Waterloo
Waterloo, Belgium is a living history destination just 15 km from Brussels. Families can explore the iconic battlefield, climb the Lion's Mound, and discover the story of 1815 tog…
0 guides · Brussels & SurroundingsExplore →
🇧🇪Brussels
Discover Brussels with kids: from the iconic Grand Place and Manneken Pis to the Atomium, Comic Strip Museum, and the best waffles in Europe.
Your family guide
Brussels with kids: chocolate, comics, and cobblestones
“Picture yourself standing in the rain eating a warm waffle while a giant comic mural covers the entire building behind you. That's Brussels.”
— San & Jo
Brussels is one of those cities that sneaks up on you. You come for the Grand Place and leave obsessed with the comic murals, the chocolate shops, and that one waffle you ate standing up in the rain. For families, it hits a sweet spot: compact enough to explore on foot, quirky enough to keep kids genuinely interested, and packed with the kind of history that actually makes sense to a ten-year-old.
The city wears its personality proudly. A tiny bronze boy peeing in a fountain is the most beloved landmark in town. Giant comic strip murals cover entire building walls. A massive iron molecule dominates the skyline. Brussels does not take itself too seriously, and that makes it wonderfully easy to enjoy with children of any age.
Whether your family spends a long weekend or a full week here, Brussels rewards curiosity. Wander the gilded Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, spot Tintin on a wall around the corner, then settle into a brasserie for moules-frites and watch the city buzz around you. This is city travel at its most enjoyable.
BrusselsCapital of Belgium
April to OctoberBest time to visit
Mid-rangeBudget level
Best things to do
Best things to do in Brussels
Grand Place
This UNESCO World Heritage square is ringed by jaw-dropping Baroque guildhalls and a Gothic Town Hall. It's stunning during the day, but come back in the evening when the lighting transforms it into something truly spectacular. During summer, a flower carpet covers the entire square, and at Christmas it becomes one of Europe's most beautiful festive displays.
Visit after dark for the best light show
1-2 hours
Manneken Pis
Yes, it's smaller than you expect. Yes, kids will love it anyway. This cheeky 17th-century bronze statue of a peeing boy has over 1,000 costumes in his wardrobe and gets dressed up for festivals and commemorations throughout the year. Check online to see what outfit he's wearing during your visit.
Check his outfit calendar before you go
30 minutes
The Atomium
Built for the 1958 World's Fair, this giant structure shaped like an iron crystal molecule is one of the most unusual landmarks in Europe. Inside, you can explore the spheres, learn about its history, and enjoy panoramic views over Brussels. Kids find the whole concept brilliantly strange, which is exactly the right reaction.
Combine with Mini-Europe next door for a full day out
2-3 hours
Comic Strip Museum
Brussels has one of the world's great traditions of comic strip art, and this museum celebrates it beautifully. Tintin, the Smurfs, and Lucky Luke all have a home here, housed in a gorgeous Art Nouveau building. Even kids who are not big comic readers find plenty to enjoy, and the building itself is worth the visit.
Spot Tintin murals on the walk there
2-3 hours
Brussels Comic Strip Route
Over 50 giant comic murals are painted across the city's walls as part of an official walking route. Turn any neighbourhood stroll into a treasure hunt by downloading the map and ticking them off together. It is completely free, endlessly entertaining, and gives kids a genuine reason to look up as they walk.
Download the free map from the city website
Half day
Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
These elegant glass-roofed arcades date from the 1840s and are among the oldest covered shopping galleries in Europe. Inside you will find artisan chocolate shops, cosy cafés, boutiques, and a theatre. It is the perfect spot to duck into when it rains, and an ideal place to buy Belgian chocolate to take home.
Try the pralines from the chocolatiers right inside the arcade
1 hour
Parc du Cinquantenaire
This grand park features manicured gardens, a towering triumphal arch, ponds, and several museums. It is a brilliant spot for families who need a breather from sightseeing. Pack a picnic, let the kids run around the lawns, and take a moment to admire the arch that frames the whole space so dramatically.
The Royal Military Museum inside the park is free to enter
2-3 hours
Our verdict
How Brussels scores for families
Kids
Quirky landmarks, comic murals, and interactive museums make Brussels genuinely fun for children. The compact centre means less walking fatigue, and there is always something unexpected around the next corner.
Culture
From surrealist art and comic strip heritage to Baroque architecture and EU history, Brussels punches well above its weight culturally. The Magritte Museum and Comic Strip Museum alone are worth the trip.
Food
Waffles, chocolate, frites, moules, and hearty stews: Brussels is a genuinely great food city for families. Most restaurants are welcoming to children, and there is always something simple on the menu for picky eaters.
Nature
Brussels is primarily an urban destination, but Parc du Cinquantenaire and several other green spaces offer room to breathe. Do not come here expecting countryside, but parks are well maintained and easy to reach.
Budget
Brussels sits in the mid-range for European capitals. Many highlights like the comic mural route and Grand Place are free. Museums, restaurants, and transport add up, but a family trip here is very manageable with some planning.
Planning your visit
How long should you stay in Brussels?
1
1 day
Quick visit
Grand Place, Manneken Pis, waffles, and a chocolate stop. You will get the flavour but miss the depth.
sweet spot
3
3 days
Sweet spot
Enough time for the Atomium, Comic Strip Museum, a park afternoon, and a proper sit-down dinner with moules-frites.
5
5 days
Deep dive
Add day trips to Bruges or Ghent, explore the Magritte Museum, and really settle into the neighbourhood rhythm.
Fun facts
Things to know about Brussels
The world's best-dressed statue
The Manneken Pis has a wardrobe of over 1,000 costumes. He has been dressed as Elvis, a samurai, a footballer, and even a spaceman. The outfits are donated by organisations and countries from around the world, and you can see the full collection at the City Museum.
A molecule you can walk inside
The Atomium is built to represent an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. Its nine steel spheres are connected by tubes, and you can actually walk through the tubes between them. When it was built for the 1958 World's Fair, nobody expected it to still be standing today.
The city is one giant comic book
Brussels has more than 50 official comic strip murals painted on building walls across the city. The tradition started in 1991 and keeps growing. Tintin, the Smurfs, and Lucky Luke were all created by Belgian artists, making Brussels the unofficial comic capital of the world.
Taste Brussels
What to eat with your family in Brussels
Moules-frites
Must tryChez Leon
Mussels cooked in white wine or garlic broth, served with a mountain of double-fried fries. This is the dish Brussels is most famous for, and most brasseries do it brilliantly. Even kids who are unsure about mussels usually end up eating half the pot.
Brussels waffles
Kids love itMaison Dandoy
Light, rectangular, and crispy on the outside, the Brussels-style waffle is best eaten fresh from a street stall with powdered sugar. Skip the ones piled with artificial toppings and go for the simple version. They're always popular with children.
Belgian pralines
Daily treatNeuhaus Galeries
Brussels is home to some of the world's finest chocolate makers, with the best shops clustered around the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert. Pick up a box of pralines to share, and let the kids choose their own favourites. This is a genuinely special chocolate experience.
Grey shrimp croquettes
Local favouriteBrasserie de la Roue d'Or
Crispy on the outside, creamy and packed with tiny North Sea shrimps on the inside. These croquettes are a beloved Belgian snack and a great way to introduce kids to local seafood. Most traditional brasseries serve them as a starter.
Carbonnade flamande
Safe choiceIn 't Spinnekopke
A slow-cooked beef stew made with Belgian beer, onions, and gingerbread spices, served with fries or potatoes. Rich, warming, and deeply satisfying, this is the kind of meal that makes a cold Brussels evening feel very cosy. A solid safe choice for families who want something hearty.
More places across Belgium
6 places
Antwerp
Explore Antwerp with kids: from the Diamond District and DIVA Museum to the zoo, Grote Markt, and the best Belgian frites you'll ever eat.
0 guides · Flemish Art CitiesExplore →
Bastogne
Bastogne is a compact Belgian town with world-class WWII museums, Ardennes forests, and iconic local food. A genuinely moving and memorable family destination.
0 guides · The ArdennesExplore →
Bastogne War Museum
The Bastogne War Museum brings WWII to life through immersive simulations, life-size dioramas, and a basement bombing shelter that leaves a lasting impression.
0 guides · The ArdennesExplore →
Blankenberge
Blankenberge is a classic Belgian seaside resort with wide sandy beaches, SEA LIFE aquarium, a historic pier, and some of the freshest seafood on the North Sea coast.
0 guides · The Belgian CoastExplore →
Bouillon
Bouillon is a compact medieval town in the Belgian Ardennes where your family can explore a clifftop castle, watch falconry, hike through forest, and follow the story of a crusade…
0 guides · The ArdennesExplore →
Planning a trip to Brussels?
Get the latest family travel tips for Brussels in your inbox.