Stamped!

Capital of Europe

Brussels architecture

Brussels is the de facto capital of the European Union and home to NATO headquarters — making it one of the most diplomatically significant cities in the world. The city is the global capital of Art Nouveau architecture, with more buildings in this style per square kilometer than anywhere else on Earth, thanks to architect Victor Horta's prolific 19th-century output. Belgium has more Michelin-starred restaurants per capita than France, and Brussels is the undisputed world capital of chocolate, waffles, and Belgian beer.

  • 5Landmarks
  • 1402Oldest · Grand Place
  • 102 mTallest · Atomium
  • 5Architects

Before you go

  • Fly intoBrussels Airport (BRU)

    Brussels Airport (Zaventem) is Belgium's main international hub and one of the busiest cargo airports in Europe. A direct rail link from the airport to Brussels-Central, Brussels-Midi, and Brussels-North stations makes getting into the city straightforward. The airport is close to EU institutions, making it one of Europe's most frequently used airports by diplomats and government officials.

  • CurrencyEuro (€)
  • LanguageFrench, Dutch & German

    Belgium is a linguistically complex federal state with three official communities: French-speaking Wallonia, Dutch-speaking Flanders, and a small German-speaking community. Brussels itself is officially bilingual (French and Dutch), with French dominant in the city. In practice, many Brusselois speak a unique blend called 'Bruxellois' — a historical local dialect mixing French, Flemish, and Spanish words that is still heard among older residents. English is widely spoken due to the EU and NATO presence.

  • Getting aroundSTIB/MIVB Metro & Trams

    Brussels has a well-integrated public transport network operated by STIB/MIVB with a metro, pre-metro (underground trams), surface trams, and buses. The metro has four lines connecting the city center to surrounding communes. Trams are a distinctive feature of the city and some routes date back over 130 years. The Eurostar train links Brussels-Midi to London St. Pancras in under 2 hours, and Thalys connects it to Amsterdam and Paris in similar time, making Brussels a true crossroads of European rail travel.

5 landmarks in Brussels

  1. Grand Place
    Photo: Celuici, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Grand Place

    Grand-Place, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

    UNESCO-listed central square of Brussels, ringed by opulent guild houses and the Gothic town hall — Victor Hugo called it the most beautiful square in the world.

    Built
    1402
    Architect
    Various guild architects
    Style
    Gothic / Baroque guild houses
    Height
    96 m (315 ft)
    Stories
    4
    Today
    Public square / restaurants
  2. Atomium
    Photo: Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer), CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Atomium

    Square de l'Atomium 1, 1020 Bruxelles, Belgium

    Brussels's most unusual landmark — a 102-metre structure of nine stainless steel spheres forming an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times, built for the 1958 World Expo.

    Built
    1958
    Architect
    André Waterkeyn
    Style
    Modernist / Atomic Age
    Height
    102 m (335 ft)
    Stories
    9
    Today
    Museum / observation sphere
  3. Manneken Pis
    Photo: Bruxelles_Manneken_Pis.jpg: Myrabella derivative work: Myrabella (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Manneken Pis

    Rue de l'Étuve / Rue du Chêne, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

    Brussels's most beloved and most imitated sculpture — a small bronze boy urinating into a fountain, dressed in hundreds of costumes throughout the year by visiting dignitaries.

    Built
    1619
    Architect
    Jérôme Duquesnoy
    Style
    Baroque sculpture
    Height
    61 m (200 ft)
    Stories
    1
    Today
    City symbol / tourist landmark
  4. Royal Palace of Brussels
    Photo: Sally V, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Royal Palace of Brussels

    Place des Palais 7, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

    The official palace of the Belgian King, facing the Park of Brussels — its ceiling of the central hall lined with iridescent wings of over 1.4 million jewel beetles by artist Jan Fabre.

    Built
    1904
    Architect
    Alphonse Balat, Louis Montoyer
    Style
    Neoclassical
    Height
    15 m (49 ft)
    Stories
    3
    Today
    Royal palace (active, open summers)
  5. Cinquantenaire
    Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Cinquantenaire

    Parc du Cinquantenaire, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

    A monumental park and triumphal arch built for the 50th anniversary of Belgian independence, housing three major museums including the Royal Museum of Art and History.

    Built
    1905
    Architect
    Gédéon Bordiau, Charles Girault
    Style
    Beaux-Arts / Triumphal
    Height
    74 m (243 ft)
    Stories
    3
    Today
    Museums / park

More cities in Europe

Stamp all 5 in Stamped!

Fly through Brussels in photoreal 3D, take its 10-question quiz, plan your days and earn a passport stamp at every landmark. Free on iPhone and iPad.

Download on theApp Store