Things To Do in Brussels & Brussels Airport Layover Ideas

BRU Brussels International Airport is easily accessible to the city centre via the Airport City Express train which is probably your quickest and cheapest way to get into town to make the most of your layover.

Beer is very important to Belgium and, given the chance, you should visit a brewery to see how its done! Step through the doors and you will find yourself in a fully working century old brewery. Cantillon Brewery is one of the last traditional breweries and nothing has changed behind its façade since 1900. Inside you will get to see the Lambic beer fermenting in barrels in which it takes three years to mature. And you will get to taste the wares as a glass of beer is included in the EUR 5 entrance fee.

If you are on a layover in Brussels and are wondering how you can see all the sights of Europe that you want to in you short holiday, why not take a whistlestop tour of Mini Europe? There you will get to see and hear Big Ben in the heart of London, watch Vesuvius erupt, recreate the falling of the Berlin Wall, and take in a bull fight in Seville… all in miniature at a scale of 1:25. Many of these attractions are interactive and you can make them work yourself if you want to watch or hear something happen again. What is more, while you are there, if you look up you will see the Atomium, a monument of an iron atom built for the 1958 World’s Fair. Elevators are available to take visitors to exhibitions as well as breathtaking views of the city. This attraction is a must if you have the time.

If beer is not really your thing but you still feel inclined to tantalise your taste buds, take yourself off to the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate. Learn the history of the cocoa bean from its origins with the Mayas and Aztecs to how it finally ended up in Europe. Exhibitions, posters and videos show how cocoa is grown, harvested and processed into chocolate. The highlight of the tour is watching a master chocolate maker demonstrating how pralines are traditionally made. When your mouth is watering you can go to the chocolate shop and indulge yourself in delicious Belgian chocolate.

Brussels has dedicated its longest street to the shoppaholics of the world. Along the Rue Neuve, the main pedestrian shopping street, you will find a plethora of international chain stores. If you are looking for more original, smaller shops, you will find them between the Grand Place and the Rue Lemonnier. If you are looking to stock up on Belgian chocolate there are specialist shops in all the main shopping zones.