1. A capital on a human scale and easy to navigate
The good news is that Brussels is easy to visit on foot. The Grand-Place, the Galeries Saint-Hubert, the Mont-des-Arts and the European Quarter are all within 20 minutes of each other.
When little legs get tired, the STIB network takes over: free for children under 6 years old and J Pass offered from 6 to 11 years old (€5 card).
💡 Parents’ tip : the Brussels Card (24-72 hours, from €39) offers unlimited transport and free entry to 48 museums, with a skip-the-line option for the Atomium.
2. A 100% kids-friendly cultural offer
With more than 80 museums, Brussels has something to seduce young and old alike.
- Museum of Natural Sciences : the largest dinosaur gallery in Europe, with interactive exhibitions from 6 years old.
- Capital of Comic Strips : painted walls, open-air trails and the Belgian Comic Strip Centre immerse the whole family in the world of Tintin and the Smurfs.
Good to know: many museums offer children’s discounts, creative workshops and night-time workshops during the holidays.
3. Attractions that appeal to children
- Atomium : 92 m panorama and Kids’ Sphere to imagine the house of the future.
- Mini-Europe : 350 animated monuments on a scale of 1:25, a tour of Europe in a few hours.
- Train World : giant locomotives, simulators and family entertainment in a Belle Époque station.
These places are open all year round, even out of season.
4. Ample green spaces to breathe
Almost half of Brussels is green !
- Bois de la Cambre : road closed to cars at weekends, boats, picnic and direct access to the Sonian Forest.
- Parc Royal, Parc Tenbosch, Josaphat or Rouge-Cloître : playgrounds, kiosks and summer activities.
5. A foodie city for the whole family
Here, you can eat fries with your fingers, you can enjoy waffles and chocolate.
Food-trucks on the Grand-Place or the Sablon: shrimp croquettes, pancakes, ice cream… for a well-deserved snack. And don’t forget to visit the Choco-Story museum : workshops from 7 years old to make your own tablet.
6. Multilingual and multicultural
A bilingual French/Dutch city, Brussels also speaks English fluently: convenient for international families. Diversity can be seen in street art, gastronomy and festivals.
7. Year-round events
- May : Iris Carnival
- August : Brussels Summer Festival
- December : Winter Wonders and Christmas market
25 loose ideas with kids!
1 – Go up to the Atomium for the view and stroll through the Osseghem park right next door.
2 – Discover Mini-Europe in the open air and let the children trigger the animations.
3 – Lie down on the grass of the Parc du Cinquantenaire and play under the bow.
4 – Cross the Brussels park in the shade and watch the street performers.
5 – Get lost in Tenbosch Park and look for strangely shaped leaves.
6 – Walk around the ponds of Ixelles and finish with an ice cream in Flagey.
7 – Rent a boat or pedal boat in the Bois de la Cambre and greet the ducks.
8 – Embark on a small cruise on the canal and see the city in a different way.
9 – Ride a section of the Promenade Verte with the children and take a play break.
10 – Pedal in the Sonian Forest under the giant beech trees and breathe in the cool.
11 – Follow some frescoes of the Comic Strip Trail and transform the walk into a hero hunt.
12 – Go up to the Mont-des-Arts, admire the view, go back down through the terraced gardens.
13 – Say hello to the goats and donkeys at the Rouge-Cloître and walk along the ponds.
14 – Say hello to the animals of the Ferme Nos Pilifs and take a look at the vegetable garden.
15 – Observe the sheep and test the playgrounds at Josaphat Park.
16 – Taste the atmosphere of the Midi market on Sunday morning and bite into a juicy fruit.
17 – Stroll along Place Sainte-Catherine and walk up to the canal, looking at the facades.
18 – Let the children run around Leopold Park after a walk around the European Parliament.
19 – Climb the catwalks of Train World (exterior + interior) to impress the curious.
20 – Have a simple picnic at Woluwe Park near the ponds and watch the birds.
21 – Go to the Meise Botanic Garden for a large lawn and themed paths.
22 – Walk in Tervuren between park, ponds and the edge of the Sonian Forest.
23 – Discover the banks of the Dyle in Mechelen after a walk in the old town.
24 – Stop at Mont-des-Arts at the end of the day for a photo-friendly sunset.
25 – Finish with a waffle in a sunny square, because it’s Brussels.
