Curious things to do in Brussels
Author: Jools Stone
Brussels is often unfairly written off as a city of bureaucrats but there’s plenty going on if you know where to look. Once you’ve ticked off all the key sights make some time to take in some of these quirkier finds.
If you like to eat like a local, you'll love to scoff a waffle like a true Brusselsian
You’ll find these sinfully sweet squares of sugary goodness at waffle vans dotted around the city, but the best ones, called Liege waffles (or Luikse in Flemish), can be sampled at public parks and food markets. While all manner of toppings are available, including sprinkles, nuts and whipped cream, locals generally eat them with nothing but a light dusting of sugar. Grab a bench and tuck in.
Top tip: For some of the tastiest waffles in town, head to Maison Dandoy on the aptly named Rue au Beurre, where they’ve been dishing out waffles along with speculoos and biscuits since 1829.
If you like art, you'll love the peeing trio
Most travellers will make a beeline to check out the cheeky Manneken Pis statue but make sure you also spy his two companion pieces, the squatting female Jeanneke Pis (located in an alley off Rue des Bouchers) unveiled in 1987 by sculptor Denis-Adrien Debouvrie, and Het Zinneke installed in 1999 by sculptor Tom Frantzen, a urinating dog with its leg cocked against a Rue des Chartreux bollard.
Top tip: Zinneke means a ‘person of mixed origin’ and this spirit is best exemplified by the Zinneke Parade, a massive multi-cultural street party held every other year when the city explodes into life with a colourful procession full of floats, costumes and live music.
Holiday package prices shown exclude local taxes, fees and charges that may be payable at your accommodation. If applicable, these will be displayed in the price breakdown when booking.
If you like traditional pubs, you'll love to down a beer in a brown cafe
Belgium takes beer to new heights so stopping off for a glass or two in one of the city’s many brown cafes is a must-do. These storied institutions pack in punters at lively tables amid wood-panelled walls browned with tobacco smoke, where you can quaff a wide variety of Belgian beers, including monk-brewed Trappist beers, double-fermented gueuze lambics and even tart krieks (lambic beers fermented with sour Morello cherries).
Top tip: Although it’s undeniably touristy, you can’t go far wrong with Delirium cafe, which offers the world’s largest selection of beers on its menu: a whopping 2,000 brews and counting.
If you like history, you'll love to delve into Belgium’s dark past
In recent years, Belgium has begun to confront its colonial past, when it ruled over huge parts of Central Africa, including what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The vast African Museum in Tervuren makes an illuminating place to take in this history and later developments across the continent. Permanent collections cover landscapes and biodiversity, colonial history and independence, and rituals and ceremonies, while the crocodile room and rumba music corner are also well worth a look.
Top tip: Reach the museum via a charming vintage wooden tram which rattles its way past towering trees and stately mansions on Avenue de Tervuren.
If you like shopping, you'll love to hunt for bric-a-brac in a historic hip ‘hood
The former working-class neighbourhood of Les Marolles is now one the city’s hippest areas, and it’s also the place to come for some off-beat shopping. You’ll find plenty of curios at the Place du Jeu de Balle flea market where you may also hear traces of the old Brusseleer dialect from the stallholders. The nearby streets of Rue Haute and Rue Blaes also do a brisk trade in antiques and vintage clothes, giving you more chances to bag a bargain.
Top tip: The flea market is open 365 days a year from 6am – aim to get there early in the morning to snap up the best items.
Find inspiration in our travel articles
Europe’s most romantic cities
What is it that makes city breaks so romantic? Find a special corner of these romantic European cities to call your own. We've picked our top five – perfect whether you're in the first flush of romance, or celebrating an anniversary ending in '0'.
Alpine Lakes & Mountains
Picture yourself in an Alpine meadow with your feet in glacial meltwater and your face in the sun. The hills aren’t alive with the sound of music. You’ll more likely hear chattering hikers or the soft burr of a freewheeling bicycle. Holiday in the Alps in summer: they’re sublime.
Shake up your summer holiday
Whether you’re looking for Caribbean-style beaches closer to home or want to indulge in a hefty dose of culture without the crowds, these alternative escapes are guaranteed to make your summer sizzle.
Terms and conditions
- Flight only prices are updated every 24 hours and are accurate when published. Flights at these prices are limited and may sell out quickly.
- Package vacation prices (flight + hotel or flight + car) prices are updated every 24 to 48 hours and are accurate when published and may vary upon reaching subsequent pages. Availability may be extremely limited particularly during peak periods.
- Return fares displayed are the lowest adult return prices in the cabin specified including taxes, fees and carrier charges, based on a 7-day return journey.
- Package vacation prices (flight + hotel and flight + car) shown are in USD per person based on 2 adults sharing one room or one car and prices include taxes, fees and carrier charges unless otherwise specified. Flight + car prices based on drivers aged 30-70 years.
- Additional charges will be applied for payments made using a corporate credit card.
- Advertised fares are available on ba.com. Additional charges may apply if purchased through British Airways outlets or travel agents.
- Combine and save on Vacations: Guaranteed savings are only available when booking a Flight + Hotel or Flight + Car booking including one land product, it does not apply to a ‘Customise your trip’ vacation including more than one hotel and / or car.
- Standard British Airways terms and conditions apply.
1. Vacation Sale offers can be booked online at ba.com or through the British Airways call centre from January 6, 2026 and January 22, 2026 at 23:59 EST.
2. Vacation sale offers are valid on travel between January 6, 2026 and September 30, 2026. All travel must be completed by September 30, 2026. For travel from all British Airways operating airports in the US.
3. To qualify for the up to $400 discount per booking offer certain booking requirements must be met.
4. The savings are $50, $100, $200 or $400 and apply to new Vacation Package bookings only where a minimum spend is met:
a. Vacation Package bookings with a total cost of $8,000 per booking can save $400 per booking.
b. Vacation Package bookings with a total cost of $5,000 per booking can save $200 per booking.
c. Vacation Package bookings with a total cost of $3,000 per booking can save $100 per booking.
d. Vacation Package bookings with a total cost of $1,500 per booking can save $50 per booking.
5. The savings are per booking.
6. A Vacation Package booking means any booking including round trip flights and either a hotel, car or combination of both for the duration of the travel period. Hotels/cars added to flights only after a flight has been selected or booked will not be eligible. To be eligible for savings, we invite you to choose ‘Flight + hotel’ or ‘Flight + car’ when commencing a search. Quotes in our ‘Create your trip’ booking tool will not include this offer and are discounted in a different way.
7. Flight + car Vacation Package savings are applied before any Extras (insurance waiver, car seats etc.) are added to the booking.
8. Prices advertised on ba.com include the additional discount where applicable.
9. Vacation sale lead-in prices include all airline-related taxes, fees, and carrier charges.
10. Economy flight and hotel package lead-in prices are based on 2 adults traveling on the same itinerary, round trip in Economy Class, pricing per adult person, based on 5 nights for double occupancy accommodation.
11. Economy flight and car rental package lead-in prices are based on 2 adults traveling on the same itinerary, round trip in Economy Class, pricing per adult person, based on 7 days Avis or Budget car rental in a ‘Group A Economy Manual’ car. Prices are based on drivers aged 30-70 years. (Automatic car rental available at higher prices).
12. Car rental prices do not include fees charged locally such as airport charges, additional driver, insurance, navigation aids and similar options.
13. All prices are liable to change at any time and are subject to flight, hotel and car rental availability. Availability is strictly limited.
14. Offers are valid for new bookings only, made during the promotional period. Valid only when combined with British operated flights or BA code share flights departing from a US gateway.
15. Prices are based on travel during dates and board basis stated.
16. Limited availability of flights at these prices. Individual travel dates are subject to availability. Promotional travel is subject to availability and capacity control, and availability may be limited over holidays and peak periods. The number of seats available on each flight at a particular fare may be restricted and it is possible that seats allocated to a particular fare on a particular flight may be fully booked even though seats are still available for sale at a different fare or booking class in the same cabin.
17. Deposits can only be paid for bookings created as flight + hotel or flight + car packages. All flight only, hotel, car and experience only bookings, and any hotel, car or experiences added to a flight only booking are excluded from this offer. The following deposit levels apply based on the total spend per booking:
I. Flight + hotel and flight + car vacations between $1000-$1999 - pay from $198 deposit per booking
II. Flight + hotel and flight + car vacations between $2000-$2499 - pay from $250 deposit per booking
III. Flight + hotel and flight + car vacations between $2500-$2999 - pay from $300 deposit per booking
18. The deposit balance will be due 28 days prior to your departure date. The actual payment date will be displayed on the payment details page. You can pay the balance in as many instalments as you want. This allows you to spread the cost of the vacation over a longer period. You will have full flexibility of when you make the payments and how much they are, the only requirement is that you must have paid the full balance by the balance due date.
19. British Airways holidays standard terms and conditions and conditions of carriage apply. For full terms and conditions please refer to https://www.britishairways.com/en-us/information/legal/package-booking-terms-and-conditions
20. All travel on BA operated flights is subject to BA's General Conditions of Carriage for Passengers and Baggage (see ba.com http://www.britishairways.com/en-us/information/legal/british-airways/general-conditions-of-carriage) and the notice and conditions of contract contained on each ticket and itinerary. Passengers carried by code share services are subject to the ticketing carrier's conditions of carriage.
21. British Airways is not liable for the reproduction of this offer or indirect access via third party websites of these terms and where such reproduction misstates or omits any of the information or terms and conditions connected with this promotion.
22. Normal booking conditions, including amendment and cancellation charges, of a hotel purchase apply.
23. Normal booking conditions, including amendment and cancellation charges, of a car purchase apply.
24. Cannot be combined with any other offer.
25. This offer may be withdrawn or limited by British Airways without notice.
26. Other significant restrictions may apply.
We reserve the right to cancel any bookings that violate any of these terms and conditions.