Brussels in 1 Day: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Brussels is a city of lively culture and a lively atmosphere. Known for being the birthplace of beer and chocolate, the most beautiful capital of Europe always gets all the compliments. Walking around Brussels you will be able to perceive the contrasts that its streets harbor, and, who knows, you may fall in love with it too.

If you are thinking about what to see and do in Brussels, but you are just passing through with a stopover or you only have 24 hours in your itinerary, a full day may be enough to get a general idea of the city and tour its historic center. It may seem like a bit of an ambitious plan, but it won't be complicated once you read this guide.

The first stop on this day in Brussels is one of the most beautiful squares in the world. And why do we start here? Because you can enjoy it with few people and admire all those buildings that surround it as they deserve. They are historical architectural works and governmental headquarters that are very famous for their facades. In fact, they are considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The buildings that stand out the most are:

• Hotel de Ville.
• Maison des Brasseurs.
• Maison des Ducs de Brabant.
• Le Renard.
• Le Cornet.
• Le Roi d'Espagne.

You will also find the Maison du Roi, which was once the residence of the royal family, but now houses the Museum of the City of Brussels and Le Pigeon, the building where the French novelist Victor Hugo lived during his exile in Belgium.

In addition to its beauty, Grand Central Square owes its fame to all the important events that took place there. For example: the first Belgian Protestants who were burned to death during the Inquisition and the great bombings by the French.

If you are interested in culture and want to learn more about the Belgian capital you should make a selection of the best museums in Brussels according to your day trip.

This building corresponds to the Cathedral of Brussels, of an incomparable Gothic style and built in the 13th century. It is the main catholic church not only of the city of Brussels, but of all Belgium. In the past it was known as St. Michael's Church, but in 1047 it received the remains of St. Gudula and adopted its current identity.

If you want to make the most of your time, you can not miss visiting it inside, because its interior is as impressive as its exterior. And not because it has objects of great value, since it was looted on several occasions. Simply the details and colors of its stained glass windows are impressive.

You can also visit the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, protected by a large wrought iron gate, dating from the eighteenth century. But the most majestic object is a spectacular organ with 4,000 pipes, surrounded by statues of the apostles, a real luxury. A real luxury, and admission is free!

Welcome to the most Parisian place in Brussels, the Galeries Saint Hubert... They were designed in 1847, which makes them the first shopping arcades in Europe. Although the prices are excessively high, you can take a nice stroll through this famous shopping mall to catch a glimpse of its glamorous atmosphere.

The stores you will find along these 200 meters are of the best and most recognized brands, but the architecture itself is what calls us all tourists. You don't need to buy anything, but don't forget to take some unique pictures at this iconic stop in the city.

But it's not just its beauty, it's also its history. In the 1800s, this was a meeting point, where the city's intellectuals and artists met in the evenings under the wonderful glass roof.

What would a trip to Brussels be without tasting its beer? I recommend that you do not miss the chance to delight yourself with the most precious drink for the Belgians during your visit to the city.

My favorite bar is Delirium, of great fame and recognition in the world of beer, as it holds the Guinness record for the most varied offer in the world. It is not an inexpensive place, of course, but visiting it is quite an experience. It has many rooms to explore and of course, a high quality beer.

Another very good option when it comes to drinking is A la Mort Subite, Le Cercueil and Au Bon Vieux Temps. If you can't decide which one to go for, you might as well try a glass at each of them, right? A tour of the best breweries in Brussels is always a very good plan.

Waffles are the typical Belgian sweet dish. And if you want to know why, you have to see for yourself. There are many varieties everywhere, but the authentic one is the Liège style, which only has sugar sprinkled on top.

If you're in the Manneken Pis area, you'll be particularly drawn to the aroma coming out of Maison Dandoy's store, a famous little shop rated as one of the best.

But if waffles are not your thing, you can read this article about the best chocolate tastings in Brussels. What you can be sure of is that you can't leave without tasting something sweet on this visit to Brussels.

The Manneken Pis is one of the plans what to see and do in Brussels, is a symbol of the city of Brussels and consists of a tiny bronze sculpture of 66 centimeters of a little boy doing his thing. Over the years it has become one of the most visited points of the capital and everyone who passes through the city takes his picture with him.

Its history is quite interesting, since this figure was created in 1619, but then it was stolen and replaced by the reproduction that you can find today. But this was not the only unfortunate event that has happened. The city, later on, was bombed, but the pissing boy did not suffer a scratch. At that point, he became a much loved character by the inhabitants of the city.

The particularity of this boy is that he is always changing his attire, as he has a large collection of costumes depending on the occasion or according to the party in town. And he even has a museum: the Museum of the Manneken Pis costumes. But the Manneken Pis is not alone in Brussels, it has other friends scattered around. If you continue your walk, you will meet his female colleague Jeanneke Pis, and even a canine friend, Zinneke Pis.

If you liked the visit to the Cathedral of Brussels, you should also visit Notre Dame Du Sablon, another architectural work of the same style that has nothing to envy to its cousin the Cathedral. It is located in the upper part of the historic center and is one of the must-see attractions in the center of Brussels.

I assure you that you will be left with your mouth open with the eleven gigantic works of art of 15 meters high that you will see inside, along with the columns that support this incredible church. And of course, you can also enter for free.

Inside, the central pulpit undoubtedly stands out. The image of the virgin that is there was donated by a man to whom the virgin appeared and told him to take her image to this chapel. The gentleman of course obeyed and today it is equally enjoyed by all visitors.

This square retains a more traditional style compared to the others in the city. After walking without rest, I find it a good place to take a break.

You will have many dining options, art galleries and chocolate shops of very good quality. The streets surrounding the square are also very nice and picturesque. If you are lucky enough to stop by on a weekend, you will also find an antiques market, especially silverware and second-hand books.

Place du Petit Sablon has the particularity of housing 48 bronze statues. If you pay attention, you will be able to identify that each one of them pays homage to some ancient craft. An interesting curiosity of the corners of Brussels.

The seat of the Belgian judiciary has a tough and chaotic history, having suffered several fires and many restorations over the years. But, even so, it has become another must-see site on your visit to the city of Brussels.

The Palace of Justice building measures more than 26,000 square meters in area and 104 meters in height. A real giant that, being located in the upper part of the city, will give you access to unparalleled views of the whole of Brussels.

The visit to the European Parliament is well worth it if you still have time in these intense 24 hours in the city. Especially if you are a political buff, as this exhibition will tell you about the history of Europe and how the European Union was conceived.

The exhibition is educational, interesting and modern, and is available in several languages, so that no one is left out of the explanations. You will be given a multimedia guide so that you can visit the site at your own pace - no excuses!

If you have a day and you want to visit some places further away from the center, take into account that Brussels has the best tourist buses to save time and move easily around the city. But if you prefer to travel by public transport, I advise you to buy a day pass that will save you money and give you more freedom.

Also, I recommend you to check out the best museums in Brussels. The exhibitions are very varied and for all audiences, but it is always a good idea to coordinate your visit in advance. One that may interest you especially is the Atomium, so I will guide you a little in this post on how to buy tickets and what are the prices of this unique museum in Europe. In addition, you can also see the Museum of the City of Brussels.

If instead you need information on more extended itineraries, you can also consult my guide on 2-day itinerary in Brussels, 3-day itinerary in Brussels or 4-day itinerary in Brussels by the city of Brussels.