Visiting Brussels without spending some time in the Grand Place is simply unthinkable. Here you’ll see the town hall (one of the most beautiful in the country), the Maison du Roi, which is home to the Brussels City Museum, and a series of private houses built at the end of the 17th century. The architectural richness of this square is simply overwhelming.

Created for the 1958 World Fair, the Atomium with its 9 balls represents an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times!  (It is often mistakenly thought to represent an atom, but in fact each ball represents an atom of iron). The significance of this construction is to celebrate scientific discoveries and breakthroughs. Inside, you will find exhibitions and, most importantly, a stunning view of the Brussels-Capital Region from the top ball. Only a short walk away, embark on a tour of all Europe’s wonders in miniature, thanks to Mini-Europe. Design lovers won’t want to miss the Design Museum Brussels only a stone’s throw away, born following the Atomium’s acquisition of a private collection.

Since the 15th century, the Manneken Pis sculpture has adorned one of the public fountains that supply the city with drinking water. Over time, this wee little man became a kind of mascot, with the people of Brussels seeing him as a symbol of the local temperament, a unique combination of mischievous, irreverent and droll. A much coveted symbol, since the present statue is a copy. The original, which has been stolen several times, is now safely housed in the Brussels City Museum. Nearby, you can discover the vast wardrobe of Manneken Pis at the GardeRobe MannekenPis Museum.

No wonder beer lovers from around the world love this place located in a legendary 18th-century basement in the “Ilot Sacré”. In 2004 Delirium Café held the Guinness World Record for the most beers offered with 2004 different beers. Today they are getting close to 2500 beers on the counter!

The Place Royale, which was built on the ashes of the Coudenberg Palace, has retained its historical function as the “executive power district”. You’ll find the Royal Palace, the “office” of the Belgian King, at the Place des Palais, bordering the Place Royale. Opposite is the Parc de Bruxelles or Royal Park. The streets bordering the park are also part of the same neoclassical ensemble. For instance, on the other side of the park, you will see the Palace of the Nation, the seat of the Belgian Parliament. At the Place Royale, with the statue of Godfrey of Bouillon at the centre, you’ll discover the Church of St. James on Coudenberg that resembles a Greco-Roman temple and a series of similar, harmonious mansions.

As beautiful from the outside as it is from the inside, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium is a treasure trove of art. In fact, it is the most visited museum in Brussels. Its pluralised name reflects the fact that it contains several sites, covering a variety of periods and themes. Near Place Royale, you can visit the Old Masters Museum, the Modern Art Museum, the Fin-de-Siècle Museum and the popular Magritte Museum. Not far away, in Ixelles, you can admire the Wiertz and Meunier museums.