The historic heart — the area around the breathtaking Grand-Place, a pedestrian core of gilded guildhalls, cobbled lanes, chocolate shops, beer halls, restaurants and the Manneken Pis, walkable to the main sights. Central, atmospheric and lively (if touristy), with everything on the doorstep; the classic base for a first visit who wants the grand square and the buzz around it. Brussels at its most beautiful and central. Grand and convenient.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
€200–340
typical per night in Belgium
You pay for the postcode
One of the pricier addresses in Brussels.
Where it sits
The circle is Grand-Place & the centre and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- Moules-frites & Belgian foodright here105 m
- Comic strip murals & museum8 min walk642 m
- Sablon & antiques8 min walk680 m
- The Magritte Museum8 min walk680 m
- Royal Museums of Fine Arts9 min walk717 m
- Marolles flea market13 min walk1.1 km
- Art Nouveau & the Horta houses26 min walk2.2 km
- The Atomium16 min taxi5.4 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 1.The Grand-Place — One of the most beautiful squares in the world — the Grand-Place, a breathtaking cobbled plaza ringed by ornate, gilded guildhalls, the soaring Gothic Town Hall and the grand King's House, glittering with gold leaf and elaborate baroque carving. UNESCO-listed and dazzling, it's the magnificent heart of Brussels, lined with cafés and chocolate shops, and transformed by events like the summer Flower Carpet and the Christmas market. Simply standing in the square, gazing at the golden facades, is unforgettable, especially when floodlit at night. Utterly unmissable. The city's crown jewel.
- 2.Belgian chocolate — Brussels is the world capital of chocolate, and indulging is essential — from the historic royal chocolatiers around the beautiful Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert to artisan shops all over the centre, the city's pralines, truffles and ganaches are sublime. Sample and buy handmade chocolates, watch them being made, and taste the difference between the great houses; a chocolate tasting or shop-hop is a delicious, quintessential Brussels experience. Don't miss the fresh pralines from a master chocolatier; it's a mouth-watering highlight. A must-do; utterly delicious.
- 3.Manneken Pis — Brussels' cheeky, beloved mascot — the Manneken Pis, a tiny bronze statue of a little boy merrily peeing into a fountain, a symbol of the city's irreverent, surrealist humour since the 17th century, often dressed up in one of hundreds of costumes for special occasions. Famously (and deliberately) underwhelming in size, it's a fun, quintessential Brussels photo stop, tucked in the lanes near the Grand-Place. Snap the little statue, check what outfit he's wearing, and embrace the quirky charm; there's even a female and a dog version nearby. A fun, iconic (if tiny) highlight. Quirky and essential.
- 5.Belgian beer — Belgium makes the world's greatest beers, and Brussels is a wonderful place to drink them — cosy old brown cafés and specialist beer bars (like the legendary Delirium Café, with a record-breaking list) pour a dizzying range of Trappist, abbey, lambic, gueuze and blonde ales, each in its own branded glass. Brussels is the home of the sour lambic and gueuze beers; sample a flight, or try a fruity kriek. Settle into a historic café and explore the astonishing variety; it's a delicious, only-in-Belgium ritual. A tasty, essential highlight. Savour the range; a beer-lover's paradise.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Grand-Place & the centre; flights via Google Flights.