Belgium
Brussels
Belgian capital; 1–2 nights for art, architecture and beer. This guide pulls together 4 sights, 1 outdoor spot and 2 places to eat from our curated routes.
- Places
- 10
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Apr – Jun, Sep
- Warmest month
- July
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- August
4 See · 1 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 2 Drink · 1 Shop
Amsterdam to Bruges by Rail
from our route notes
24°C / 75°F avg high
5°C / 42°F avg high
about 79 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Brussels
10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
4 sights worth building a day around across Centre, Mont des Arts and Saint-Gilles.
Photo: Celuici · CC BY-SA 4.0SeeGrand-Place
Square lined with gilded guildhalls and the Gothic town hall.
Tip Return at night when it is lit up.
Photo: EmDee · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Luke Tsekouras · Google
Photo: Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer) · CC BY 4.0
Outdoors
1 outdoor spot for fresh air in European Quarter.
Photo: casino10 casino102 · Google
Eat
Where we would book a table in Brussels across Etterbeek and Centre.
Photo: Maison Antoine · Google
Photo: Maison Dandoy - Grand Place · Google
Drink
Our picks for a drink in Brussels in Centre.
Photo: Rroemers · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Kyungsin Kim · Google
Shop
Markets and shops worth the detour in Centre.
Photo: iMahesh · CC BY-SA 4.0
How to fit Brussels into a trip
Brussels is stop 2 of 4 on our Amsterdam to Bruges by Rail route. Follow it as-is or lift Brussels into your own plan.
Stop 2 of 4
Amsterdam to Bruges by Rail
Canals, Flemish art and Belgian beer
- Trip length
- 8 days
- Best season
- Apr – Jun, Sep
- Pace
- easy
Getting here and onward
- Brussels to GhentGhent is about 50 km / 31 mi away in a straight line
- Amsterdam to BrusselsAmsterdam is about 173 km / 107 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Brussels month by month
Average daily highs run from 5°C / 42°F in January to 24°C / 75°F in July. August is the wettest month, with about 79 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan5° / 42°F average high
- Feb7° / 44°F average high
- Mar10° / 51°F average high
- Apr15° / 59°F average high, in our recommended season
- May19° / 65°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jun22° / 71°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jul24° / 75°F average high
- Aug23° / 74°F average high
- Sep20° / 68°F average high, in our recommended season
- Oct15° / 60°F average high
- Nov10° / 50°F average high
- Dec6° / 43°F average high
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Brussels weather and the best time to visit →
Near Brussels
8 other destinations from our guides within about 300 km (186 mi), measured in a straight line.
Brussels questions, answered
How many days do you need in Brussels?
Our route notes suggest 1–2 nights in Brussels. On our Amsterdam to Bruges by Rail route it is stop 2 of 4 in a 8-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 10 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Brussels best known for?
Belgian capital; 1–2 nights for art, architecture and beer. Standouts on our list: Grand-Place (Square lined with gilded guildhalls and the Gothic town hall); Magritte Museum (Large collection of René Magritte's surrealist works); Horta Museum (Victor Horta's Art Nouveau home and studio).
When is the best time to visit Brussels?
Our Amsterdam to Bruges by Rail route is best Apr – Jun, Sep. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (24°C / 75°F), the coolest in January (5°C / 42°F) and the most rain in August (about 79 mm).
What are the best things to do in Brussels?
Start with Grand-Place, Magritte Museum, Horta Museum, Atomium and Parc du Cinquantenaire. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 4 sights, 1 outdoor spot, 2 places to eat, 2 bars & cafés and 1 shop.
Where should a group eat in Brussels?
Our picks: Maison Antoine (Etterbeek); Maison Dandoy (Centre).
What is near Brussels?
The closest destinations in our guides are Ghent (about 50 km / 31 mi), Bruges (about 88 km / 55 mi) and Amsterdam (about 173 km / 107 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Brussels with your crew
Open the Amsterdam to Bruges by Rail route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.