Best Free Things to Do in Brussels

If you don’t want to spend money on museums in Brussels and you think the buildings are enough for us, here’s a list of free things to do in Brussels to stay on a budget.

Visit the Atomium, the symbol of Brussels

Built for Expo’58, the Atomium is a magnified version of an atomic particle. One day it became the symbol of Brussels. Today it is the most visited spot in Brussels. The entrance is expensive, you don’t have to go inside. The Atomium and its surroundings are a good place to spend time, it’s always busy.

Stroll through Cinquantenaire Park

Cinquantenaire Park is a historic area with a triumphal arch and a collection of surrounding buildings, and admission is free. Built by King Leopold II for the 50th anniversary of Belgium, the park houses several main museums, but you don’t have to enter them. It is also pleasant to walk around the buildings in nature.

See the remains of the city walls surrounding Brussels

Brussels used to be protected by city walls and entrances to the city were through gates between the walls. This made it easier to control passage and keep an eye on what was happening outside the city. Today, the city walls are gone, but you can still see the remains of the city walls and the surviving gateways. Some of them are still visible, even though they are hidden by buildings.

See the sculptures that add color to the city

Sculptures are decorative elements that add value to cities. Mannaken Pis, one of the symbols of Brussels, and other similar sculptures, sculptures that have an important place in the city’s past in the city squares are among the historical artifacts that can be seen for free. There are many statues and monuments in the city.

Explore Brussels’ Old Town

The Old Town square of Brussels is the Grand Place, where the Brussels City Museum and the city hall are located. The gold-plated buildings are beautifully illuminated at night. If you come across it, it turns into a colorful square during flower carpet laying, Christmas, Easter and various festivals.

Enter cathedrals all over the city

In and around Old Town, you will definitely see cathedrals and basilicas reflecting the Gothic style. Due to their structure, they make for great photographs. The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, The Church of Our Lady or the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the fifth largest church in the world, are worth seeing. Moreover, since these are religious buildings, you can enter them for free, except for special sections.

For lovers of the Far East, visit the Chinese house and the Japanese tower

Another point I recommend you to see in the city is the Far Eastern buildings in Parc de Laeken. Both of these buildings were built by King Leopold II and later served as a Far Eastern museum. However, since they are not open to visitors today, they can only be seen from the outside. If you are interested in the Far East and have time to spend in Brussels, I recommend it.

See the European Parliament Building, the heart of politics

In Brussels, the capital of Europe, you can see the European Parliament Building, where important political meetings and negotiations take place, and you can walk around Leopold Square.

Find peace in Brussels parks

If you want to get away from the crowds of the city, take a breather and roll in the grass, there are several green spaces around Brussels. You can spend some time in Bois de la Cambre, one of the oldest parks in the south of Brussels, or Parc de Laeken, located between the Atomium and the Japanese Chinese houses. Both of these parks are large and far away from the hustle and bustle of the city.