Top 20 Best Brussels Hidden Gems You’ll Want To Visit

After living in the city for a month, I stumbled on so many Brussels hidden gems that you need to visit! 

Some are more off the beaten path than others, so it’s well worth staying a bit longer to have enough time to explore all of hidden gems in Brussels!

If it’s your first time in the city, check out my general guide to Brussels as not to miss any main attractions.

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Top 20 Hidden Places To Visit In Brussels Belgium

1. The Original Manneken Pis

Everyone’s heard of the Manneken pis, I mean it’s the symbol of Brussels and main attraction to see. But did you know that the little peeing boy you’re looking at isn’t actually the original!?

The Manneken Pis has been peeing on the corner of Rue du Chêne/Eikstraat and Rue de l’Étuve/Stoofstraat since 1617. With the amount of love he receives, it’s hard to believe that this little boy hasn’t had an easy life. It’s been subject to at least 7 thefts and it broke during two of these attempts.

After the 1965 theft, the city decided to place an exact replica at the corner instead. You can still see the original though, it’s safely on display in the Brussels City Museum. This is one of those secret places to visit in Brussels that’s right in front of you!

The Brussels City Museum is another one of Brussels hidden gems in plain sight. It’s inside the Maison du Roi (The Kings House) in Grand Place. I had no idea there was a museum inside, I thought you were only able to appreciate the outside architecture.

Included in your Brussels City Museum ticket gives you access to the Manneken Pis Garde Robe. In case you didn’t know, the Mannekin Pis is most likely better dressed than you 90% of the year. He has over 130 costumes (donated by different cities).

Of course, while he’s not wearing a costume, he needs a closet to store them in. It’s fun to find your country’s (I was happy to see they even had one for Montreal’s 75th!)

2. Public Urination Runs in the Family – Find ALL The Statues!

The Manneken Pis is no longer all alone as the only peeing statue in Brussels. In 1987 he has a sister, Jeanneke Pis, followed by their dog in 1997, Het Zinneke.

Jeanneke Pis is in the Delirium bar alleyway (Impasse de la Fidélité/Getrouwheidsgang) near the infamous Rue des Boucher.

Het Zinneke is further at Rue des Chartreux/Kartuizersstraat and Rue du Vieux-Marché-aux-Grains/Oude Graanmarkt. The dog isn’t connected to a fountain that’s why he’s not officially called Zinneke Pis. Also, as it turns out, in Brussels the word Zinneke describes a bastard!

3. Go On A Scavenger Hunt For Classic Belgian Comic Book Murals

One of my favourite characteristics of Brussels is the over 60 comic book murals painted throughout. These are all commissioned by the city in hopes to prevent unwanted graffiti on empty walls. This is a must-do in Brussels!

Scouting out the different ones is a worthwhile off the beaten path activity in itself! We spent several different days exploring new and exciting areas in search of some of Brussels hidden murals. 

If you’re tight on time, there are 4 murals dedicated to Belgian classics you’ll want to see. The most obvious one is a TinTin mural in the city centre (a block down from the Mannekin Pis) on Rue de l’Etuve.

The other three, are a bit more hidden gems in Brussels because they’re outside the city centre, so they’re not as visited. There’s a mural for Lucky Luke, Asterix and Obelix, and Smurfs that you’ll want to see.

Lucky Luke and Asterix are the two largest murals dedicated to comic books in Brussels. So, to paint them at this grandiose size, they’re just outside the centre closer to Het Zinneken. The downside to the Asterix and Obelix mural is that it’s inside a schoolyard, so you have a limited view.

The Smurfs mural is one that people walk by every day unaware that it’s above their heads! It’s across from Brussels-Central main exit, next to the Carrefour de L’Europe underneath the arcade. I couldn’t find it on Google Maps, so you’re on your own for this one!

When you get to the underpass, look up and you’ll immediately enter the wonderful world of Smurfs in Brussels. Take some time to appreciate all the little details and all the Brussels references, like the Atomium.

Here are all the murals I found while exploring Brussels. You can also read my complete guide if you’re interested in learning more about the comic book walls in Brussels.

So if you’re looking for some hidden places to visit in Brussels, look no further!

4. Hidden Brussels: The Comic Book Museum

While on the topic of comic books, they also have a dedicated comic strip centre with a comic book museum. It’s a bit of a walk to get to from Grand Place, but nothing you can’t handle and in my mind is one of the top places to visit in Brussels.

It’s well worth a trip there if you want to learn about an integral part of Brussels culture. If the comic book murals didn’t make it obvious, Belgium (and even more so, Brussels) loves comic books, making this one of the perfect hidden gems in Brussels! 

The Comic Book Museum delves into the history and the process it takes to make a comic book. It also gives you a much-needed background on Brussel’s most relevant comic book authors: Hergé (TinTin) and Peyo (Smurfs).

It’s also a good option to know about if you’re visiting on a Monday (and it’s raining). It’s one of the only museums that’s open. 

Read The Most Popular Belgian Comic Books Before Your Trip

5. Visit The Villa Empain (Boghossian Foundation)

This beautiful art deco home is simply one of the mist enchanting places to visit in Brussels. This Brussels hidden gem is a bit further out, you’ll probably have to take public transit to reach, but it’s spectacular. Not only does it give you a real snapshot into a 1930s home, but it also hosts different art exhibits.

While you’re visiting the museum, it’s across the street from the Bois de la Cambre park. If you can afford it, make reservations at Le Chalet Robinson. It’s in the middle of the lake, you have to take a boat there!

6. Go To The Fashion & Lace Museum

I absolutely loved this museum in Brussels! I hadn’t heard anything about it before which is surprising because it’s in the city centre. The only reason we found out about it was because it was featured in Brussels Nocturne festival while we were there in September (check out why September is the best month to visit Brussels!).

I knew from my grandmother that Belgium was very involved in the lace industry. If you’re able to head to Brugge for a bit, it seemed like every second store is selling lace.

The permanent exhibit of the museum is quite small, and I only wished it was a bit bigger. It discussed the history of lace in Belgium and how it’s made.

They also have changing temporary exhibits. While we visited it was a showcase of Brussels designer Carine Gilson. See what’s going to be there while you’re visiting.

You don’t have to be a fashion lover to enjoy the museum either. My partner really appreciated learning about the intricacies of the lace industry too.

7. Go On A Shopping Spree on Rue du Bailli – Hidden Brussels

Talking about fashion, if you’re interested in local, hidden Brussels, Rue Bailli is a must-visit. It has a mix of vintage and boutique shops, and local restaurants and cafés.

My favourite store along the street was Blender 02. It was affordable and they sold both Belgian and other European brands.

If it’s one thing you won’t find on Rue Baili, it’s any chain stores!

8. Go Antique Shopping In The Sablon

The Sablon neighbourhood in Brussels is the antique epicentre of the city. So, if Rue Bailli is a bit too far to get to, or even a bit too mainstream for you, then the Sablon is one of the top places to visit in Brussels for you.

You won’t find anything that’s two of a kind here. You can find anything from small antique collectibles to furniture. 

We loved walking around window shopping here because some of what they have will shock you!

9. Visit The Marolles Flea Market

Next to the Sablon is the Marolles neighbourhood home to the Marolles Flea Market. Instead of having dedicated stores, every morning from 8 AM to 2 PM, Place Jeu de Balle transforms into a huge market.

If you see something you like make sure to jump on it right away because it most likely won’t be there when you come back. You’ll find smaller knick-knacks here, old comic books, jewellery, art … etc.

10. Top Things To Do In Brussels: Experience The Midi Market Chaos

Markets on your mind now? Well, you’ve come to the right place! The Brussels market scene is one of my favourites in Europe (yes, it even rivals Aix-en-Provence, and that says a lot!). Every day there’s another afternoon food market in different neighbourhoods. 

But, our all-time favourite things to do in Brussels was going to the weekly Midi-Market on Sunday. The Midi-Market (near the Midi train station) is a well known local spot for cheap fruits and veggies (but still delicious!).

I don’t think we’d ever seen such a large food market before, they shut down several blocks around the train station for it. 

It’s not just the cheapest spot for fresh produce, you can also find clothing, toiletries, nuts, spices… you name it! They also have pastry and bread stalls, and we would buy our weekly BBQ chicken here.

If you want the best price (and authentic Midi-Market experience) wait until the market is close to closing (around 1:00 PM) to go, this is when the real chaos ensues. People come here to stock up for the week, merchants start lowering their prices, and can be kind of pushy to get rid of their stock.

You’ll hear every stall yell out “Un Euro! Un Euro! Un Euro!” or “On Melange, On Melange, On Melange!” That’s them lowering their price and telling you can you mix and match certain fruits or veggies. 

Sometimes I would want to buy too small of an amount (I mean, we’re only two people) and they would throw it back at me aggressively… I took that as “just take it”! I would walk out with a free cucumber or peaches this way!

So, if you’re looking for a less hectic market experience, come any time before 12:00. 

11. See Where Audrey Hepburn Was Born

I had no idea Audrey Hepburn had a connection to Belgium, let alone Brussels. To my surprise, I ended up living around the corner from where she was born in Ixelles (P.S. See why Ixelles is the best neighbourhood to stay in in Brussels!).

Her family lived in Brussels for 5 years, and they chose the Ixelles neighbourhood Rue Keyenveld 48. 

You wouldn’t know this house had any connection to Audrey Hepburn aside from a plaque on the wall. It took us about a week to notice the plaque. But nonetheless, if you’re a Hepburn fan, there’s no better thing to do in Brussels.

12. Brussels Hidden Gems – The Ferris Wheel

A bit further out of the tourist epicentre of Brussels (but not too far) you’ll find a giant Ferris wheel you can ride. Ride the Ferris wheel for an incredible overhead view of Brussels.

If you aren’t a fan of Ferris wheels though, you don’t even need to ride it to get the view. Where the Ferris wheel is, there’s already a great lookout point for the city. 

From here, you can see how the Atomium towers over everything else! It’s also one of the best places to visit in Brussels to watch the sunset.

13. Hiden Gems In Brussels: Peter Pan Spotted

Just outside the Sablon neighbourhood, before Ixelles, there’s a secret park. Edgemont Park is one of Brussels hidden gems that out of sight from everyone. It’s surrounded by buildings on every side, you’d only find it if you know it’s there. And that’s why it’s one of my favourite places to visit in Brussels.

The park is home to La Fabrique, a café with an unbeatable patio that looks out onto the park. Throughout the small park, there are some historical landmarks. But, my favourite are the statues commemorating Peter Pan.

There’s a statue for not only Peter but also a small rabbit for Neverland (it says: “Peter Pan, Neverland is still alive”).

This is definitely the top hidden gems in Brussels… literally. It’s perfect if you need a quick escape from the city centre.

14. Try Pink Chocolate At Mary’s

If you didn’t already know, Belgium is birthplace of chocolate, or well one of them. Obviously, one of the top things to do in Brussels is eat chocolate.

But did you know that they hold chocolate to pretty high standards to even call it Belgian chocolate? A law was created in 1894 which states that you have you use minimum 35% cocoa powder to be considered chocolate (that means white chocolate isn’t even considered chocolate!). 

Anyway, you might have heard of Godiva, Leonidas, and Neuhaus, these are all classic Belgian chocolate houses. But there’s one that’s been around just as long, but isn’t as globally known; Mary’s.

Mary was the first female chocolatier, and an official supplier of the Belgian royal family. So if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for you!

Mary’s in itself is a Brussels hidden gem. But Mary’s also offers a chocolate the others don’t: pink chocolate! And it’s naturally pink, no artificial colouring here! It’s a different kind of cocoa bean that’s very young that they’re using. It’s a bit of an acquired taste in my mind, but well worth trying this Brussels hidden gem (if not only to say that you’ve tried pink chocolate!).

15. Have The Best Desserts At Chouconut – Hidden Brussels

Once you’re indulging in your sweet tooth, you can’t come to Brussels and not stop by local café Chouconut. This was our favourite places to visit in Brussels to come and relax after a busy day exploring the city. With pastries that are TO DIE FOR (all homemade) and delicious Vietnamese style coffee.

The café itself is also one of the best atmospheres. Make sure to head upstairs to relax on big comfy chairs with a birds eye view of the street below.

16. Hidden Brussels French Fry Spots To Try

Now let’s get into the nitty-gritty of Belgian delicacies. French fries are originally from Belgium NOT France… don’t believe me? Check out my true food origins stories! So it’s only naturally one of the top things to do in Brussels. Only problem? Where should you go…

To try traditional Belgian French fries, you want to make sure they’re double-fried in beef fat. We found two french fry hidden gems in Brussels! These are local trucks with melt in your mouth french fries that are made the traditional way.

Friterie La Chapelle is more convenient to get to, in the Sablon with the epic Church Chapel in the background. You can also try Friterie de la Barrière in St. Gilles. We couldn’t decide which one we liked better.

17. Try Croquettes At Le Comptoir à Croquer Flagey

Although croquettes aren’t necessarily Belgian, they made them their own. They add creamy béchamel with either shrimp or cheese inside.

This hidden gem in Brussels is the best place to try croquettes in Brussels: Le Comptoir à Croquer Flagey, in Ixelles. They take them to a whole other level, they add even more ingredients to them making them simply mouthwatering. 

It’s an informal restaurant where you order at a counter outside. There are tables they set up where you can eat at. They have 5 croquettes to choose from, but if you’ve never had croquettes before, try the original first.

Unfortunately, Le Comptoir à Croquer has closed.

18. Try All The Belgian Beer At Le Pantins

Not even a block away from Le Comptoir à Croquer Flagey is our favourite places in Brussels for beer. I swear, we ended up going to Le Pantins at least twice a week trying a new Belgian beer every time (and always grabbed croquettes after)!

We’re not into the ‘staying out late clubbing’ scene, so this was our perfect night out. Le Pantins had a good selection of different Belgian beers to try, a huge young local scene, and board games to play.

I swear, no matter the hour we showed up, it was always packed. Despite that, we also never had a problem finding a seat (FYI there’s an entire upstairs section too).

P.S. Add even more fun to your beer tasting at Le Pantins with a beer tasting journal!

19. Hidden Gems in Brussels: Where To Try the Best Beer in the World?

There’s one beer Le Pantins will never have, Westvleteren (don’t even try to pronounce it, you won’t get it right!). In the beer world, Westvleteren is apparently one of the best beers and of course, it’s from Belgium. 

The problem is that it’s very hard to get your hands on. 

Usually, you can only get this hidden Brussels gem by ordering it directly from the monastery 2 months in advance, and then driving all the way there to pick it up yourself. The monastery won’t deliver, and they don’t sell it commercially. 

So to make your life a bit easier, we found two places to visit in Brussels where you might be able to find the best beer in the world.

Your first option is go to The Monk on Rue St. Catherine. It’s so secret that it isn’t on the menu, you’ll have to ask the bartender for it. Just a heads up, it’ll cost you. It’s around €10 and this was one of the cheapest we found, and you get to enjoy it in a bar setting.

When we treated ourselves to the best beer in the world, we would split one bottle between the two of us to cut costs. Plus, don’t forget that it’s higher in alcohol than what you’re most likely used to in beer.

If the Monk doesn’t have it when you visit, you can also try looking at Beer Mania in Ixelles. They were selling it too, but it was more expensive.

20. Go To Nordzee For Fresh Seafood

Across the street from The Monk is some of the best seafood in Brussels; Nordzee. Because we would only visit the Monk at night, we thought it had closed down. We didn’t realize that it’s only open for lunch.

We had no idea what we walked into, we were expecting a sit down inexpensive restaurant. What we got was a giant fish market that also prepares lunch. So, like our favourite croquette place, Nordzee is all outdoors with tables set up to enjoy the food.

You can order any fish your heart desires as your main, but you have to try their fish soup – it’s delicious! They also offer a wine list to pair with your seafood of choice.

Other Hidden Places To Visit In Brussels That We Missed

There are so many more museums in Brussels that we didn’t have a chance to visit them all. One of the main ones is the Sewer museum, apparently, they bring you underground to explore.

There’s also the BELvue museum, the Jewish museum, and the Chocolate Story (we visited the one in Bruges instead).

Another worthwhile museum is the Musical Instrument museum that you should check out! The museum is in an old buildings that also offers an outstanding view. 

Hidden Brussels Day Trips To Go On

Brussels is so well-connected with two train stations leaving the city. 

If you want to explore more of Belgium, there are quite a few cities that are worth a day trip to. Dinant and Namur are perfect if you want to see the Wallonia, French-speaking region.

If you want to stay in the Flanders region, make a day trip to Ghent, Leuven, and you can even go to the coast in one day! Here’s my full list of easy day trips you can go on from Brussels.

Find A Place To Stay in Brussels

I stayed in an Airbnb while in Brussels Belgium, but here are some hotels I found in the city stay at.

For a luxury 5-star hotel experience in the heart of Brussels, stay at Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo. You are one block away from Brussels Grand Place – you can’t get a better location than that! See room rates and availability on Booking.com.

If you’re looking for a bed and breakfast in Brussels stay at Art de Séjour B&B. You’ll get a delicious homemade breakfast included with your stay. See room rates and availability on Booking.com.

Bringing the family to Brussels or need a space for all your friends? Check out Spacious modern appartments in Brussels city centre. You can get an apartment for up to 6 adults! See room rates and availability on Booking.com.

See more accommodation options in Brussels, on Booking.com.

Psst! If you book your stay through my link it sends a bit of extra money my way, at no extra cost to you!

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Check Out My Other Brussels Guides

• The Ultimate Guide To Brussels
• Guide To Brussels Comic Book Walls
• Where Should You Stay In Brussels? Guide To Ixelles

This is a Secret You Can Share! Share Brussels Hidden Gems

Last update on 2024-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API