Experience the best of Brussels with Withlocals

Visit the many historic sites

You can’t hold your head up high after having visited the city, if you have not seen its many historic sites. It’s one of the top things to do in Brussels! Everyone knows about Manneken Pis, a silly statue of a boy taking a leak, and you probably have heard of the Grand Place as well, Brussels’ main square. But there’s much more to see, like the impressive Palais de Justice, the super cozy Marché au Poisson and the grand Bourse, among other things.

The best way to explore Brussels’ historical center is with a local guide at your side. He will passionately tell you about the rich history of each square, building and statue (however silly it may be).

Wander around in Ixelles

Ask any Bruxellois in which district he’d love to live. The great majority will tell you Ixelles. Ixelles is a great place to have fun, shop and go out. The historic center is where all typical sights are (and where all tourists go to), but Ixelles is where the real life happens. The alternating houses, shops, cafes, restaurants and parks will make you feel right at home!

Enjoy Tenbosch Park, a little Garden of Eden in the midst of the city hustle, let your inner shopaholic out on the Chausée d’Ixelles, and don’t forget to visit the Flagey square where you can stare up at the remarkable Flagey building.

Discover Brussels at night

Going out should definitely be on your things to do in Brussels list! Its nightlife is so much fun! If you just want to grab a beer, you can go to one of Brussels’ many cafes or beer cellars, like Delirium which offers over 100 beers. Perhaps you would rather go out to listen to live music. This is no problem, either!

The Jazz scene, in particular, is a true must in Belgium’s capital. Places like L’Archiduc, Jazz Station and Sounds Jazz Club make Chicago or New Orleans seem bleak in comparison! And if you want to go clubbing, there are many options as well. Whether you like house, electro, techno, pop, latin, hip hop or drum ‘n bass: you’ll be dancing the night away!

Have a stroll down Brussels’ most popular shopping street

Get your shopping on in Avenue Louise, by far the most prestigious shopping street in Brussels. Designer stores like Chanel, Vuitton, Christian Dior, Gianni Versace and Giorgio Armani are dispersed over the 2 miles-long lane. But there are also cheaper brands like Superdry and MaxMara.

Even if you don’t feel like shopping, walking on the Avenue Louise is one of the top things to do in Brussels. Next to clothing stores, it has several other sights, like the Horta Museum, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Marie-Louise square and the Serendip Spa. The best way to explore the neighborhood around Avenue Louise is with a local by your side! He will inform you about all the interesting things to do and help you talk to the personnel in the stores.

Visit the European quarter and act like you own the place

The European quarter, the part of Brussels where all the European institutions are based, is filled with men in suits: diplomats, lobbyists, politicians, and all other sorts of important people. But don’t be intimidated. They’re just people like us!

The European quarter is a place tourists don’t usually go to, but there’s much more to do and see than people imagine! Its clean streets are flooded with neat little bars and restaurants. Ask your guide to lead you the way past the impressive works of architecture to the nicest places to eat and drink.

Visit Brussels’ awesome museums

Brussels has a lot of unique museums! The popular Musical Instruments Museum, for instance, which locals frequent for the rooftop bar. Two other musts are the Horta Museum and the Clock museum, both of which will make you familiar with Art Deco and its predecessor, Art Nouveau. And if you’re into paintings, the recently renovated René Magritte Museum is among the top things to do in Brussels!

Seriously, the city is all about museums. Some of them are pretty random, but most of them are awesome! Tell your local guide about your interests and he will let you know which ones are perfect for you.

Go on a comic book tour

Belgium, Brussels in particular, is famous for its comics. Everyone knows Tintin, written by the late Hergé, but there are many, many more! For this reason, a comic book tour should definitely be on your things to do in Brussels list! Look at the many comic book murals spread over the city, and visit the Belgian Center for Comic Strip Art. If you’re a fan of Tintin, visiting the Hergé Museum and the Tintin shop is an absolute must!

Have a comics-crazy private local guide at your side to direct you to all the amazing murals in Brussels and babble away about the history of comics and graphic novels.

Explore the Brussels canal district

If you’re looking for a true authentic experience, exploring Brussels canal district is among the top things to do! The canal district used to be an industrial area with widespread poverty, few public spaces, and unemployment. Now, the ugly duckling has become a swan! The peculiar Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art based inside an old brewery, the urban beach where locals come to enjoy a game of beach volley in the summer, the yearly Brussels Canal Run, the small, environmentally conscious Belvue Hotel. These are just a few of the district’s many attractions. Come and check it out with your local host!