Brussels in 48 hours: a two-day itinerary
Two days are enough to take in the essentials of Brussels, provided you do not spend them queuing. This itinerary makes the most of opening hours and distances.
Day 1, morning: the Grand-Place before the crowds
If you land at Zaventem, the Grand-Place is some twenty minutes' drive from the airport outside rush hour, and the train reaches Brussels-Central in under twenty minutes. Drop your bags at the hotel, even if your room is not ready, and head for the Grand-Place while it is still quiet: the morning light on the Town Hall and the guildhalls is reason enough to get up early.
From there, the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, opened in 1847, offer a covered passage towards the Monnaie district. Then retrace your steps and walk up to the Mont des Arts, whose terraced gardens open up one of the finest views over the lower town and the Town Hall spire. A coffee along the way, and the morning is over without your ever having needed a metro map.
- The Horta Museum opens only at 14:00 on weekdays and is closed on Mondays: keep Art Nouveau for the afternoon.
- The Atomium advises arriving at 10:00 or after 17:00, avoiding the middle of the day.
- The Grand Sablon antiques market is held on Saturdays and Sundays, the Jeu de Balle flea market every morning.
- Waterloo is only about twenty-five minutes away by road: half a day is enough for the Lion's Mound and the Memorial 1815.
- A chauffeur-driven car saves time where the sights are spread out: Art Nouveau façades, Heysel, Waterloo.
Day 1, afternoon: Art Nouveau when the doors open
Housed in the home and studio that Victor Horta built for himself in Saint-Gilles, the Horta Museum opens only at 14:00 from Tuesday to Friday and at 11:00 at weekends, and is closed on Mondays; according to the museum, only booking online guarantees entry. So book an early-afternoon slot and spend the rest of the afternoon on the façades nearby: Hôtel Tassel on Rue Paul-Émile Janson, the streets leading down to Place du Châtelain, then the Ixelles Ponds.
On Wednesday afternoons, the market on Place du Châtelain adds a stop for food lovers to the walk. The major Art Nouveau addresses are spread across several municipalities, from Saint-Gilles to the Squares district around Square Ambiorix: a chauffeur at your disposal takes you from one to the next without hunting for a parking space and waits while you visit. Our Art Nouveau Brussels day trip offers a ready-made route that can be shortened or extended.
Day 1, evening: the Sablon, antique dealers and chocolatiers
At the end of the day, head up to the Grand Sablon. The church of Notre-Dame du Sablon overlooks the square, which is lined with cafés, restaurants and chocolatiers. At weekends, during the day, the antiques market sets out silverware, ceramics and small pieces of furniture. Across Rue de la Régence, the Petit Sablon garden and its statues are worth a detour of a few minutes before dinner.
Before sitting down to eat, walk on to Place Poelaert, at the foot of the Palace of Justice: the view over the city is particularly fine at sunset. For the return journey, a driver booked for the time you leave the restaurant saves you looking for a taxi on a Saturday night, especially if your hotel is in Uccle or near the airport, far from the metro lines.
Day 2, morning: the Atomium at opening time
The Atomium is open every day from 10:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:30, and different hours on certain days: check its website the day before. Its managers themselves advise coming at opening time or after 17:00, and avoiding the 11:00 to 15:00 slot. A ticket bought online lets you skip the ticket office queue, but not the queue at the entrance: arriving early is still the best approach. Right next door, the Design Museum Brussels is open from 11:00 to 19:00, so you can easily combine the two.
The Heysel plateau is in the north of the city, less than half an hour's drive from the Grand-Place in light traffic, and very close to Wemmel, where our team is based. Metro line 6 also goes there. The real advantage of a car comes afterwards: from Heysel, the Ring takes you to Waterloo without going back through the centre, turning a journey across the city into a simple transfer.
Day 2, afternoon: Waterloo in half a day
About twenty kilometres south of the centre, or some twenty-five minutes by road, lies the Waterloo battlefield site. At the Hameau du Lion, in Braine-l'Alleud, it brings together the Lion's Mound and its 226 steps, the Memorial 1815 and the Panorama; Hougoumont Farm is a little further away. The individual ticket gives access to all the site's visitor attractions. Opening hours vary from day to day: check the calendar on its website before setting off.
An afternoon is enough for the mound, the Memorial and Hougoumont, provided you move from one stop to the next without waiting for a bus. This is where a driver saves you the most time; they can also stop at the Wellington Museum, in the town of Waterloo, on the way back. In the evening, head back to Brussels, or straight to the airport if your flight leaves late. Our Waterloo day trip page describes the option in detail.
Adapting the itinerary to the day of the week
On Mondays the Horta Museum is closed: swap the two days round or limit Art Nouveau to the façades, which are well worth seeing from the outside. At weekends, the Sablon comes alive with its market and the Horta Museum opens at 11:00, which frees up the afternoon. And every morning, the flea market on Place du Jeu de Balle, in the Marolles, is ideal for an hour's browsing before the museums.
On your last day, plan around your departure time rather than the other way round. A late-evening flight leaves time for Waterloo; a mid-afternoon Eurostar from Brussels-Midi suggests keeping the Atomium and saving the battlefield for another visit. Booked the day before, your return transfer lets you enjoy your last few hours without watching the clock.
- Monday: Atomium open, Horta Museum closed
- Wednesday afternoon: market on Place du Châtelain
- Saturday and Sunday: antiques market at the Grand Sablon
- Every morning: flea market on Place du Jeu de Balle
Brussels in 48 hours
Do I need to book the Horta Museum in advance?+
It is strongly recommended: the museum states that only booking online ensures access to the house and studio with limited waiting time. It is open from Tuesday to Friday from 14:00 to 17:30 and on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 to 17:30, and is closed on Mondays; check these hours on its website before booking. Guided tours are available: ask the museum directly about dates.
Can I see the Atomium and Waterloo on the same day?+
Yes, that is precisely the sequence suggested here: the Atomium in the morning, from 10:00, then Waterloo in the afternoon. Heysel is in the north of Brussels and Waterloo in the south; by car, the Ring links the two without crossing the centre. By public transport, the journey involves several changes and eats into the afternoon. Just check the Memorial 1815 opening hours for your chosen day.
What can I visit in Brussels on a Monday?+
With the Horta Museum closed, focus on sights that do not depend on a ticket office: the Grand-Place, the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, the Mont des Arts, and the Art Nouveau façades of Saint-Gilles and Ixelles. The Atomium is open every day, Mondays included, and the Jeu de Balle flea market is held every morning. For other museums, check their closing days before planning your day.
Can the driver give a commentary during visits?+
No: our drivers know the city and are happy to offer practical tips, but they are not certified tourist guides and do not give guided tours. Their role lies elsewhere: linking the stops, waiting during visits and adapting the route to the traffic. For in-depth commentary, the Horta Museum and the Atomium offer guided tours; book them before setting the car's schedule.
Also worth reading
Need a private driver or a transfer?
Available 24/7, we are at your service.