> Brussels DIY Walking Tour Route Map <
Distance: 4 km (about 2.5 miles); Duration: 2-8 hours
This circular DIY Walking Tour of Brussels is just 4 kilometres long (about 2.5 miles), and takes in most of the attractions of central Brussels that you’ll want to visit: the Grand Place > Hôtel de Ville > Musée de la ville de Bruxelles > Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert (Galerie de la Reine & Galerie du Roi) > Cathedrale St-Michel et Ste-Gudule > Parc de Bruxelles > Palais Royal de Bruxelles > Coudenberg Palace > Place Royale > Musical Instruments Museum > Museé Magritte & Museum of Abstract Art > Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium > Jardin du Petit Sablon > Notre-Dame des Victoires au Sablon > Place du Grand Sablon > Mont des Arts > Manneken Pis > and finally returning to the Grand Place.
And because it’s a DIY walking tour of Brussels, you can take it at your very own pace; stopping for a coffee/snack/drink where, when, and for as long as you like; and lingering at the attractions of Brussels which interest you (and speeding past those that don’t).
So if you were to simply rush round without stopping, you could easily complete the walk in 2 hours. However, I would recommend taking a full day to complete the circuit of central Brussels – as there’s just so much to see (and splitting the walk over two days would be even better).
Plus, because it is indeed a circular walk of central Brussels, you can start/end the walk at any point (wherever is easiest to reach from your Brussels hotel perhaps?). However, if you are planning to complete the walk in just one day, then I would definitely recommend starting/ending in the Grand Place (as it is best seen in the morning before it gets too busy – plus the Grand Place is also rather stunning when it’s illuminated in the evening).
Brussels DIY Walking Tour - Directions:
[These are very thorough walking directions – you shouldn’t be getting lost in Brussels when following this guide. However, I definitely recommend that you follow the Google Streetview route of the entire Brussels DIY Walking Tour first, from the comfort of your own home before you head to Brussels, as this will allow you to better visualise the entire route before you arrive].
START: Grand-Place
[MAP]:
With the steepled Musée de la ville de Bruxelles on your left, and the even more impressive steeple of the Hôtel de Ville de Bruxelles on your right, start walking towards the Maison des Ducs de Brabant building at the end of Grand-Place.
You’re aiming for the tiny Rue de la Colline / Heuvelstraat ahead of you/to the left.
Rue de la Colline / Heuvelstraat [MAP]:
At the end of Rue de la Colline, and on your right, you will see a Pedestrian Crossing which takes you directly to the entrance of the Galeries Royales St.Hubert.
Galeries Royales St.Hubert
[MAP]
There are actually two separate galleries, and you’ll walk through both. The first gallery is the Galerie de la Reine (the Queen’s Gallery); the second is the Galerie du Roi (the King’s Gallery); and both are separated by a small road (Rue des Bouchers). Rue des Bouchers is covered between the two galleries.
There are steps at the end of the Galerie du Roi (leading up to the exit). However, there is also a ramp here if needed.
As you exit the Galerie du Roi, you will see a Pedestrian Crossing immediately in front of you. Cross here. Turn RIGHT at the end of the crossing, crossing the sidestreet (there is a small Pedestrian Crossing here too), and continue walking along the LEFTHAND side of Rue d’Arenberg.
Neither crossing is light-controlled, but there are dropped kerbs where needed.
Rue d’Arenberg [MAP]:
At the end of Rue d’Arenberg, you will see two pedestrian crossings (separated by an “island”), which take you across Bvd de l’Impératrice.
Bvd de l’Impératrice [MAP]:
After the second crossing, turn immediately to your LEFT, then take the SECOND path through the park on your RIGHT. The first path may seem more popular, and a more direct route to your next destination (the Cathédrale des Saints Michel et Gudule). However, the SECOND path will take you past the Statue du Roi Baudouin. There are plenty of seats around the statue, should you want to sit down for a while.
Cathédrale des Saints Michel et Gudule
[MAP]:
It is free to visit the main part of the cathedral. However, there are charges for visiting the Crypt and the Treasury.
Guided tours of the Towers are also available – lasting around 2 hours 30 mins.
[Wheelchair users: the following instructions are very important. There’s a serious lack of crossing places around the cathedral (with those all-important dropped kerbs). Conversely, there are some serious cobbles around here. But the following instructions will show you the best places to cross the roads here, and will also minimise your exposure to those cobbles (minimse only – they just can’t be fully avoided)].
First, head back to the pedestrian crossing in front of the cathedral.
At the end of this crossing, turn LEFT. The pavement here is a lot easier on the bones.
After a few metres, you will see another Pedestrian Crossing on your LEFT.
At the end of this crossing, continue STRAIGHT AHEAD, along the smooth surface of the RIGHTHAND pavement of Place Sainte-Gudule.
At the end of the pavement, you will see a tiny crossing AHEAD of you (this crosses the Rue des Paroissiens sidestreet).
At the end of this crossing, continue STRAIGHT AHEAD, along the RIGHTHAND pavement of Rue de la Chancellerie (Kanselarijstraat).
Just before the next junction, you will see the next Pedestrian Cossing on your LEFT. This will take you across to the other side of Rue de la Chancellerie (Kanselarijstraat).
At the end of this crossing, continue STRAIGHT AHEAD (ignoring the crossing on your right) along the LEFTHAND pavement of Rue des Colonies / Kolonienstraat, until you see an angled pedestrian crossing/dropped kerb on your RIGHT.
Cross here, to the dropped kerb on the opposite side of the road. Then turn RIGHT-ISH, and continue up the LEFTHAND side of the continuation of Rue des Colonies.
At the next junction/the top of the hill, you will see your next destination (Parc de Bruxelles) diagonally opposite. How you get there is a matter of choice (either straight ahead, then right; or right then straight ahead). For this example though, we will head right first, then continue straight ahead. So:
When you reach the junction, you will see a Pedestrian Crossing on your RIGHT, which will take you across to the other side of Rue des Colonies.
At the end of this crossing, turn LEFT, and you will immediately see another Pedestrian Crossing in front of you (which crosses the tram lines of Rue Royale).
At the end of the crossing, ignore this entrance to the Parc de Bruxelles, and continue STRAIGHT AHEAD, along the RIGHTHAND pavement of Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat, for about 200 metres, until you see the central entrance to the park.
Parc de Bruxelles
[MAP]:
Turn RIGHT and enter the Parc de Bruxelles here.
In general, you will be heading in a straight line through the centre of the park. Passing around a round pond, and later, around an octagonal pond. Always heading towards the Palais de Bruxelles, which you will see in the distance.
After passing around the round pond, ignore the main paths that diverge slightly on either side, but continue STRAIGHT AHEAD (this central path will eventually bring you to the octagonal pond.
Eventually, you will see the gates at the end of the central path through the Parc de Bruxelles ahead of you. You will also now be able to see the magnificent Palais de Bruxelles (the Royal Palace of Brussels) on the other side of the Place des Palais.
Place des Palais [MAP]:
There is NO Pedestrain Crossing across the cobbled Place des Palais here (neither are there dropped/lowered kerbs).
So instead of trying to cross the road here, turn LEFT and walk along to the corner exit of the park (the park will now be on your LEFT). Just beyond the corner exit, you will see a Pedestrian Crossing which crosses Rue Ducale / Hertogstraat. There is a slightly lowered kerb here (it’s as low as it gets around here!).
As you cross the road here, you will see the splendid Palais des Académies building in front to you.
At the end of the crossing, turn RIGHT (so that the Palais des Académies is now on your LEFT), and continue ahead until you see the next Pedestrian Crossing on your RIGHT (just after the Palais des Académies building ends).
Again, there is no real dropped kerb here, but the kerb is fairly shallow/passable.
At the end of the crossing, turn RIGHT, and walk around the front of the Palais de Bruxelles (the royal palace has been blurred out on Google Maps, but this image should just be enough for you to see the smoother pavement, in front of the palace, which awaits).
Palais de Bruxelles (the Royal Palace of Brussels)
[MAP]:
Continue walking by the front of the Palais de Bruxelles and you will see the entrance to the Musée BELvue on your left.
Musée BELvue
[MAP]:
There are toilets here (a rarity in central Brussels – and accessible toilets too) but you’ll need to pay an entrance fee. There are also toilets/accessible toilets in the upcoming Magritte Museum/Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium too, so you can also visit there instead).
After Musée BELvue turn LEFT into Place Royale (heading towards the Statue de Godefroy de Bouillon in the centre of the square – “towards” the statue only though, you don’t go as far as actually entering the main square). After a few metres at the start of the square, you will see, on your RIGHT, the first of two Pedestrian Crossings which you will use to pass around Place Royale.
Place Royale
Pedestrian Crossing 1 – Place Royale [MAP]:
After crossing Rue Royale here, continue STRAIGHT AHEAD, and follow Place Royale around to your LEFT, until you reach the second Pedestrian Crossing (just after passing the Musée des Instruments de Musique, and leading to the Magritte Museum).
If you want to actually visit the Musée des Instruments de Musique though, turn RIGHT and walk down Rue Montagne de la Cour – the entrance to the museum will be on your RIGHT.
Otherwise, continue STRAIGHT AHEAD.
Pedestrian Crossing 2 – Place Royale [MAP]:
This crossing is light-controlled, and there are dropped kerbs on either side if needed.
After crossing Rue Montagne de la Cour here, continue STRAIGHT AHEAD – the Musée Magritte (Magritte Museum) is in the grand building directly on your RIGHT.
Musée Magritte (Magritte Museum)
[MAP]:
If you want to visit the Musée Magritte, simply follow the arrows on the building. These arrows will direct you to the main visitors entrance of the Musée Magritte (the accessible entrance to the Magritte museum is via the main entrance on Place Royale though).
Otherwise, continue to pass around the edge of Place Royale, until you see a third Pedestrian Crossing. However, do NOT cross the road again. Instead, turn RIGHT, and walk along Rue de la Régence (the main Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium building will be on you RIGHT).
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
[MAP]:
Visitor access to the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium follows a similar principle to access at the Musée Magritte. To find the general entrance, just follow the arrows to the LEFT. There is a separate accessible entrance to the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium though (this is on the main Rue de la Régence, just after the accessible car parking spaces – and the entrance to the museum shop).
After you pass (or visit?) the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, continue in the same direction until you reach another two small Pedestrian Crossings AHEAD of you.
After crossing both, continue in the same direction, with the side of the rather impressive Église Notre-Dame des Victoires au Sablon on your RIGHT.
Église Notre-Dame des Victoires au Sablon
At the next junction, turn RIGHT, and you will see the STEPPED entrance to the Église Notre-Dame des Victoires au Sablon also on your RIGHT.
Rue des Sablons [MAP]:
After passing the entrance to the Église Notre-Dame des Victoires au Sablon, continue walking down Rue des Sablons for a few metres, until you see a Pedestrian Crossing on your LEFT.
After crossing Rue des Sablons here, turn immediately to your RIGHT, and you will see another Pedestrian Crossing directly AHEAD of you.
Cross the sidestreet of Rue Ernest Allard here, and at the end of this second crossing, continue STRAIGHT AHEAD (continuing down Rue des Sablons) until you see yet another Pedestrian Crossing (on your RIGHT).
Cross Rue des Sablons here, and you will arrive at the Place du Grand Sablon (and the Fountain of Minerva statue).
Place du Grand Sablon [MAP]:
After seeing the Fountain of Minerva statue, continue down the Place du Grand Sablon until you see the Pedestrian Crossings at the bottom of the triangular “square”. Take the crossing on the RIGHT, turning LEFT at the end of the crossing.
After rounding the corner on your RIGHT, immediately cross the sidestreet (Rue de la Paille) and continue down Rue Lebeau until you see the flags of the Place de la Justice. Where you have a choice: steps, or a step-free diversion (which misses out the Mont des Arts). The diversion is a bit r-u-m-b-l-y to begin with though (flippin’ cobbles!).
Step-Free Diversion
Just BEFORE you come to the flags/bend in the road, you will see a pedestrian crossing on your LEFT. Cross here. At the end of the crossing, turn RIGHT, and follow the road as it bends LEFT.
Pass through the tunnel (the road here is now called Rue de l’Hôpital / Gasthuisstraat), and continue along this LEFTHAND pavement, until you see the next Pedestrian Crossing. DON’T cross it though, but just continue in the same direction until you reach the next junction (into Pl. de la Vieille Halle aux Blés on your LEFT). Turn LEFT here.
Your Step-Free Diversion now Ends!
The Non-Diversion Route Continues
[MAP]:
First, just ignore the pedestrian crossing on your LEFT.
When you first see the flags of the Place de la Justice, instead of following the road in FRONT of the flags, follow the path of the buildings BEHIND the flags (you will have to make a LEFT turn as you follow the buildings).
After turning, you will see the steps that lead up to the main road (Bvd. de l’Empereur).
At the top of the steps, turn RIGHT, walk with the building of the Royal Library of Belgium on your RIGHT, and continue until you see the Statue du Roi Albert 1er (a king on a horse) on your RIGHT, by the steps of the Mont des Arts.
After seeing the statue (and possibly visiting the rather lovely Mont des Arts Garden – climb the steps on your RIGHT – there are plenty of benches around the garden), cross the main road via the Pedestrian Crossing immediately in front of the statue. After crossing Cantersteen here, turn LEFT and continue for a few metres until you reach the first Pedestrian Crossing.
At the end of this crossing, immediately turn RIGHT, and walk down the hill for a few more metres until you see the first junction on your LEFT (into Rue Saint-Jean). Turn LEFT here.
Walk down this LEFTHAND side of Rue Saint-Jean to the end, and follow it around to the left (where it joins the main road again – Rue de l’Hôpital / Gasthuisstraat). The Pedestrian Crossing in front of you/slightly to your LEFT will take you across Rue de l’Hôpital / Gasthuisstraat here.
At the end of the crossing, turn RIGHT, and continue to the next junction on the LEFT (this is also where the step-free route ends, and joins the main walking route again). Turn LEFT into the little Pl. de la Vieille Halle aux Blés sidestreet here.
The Non-Diversion route now ends.
The main Central Brussels DIY Walking Tour route continues....
Place de la Vieille Halle aux Blés/Oud Korenhuis [MAP]:
When you first turn into Place de la Vieille Halle aux Blés, you will immediately see a Pedestrian Crossing which you should just ignore (as the pavement on this LEFTHAND side of Place de la Vieille Halle aux Blés is slightly wider).
So for now, just walk down Place de la Vieille Halle aux Blés with the road on your RIGHT – until you see a second small Pedestrian Crossing on your RIGHT.
At the end of the crossing, turn LEFT, and follow the road around to your RIGHT.
Fondation Jacques Brel
[MAP]:
As you walk RIGHT, and follow the road at the end of Place de la Vieille Halle aux Blés, you will pass by the Fondation Jacques Brel – which celebrates one of Belgium’s cultural gifts to the world (a statue of Jacques Brel will be on the road “island” on your LEFT):
As you continue walking along/down the same pavement (the road is now called Rue du Chêne), you will eventually see the tiny Manneken-Pis statue on your RIGHT (one of the best-known symbols of Brussels – and of Belgium).
Manneken-Pis
Turn RIGHT here (into Rue de l’Etuve/Stoofstraat). From here, it is a straight line back to Grand-Place – although you will have to cross a couple of streets along the way. There is a Pedestrian Crossing over the main road that you will need to cross (Rue du Lombard).
After the crossing, continue STRAIGHT AHEAD along the continuation of the tiny Rue de l’Etuve, eventually arriving back at Grand-Place.
And with your return to Grand-Place, your Central Brussels DIY Walking Tour comes to an end.
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