Brussels in 2 Days
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure →
A Walkable Itinerary for Couples
Brussels has a reputation as a quick stopover between bigger cities, and not going to lie, that’s exactly how we planned to treat it. By the time we left, it had completely changed our minds. This compact city is packed with beautiful old buildings, art tucked into unexpected corners, and a food scene that makes it very hard to leave on time.
Two days turned out to be exactly the right amount of time, especially if you show up hungry. The whole city is walkable, which we love because it’s the best way to get to know a new place, and I truly mean it when I say we walked everywhere. Between ducking into shops and stopping for beer, chocolate, ice cream, and a hearty Belgian stew, Brussels kept giving us reasons to take the long way around.
This itinerary is complete with the places worth building your days around, where to eat, how to do Brussels boujee on a budget, and the things we wish we had known before we arrived, so you can spend the time in between wandering the side streets.
At a Glance
Don't miss: Grand Place after dark, a beer flight at Delirium Village, and a fresh waffle at Maison Dandoy.
Jump toHow Many Days Do You Need in Brussels?
Two days was the right amount of time for us to see the historic center, eat our way through the Belgian classics, and spend an evening at Delirium Village without rushing around. Everything on this itinerary is within walking distance, so you won’t lose time getting around. We didn’t make it to Bruges or Ghent this trip, but we’d love to go back and do both one day. If they’re on your list, plan extra days on top of these two.
Getting to Brussels by Train from Amsterdam, Paris, or London
Brussels sits right in the middle of the rail routes between Amsterdam, Paris, and London, which makes it an easy stop on a multi-city trip. We came in by train from Amsterdam, and it was such an easy trip. You board in one city center, watch the countryside go by, and step off in another city center without dealing with airports.
From Brussels, we took the train to London. Our original plan was Paris, but there were fires and protests at the time, so we pivoted to London at the last minute. That’s one of the best parts of traveling by rail in Europe, because it’s easy to change direction when plans fall through. If you’re heading to London, the Eurostar leaves from Brussels-Midi station, and you go through security and passport control before you board, so leave yourself extra time at the station.
Where to Stay and What to Book
For a 2-day trip, the best area to stay is near Grand Place and the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert. Everything on this itinerary is within walking distance, so staying central means you can walk out the door and start exploring without spending a minute on trams or taxis. Staying close also makes it easy to see Grand Place twice. You can wander back after dinner to see the square lit up at night, then stroll home instead of planning a ride.
It also means you can drop off your shopping bags or chocolate haul between stops. We stayed near the city center, and having our own space made the trip feel more relaxed, especially after long days of walking. If you like the idea of a rental too, browse vacation rentals near Grand Place on Vrbo and look for places within a 10 to 15 minute walk of the square.
Your Brussels Trip Toolkit
Everything we use to plan and book our own trips, in one place.
Day 1 in Brussels: Grand Place, Sablon, and Delirium Village
Spend your first day in the historic center, where everything sits within a short walk of Grand Place. Plan the afternoon around the square, Manneken Pis, and the Sablon neighborhood, then save the evening for a Belgian dinner and Delirium Village.
◉ Afternoon
Grand Place by Day and at Night
Grand Place is the main square in Brussels, and standing in the middle of it feels like walking onto a movie set. You can turn a full 360 degrees and be surrounded by huge, beautiful buildings covered in gold details, with the Gothic Town Hall towering over one side.
The square has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. Visit once during the day, when you can pick out every carved detail on the facades, and then come back after dinner when the buildings are lit up and the whole square glows. If you only have time for one visit, make it the evening one, but seeing it both ways was one of our favorite moments of the trip.
Don’t be afraid to take the side streets. The best part of Brussels is wandering down the little streets between the big sights, where you’ll find shops, art, and buildings you’d never see on the main roads.
◉ A few minutes’ walk
Manneken Pis
A few minutes from Grand Place you’ll find Manneken Pis, the famous little bronze statue of a boy relieving himself into a fountain. He really is tiny, so treat him as a quick detour on your way to other places. Check which costume he’s wearing when you visit, since the city dresses him in different outfits throughout the year.
◉ Uphill from Manneken Pis
The Sablon Neighborhood
From Manneken Pis, walk uphill to Sablon for a calmer, prettier side of the city. The streets are lined with antique shops, chocolate boutiques, and elegant buildings, and it’s an easy place to spend the afternoon popping in and out of shops with no real agenda. This is also where we noticed how much art is tucked into Brussels, from shop windows to walls you would walk right past in a hurry.
◉ Evening
Dinner: Moules-Frites and Carbonnade Flamande
For dinner, order the two Belgian classics: moules-frites and carbonnade flamande, a slow-cooked beef stew made with beer that is exactly what you want after a day of walking. Head a few blocks away from Grand Place to find them, and pair either one with a local beer.
◉ After dinner
Jeanneke Pis
After dinner, find Jeanneke Pis, the lesser-known sister statue to Manneken Pis. She sits in a narrow alley right across from Delirium, so it’s an easy stop on your way to a drink.
◉ Right across the alley
Delirium Village
Delirium Village was way bigger than we expected. It’s a whole alley lined with bars, each with its own feel, and the beer list is enormous. Order a beer flight and taste your way through. The flavors were so interesting and so different from anything we drink at home that we kept passing glasses back and forth trying to pick a favorite.
Day 2 in Brussels: Galleries, Waffles, and the Royal Quarter
Start your second day in the shopping arcades near Grand Place, walk up to the Royal Quarter in the afternoon, and finish back in the Galeries for chocolate. Everything is close enough to wander between, so take the side streets instead of the main roads. Those unplanned detours ended up being some of our favorite parts of the trip.
◉ Morning
Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
Begin under the glass roof of the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, a 19th-century covered arcade lined with chocolatiers, cafes, bookshops, and boutiques. Go early, before the crowds pick up, so you can see the glass roof and the architecture without dodging shoppers. Even if you don’t plan to buy anything, it’s worth walking end to end.
◉ Inside the Galeries
Maison Dandoy Waffles
Next, stop for a waffle at Maison Dandoy, which has been baking in Brussels since the 1820s. It was every bit as good as everyone says, and if you want to understand why people travel for Belgian waffles, this is the place to find out.
◉ A short walk uphill
St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral
A short walk uphill brings you to St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral, the Gothic cathedral of Brussels with its twin towers and soaring stained glass. It’s a free stop that gives you a quiet break between the busier parts of the city.
◉ Afternoon
Mont des Arts
From the cathedral, make your way to Mont des Arts, the terraced garden between the lower and upper parts of the city. Climb the gardens for a view back over the old town and the Town Hall spire, which is one of the best views in Brussels and a natural spot to stop for photos.
◉ Facing Brussels Park
Royal Palace of Brussels
Continue up to the Royal Palace, the official palace of the Belgian king, which faces Brussels Park. The interior only opens to visitors for a few weeks in summer, so most of the year you’ll admire the facade from the outside, and the palace and the park in front of it are worth the walk on their own.
◉ Back in the Galeries
Neuhaus Chocolate in the Galeries
Finish the day back in the Galeries at Neuhaus, the Belgian chocolatier credited with inventing the praline. Its original shop is inside the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, so the walk down from the Royal Quarter brings you right to it. We tasted far more than we planned to, and we have zero regrets.
Taste the good stuff at Neuhaus, then pick up chocolate to bring home at a Delhaize grocery store for less.
Belgian Food to Try in Brussels
Eating your way through Brussels is half the fun, and Day 2 is basically a dessert crawl (and we’re here for it!). Use this list as your checklist so you don’t leave without trying the classics.
- A fresh waffle at Maison Dandoy
- Moules-frites
- Carbonnade flamande, the beer-braised beef stew
- A beer flight at Delirium Village
- Pralines at Neuhaus
- Ice cream on a walking break
- A paper cone of Belgian frites
Want someone else to plan the tasting? Browse Brussels beer and chocolate tours below.
Where to Find the Best Waffle in Brussels
Our pick is Maison Dandoy, which has been baking in Brussels since the 1820s and has a shop right inside the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert. You’ll see two kinds of waffles around the city. A Brussels waffle is rectangular, light, and crisp, which makes it the one to order with toppings like ice cream. A Liège waffle is smaller, denser, and chewier, with caramelized sugar baked right in, so it’s great plain and on the go.
Best Place to Buy Pralines in Brussels
Neuhaus is the place to taste pralines in Brussels. It’s the chocolatier credited with inventing the praline, and its original shop is inside the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, so you can’t miss it on Day 2. When it’s time to buy chocolate to bring home, a Delhaize grocery store has Belgian chocolate for gifts at a much lower price.
Boujee on a Budget in Brussels
Brussels can feel pricey, but a lot of the best parts of this itinerary cost nothing at all. These are the ways we kept the trip feeling special without overspending.
- Walk everywhere. Every stop on this itinerary is walkable, so you can skip transit and taxis entirely.
- Spend your money on food, not views. Skip the restaurants lining Grand Place and walk a few blocks for better food for less.
- Enjoy the free sights. Grand Place, Manneken Pis, Jeanneke Pis, the Galeries, the cathedral, Mont des Arts, and the outside of the Royal Palace are all free to see.
- Split your splurges. Taste pralines at Neuhaus, then buy chocolate gifts at Delhaize for less.
Tips for Visiting Brussels
These are the things we wish we had known before our first trip to Brussels.
- Wear shoes made for cobblestones. You can walk this whole route, and the historic center has plenty of cobblestones and a few hills.
- Leave gaps for unplanned stops. Our favorite moments were the stops we didn’t plan for beer, chocolate, ice cream, and stew, so don’t book every hour of your day.
- Look up as you walk. The architecture is stunning, and a lot of the city’s art shows up on walls and in shop windows you could easily miss.
- Go back to Grand Place at night. It feels like a completely different square once the buildings are lit.
Is Brussels Safe?
We felt comfortable walking around Brussels, but we did see a family get cased in the tourist area, and they were most likely robbed. Crowded spots like Grand Place are exactly where pickpockets work, so stay aware of your surroundings. Keep your bag zipped and in front of you, keep your phone out of your back pocket, and pay attention when someone stops you or crowds in close. For more ways to stay safe on the road, read our travel safety tips.
What Language Do They Speak in Brussels?
Brussels is officially bilingual, so you’ll see signs in both French and Dutch. French is what you’ll hear most around the city, and English is widely understood in the tourist areas. Learning a quick bonjour and merci still goes a long way.
Brussels Travel FAQ
Here are quick answers to the questions travelers ask most when planning 2 days in Brussels.
Get Our Free Brussels Itinerary PDF
We turned this itinerary into a printable guide with the stops, a food checklist, and our best tips, all in one place you can save to your phone. Tap the button below, add your email, and we’ll send it straight to your inbox, along with our Passport Crew newsletter.
