10 Things to Do in Brussels on a Small Budget

The Brussels Card is your ticket to Brussels on a budget, offering access to more than 70 museums, attractions, tours, restaurants, shops and other sites. This card provides completely free entry to nearly 50 museums across the city covering everything from science and technology to natural history to more quirky and unusual topics. You'll get steep discounts on a ton of visitor attractions, guided tours, bars, restaurants and shops all across Brussels. The card also comes with city and museum maps as well as an information guide for the entire city.

Finally, the card allows for free unlimited travel on Brussels public transportation. Cards can be purchased for a 24-, 48- or 72-hour period.

The National Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Koekelberg offers a chance to see one of the largest churches in the world, with astonishing views of the city below. This church has towers that rise almost 53 meters above the city, and the views from the deck allow you to see about 20 miles away, as far as the Mechelen Cathedral. You can also see the many museums in the cathedral to learn about its history.

It's important to note that the gallery and the museums close in the mid-afternoon, so be sure to get here early in the day to give yourself the chance to see it all. It's just minutes from the city centre.

The Brussels Comic Book Route offers the chance to see incredible street art related to the city's remarkable legacy as the creator of many iconic comics and cartoons. This city is the home of Tintin, the Smurfs and tons of other characters. You can enjoy a comic-strip walking tour that's completely free, and see around 50 murals on gables and walls, all in celebration of these beloved and world-famous characters. You can even download a free map to the murals.

At the end of the tour, you can head to the Comic Art Museum. This museum offers free admission if you have a Brussels Card.

Brussels free museum days take place on the first Sunday of every month and allow you access to no fewer than 17 quirky and unusual museums across the city. These museums are focused on such topics as the history of lace, the importance of the Manneken Pis, the science and history of bookbinding, the history of individual districts, the socio-industrial history of the city, local art, ethnic histories, medicine and even the history of Freemasonry.

Whether you're a true history buff or you're just interested in seeing old artifacts and learning quirky trivia and facts, this is the way to go. These museums are located all across the city.

The Manneken Pis is among the most famed sights in Brussels, a bronze statue of a little boy peeing into a fountain, dressed up in different outfits throughout the year. What's even more interesting is that he's just one of a series of statues hidden throughout the city. These lesser-known statues include a little girl known as the Jeanneke Pis and a dog named the Zinneke Pis. It's a fun adventure to explore the city and discover the entire family hidden in various spots.

This is one of those attractions that only takes a few minutes to see, but it's sure to light up your social media feed. All 3 are also right in the city centre.

The Mont des Arts Garden is among the most famous sites in Brussels, with panoramic views of the city and postcard-like gardens against the backdrop of the Grand Palace rooftop. You can climb the steps right around sunset and capture a truly magical view as the sun sinks below the horizon and the Grand Palace springs to life with brilliant and beautiful lights like a beacon in the early evening sky.

The Mont des Arts is also a historic location unto itself, dating back to the 14th century as both an ethnic Jewish neighbourhood and the former site of the Palace of Coudenberg. It's in the heart of the Brussels city centre.

Sonian Forest - Forêt de Soignes is just a stone's throw from the city centre and offers many miles of hiking, cycling and horse-riding trails through ancient beech groves. This forest can engage your senses and fill your need for outdoor adventures for days. You can find a trailhead for the forest at Parc Tournay-Solvay, and as you explore, you can try to find the hidden and incredibly romantic park near Boitsfort station. This part of the forest offers the ruins of an old chateau with immaculately tended grounds and sculpted lakes.

For families on vacation adventures or couples seeking a romantic hideaway, these trails offer it all. It's only about a 30-minute drive south of the city centre.

L'Ascenseur Place Poelaert are a set of twin elevators that connect upper and lower Brussels at Brueghel the Elder Square. These elevators tower above the city and were an ambitious engineering project thought up in the 1990s that cost around 78 million Belgian francs and have since cost 2 million euros in upkeep. Today, the elevators are used by about a million people every year, and they offer outstanding photo opportunities. They have also been the source of public art installations.

These elevators have become an iconic part of the Brussels skyline and are a convenient, fun and unique way to experience the city. They are just a 16-minute walk south of the city centre.

The Marché du Midi is among the biggest public markets in Brussels and the entirety of Europe, offering flavors, smells and colors from all over the world. Here you'll find fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, cheeses, olives, fish and meats from just about everywhere you can imagine. In addition, you'll find fresh flowers and plants both for the house and garden. You can also shop hundreds of vendors selling leather goods, housewares, clothes, antiques, collectables and just about anything you can imagine. If there's a hidden treasure for which you've been searching for years, this is probably the place to find it.

The people are friendly and the prices are fantastic. It's only 15 minutes southwest of the city centre.

The Marolles district is an up-and-coming district offering the hippest nightclubs, trendy neighbourhood pubs, tons of indie shops, restaurants, fun and adventure for everyone. This vibrant, revitalized neighbourhood is the heart and soul of Brussels. If you're into techno, EDM, R&B or rock music, you'll find clubs for it here. If you enjoy casual cocktail lounges or old-school pubs, you'll also find great small bars. The shopping here is second to none, with antique shops, vintage record stores, indie fashion and even books. You can also find outstanding art galleries and restaurants of every type.

This neighbourhood attracts a young and hip crowd and has a vivacious vibe. It's only 10 minutes southwest of the city centre.