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One of the many attractions of Brussels lies in the wide range of cultural activities on offer to all visitors, from family plans in the Belgian capital to a tour of the best churches and cathedrals in Brussels.
To extend this offer, a tour of the best museums and art galleries throughout the city is a must. The great history of the city, its importance in architectural movements and its proximity to each other make a morning spent among museums a real treat.
In addition, public transport is punctual and convenient, making travel, if necessary, very efficient.
Don't forget the Brussels Card. This card, which you can activate for 24, 48 or 72 hours, gives you discounts on attractions and restaurants as well as free entry to over 40 museums and associations in the capital.
If your visit isn't that long and it may not be cost-effective to top up the Brussels Card so you can't make full use of it, then check the museums' websites to find out when they offer free entry.
Art and architecture
Rue de la Régence, 3
As the name suggests, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts are a collection of several museums that make up the most important parts of Belgian art history. These museums are the Museum of Ancient Art, Museum of Modern Art, Museum Constantin Meunier, Museum Antoine Wiertz and Museum Fin de Siècle.
These museums are not all together, with the Museum of Ancient Art, the Museum of Modern Art and the Fin de Siècle Museum in the centre being the main ones, and the Constantin Meunier Museum and the Antoine Wiertz Museum located elsewhere, 25 and 15 minutes away by public transport respectively.
These art museums, the best known and most important in the country, have more than 20,000 works of art, including paintings, sculptures and drawings. Their authors are world-renowned artists such as Bosch, Rubens, Gauguin, Van Dyck and the architect Victor Horta.
The building of the Museum of Ancient Art of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts complex is a piece of art in itself, with a beautiful neoclassical façade. It houses works from the 15th to the 18th century.
The Museum of Modern Art is also a masterpiece in itself, as it has the particularity of having eight of its floors underground. It contains works from the 19th century onwards.
Another of its great advantages is its proximity to important points of the city, such as the one that will be your home during your getaway; Latroupe Grand Place Hostel. The best hostel in the city is located in a central but quiet area, with fantastic facilities and the best atmosphere in the capital, just 5 minutes by public transport from the Royal Museums of Fine Arts.
Price of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts
Adults: €10 or €15 if you take the combined ticket with the Magritte Museum.
Students: €3 or €5 if you take the combined ticket with the Magritte Museum.
Over 65 years old: 8€ or 10€ if you get the combined ticket with Magritte Museum.
Under 19 years old: free admission.
Free admission with Brussels Card.
First Wednesday of each month, in the afternoon: free admission.
How to get to the Royal Museums of Fine Arts
Metro: Central Station or Park, lines 1 and 5
Tramway: Royale, lines 92 and 94.
Bus: Royale, lines 27, 38, 71 and 95.
Koningsplein 1 Place Royale
If you are a fan of René Magritte, surrealism or simply love art and want to continue expanding your knowledge, come and get to know one of the most important figures in this artistic movement.
The name may not ring a bell, but some of his works do: are you familiar with the painting of a man with a hat and a green apple as a face? Well, that painting is by René Magritte, entitled ‘The Son of Man’.
This museum, a true tribute to the author and the artistic movement, has more than 2,500 square metres between its three floors and 250 works in total. If you want to go on a museum tour, this is certainly the area for you, because you are just a stone's throw away from all the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium that we have just mentioned.
The layout of the museum is highly original, with each floor representing a different stage of René Magritte's artistic career, starting with the third floor, with his early years of creation and experimentation with different styles such as conceptual, expressionism and pop art. Starting from the third floor, with his early years of creation and experimentation with different styles such as conceptual, expressionism and pop-art.
The first floor is dedicated to his most unknown period, with all his production during the war years, and the first floor is dedicated to his most popular and iconic works. Remember that a total of 250 of the more than 2,000 works he created during his lifetime are on display.
Don't get the museum mixed up. Or yes, as you prefer. There is another museum dedicated to Magritte, located in the house where he worked for most of his life, the René Magritte House-Museum. It is much smaller, humbler and located in the north of the city, about 35 minutes by public transport; René Magritte Museum VZW, Esseghemstraat 135, 1090 Jette.
Price of the Magritte Museum
Adults: €10
Senior citizens: 8 €.
Students from 18 to 25 years old: 3 €.
Under 18s and unemployed: free admission.
Free admission with Brussels Card.
How to get to the Magritte Museum
Metro: Gare Centrale or Parc, lines 1 and 5.
Tramway: Fort Jaco, lines 92 and 94.
Bus: Royale, lines 27, 38, 71 and 95.
Avenue des Arts, 16
A great cultural option when passing through the nearby Parc de Bruxelles. This impressive two-century-old mansion boasts an impressive collection of sculptures, tapestries, paintings, porcelain furniture and 19th-century Louis XV-style furniture.
Open since 1928, both the collection and the mansion itself are a must-see if you like historical objects and all the history surrounding them. Check out their website because they often host classical music concerts and it's a completely different experience.
Charlier Museum Price
Adults: 5 €.
Students and senior citizens: 4 €.
Youth card: 3 €.
Children up to 18 years: free admission.
Free admission with Brussels Card.
How to get to the Charlier Museum
Metro: Arts-loi, lines 1 and 5.
Bus: Arts-loi, line 22.
Rue Américaine, 25
About 25 minutes away by public transport and in a residential neighbourhood, you will find the museum of possibly the most famous and influential architect in Brussels, Victor Horta.
This House-Museum is the epicentre of the universe of one of the greatest exponents of European art-nouveau. If architecture is your thing or if you are interested in the history of this movement, you cannot miss your visit.
Inside you will see his house, how he lived, his works and how he managed to turn his own house into a true work of art.
Price of the Horta Museum
Adults: 12 €
Students: 6 €
Seniors over 65 years old: 10 €
Children between 6 and 18 years old: 3,50 €
How to get to the Horta Museum
Tram: Place Janson, lines 81, 91, 92 and 97.
Bus: Place Janson, line 54.
Maison du Roi d´Espagne, Grand Place
If you are passionate about history, if you like to discover everything that has happened on the ground you walk on, there is no better place than here.
Right in the heart of Brussels, in the Grand Place, and only five minutes walk from the best hostel in Brussels; Latroupe Grand Place. The most important monuments, the most important museums and the best accommodation, all within walking distance.
Since 1887 they have been collecting information and objects that illustrate the evolution of life in the city; from everyday life to historical events that marked the future of the Belgian capital.
The objects are distributed among the floors as follows: on the ground floor there are porcelain figures and sculptures dating from the 16th to the 18th century.
On the first floor, models and paintings tell the story of the most important moments in Brussels. The top floor is the most fun. Here you have more than 600 outfits of the city's most famous sculpture; Manneken Pis.
The piss boy of Brussels has a better wardrobe than any of us, and there is something for everyone, from typical outfits from almost everywhere in the world, including a bullfighter's outfit, to one designed by Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada herself.
Price of the Museum of the City of Brussels
Adults: 10 €.
Students: 4 €
Seniors over 65: €6
Free admission with Brussels Card and for children under 18 years of age
How to get to the Brussels City Museum
Metro: Bourse, lines 3 and 4.
Tramway: Bourse, lines 31, 32 and 33.
Bus: Bourse, lines 48 and 95; Gare Centrale, lines 38, 65, 71 and 86.
Pl. des Palais 7
It's a good idea to stop by the BELvue Museum, very close to the Royal Palace. The museum focuses on the country's recent history, focusing on its democracy.
And it does so through more than 1,500 objects such as photographs, costumes, posters and didactic and interactive resources. It takes us back to 1830 and its revolution to the creation of the current state as we know it.
The continuing battle for citizens' rights is the epicentre of the museum. You can see the whole thing in a couple of hours and, as a final surprise, the entrance ticket entitles you to visit the ruins of Coudenberg Palace, burnt down in a fire in 1731.
Price of the BELvue Museum
Adults: €10
Senior citizens and groups of more than 15 people: €8.
18 to 25 years old and unemployed: 5 €.
Children under 18: free admission.
Free admission with Brussels Card.
How to get to the BELvue Museum
Metro: Parc, lines 1 and 5.
Tramway: Palais, lines 92 and 94.
Bus: Royale (lines 38 and 71) or Ducale (lines 21, 27, 71 and 95).
Parque del Cincuentenario
The Parque del Cincuentenario is a must-see, no excuses. One of the best visits you can make in this impressive park is to the Royal Museums of Art and History, as the Cinquantenaire Museum is also known.
You will witness the evolution of mankind through history thanks to the testimonies of the great civilisations that once existed on Earth. The museum is divided into four parts: Antiquity, national archaeology, non-European civilisations and European industrial arts.
A complete and enormous review that takes us, using more than 350,000 objects and pieces dating from the 10th century to the present day. Although the information and history it tells goes as far back as the empires of Ancient Greece and Rome, Egypt and the Persian Empire.
A really complete museum, with a lot of history, very well told, entertaining and a must for history lovers.
Price of the Cinquantenaire Museum
Adultos: 10 €
Mayores de 65 años: 8 €
Estudiantes y personas con movilidad reducida: 4 €
Niños hasta 18 años: entrada gratuita.
Entrada gratuita con Brussels Card.
How to get to the Cinquantenaire Museum
Metro: Schuman y Mérode, líneas 1 y 5.
Tranvía: Place Saint Pierre, líneas 81 y 83.
Autobús: Gaulois, líneas 22, 27 y 80; Merode, línea 61.
Parc du Cinquantenaire 3
We're not leaving the Cinquantenaire Park, because one of the most amazing museums in Brussels awaits us with objects and material that you'll rarely find in a museum.
The Brussels Museum of Military History is an overview of everything related to the armed forces, from uniforms and decorations to reproductions of what life was like in a trench during the war and a large exhibition of weapons, armour and other military objects.
And when we talk about ‘other military items’, don't think we mean hand grenades or knives. We're talking about cannons, ships, tanks, helicopters, planes and much more. Whether you're a fan of the subject or not, this tour will leave you open-mouthed.
Price of the Military History Museum
Adults: 11 €.
Over 65s and under 18s: €9.
Children under 6 years old: free.
How to get to the Military History Museum
Metro: Schuman and Merode, lines 1 and 5.
Tramway: Place Saint Pierre, lines 81 and 83.
Bus: Gaulois, lines 22, 27 and 80; Merode, line 61.
Rue Vautier, 29
A visit to the Royal Institute of Natural Sciences must be on your list of great plans with children in Brussels. Even if you don't think your son or daughter is a big fan of museums. Here your opinion will change radically.
Although nature and the evolution of living things are obviously discussed, with the skeleton of a blue whale and a whole section devoted to insects, it's the dinosaurs that rule here.
In fact, there is so much talk about them, with an impressive exhibition of their skeletons, that if you don't like them at all, this may not be the best place to stop. But who doesn't love a good dinosaur story?
Price of the Museum of Natural Sciences
Adults: €13
Students and seniors: 10 €.
Children from 4 to 17 years old: 5 €.
Children under 4 years: free admission.
Free admission with Brussels Card.
How to get to the Museum of Natural Sciences
Nearest metro: Trone, lines 2 and 6; Schuman, lines 1 and 5.
Bus: Museum, lines 38 and 40.
Rue des Sables 20
The Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée or CBBD is the kingdom for the most beloved comic strip characters, such as The Smurfs or Spirou. But in every kingdom there is a king, and here the absolute king is Tintin. Without a doubt.
On display here are comics, sketches, drawings and other objects that already belong to the history of this artistic expression so deeply rooted in Belgian culture. It pays homage to the entire creative process of creation as well as to the final result.
The design of this former building, which houses the museum, was the work of the brilliant and omnipresent Victor Horta, Brussels' best-known architect. If you're a true comic enthusiast, this is a must-see on your Brussels comic route.
Price of the Comic Museum
Adults: €13
Seniors over 65 years old: 10 €.
Children between 6 and 11 years old: 6 €.
Free admission with Brussels Card.
How to get to the Comic Museum
Metro: Botanique, lines 2 and 6; De Brouckère, lines 1 and 5; Rogier, lines 2 and 6.
Tramway: De Boukere, lines 3, 4, 31, 32 and 33.
Bus: Anspach-de Brouckere, lines 29, 38, 63, 66, 71 and 86.
Rue Montagne de la Cour 2
An amazing museum that should be on your list of things to do and visit, regardless of the weather, even if you're only spending two days in Brussels.
To begin with, the building in which it is located, known as Old England, is a true Art Nouveau architectural gem from 1899. In fact, you're sure to see people taking photos of the façade as you pass by. From now on, you know that what's inside is as worthwhile as what's outside.
More than 7,000 musical instruments from all over the world and from every period since medieval times. This is what you'll find as you stroll through a museum that will take your experience of music to the next level.
The audio guide is a perfect complement to your visit, which is also very interactive and entertaining. I repeat, more than 7000 instruments, and none of them to scale, they are original. To put the icing on the cake, stop by your restaurant on the top floor for a bite to eat with fantastic panoramic views of the historic centre of Brussels.
Price of the Musical Instrument Museum
Adults: €15
Over 65s: €13
Students: €8
Children under 18: free admission.
Free admission with Brussels Card.
How to get to the Musical Instrument Museum
Metro: Gare Centrale and Parc, lines 1 and 5.
Tramway: Royale, lines 92 and 94.
Bus: Royale, lines 20, 38, 71 and 95.
Parc du Cinquantenaire 11
We return to the Cinquantenaire Park to end our tour of the best museums in Brussels. As you can imagine from its name, Autoworld is a museum that looks at the history of the automobile.
From its origins to the present day, you will discover real gems of motoring, curious cars, prototypes, from all eras and with all types of engines.
A journey through the history of cars is a journey through our own history, where each moment gave shape to a new creation based on the trends and needs of the moment. A very interesting visit with surprising cars.
Price Autoworld
Adults: 15 €.
Children from 6 to 11 years old: 7 €.
Students: €11
Seniors over 65: €13
Children under 6 years: free admission.
Free admission with Brussels Card.
How to get to Autoworld
Metro: Schuman and Mérode, lines 1 and 5.
Tramway: Place Saint Pierre, lines 81 and 83.
Bus: Gaulois, lines 22, 27 and 80; Merode, line 61.
Brussels is a place with a wide cultural offer within museums. As a consequence, there is a great tradition in the art world, and this translates into the appearance of art galleries.
The main difference between an art gallery and a museum is that in the gallery, the works on display are mostly for sale. If you are a collector or simply want a more special souvenir, here are some of the galleries we like the most:
Rue de la Cuve 26
Rue de Laeken 83
Rue de la Madeleine 19
It can't all be about seeing museums and strolling around, you need to give your body and mind a rest. But don't go too far away, a place where you can be close to everything but still get a good night's sleep. Ideas?
If you're still not sure, let us clear up all your ideas. The ideal accommodation is the best hostel in Brussels; Latroupe Grand Place. The facilities will make you feel at home, whether you go alone, as a couple, with your family or with all your friends. Comfort, proximity, fantastic atmosphere and the best staff.
