:30PM from 1st of July 2016).
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- only €7
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Bozar Expo
Has many exhibitions every year, in cooperation with the most prestigious international institutions, alternating the great collections with contemporary art, various national heritages, and support for young artists.
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BIFFF
Is Brussels' International Fantastic Film Festival (''film fantastique'' in French). This two-weeks festival is scheduled yearly in March and is a must see for tourist and locals alike.
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Brussels Bike Tours
Daily bike tours in English allow you to see the main sights in just about 3.5 hours. It includes a halfway stop for fries and beer (not included in price). Reservations recommended.
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- meeting point right outside the Tourist Information Office at the Grand Place
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- From April to October daily at 10AM. From July to September daily at 10AM and 3PM
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- General €25 - Full-time students €22
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Vendôme
Another arthouse cinema. It's located near the Porte de Namur (Naamsepoort) and acts as the metaphysical gateway to a lively African neighbourhood known locally as Matongé.
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- 18 Chaussée de Wavre-Waversesteenweg, Ixelles-Elsene
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Bozar Architecture
Open to the public with exhibitions and lectures working in close collaboration with the Information Centre for Architecture, Town Planning and Design.
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Cinéma Galeries
An arthouse cinema and exhibition venue located within the Saint Hubertus Galleries. ''Cinéma Galeries, 26 Galerie de la Reine - Koninginnegalerij''.
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Kinepolis
Was the first megaplex in the world. It's located at Heysel, near the Atomium, and has 25 screens showing a wide selection of mainstream films.
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Visit Brussels Line
Hop-on/hop-off city open-deck double-decker bus tours with commentary. 12 stops around the city, bus departing every 30 minutes.
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- 10AM-4PM
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- €18
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Styx
Also run by the cooperative nouveau cinema. Screens interesting films in their original version with French and Dutch subtitles.
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- Rue de l'Arbre Bénit - Gewijde Boomstraat 72, Ixelles-Elsene
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Actors Studio
Run by the cooperative nouveau cinema. Screens interesting films in their original version with French and Dutch subtitles.
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- Petite Rue des Bouchers - Kleine Beenhouwersstraat, Brussels 1000
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Horse-drawn carriages
Horse-drawn carriages do circuits of the Lower Town starting from Rue Charles Bulsstraat, near Grand Place.
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- Rue Charles Bulsstraat
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- €18 per carriage
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Classictic Concerts
A site selling classical tickets, but has an excellent rundown of all the upcoming classical concerts.
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Brussels City Tours
Brussels City Tours is the main bus-tour company, with 2¾-hour tours of all the major sights.
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- Grasmarkt-Rue du Marché aux Herbes 82
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- €25/€23/€12.50
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Bozar Studios
The Centre’s educational service, operating as an artistic department in its own right.
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Sandeman's Brussels Free Tours
Informative 3 hour tour. Groups can be large due to the low price!
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- meeting point right outside the City Hall at the Grand Place
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- Daily tours at 11AM & 2PM
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- Pay what you wish
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Bozar Dance
Hosts international contemporary dance productions.
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Bozar Literature
Hosts meetings with Belgian and foreign writers.
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Bozar Theatre
Oriented towards avant-garde theatre.
Exploring Brussels: A Traveler's Guide to Activities
Brussels rewards curious travelers with an exceptional range of experiences. Whether you have a weekend or several weeks, the city's 32 documented activities cover the full spectrum — architectural landmarks and world-class museums at one end, local neighborhood festivals and underground cultural scenes at the other. The activities listed on this page come from Wikivoyage contributors who have personally explored Brussels and written detailed, practical descriptions to help you plan your visit.
The most rewarding way to experience Brussels's activities is with company. Solo travelers who arrive without plans often find that meeting a fellow traveler at a hostel, cafe, or through the Nomax app opens up entirely new itineraries — a museum visit becomes a half-day exploration, a street food crawl turns into an evening of discovery, a day trip to a nearby site becomes an adventure. Brussels has an active traveler community, and the city is designed to reward those who explore it with open curiosity.
When planning what to do in Brussels, consider mixing well-known attractions with neighborhood-level experiences. The city's most photographed sights are popular for good reason, but Brussels's character lives in its quieter corners too — the local markets, the parks where residents spend their weekends, the small performance venues where the next generation of artists and musicians are finding their voice. The 32 activities on this page include both categories, ordered by the richness of their traveler-written descriptions.
How to Get the Most from Brussels's Activities
Timing matters in Brussels. Many of the city's best attractions have shorter queues and better atmospheres on weekday mornings. Major cultural sites — museums, galleries, historic monuments — often run free admission windows on certain days or evenings; check before booking. Outdoor activities and walking tours are best enjoyed in the morning before the city heats up or fills with tour groups.
Budget-conscious travelers will find that Brussels has a strong free-to-access layer. Public parks, open-air markets, architectural walking routes, and many community events cost nothing. The price information included with activities on this page (where available) helps you plan a realistic daily budget. A mix of free and paid activities across a week in Brussels is entirely feasible for most traveler budgets.
For travelers who want to do more than just sightseeing, Brussels offers organized activities through local guides, tour companies, and traveler apps like Nomax. Group activities — cooking classes, cycling tours, kayaking excursions, photography walks — are a natural way to meet people while experiencing the city. Many travelers who use Nomax in Brussels coordinate these types of group experiences together, splitting costs and building memories that last beyond the trip itself.
Activities for Different Travel Styles
Not every traveler wants the same experience. History enthusiasts will gravitate toward Brussels's museums, heritage sites, and guided historical walks that reveal the layers of the city's past. Outdoor and adventure travelers will focus on the parks, cycling routes, climbing areas, and day trips to surrounding natural areas. Food travelers will treat Brussels's markets, restaurants, and food tours as the primary activities of each day. Culture seekers will fill evenings with concerts, theater, gallery openings, and street performances.
The 32 activities documented on this page span all these categories. Use the numbered list above to browse in order of description quality — longer descriptions generally mean more detailed, firsthand traveler knowledge. For each activity, the address and opening hours (where available) give you everything you need to plan your visit without needing to search elsewhere.
Connecting with Travelers in Brussels
One of the best things about traveling to Brussels is the community of international travelers already there. Backpackers, digital nomads, long-term expats, and short-trip tourists all share the same city at any given moment. Nomax makes it easy to find who is in Brussels right now, see what activities they are joining, and coordinate plans. Whether you want a hiking companion, someone to split museum entry with, or a group for an evening out — the app connects you to people with the same itinerary in minutes.
Download Nomax before your trip to Brussels to set your travel dates and start discovering who else will be there at the same time. The app is free, requires no subscription, and works across all the major traveler destinations worldwide — meaning the community you build in Brussels often extends to your next destination too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in Brussels?
Brussels offers 32+ activities and experiences for travelers. Top highlights include Musée du Cinema/Filmmuseum, Offscreen, Bozar Music, and much more. This page lists every documented activity in order of description quality, so you can find both the major attractions and the hidden gems.
Are there free things to do in Brussels?
Yes — Brussels has a strong selection of free activities. Public parks, open-air markets, walking routes through historic neighborhoods, and many cultural institutions offer free admission on specific days. Scroll through the list above and look for activities marked with free or no price information — these are often the city's most authentic experiences.
How do I meet other travelers while exploring Brussels?
Download Nomax — a free travel companion app that shows you other solo travelers currently in Brussels. You can join group activities, chat with travelers at the same spots, and plan outings together. Many travelers in Brussels use Nomax to find companions for day trips, museum visits, and evening activities.
What activities can I do with travel companions I meet in Brussels?
Brussels has activities for every interest — guided tours, food experiences, outdoor adventures, cultural events, and nightlife. Use Nomax to coordinate with other travelers: join a group for a walking tour, split a day-trip cost, or simply explore the city together. The app makes spontaneous plans easy.
Explore Brussels with fellow travelers
Download Nomax — find travel companions, join group activities, and chat with solo travelers in Brussels right now. Free forever.
Travel tips by Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA 3.0). Content may have been updated since publication.
