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Rue de Bouchers

Rue de Bouchers (Brussels) — Known more for the atmospheric charm, Rue de Boucher is a walking thoroughfare abounding with 17th century stepped gables, decorated doorways, cafes and restaurants with lavish pavement displays of seafood, piled high on mounds of ice. This street offers a wide variety of restaurants at various price points. Two of the most well-known restaurants are Chez Leon and Aux Armes de Bruxelles.

Palacio Real

Royal Palace (Rue Bréderode 16, Brussels) — The official home of the Belgian king, you will always know if he is in the country when you see the Belgian flag flying on top of the building. The building is a highlight of Neo-Classical architecture and overlooks Brussels Park. The Royal Palace is open to the public during the summer months. Admission: free. Hours10 am – 5 pm (Tuesday – Sunday) (Summers only).

Real Instituto Belga de Ciencias Naturales

Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Rue Vautier 29, Brussels) — Explore the largest dinosaur museum in Europe on permanent display at the Museum of Natural Sciences starting on October 27. This is a great exhibit for the whole family, with many new dinosaur skeletons to discover and learn about as well as hands-on activities for children

Place du Grand Sablon

Place du Grand Sablon (Rue de la Régence, Brussels) — this picturesque square is situated on the slope that divides Brussels between the upper and lower halves of the city. Decked out with chic boutiques, al fresco cafes, fashionable restaurants, and trendy bars, the Grand Sablon is most famous for its lively open-air antiques market which attracts antiques dealers from all over the world.

Museo Horta

Museum Horta (Brussels) — The former home of Art Nouveau’s best-known architect, Victor Horta, is now the Horta Museum – a showcase of stained glass and subway tile, pale wood and wrought iron, whose every corner seems magically bathed in golden sunlight. Admission: Adult (€8), Seniors & Students (€4), Children (under 6): free. Hours: 2 pm – 5:30 pm (Tuesday – Sunday). Closed on Mondays & holidays.

Museo de Instrumentos Musicales

Museum of Musical Instruments (Montagne de la Cour 2, Brussels) — The Museum of Musical Instruments is a strikingly beautiful building in Brussels combining the architectural styles of Neo-Classic and Art Nouveau. Housed in the museum is a collection of more than 7000 instruments of varying kinds and origins. On the top floor, the indoor & outdoor MIM Restaurant provides visitors with a magnificent 360° view of Brussels. Admission: Adult (€8), Seniors (€6), Children & Young Adults (ages 4-25) (€2), children under 4: free. Hours: 9:30 am – 5 pm (Tues. – Friday), 10 am – 5 pm (Weekends). Closed on Mondays and holidays.

Museo de Arte Antiguo

Museum of Ancient Art (Rue de la Régence 3, Brussels) — The Museum of Ancient Art has got a vast collection of paintings, sculptures and drawings from the 15th until 18th century. Built up around a core of revolutionary captures and deposits of the French state, this collection was constantly enriched by the acquisitions, but also by gifts and legacies of numerous patrons. The paintings of the Ancients of the southern Netherlands make up an essential part of this collection (Rogier van der Weyden, Petrus Christus, Dirk Bouts, Hans Memling, Jérôme Bosch, Bruegel, Pierre-Paul Rubens, Jacob Jordaens, Antoine van Dyck).

Admission: Adult (€8), Seniors (€6), Children, Young Adults (6-25) and Disabled (€2), Children (under 6): free. Hours: 10 am – 5 pm (Tuesday – Sunday).

Markt

Markt (Intersection of Steenstraat, St-Amandstraat, Vlamingstraat, Philipstockstraat, Breidelstraat, and Wollestraat), Brugge) – this square is the heart of the city of Brugge. This also acts as a major geographic point of reference, from which one can find other local sites.

Markt is dominated by its Belfry, for centuries the city’s foremost edifice and the perfect look-out in case of war, fire or any other calamity. You can still climb to the top of the tower! At the foot of the Belfry are the world’s most famous chippies (frietkoten)! The statue of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck graces the middle of the square. These two popular heroes of Bruges resisted French oppression and consequently played an important part during the Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302. Their statue neatly looks out onto the Gothic revival style Provincial Palace (Markt 3).

Manneken Pis

Manneken Pis (Rue de l’Etuve, Stoofstraat, Brussels) — This famous statue of a little boy peeing in a fountain is a perfect representative of the irreverent Belgian humor. The unique Brussels icon has been amusing visitors on the corner of Rue de L’Etuve & Stroofstraat since 1619. Over time it has become a tradition for visiting heads of state to donate miniature versions of their national costume for the little naked boy. The wardrobe of Mannekin Pis can be seen at the Brussels museum and includes over 760 outfits – even an authentic Elvis jumpsuit. Brussels’ tourism promotion office has even used the famed statue to successfully promote the city to outsiders.

Hospital museum

Hospital museum (Mariastraat 38, Brugge) — Prepare yourself to go back in time and experience latter day healthcare. Over several centuries, brothers and sisters of religious orders tended to the sick at Sint Jan Hospital in Bruges. They left behind a treasure trove of stories, medical implements and works of art. The best of these is the ‘Ursulaschrijn’ by Hans Memling, a world renowned masterpiece from the Memling Museum that was realized in the medieval hospital. Admission: €8 (General). Hours: 9 am – 5 pm (Tues. – Sunday).