Here’s our Brussels Anti-Tourist Guide to make sure you take the best of it while feeling like a local

Ditch the typical sightseeing spots and discover what it’s really like to live in Belgium’s capital city. With its historic center, renowned political institutions, and incredible diversity, Brussels has something to offer year-round. Follow this anti-tourist guide to Brussels to experience the city’s quirky atmosphere and eccentric charm.

Let’s answer the most important questions about traveling to Brussels so you can make the most of your visit!

How many days should I save to visit Brussels?

Tricky question! You could easily spend an entire month exploring all the cafés, bars, and exhibitions just like in many other European cities. However, if you’re backpacking or Interrailing and your travel time is limited, two to three days are enough to see all the must-visit spots.

Now that we’ve covered that, let’s move on to our next question…

What is Brussels known for? 

Food 

To be completely honest, when I think of Belgium, great food isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But after giving it a bit more thought, I realized just how many beloved classics actually come from Brussels. So make sure to indulge in these local favorites:

• Waffles
• Belgian chocolate
• French fries
• A variety of local beers

Sights 

And even though this is an anti-tourist guide to Brussels, you definitely shouldn’t skip the city’s most iconic sights (especially if it’s your first visit). Staying at Latroupe Grand Place Hostel makes it easy to explore them all, since it’s located right in the heart of the city, giving you more time to hunt for hidden gems.

Must-see landmarks include:

• Grand Place
• Atomium
• Manneken Pis
• Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium

Now let’s move on to the anti-tourist sights and activities of Brussels

Ride Tram 44 just like the locals 

From Montgomery to Parc de Tervuren (also worth a visit), Tram 44 offers one of the most scenic rides in Brussels, running almost entirely along Avenue de Tervueren/Tervurenlaan, one of the city’s grandest boulevards. It’s a must if you want to experience Brussels from a different perspective and it’s much cheaper than any sightseeing bus!

In general, getting around Brussels is incredibly easy thanks to its extensive public transport network. Just download the STIB-MIVB app for a clear overview of routes and schedules.

An anti-tourist morning spend at Flagey Market of Brussels

Located in lively Ixelles, Place Flagey hosts a vibrant open-air market every weekend (7:00 AM–1:00 PM). You’ll find everything from fresh produce and local goods to clothes, plants, and delicious street food from around the world. Once primarily a food market, it has gradually become a favorite gathering spot for locals from the neighborhood.

It’s also the perfect opportunity to pick up some quality ingredients for a homemade meal in the kitchen of Latroupe Grand Place.

Escape the bursting city life and come to Sonia Forest 

Brussels’ Green Lung is this vast forest that is home to nature reserves and archaeological sites, making it the perfect place to escape the city and reconnect with nature. The best-preserved parts of the forest are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reason: it’s one of the largest and oldest beech forests in Europe, with some trees over 200 years old. It’s also one of the last untouched forests in all of Belgium — unlike the country’s other UNESCO sites, which are man-made.

Getting there is easy: simply check the best public transport route from your location. Alternatively, rent a bike for a quick and pleasant day trip — the ride itself is part of the adventure!

Travel back in time and visit Beersel Castle 

Just south of Brussels, this 14th-century fortress impresses with its chestnut-colored towers and wide moat. A true hidden gem for history lovers! The moment you arrive, you’ll feel transported back to the Middle Ages. It’s not only one of the best-preserved castles in Belgium, but even Victor Hugo once visited this enchanting site and wrote a poem about it. However, that was during a time when the castle was abandoned and fell to ruin. Throughout the area, you’ll find QR codes that let you dive deeper into its fascinating history.

There it lies in the valley, the lonely manor. The slightest noise has fallen silent beneath its dreary arches. And every hour of the day sees a stone fall from its dark battlements – Victor Hugo

Bonus tip for anti-tourist spots beyond Brussels

Brussels is amazingly connected to many other cities all over Europe. Whether you are planning your following trip or where to go next, we have a gift for you. Famous Hostels is on a journey to promote sustainable tourism, pushing train and bus travel as opposed to flying.

For that, we partnered with Flixbus & Eurail and created a calculator that compares your carbon emissions if you are traveling by train or bus versus plane and converts it into a direct discount at over 54 hostels in Europe.

Discounts go from 5% to 20% based on the distance you go.

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