Brussels
Brussels is the closest foreign capital for travellers from the Netherlands: Eurostar or Thalys takes you from Amsterdam in just 1 hour and 52 minutes, return from 25 euros. The Grand Place, Atomium, Europe's finest chocolate and hundreds of beer varieties await. Updated 18 September 2026.
🚆 Plan your trip to Brussels →Brussels combines everything a perfect city trip needs: UNESCO heritage (the Grand Place), iconic architecture (the Atomium), Europe's richest chocolate culture and over 400 beer varieties. It is a bilingual city (French and Dutch, officially also German) with a cosmopolitan character as the heart of EU institutions.
Want the best balance between price and weather? Choose May or September. Want festive atmosphere? The Christmas market on the Grand Place (November to early January) is one of Europe's finest. Winter is also low season: hotels up to 40 percent cheaper outside the Christmas period.
Top 5 attractions in Brussels
- Grand Place The Grand Place is one of the most beautiful town squares in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Surrounded by Gothic and Baroque guild houses and the Town Hall (entrance free). Tip: also visit the nearby Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, a neo-Gothic covered shopping arcade from 1847 with chocolatiers and bookshops.
- Atomium The iconic steel structure built for the 1958 World Expo represents an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. Entrance 17 euros for adults. Combine with neighbouring Mini-Europe (entrance 21.70 euros) where you can find 300 European landmarks in miniature.
- Belgian Comic Strip Centre Comics are part of Belgium's heritage: Tintin, the Smurfs and Lucky Luke were born here. The museum is housed in a beautiful Art Nouveau building and features original drawings and the history of Belgian comics. Entrance 10 euros adults, 6 euros students and seniors.
- Manneken Pis and surroundings The world's most famous small statue stands a short walk from the Grand Place. On special days it wears one of its 1,000+ costumes. Free to visit. Nearby is the lesser-known Jeanneke Pis (also free).
- Chocolate and beer Brussels has more chocolatiers per square kilometre than any other city. Sample pralines at Neuhaus (Galeries Royales), Pierre Marcolini or a local chocolatier. For beer, head to a traditional cafe on the Grand Place or the Delirium Cafe, which stocks over 3,000 beer varieties.
Getting to and around Brussels
Brussels is easiest to reach by train. Eurostar and Thalys depart from Amsterdam Centraal to Brussels-South (Bruxelles-Midi) in 1 hour 52 minutes, return from 25 euros when booked in advance. From Eindhoven, an IC train via Antwerp reaches Brussels-Central in about 2 hours 30 minutes.
In the city, use the metro, tram or bus operated by STIB/MIVB. A single journey costs 2.70 euros with a MOBIB card or 2.90 euros with a paper ticket. A Brupass day pass costs 9.50 euros for unlimited travel across all three regions. Brussels-South is a 15-minute walk from the Grand Place.
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Frequently asked questions about a Brussels city trip
How do I get cheaply from the Netherlands to Brussels?
From Amsterdam Centraal, the Eurostar or Thalys runs to Brussels-South (Midi) in 1 hour 52 minutes, return from 25 euros when booked early via NS International or Eurostar. From Eindhoven, an IC train via Antwerp takes about 2 hours 30 minutes and costs less than 40 euros return. KLM flies from Schiphol to Brussels Airport (BRU) in about 50 minutes, but once you count airport time, the train is almost always faster and cheaper for a city trip.
What is the best time to visit Brussels?
May and September are ideal: pleasant weather (18-22 degrees), fewer tourists than the summer peak and lower hotel prices. The Christmas market on the Grand Place (November to early January) is also highly recommended. Avoid July and August for a quieter and cheaper visit.
Is Brussels expensive for a city trip?
Brussels is quite affordable. Budget hotel in the city centre from 55 euros per night. Day transport pass 9.50 euros. Lunch in a local brasserie 12-18 euros. Atomium 17 euros, Belgian Comic Strip Centre 10 euros. A full weekend exploring comes to roughly 150-220 euros per person for activities, excluding transport.
What are the absolute must-dos in Brussels?
Visit the Grand Place (free, UNESCO World Heritage), the Atomium (17 euros), the Belgian Comic Strip Centre (10 euros) and walk through the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert. Try Belgian pralines from a craft chocolatier and drink a Trappist beer in a traditional cafe. Everything is walkable or a short metro ride apart.
How do I get around Brussels?
By metro, tram and bus operated by STIB/MIVB. A single journey costs 2.70 euros with a MOBIB card or 2.90 euros with a paper ticket. A Brupass day pass costs 9.50 euros for unlimited travel across all three regions. Brussels-South (the Thalys/Eurostar station) is a 15-minute walk from the Grand Place.