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Brussels

Belgium & Luxembourg Travel Guide

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BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - OCTOBER 13, 2016: Grand place, Brussels, Belgium; Shutterstock ID 602490032; your: Sloane Tucker; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: Destination Landing Page 602490032

Shutterstock / Koverninska Olga

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Overview

Historic yet hip, bureaucratic yet bizarre, self-confident yet unshowy, Brussels is multicultural to its roots.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - August 09, 2014: General view of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium in Brussels, one of the most visited museums in Belgium with its large art collection.; Shutterstock ID 586734455; Your name (First / Last): Daniel Fahey; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts POI

    Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts

    Brussels

    This prestigious museum incorporates the Musée d’Art Ancien (ancient art); the Musée d’Art Moderne (modern art), with works by surrealist Paul Delvaux and…

  • The museum of musical instruments "Old England", Brussels, Belgium

    Old England Building

    Brussels

    This 1899 former department store is an art nouveau showpiece with a black facade aswirl with wrought iron and arched windows. The building contains the…

  • Triumphal Arch at Parc du Cinquantenaire in the EU Quarter.

    Parc du Cinquantenaire

    Brussels

    Parc du Cinquantenaire was built during Léopold II's reign. It's best known for its cluster of museums – art, history, military and motor vehicles – which…

  • TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY Laurent Thomet.A picture taken on July 28, 2011 shows stuffed rhinoceros at the Brussels Royal Institute for Natural Sciences Museum. It was a daring daytime robbery at the natural science museum. The two thieves snuck into the rhino gallery and ripped a stuffed head off the wall. They carried it to a restroom, opened a window, and dropped the 30-kilo trophy two-stories down to an accomplice waiting in a van. The museum had never been robbed until the July heist, when it became the latest of a rising number of science museums in Europe targetted by thieves for rhino horns, which can fetch tens of thousands of euros on the black market. AFP PHOTO / GEORGES GOBET (Photo credit should read GEORGES GOBET/AFP/Getty Images)

    Institut des Sciences Naturelles

    Brussels

    Thought-provoking and highly interactive, this museum has far more than the usual selection of stuffed animals. But the undoubted highlight is a unique …

  • Lace making in Bruges, 2014. The intricate lace patterns in Belgium are unmatched in any other country. The lace trade rose during the early Renaissance. Emperor Charles V decreed that lace-making should be a compulsory skill for girls in convents and beguines throughout Flanders. Lace became fashionable on collars and cuffs for both sexes. Trade reached a peak in the 18th century. Lace makers are traditionally women. Hundreds of craftswomen still work in Bruges and Brussels, centres of bobbin lace, creating intricate work by hand, often using over 100 threads per bobbin. (Photo by: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images)

    Musée Mode & Dentelle

    Brussels

    Lace making has been one of Flanders’ finest crafts since the 16th century. While kloskant (bobbin lace) originated in Bruges, naaldkant (needlepoint lace…

  • Musée Art & Histoire

    Musée Art & Histoire

    Brussels

    This astonishingly rich collection ranges from ancient Egyptian sarcophagi and Meso-American masks to icons to wooden bicycles. Decide what you want to…

  • BELGIUM - AUGUST 11: BELGIUM, BRUSSELS, The Grand Place in Brussels. (Photo by Ulrich Baumgarten via Getty Images)

    Grand Place

    Brussels

    Brussels’ magnificent Grand Place is one of the world’s most unforgettable urban ensembles. Oddly hidden, the enclosed cobblestone square is only revealed…

  • Our Lady of Sablon Church, Brussels, Belgium.

    Église Notre-Dame du Sablon

    Brussels

    The Sablon’s large, flamboyantly Gothic church started life as the 1304 archers’ guild chapel. A century later it had to be massively enlarged to cope…

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Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

Brussels is far from boring. Find out the top things to do in the Belgian capital, from sampling beer in historic pubs to exploring Art Nouveau influences.

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Best Time to Visit

From convivial Christmas markets in winter to colorful blossoms come spring, Brussels changes through the seasons.

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Things to Know

Brussels is an incredible city and we've got some excellent tips to help your first visit go smoothly. Here's what you need to know before you go.

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Transportation

Navigating Brussels' multiple languages and complex public transport system will be no problem with these tips for getting around the Belgian capital.

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Free Things to Do

See more of the Belgian capital for less with these 10 free experiences all over Brussels.

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Best Neighborhoods

To get a good feel for this underrated European capital, base yourself in one of these five neighborhoods.

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Day Trips

Here are our favorite storybook castles, oh-so-cool cities, and cross-border curios all within easy reach of Brussels.

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