The city that holds the dual title of being both the capital of Europe and the Kingdom of Belgium, Brussels, is a treasure trove for lovers of beer, Art Nouveau and politics. As with any metropolitan city, a visit can quickly become expensive.
With these 10 free things to do in Brussels, you can get the very best out of the city, without breaking the bank! From tips to travel on a budget to where to grab the very best budget-friendly food in Brussels, read on to plan your perfect trip to this cosmopolitan city.
Tips for Traveling to Brussels on a Budget
Where to stay in Brussels will have a big impact on your budget. Staying close to the historical center is more costly than if you venture out to the communes of Etterbeek or Saint-Gilles. Thanks to the excellent public transportation, you can virtually get anywhere in Brussels in under 40 minutes. Therefore veer away from the tourist hotspots and instead opt for locations that are slightly further out but still within walking distance from a metro line.
That brings us to public transportation. If you are planning on staying multiple days, invest in a multi-ride pass from the STIB. Passes can be purchased in all major train stations (North, Central, Midi) or from vending machines in the metro stations. Vending machines are off-white with a large red stripe across them. Your pass will grant you access to all metro and trams and the large majority of busses – provided they are not run by De Lijn.
Eating out in Brussels can get very expensive – an average meal with a beverage will easily set you back €25-€55. Most bakeries will offer a selection of sandwiches and sweet pastries which cost anywhere between €2 and €5. If you are looking to try some Belgian beer, head to one of the many local supermarkets and purchase the bottles vs. grabbing a beer in the center of town where beer prices vary from €2 to €10 a beer.
10 Free Things to Do in Brussels
Catch sunset on Place Poelaert
There are very few places to offer a better – free – view over Brussels, especially at sunset than Place Poelaert. It is a popular place, frequented by both locals and tourists alike.
Purchase a nice cold beer, and perhaps some crunchy French fries with mayonnaise and head straight for this unassuming square. The square is nestled atop a hill, next to the courthouse, and has uninterrupted views over the city.
Locals tend to sit atop the wall, dangling their feet with a beer in their hand. Be mindful if you do clamber on the wall, as the drop is rather significant.
Explore the Grand Place in Brussels
The Grand Place in Brussels is without a doubt the most evocative central square in all of Europe and one of the famous landmarks in Belgium. If you have but one day in Brussels the Grand Place has to be on your itinerary! 16th-century guild houses, dripping with gold, line what was once a harbor then a bustling market square and now the crown jewel of Brussels.
The various guild houses have now been transformed into museums, hotels and a large variety of overpriced bars and mediocre restaurants. Veer away from any of these establishments and instead simply take in the grandeur of the Grand Place.
A little doorway in the Town Hall – the large spire looming over the main square – leads you into a little square inside the town hall and then right to the Fontainas neighborhood filled with plenty of (cheaper) bars and restaurants.
Find the most beautiful Art Nouveau Buildings – the undeniable best free thing to do in Brussels
Not many people are aware that the architectural style of Art Nouveau was in fact born right here in Belgium. At the heart of it was Victor Horta, who together with his students went of a prolific building spree creating some of the most majestic Art Nouveau buildings.
Walk around the communities of Ixelles, Uccle and Etterbeek and you will get to see some of the most beautiful buildings like the Horta Museum, Hôtel Solvay, Cauchie house and Hôtel Ciamberlani to name but a few. Alternatively if you are in Brussels over a weekend, you can take the free Art Nouveau walking tour that leaves at 10.00 from the Grand Place.
Find all the cartoon murals
Many a great cartoonist came from Belgium a few classics include Tintin, the Smurfs and Asterix and Obelix.
If you are really into cartoons then splurge and head to the Cartoon Museum to learn about the artists, what inspired their work and the integral part Brussels played in crafting these world-famous characters. If, however, you are on a budget and want to see cartoons for free in Brussels, do not fret there is an easy way to learn about the history of the cartoons in Brussels via way of a self-guided comic strip walk.
This walk takes you through the various communes in Brussels and lets you find no less than 50 giant comic strip murals depicting some of the most well-known scenes from internationally renowned comics. It is a great way to learn about both the comics and to see more of Brussels, without paying for an expensive tour. Simply Pick up your free map at the tourism office or download the route on the VisitBrussels website.
Take a free walking tour
As is the case with many cities around the world, Brussels has a free walking tour! In fact, Brussels is lucky enough to have not one but two free walking tours to choose from. The original, and lost well-known tour is the Sandemans Tour. This tour takes 2.5 hours and regales you with facts about Brussels as well as shows you the highlights of the city: Manneken Pis, The Royal Galleries, the Royal Palace, the Stock Exchange, and Mont des Arts.
Fees are tip based, you pay whatever you can/feel is appropriate. This tour is great to get a feel of Brussels, without breaking the bank. Make sure to bring a pair of comfortable shoes and a rain jacket – one simply never knows what the weather will throw at you in Brussels. The tour starts at the Grand Place. Be sure to double check because the tours do not run daily!
Pop into the Courthouse
The courthouse of Brussels is a bit of a national joke truth be told. It has been under construction for over 35 years, without an end date in sight. The building itself is absolutely spectacular, topped of with a gleaming golden crown. However, as it is under permanent reconstruction it has been hidden under layers and layers of scaffolding. This has meant many travelers do not pop in to visit the simply magnificent architecture, as the outside looks decidedly unappealing.
Do not let the scaffolding deter you and instead make a beeline for the courthouse (which happens to be next to Place Poelaert so you can easily combine them). Once inside turn left – before you enter the actual building – here you will see a gargantuan marble staircase lined with larger-than-life statues. You can choose to head up the staircase or simply turn back and head inside the building. Everyone entering the building will have to go through a metal detector.
Catch the biggest fleamarket Jeu de Balle – Sunday
One of the best free things to do in Brussels! Every Sunday from 06.00 am to 13.00 a huge fleamarket takes place in the oldest neighborhoods in Brussels, the Marolles. You can find everything from doorknobs and paintings to entire wardrobes and bedframes.
Now you might not be able to fit an entire wardrobe in your suitcase back home, but surely there is room for a little second-hand trinket. It is incidentally a great place to people watch and see if you can pick up the elusive Bruxellois – the local dialect which is getting increasingly hard to hear anywhere else in Brussels.
The market is held on the central square – de Vossenmarkt. In the neighboring streets, you will find some of the city’s best second-hand shops (both for furniture and clothing), record stores and cute brunch places. Come early to sift around the many hidden treasures and treat yourself to a hipster brunch after the hunt.
Hang out in one of the many parks
Brussels is an incredibly green city, every few blocks you will find some sort of park or green area. The Park Royal is the closest green area to the historical center. During lunchtime, you will find many locals running – come rain or sun.
Now you might not be in the market for a run, but perhaps a drink or a steaming hot vegan waffle is what you are after. Both are on offer in one of the two kiosks in the park.
Terkamerenbos (Bois de la Cambre) is the largest park in the city, it bleeds into the Zonienwoud (Sonian Forest) which offers kilometers of walking and mountain bike trails. Inside the Terkamerenbos you will find a large lake with a little islet in the middle. Take a tiny boat to get to the island and have a drink in the Swiss-style chalet on the island.
Veer away from their food menu as the food is average, but splurge on a hot chocolate or a cold beer while taking in the magnificent view. Alternatively, take a walk around the lake, this 2-kilometer loop is a favorite amongst locals who can be found lounging in the park whenever the weather permits it.
Find the three peeing statues
Brussels has not one, but three peeing statues. The most well-known is Manneken Pis, a tiny little boy who is said to have extinguished a great fire by means of peeing on the embers. Slightly underwhelming in size, but the little man has an extensive wardrobe that has been gifted to him by various heads of state throughout the years. If you are lucky enough to visit on a specific holiday, he might be all decked out.
Aside from Manneken Pis there is also Jeanneke Pis which is a much more recent sculpture dating back to 1985. This statue of a little peeing girl, was built to restore interest in the little alley (Getrouwheidsgang) as well as to restore equality between men and women. And last but not least there is Het Zinneke (or “the mutt”), which was erected in 1998 and located on the corner of the Kartuizerstraat and the Oude Graanmarkt.
Go to the Parlamentarium and learn about the European Parliament
Last but not least, learn about the European Parliament in the Parlamentarium. As the capital of Europe, you will find a lot of European institutions dotted around the city, but most of them are not open to the public. Take a multimedia guide and learn about the inner workings of the Parliament.
A visit usually takes about 90 minutes to complete. Alternatively head to the House of European History and take a 90-minute visit (the exhibit is in all 24 official European Union Languages) and learn about the creation of Europe and its turbulent history. Both exhibitions are completely free of charge, large groups need to book in advance while groups smaller than 10 people may just walk in and visit without prior bookings.
Additional Things to Do in Brussels That Are Free
Aside from the above-mentioned things to do, it is noteworthy to mention that each of the 19 communes in Brussels has a weekly market. The best market for grabbing a drink is the Wednesday evening market held in Ixelles, the best foodie market is without a doubt the market held on Sunday morning near Gare du Midi.
The Moroccan pancakes served on the Gare du Midi market are the perfect lunch or the perfect hangover cure after a night on the town trying the various delicious – yet surprisingly heavy – Belgian beers.