Things to Do in Brussels
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Flea & Street Markets
Artisan market in the city's heart showcasing handcrafted jewelry, ceramics, and textiles. Enjoy cultural immersion amid friendly local vendors and unique finds.
This attraction description was created by AI, using information and phrases commonly found in reviews users submitted to Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor did not create and is not responsible for this description. Please read full traveler reviews for more details and information. If you believe something in this AI-generated description is inaccurate, please share your feedback.
Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings
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Architectural Buildings • Monuments & Statues
Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Shopping Malls
Architectural Buildings • Religious Sites
What travelers are saying
- Thomas VOakland, CA19,484 contributionsWe passed by here in cabs and in a tram. Big impressive gardens in front of a palace, suitable for a king. Close to the Lower Town, right in the center of things.Written December 7, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Freddie BCoalville, UK206 contributionsThis statue is the final instalment in the Brussels trio of urinating statues, which overall is underwhelming. This one was what I expected from the statues overall. The dog could have a water feature like the other staues, but overall, this is quite a comedic statue to seemWritten October 5, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Discover4959400281416 contributionsWe had a nice talk with Daniel and Marta from made in BXL.com and they sell handcrafted statues and toys with a wink :)
Daniel is making this by 3D printing and from own designs.Written October 12, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - TrainbleuBrussels, Belgium40,252 contributionsWe visited Woluwe Shopping Center in July (school holidays in Belgium), which may explain why it was so quiet, despite the fact that summer sales were in full swing. Covid-19 may also have played a role as many people tend to avoid crowded places these days. When it was created in 1968 the shopping mall was the first of its kind in Belgium. Since then, it has been enlarged and refurbished several times and, today, it doesn’t look different from any other mall and you’ll find all the usual suspects. But we did find an unfiltered olive oil we had been looking for everywhere at an Italian Specialty Shop (‘Spécialités italiennes’). There are several pleasant places to have a bite or a drink; the loos were clean. Maybe due to the glass roof of the central hall - a nice feature in itself – it was a bit too hot inside on a warm summer day.
Tram 8 (stop Woluwe Shopping) left us opposite the mall. Metro station Roodebeek on line 1 is accessible from inside the mall.
Reading the reviews, we were amazed Flemish (Belgian) reviewers have been allowed to rant against and even insult French speaking shop assistants and to compare this mall to others, so much better, in Flanders (and even in Germany!). Isn’t that supposed to be against TA rules?Written August 9, 2021This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Alex DavidLondon, UK220 contributionsI visited the Marolles Flea Market in the Place Jeu de Balle at the end of August 2019. The market is easily accessible in a square midway between the Brussels Midi Station and the Palais de Justice (do use Google maps to orient yourself as there are several roads leading up to it.) It was a Friday morning and the place was fairly busy with vendors spread all over the square. In many respects this is an average flea market with just a few quirks thrown in: piles of clothes laid on the pavement, a bunch of broken up dolls all stacked together, a few mannequins creatively displayed. It is no different from many other flea markets you will find in Europe, from London to Palermo. In one respect, however, it was very different: the dozens of photo albums and hundreds of personal photos laid out on the pavement for sale.
It was very unnerving to see all these images from individual lives packed in cardboard boxes, or in some cases just strewn on cobblestones, being sold to strangers. What became of these people's lives? It was very obvious that many of the items being sold, including these photos, came from house clearances following someone's death. It made you think how alone these people must have been when they passed away not to have anyone in their lives to collect their photos before their belongings were given away. What made it even more heartbreaking was that some of the photo albums on sale were lovingly hand-decorated and annotated with personal memories: now they were being skimmed and passed over quickly by strangers looking for something valuable to buy for a bargain. I felt like buying all these photos to rescue them from the trashbin where a lot of them were likely destined to end up.
I understand that sights like these are common to flea markets all over the world, but the sheer numbers of the albums and photos for sale made Marolles a very sad, memorable experience for me. If you ever visit this market, do me a favor: buy just a few photos to honor the lives of the people whose memories are lost there. But for the grace of God, that could happen to any of us.Written February 24, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Bevans42 contributionsBrilliant exhibitions being shown, a great collection of modern and historic art.
We attended one modern are exhibition, and photographic exhibition on the Harlem area scene in the late 80s, and a collection of historic paintings owned by the Medici family of Florence.
Friendly helpful staff and a lovely venueWritten June 20, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Sinead B20 contributionsThis was a rather interesting museum. Not a whole lot to see, but a good way to spend an hour. The staff are lovely and friendly. The chocolatier was just amazing. He answered all our questions and gave us quite a few free tasters. The shop is cute with a good choice of chocolate options from around the world. However, the cafe was pretty lackluster. I would recommend it, and the chocolates were truly delicious!Written October 29, 2021This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Joseph MGharb, Malta125 contributionsThis is located in central area of Brussels and ideal for a walk in busy city. Also recommended to read a book and relax on a bench in this garden. Could be busy at times. Attention also to sun as there are no shady areas and can be very hot in summer time. Good place for a photo from the stairs in front of the garden.Written June 29, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- GeorgeThessaloniki, Greece10 contributionsGreat experience, took many photos. Belgians are nice, happy people and help you with everything. Hope to visit that central location again this time with my wife and kidsWritten July 15, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- LeonhknyHong Kong, China23,939 contributionsThis is a small church in downtown Brussels. In contrast to the hordes of tourists at the Grand Place or Manneken Pis, Eglise St-Nicolas is a peaceful place for spiritual self-reflection. Interior is simple. Great for a short rest while exploring the Belgian capital.Written June 12, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- James ELondon, UK85 contributionsThis is a great way to spend an evening. The tour is very friendly and has lots of interesting insights into the Beer Project’s history and sustainable credentials. You get a welcome drink at the start, glass of Lambic in the middle, and four small glasses of beer at the end. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in town.Written February 17, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Kawaii DThe Netherlands251 contributionsIt is just infront of the museum (that I also liked a lot). Even if you dont go inside the museum, you are still able to see it.Written May 15, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- LeonhknyHong Kong, China23,939 contributionsWhile the nineteen municipalities of Brussels have different cultures and characteristics, Saint-Gilles is a better one. In contrast to the somehow sketchy downtown, this is a pleasant area to explore with many cafes and restaurants. It is also well known for architecture with some of the city's handsome buildings scattered around the neighborhood. Do spend some time here.Written June 13, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Alex DavidLondon, UK220 contributionsI had the opportunity to visit this church at a very special time: one of the few days during the year when the Royal Crypt is open for visiting. Our Lady of Laeken holds the tombs of every Belgian king and queen who have reigned in the country since it became independent in 1830. In truth, this only comes up to five monarchs buried there (two are still living) but the crypt was still very interesting.
King Leopold I, the founder of the dynasty, has a large tomb in the middle of the space, while the other kings and their spouses share single sarcophaguses near the walls (or in the case of Leopold III, three people share a single sarcophagus since he is buried with both his wives). I was struck by how pomp-less and unpretentious the crypt looked, not at all what you would expect from a place where kings are buried. There was, in fact, something quite homely about it, especially the fact that tombs had small frames over them containing black-and-white photos of the king or queen buried within it, just as you would find in many Catholic cemeteries in Europe.
The rest of the church, built in the 19th century, is pretty both on the inside and the outside, though there is not a great deal else to see. Getting there is straightforward. You can either walk for 10 minutes from the Bockstael Metro station, or walk down from Laeken Park. I recommend the first option as it's quicker.
Coming to see the church when the Royal Crypt is open is a bit more of a challenge. Generally, the yearly opening days are posted on the website of the Belgian monarchy, but sometimes they disappear from there as well, and when they are up they don't tell you at which times on the selected days the crypt is open (I first arrived in the morning only to find out the church was only going to be open in the afternoon). The church does not have an updated website so the exact days and times are only posted on the church's own doors! On top of that, when I visited a notice inside seemed to give additional 'secret' days when the church was open on Saturdays. It all feels like visiting some secret Shangri La, but do not be discouraged. Do your research and you will not be disappointed when you visit. It really is a unique opportunity to see how Belgian kings and queens prefer to be buried as normal human beings.Written February 4, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - lynngaskinBath, UK84 contributionsThis place was just up the road from the hotel so I stumbled on it as I was walking up Rue di Royale. Has a great cafe just check opening times.They speak good English too! The garden are beautiful and fountain is working. Lots of interesting larger than life statues children will love.Written January 27, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
The above attraction descriptions were created by AI, using information and phrases commonly found in reviews users submitted to Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor did not create and is not responsible for any of the above attraction descriptions. Please read full traveler reviews for more details and information.
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