Things to do in Brussels-Capital Region

If any square in Brussels can be considered the city's main square, the Grand Place is it. With some parts dating right back to the 12th century, the Grand Place is effectively a Belgian relic and it’s worth visiting the square to gawp at the incredibly grand and beautiful buildings that line its edges. As such, it was no surprise when the square was selected by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 1998.

Iconic and otherworldly, the Atomium is architecture at its most futuristic. Designed to resemble a unit cell of an iron crystal, it was built in 1958 as the showstopper for the Belgian World Expo. Metal tubes link its nine gleaming orbs, four of which are open to the public and house exhibitions and a restaurant.

One of the most famous landmarks in the Belgian capital is known as the Manneken Pis, which translates more or less as “Little Man Pee” – and with good reason. This world-famous fountain features a young boy urinating into a pool of water below him. At a height of 60 centimetres the statue of the naked boy seems somewhat understated as a city icon. Yet the Manneken Pis has played a large role in the city’s history, having originally provided drinking water to local dwellers. It also features in a number of legends which try to explain why this particular subject was chosen for a work of art. Today, the little boy gets special attention before any public celebrations when he is dressed in a range of colourful attire from his extensive wardrobe.

Although the Belgian royals have their residences to the north of the city centre, the Royal Palace is where the King and Queen carry out their official duties. The palace became of central significance during the 19th century when Belgian monarchs began to greet their people there. It is not normally possible to enter the building until the summer when the interior is opened up to visitors.

In many ways the Place du Grand Sablon could be described as Brussels’ hub of “the good life”. Set amongst the historic charm and beauty of the square's old buildings are some fantastic restaurants offering some of the best modern Belgian cuisine you’ll find anywhere. There are plenty of interesting little shops including some quirky antique dealers to have a look around and, at the weekends, the square is given a new lease of life as the city’s biggest antique and book market takes over. This is also a great place to come if you’ve heard about Belgian chocolate and want to see what all the fuss is about.