If you are travelling to Brussels in Belgium and the budget is tight, here are a few free things you can do and still come away enriched by the culture and vibrancy of this cosmopolitan place.
1. Admire art on the comics strip route – images from various famous Belgian comic book series such as Tintin, Smurfs, Lucky Luke and many others.
The Belgians seem to really love their comic strips and so do we!
Comic strip art displayed on the buildings in Brussels.
Comic strip art emerging in unexpected places in Brussels.
2. Chill out and hide from the hectic city pace in one of the city’s parks
There are numerous beautiful parks to sit around in, Botanical Garden, Royal Park, also known as Brussels Park, are all located right in the city centre, easily accessible on foot.
Botanical Garden in Brussels.
Beautiful green spaces near the Royal Library.
3. Admire flower displays in Grand Place, if you are so lucky as to visit when such a festival is on.
The day before I left I caught a glimpse of what the Grand Place will look like for the following four days of floral celebrations.
Needless to say, I felt my timing was all off.
4. Hang around Grand Place and admire the jewels of Flemish architecture.
The lavishly decorated guildhalls and the Town Hall are truly impressive, their style is different from what you’ll see in many European capitals.
Before visiting Brussels I read all sorts of guides extolling the beauty of Grand Place architecture. With all that excitement one starts wondering if this is a bit of an exaggeration...
...but actually it’s not.
It really is an impressive backdrop for your pictures and excursions.
5. Have fun taking pictures of sculptures and other art in the city.
There are so many surprises lurking around the corners of this creative city, so have your camera ready!
6. Persuade your fellow travelers to participate in some street activities such as playing pétanque or table tennis.
It seems the facilities are there for everyone to use.
If you are traveling on your own, it might be a good place to strike up a conversation with people enjoying themselves and join in the fun.
7. Go window shopping in the oldest covered shopping arcade in Europe – Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert.
Admire some inspiring art and jewellery, chocolate shops and luxury goods. There are some lovely cafes to lounge about in and taste some truly exquisite chocolate creations.
Image from Wikipedia.
8. Visit a museum – Brussels is a place with many.
And the best news is there are many museums that are always free and some are free on certain days. For an exhaustive list, click here
9. Pop into a church or a cathedral.
Chances are you’ll discover some really interesting historic, architectural and artistic gems.
Besides, it’s a perfect hide away from the sun or, more importantly, from the rain, which is frequent in Belgium, I’ve heard.
10. Practise your French.
I know, I know, it’s not exactly for everyone, but…, after all, it’s a francophone country.
Bon voyage!
Travel Brussels, enjoy your life!
Do you have any free activities to add to this list? If so, leave a comment below.
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