While the Belgian capital is one of the most expensive destinations in Europe, it somewhat makes up for this with the abundance of free things to do in Brussels, especially on the cultural front
We hope this list will inspire you so that if you ever make it there, no matter what your budget, there are still plenty of ways to experience Brussels for free.
Table des matières
The Grand-Place
Nothing is more free in Brussels than to stroll around a public square like the Grand-Place! This UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in the heart of the city and is famous for its many Gothic and Baroque buildings
At Christmas, enjoy the Winter Wonders light show at night, as well as a huge Christmas tree, and every year in August, see a huge carpet of flowers inside the Grote Markt!
To give you a complete overview of this magical place, we recommend you to go there at two times of the day of the day: during the day and at nightfall: during the day to see the to see the architectural details and at night to witness the lively life that reigns on the square!
Address : Grand-Place, 1000 Brussels
Website : http://www.brussel.be/
The Manneken Pis and its friends
The most bizarre tourist attraction in Brussels is undoubtedly the statue of a urinating boy, the Manneken Pis. Attracting crowds since 1619, most visitors are unaware that this small 60-centimeter high bronze sculpture is part of a small family predisposed to urinate in public!
There is also Jeanneke Pis, a little girl, and Zinneke, a dog. “Zinneke” is a Brussels slang term for a crossbred dog and is used as a symbol of the cosmopolitan and multicultural nature of the city.
Addresses: At the corner of Rue de and the rue du Chêne (Manneken Pis); 10-12 Impasse de la Fidélité (Jeanneke Pis); 35 rue des Chartreux (Zinneke Pis)
Site Internet : https://www.brussel.be/manneken-pis?_ga=2.54717667.97219390.1561566058-1522489991.1561566058
Visit the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels for free
Built in the French Gothic style and so named for its chapel dedicated to St. Michael and to house the relics of St. Gudule, the current structure of this cathedral dates back to the 15th century and took about 300 years to build
Inside, you will find stained glass windows, statues, paintings, an organ and a crypt that may contain the remains of St. Gudula with ancient Roman graffiti. Beneath the present church are the remains of a 10th century Romanesque church
Outside the cathedral is a square where you can sit on benches in the shade of acacias while admiring the facade of the building and its two towers that will remind some of the Parisian cathedral of Notre-Dame!
Address : Place Sainte-Gudule, 1000 Brussels
Website : http://www.cathedralisbruxellensis.be/
The Atomium
About 40 minutes by by public transport from downtown Brussels, we invite you to visit the to the Atomium, an incredible 102 meter high steel structure representing an atom of iron crystal an iron crystal atom magnified 165 million times! Good to know: the discovery of the interior of the monument is not free, but to admire it from the the esplanade below is really worth the detour!
Address: Square de square, 1020 Brussels
Website : http://www.atomium.be/
The Royal Galleries Saint-Hubert
Even if you don’t necessarily plan to do a lot of shopping when you visit Brussels, we still encourage you to visit the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, a Renaissance-style arcade built in the mid-1800s
With its glass roof, once called the “Brussels umbrella”, the building is worth a visit! Approximately 6 million visitors come to the Galleries each year to enjoy the stores that sell everything from clothes to diamonds to chocolate
The Royal Galleries also house restaurants, art galleries, a cinema and theaters.
Address: 5 Galerie du Roi, 1000 Brussels
Website: http: //www.grsh.be/
The Comic Book Trail
Walking around the center of Brussels, you will certainly come across at least one mural dedicated to a Belgian comic book hero!
Belgium has a rich comic book tradition, and classic paper heroes such as Lucky Luke, the Smurfs and Tintin all have Belgian roots. There are already more than 50 of these ninth-art-themed murals throughout the city, and new ones are added regularly
For comic book fans, we suggest you follow several routes around the city that follow a trail, and a map is available for only €1 in the tourist centers of Brussels.
Address: Mainly in downtown Brussels
Website: https: //www.bruxelles.be/parcours-bd
The Cinquantenaire Park
The Cinquantenaire Park was built in 1880 in honor of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Belgium’s independence. It is a large French-style park inside the city, surrounded by museums and filled with gardens with a large triumphal arch at its entrance
The park also hosts various festivities throughout the year, including concerts, fireworks and sporting events.
We strongly recommend that you take a walk walk around the park as it is a relaxing and peaceful place to get away from the the hustle and bustle of Brussels!
Address : Parc du Cinquantenaire, 1000 Brussels
Website: https: //visit.brussels/fr/place/Parc-du-Cinquantenaire
What to do for free in Brussels: visit the Parlementarium
Adjacent to the European Parliament, the Parlementarium museum is one of the few museums that are entirely free in Brussels! We suggest you visit it because it will inform you about the creation of the European Union as well as about the major stakes that this grouping of countries has faced
The playful and interactive exhibition makes its discovery captivating for visitors of all ages!
Address: 100 place du Luxembourg, 1050 Brussels
Website: https: //europarl.europa.eu/visiting/en/visitor-offer/brussels/parlamentarium
Free museums in Brussels (on certain days)
Brussels has many fascinating museums that we invite you to discover, and if you plan your visit well, you can enter them for free!
The Magritte Museum, the Musical Instruments Museum and the Natural Sciences Museum all have a free day during the first week of the month, either on Wednesday or Sunday
If these dates are not included in your stay in Brussels, don’t worry, because the city also has a number of museums that are always free. The most interesting of these are the Wiertz Museum, dedicated to the work of the Romantic painter Antoine Wiertz, and the sculpture garden of the Brussels annex of the University of Leuven
If you want to know exactly which museum offers free discovery days of their collections to its visitors, we recommend you to visit the website of the city of Brussels mentioned below.
Address: See different different addresses on the website below
Website : https://www.brusselsmuseums.be/fr/musees
The Mont des Arts
The Mont des Arts, or Kunstberg, is exactly as its name suggests: a hill dedicated to the arts. In this area, which separates the upper and lower parts of Brussels, visitors can experience almost any artistic activity imaginable
There is a lot to do in this area, but what we recommend you do is simply enjoy the view! The Geometric Garden and its view of downtown Brussels and the spire of the City Hall is one of the most popular places in the capital. It is a peaceful green space to relax in the heart of the busy city.
Address: Mont des Arts, 1000 Brussels
Website: https: //www.kunstberg.com/
Free festivals in Brussels
The city of Brussels hosts many free festivals and concerts every year. The season of free festivals begins around June 21, with the Fête de la Musique, which offers open-air performances throughout the city
In September, jazz lovers can enjoy the Saint-Jazz-Ten-Noode and in October, alternative music fans can attend the Nuit Blanche
The local Ancienne Belgique concert hall traditionally rounds out the summer vacations with two free festivals in the Royal Park, the magical Feërieën and the Belgian music-focused Boterhammen in Het Park.
Address: See different addresses on the website below
Website: https: //www.bruxelles.be/festivals-et-evenements-culturels
The Royal Palace
Although the Royal Palace of Is only open to the public during the summer months, it is one of the best things best things to do in Brussels for free during the high tourist season! during the high tourist season!
Although only a portion of the palace is open to the public, you can walk through many of the rooms and suites on a free tour
The royal family shows its support for the arts with a different cultural exhibition each year. You will even have the opportunity to admire in one of the rooms of the Palace, the Hall of Mirrors, a ceiling entirely covered with green beetle shells!
Address : 16 rue Brederode, 1000 Brussels
Website : https://www.monarchie.be/nl/patrimonium/koninklijk-paleis-te-brussel
The flea markets
One of the best things we suggest you do to really get a feel for modern Brussels is to visit a flea market
The city’s most famous flea market, filled with all kinds of second-hand items, is located on the Place du Jeu de Balle in the Marolles district, open every day from 7am to 2pm. As a bonus, it’s free to visit, so shopping at the flea market won’t cost you a cent! If something catches your eye, haggling is in order!
Address : Place du Jeu de Balle, 1000 Brussels
Website : https://marches.bruxelles.be/
The National Basilica of the Sacred Heart
The National Basilica of the Sacred Cœur is a place that we strongly suggest you to visit in Brussels! This superb religious building of Art Deco style dominates the koekelberg district. Some people find the interior austere, but they also say but also say that its modern stained glass windows are magnificent!
For a small fee, you can take the elevator to the take the elevator to the top of the dome of the basilica for an unprecedented view view of the city!
Address: Avenue du Pantheon, 1083 Brussels
Website: http: //www.basilicakoekelberg.be/documents/home.xml?lang=nl
The Green Walk
It is pleasant to cycle or walk this beautiful green trail through the most beautiful natural sites of the Belgian capital! The total length of the route is 60 km, but the layout is such that you can start your hike or bike anywhere along the way
Spanning the Brussels-Capital Region, the highlights of the route are the Sonian Forest, the landscaped gardens of the Tournay-Solvay Park and an impressive beech forest.
We strongly recommend that you the Green Walk in Brussels to see the capital from a completely different another angle!
Address : See on the website Internet
Website : https://environnement.brussels/thematiques/espaces-verts-et-biodiversite/la-promenade-verte
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