11 Authentic + Free Things to do in Brussels, Belgium
The best list of free things to do in Brussels, Belgium; Europe’s cosmopolitan centre.
After trying all the fries, waffles and beers Brussels has got to offer, you may not have much money left. Do not despair, and most of all don’t go yet, because there are still many things you can do for free in Brussels.
Without making you wait any longer, here are 11 of our favourite free activities in Brussels.
Marvel at the Architecture of Grand Place
So you’ve booked the trip. You’ve arrived and googled ‘what to see in Brussels?’ It’s likely the first result is The Grand Place.
The Grand Place is one of the jewels of Brussels and is known for its decorative and aesthetic wealth. Did you know that The Grand Place is a UNESCO World Heritage Listed site?
The square is surrounded by guild houses, the City Hall and the Maison du Roi. And all year round different free events take place here, such as the Christmas market, the floral carpet, the beer festival and many more.
Take a Free Walking Tour
Looking for fun things to do in Brussels? Several organizations offer free walking tours in Brussels. The best free walking tours in Brussels are run by Guruwalk, but there is also Viva’s Tours and Sandemans. These walking tours are led by young volunteers who like to share their passion for Brussels with visitors.
They won’t bore you with long historical stories and architectural details, but they will give you some basic information about historical places and complete it with fun facts, anecdotes, and suggestions on the best bars and restaurants in town.
If you like the tour, you’re free to tip your guide, but what you give is totally up to you. This is the best way to do a Brussels sightseeing tour!
Seek Out the Best Spots to Watch the Sunset
One of the best free things to do in Brussels? WATCH A SUNSET!! Brussels has some beautiful viewpoints that are especially interesting at sunset. Some places you might want to try are Place Poelaert for a panoramic view of the city. You can even see the Atomium in the distance.
If you come from the lower Marolles district, you can get here by taking the free public elevator.
Another nice viewpoint is Mont des Arts, which offers one of the most iconic views over the city centre, over which the town hall tower peaks out.
In Park du Cinquantenaire it is nice to sit by the monumental triple arch in the centre of the park. At sunset, the sun will go down through one of the arches.
Whichever place you pick, bring some wine (and your date?) and enjoy the view.
Visit Free Museums
If you are looking for free attractions in Brussels, several museums are free on the first Sunday of the month. If you’d happen to be around on those days, check out the Brussels Museums website in the FAQ section to find out which ones.
To name a few, some of the most famous museums you can visit for free are the Musical Instruments Museum located in an authentic art nouveau building, the Old Masters Museum which features works of famous painters such as Reubens, Bosch and Breughel, and the Museum of Natural History with large dinosaur skeletons.
All in all, around 30 museums are free once a month. Another 30 (lesser-known) museums are free to visit at all times. You’ll know what to do on rainy afternoons.
Get a Free Guide and Great Tips from ‘Use-It’
The city maps created by USE-IT are really interesting. They are not only practical but they are also written with a pinch of humour. You would read them even if you’re not in Brussels!
The USE-IT map offers a bunch of great suggestions on where to eat, drink and shop, and also features a few walking trails in the city centre and the surrounding districts. Their office is situated in the Ravensteingallerij 25.
Feel free to ask them about what’s happening in town that evening. If they don’t organize something themselves, they are always up to date about the latest events in Brussels.
Cartoon Walk
In Belgium, comic books are so popular that huge murals depicting cartoon characters are decking the walls of many Brussels buildings. You can find them all over town, although a majority are situated in the Brussels pentagon.
This project started in the nineties when the city decided to remove ugly commercial posters, which resulted in giant empty walls. In order to embellish those blind walls, large murals depicting characters and authors of the Franco-Belgian comics scene now brighten up the city.
Today, more than 60 comic strip murals adorn the walls. There is a Comic Book Route you can follow to explore them all.
Definitely one of the coolest things to do in Brussels for free.
Explore the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert Arcade
Exploring some of the gorgeous shopping arcades is one of the best free things to do in Belgium. Luckily in Brussels, visitors can visit the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert at absolutely no cost. Designed and built in 1846 and 1847, this covered arcade is lined with beautiful historic decor.
Nowadays, the Galeries Yoales Saint-Hubert is full of boutiques, museums, restaurants and cafes. It is the perfect place to stroll around, window-shop and take some cool photos, all without spending a dime!
Find the Three Pee-Themed Statues
Probably one of the more unique things to do in Brussels is hunting down these wee statues! Many will know the famous fountain statue of the peeing little boy called Manneke Pis, but did you know there are two other peeing statues? (Spoiler: it’s really not that big, so don’t get your expectations up).
There is also a peeing girl, Jeanneke Pis, who is squatting by the famous beer bar Delirium which claims to serve more than 2.000 beers from all around the world.
The other one is a peeing dog, called Zinneke. He’s the hardest one to find.
Have a Picnic in the Park
A nice thing about Brussels is that you never have to go far to find a park, many of which are really intriguing to explore. Parc Botanique, for example, could be considered the little brother of Central Park in New York, being a green city lung surrounded by an impressive skyscraper skyline.
Parc du Cinquantenaire is a big park with big arcades in the middle. In Summer, many free events are taking place here as well, such as free yoga or aerobics classes, perfect if you have your own yoga mat.
Parc de Forest and Parc Duden are more elevated so that from there, you can get nice views over the lower part of Brussels dominated by the dome of the Palais the Justice.
Grab a Free Concert in Summer
In Summer there are so many free events, meaning it’ll be a daily dilemma to decide which one to pick. Most of them are spontaneous events, such as concerts, workshops or open-air movie screenings. But some have become traditions that take place every year.
The Brussels Jazz Weekend in May is a new free festival that gives jazz fans the opportunity to enjoy live music in the open air and in many venues and bars. The festival always happens at other times of the year, so make sure you check their site for up-to-date information.
During the annual Fête de la Musique in June, free concerts take place all over the city in public squares and in parks.
The free music festival in Brussels Boterhammen in Het Park (literally; ‘sandwiches in the park’) offers free concerts in the park facing the Royal Palace.
Go to an Open-Air Graffiti Exposition
Very few people know about the existence of this special place in Anderlecht. Somewhat tucked away under a random viaduct, some talented graffiti artists have been at work and they have transformed the pillars supporting the viaduct into a big open-air art gallery.
This atypical exposition will never be the same, as new graffiti appears all the time. One of the highlights is the portrait of Stromae, a Belgian singer-songwriter, famous for his electronic music. (You might know his song ‘Alors on danse’?)
Visit The European Parliament
The European Parliament is arguably the most iconic landmark in Brussels and visitors can explore the place completely for free! Visitors can learn about the history of the European Union without paying a penny! However, for security reasons, you must reserve your spot for the tour ahead of time on their official site!
Gather Free Food at Marché du Midi
Every Sunday, a weekly general market takes place around Gare du Midi station. It’s a huge market and a good place for grocery shopping since everything is so cheap. One of the stalls also serves a delicious brunch formula: large, stuffed Moroccan pancakes with fresh mint tea for no more than 5 Euros.
But you can also gather a bunch of food for free if you come by the end of the market around 2 pm. When the vendors prepare to leave, they don’t want to take all their unsold goods back home, so all the fruit and vegetables that don’t look “perfect” anymore are left behind.
They’re still perfectly fine to eat, though. Bring a large trolley and start hunting. If you’re good at scavenging, you might gather enough free food for an entire week.
BEST CHEAP PLACES TO STAY IN BRUSSELS
This is the ultimate list of the best cheap hotels in Brussels, Belgium. If you’re visiting Brussels on a budget, these are the cheapest and best places to stay!
B&B DRUUM
Do you like your accommodation to have so much character, that the place will stay on your mind forever? B&B DRUUM is one of those places! Set within a well-preserved mansion dating back to 1850, each space is intricately designed with modern mixed with an old industrial feel. The beds are large and so comfortable you’ll never want to leave them. Staff stay on-site 24/7 and whip you up an elaborate breakfast each morning. A quiet place to stay that is only a minute’s walk to bars, restaurants and cafes within the city centre.
CHECK PRICESB&B Villa 36
A seriously high-rated B&B that is as close to the centre of Brussels as you can possibly get, and for a great price too. Rooms are set within a simple but well thought out stylish 19th Century townhouse. The hostess is an architect, and her taste is spread throughout the building. An excellent continental breakfast is shared each morning around a large table with interesting fellow guests. Bathrooms are sparkling clean with toiletries included and a lovely sunny terrace for guests to enjoy.
CHECK PRICESFunKey Hotel
Aside from the spacious, modern and unique rooms, the awesome games room packed with things to keep everyone occupied and the free parking spaces, there’s another big reason you’ll want to stay at FunKey Hotel… Free beer! That’s right, this hotel provides free beer, tea, coffee, soda and all-day snacks. There’s also WiFi throughout, a free buffet and vegetarian breakfast and a quaint outdoor garden to enjoy. Plus it’s only a couple of kilometres from the city centre of Brussels!
CHECK PRICESAny questions about what to do in Brussels?
Be sure to explore all that this cosmopolitan city has to offer and check out a few of the free things to do in Brussels that are on this list!
Please comment on this post if you have any questions about what to do in Belgium, or read our FAQs below!
Free Things to Do Brussels FAQs
Brussels, similar to the rest of Belgium, is very expensive. When it comes to your daily budget, most of it is going to be spent on food and attractions. Budget hostels are available in Brussels, but they still cost more than 20 euros a night. While there are many free and cheap things to do in Brussels to lower your cost, you will still need to have a strong budget to explore the city enjoyably.
The best time to visit Brussels is during the shoulder seasons, between the months of March and May and September and October. During this time, the weather is nice enough to enjoy the city comfortably. You will also avoid the peak summer crowds, which means fewer tourists and cheaper prices.
One or two days are enough to explore Brussels. Most of its attractions are concentrated in the city centre and getting around is easy. It is also nice to spend your time in other small towns and cities in Belgium like Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges!
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Sophie Lenoir
Sophie has been diagnosed with a serious travel bug infection. Among the symptoms are restlessness and dreaminess when deprived of travel. Pictures of beautiful places she cannot immediately go to provoke grumpiness and moodiness. The doctor said writing would help. The result of that therapy is a blog full of travel stories, tips and inspirations. She tells about her travels around the world on her blog Everything Brussels, but mainly focuses about the fun things happening in her hometown Brussels.
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