Brussels Map
Discover the most interesting areas in the centre of Brussels.
Brussels © Julia – stock.adobe.com
1. Îlot Sacré
2. Saint-Jaques
3. Saint-Géry
4. Dansaert
5. Sainte-Catherine
6. De Brouckère
7. Neuve
8. Monnaie
9. Cathédrale
10. Marolles
11. Libertés
12. Royal
13. Mont des Arts
14. Sablon
15. Poelaert
16. Louise
17. Ixelles
18. Waterloo
19. Matongé
20. Léopold
21. Botanique
22. Nord
23. Canal
© Kostiantyn – stock.adobe.com
1. Îlot Sacré (Metro Bourse)
Îlot Sacré, meaning “Sacred Island”, is the heart of Brussels, the old town where the majestic Grand Place is located. It’s full of cafés, restaurants, and shops. Of course, everything is quite touristy, but a visit is an unforgettable experience.
2. Saint-Jaques (Metro Bourse)
Saint-Jaques is a charming old town district with many small shops, cozy cafés and Comic strip walls.
3. Saint-Géry (Metro Bourse)
The photogenic streets around the Saint-Géry market hall, now used for different cultural purposes, are lined with trendy street cafés.
4. Dansaert (Metro Sainte-Catherine)
The Rue Dansaert is known for boutiques featuring Belgian fashion labels.
5. Sainte-Catherine (Metro Sainte-Catherine)
Around Sainte-Catherine church, you’ll find many lovely restaurants, especially serving fish and seafood. A maritime flair still lingers around the old port, which can only be guessed at.
6. De Brouckère (Metro De Brouckère)
The Place de Brouckère, often called the Times Square of Brussels, was once bustling with traffic but is now a pedestrian zone.
7. Neuve (Metro De Brouckère)
The Rue Neuve is the main shopping street for mainstream stores. It also hosts the shopping center City2.
8. Monnaie (Metro De Brouckère)
Around the famous La Monnaie theatre there are many shops and cafés. Don’t forget to visit the hidden gem Place des Martyrs.
9. Cathédrale (Metro Gare Centrale)
The magnificent Brussels cathedral is a must-see on any tour.
10. Marolles (Metro Louise)
Les Marolles has always been a working-class neighborhood. Today, it is famous for its daily flea market, countless antique shops, and rustic cafés.
11. Libertés (Metro Parc)
The Quartier des Libertés, located behind the government buildings, features grand streets and charming cafés, offering a Parisian flair.
12. Royal (Metro Parc)
The royal palace and historic government buildings are located around a beautifully landscaped park.
13. Mont des Arts (Metro Parc)
The Mont des Arts (“hill of the arts”) boasts numerous world-class museums and a fantastic view of the downtown.
14. Sablon (Metro Gare Centrale)
In the center of the beautiful square ensemble of Grand and Petit Sablon stands the Notre-Dame au Sablon church. Surrounded by luxurious restaurants, chocolatiers, and antique shops.
15. Poelaert (Metro Louise)
The justice palace is a must-see – a massive building with a dome that dominates the area. From the square in front, you get a stunning view.
16. Louise (Metro Louise)
Around Place and Avenue Louise, you’ll find numerous luxurious boutiques.
17. Ixelles (Metro Louise)
Ixelles is an upscale district full of Art Nouveau architecture, intersected by Avenue Louise.
18. Waterloo (Metro Louise)
A massive boulevard with two names: Boulevard de Waterloo on the north side and Avenue de la Toison d’Or on the south side. It’s the center of the uptown. Luxury boutiques are primarily found on the north side.
19. Matongé (Metro Porte de Namur)
Matongé is the colorful Congolese neighborhood of Brussels. It’s home to many shops, restaurants, and nightlife spots.
20. Léopold (Metro Trône)
Once a splendid Art Nouveau quarter, it has been largely overtaken by mostly faceless EU buildings. Nevertheless, it remains interesting, especially around Parc Léopold.
21. Botanique (Metro Botanique)
Botanique is a former botanical garden, whose main building now is used for events. The beautiful park is open to the public and well worth a visit.
22. Nord (Metro Rogier)
There isn’t much to do in the Northern Quarter, but there’s plenty to see – if you’re a fan of modern architecture, glass towers, and skyscrapers. The Northern Quarter is Brussels’ main business district.
23. Canal (Metro Yser)
The Canal, between Square Sainctelette and Place des Armateurs, was an industrial area and is now transforming into a new urban hotspot for art, culture, and business. The highlight is the vast Tour & Taxis site, featuring magnificently renovated buildings.
Brussels features impressive attractions spread throughout the city. These three districts outside the map are especially worth mentioning:
Cinquantenaire (Metro Merode)
In the magnificent Parc du Cinquantenaire, located east of the city center, you’ll find the massive triumphal arch and several large museums.
Koekelberg (Metro Simonis)
In Koekelberg, northwest of Brussels, the national basilica stands majestically on the hill “Koekelberg”. It is one of the largest churches in the world.
Laeken (Metro Heysel)
Situated on the northern outskirts of Brussels, Laeken is home to stunning highlights in and around Parc de Laeken: the royal palace of Laeken, the royal greenhouses, the Atomium, Mini-Europe, and much more.
Worth mentioning:
Are you interested in Art Nouveau and Art Deco? Take a tour through the eastern parts of Brussels: Saint-Gilles (south), Uccle, Ixelles, Etterbeek, and Schaerbeek (southeast). These districts form a half circle.
Here you can find the route map for the Metro, Premetro and Tram: stib-mivb.be