Visiting Brussels with children
6 tips for a great day out
Looking for the ideal destination for a day out with the kids? Brussels is less than two hours by train from Amsterdam and is packed with child-friendly attractions and activities. How about hunting for dinosaur fossils in the Museum of Natural Sciences? Or visiting Tintin in the Comics Art Museum? We have listed the 6 best tips for a day out in Brussels with children.
Brussels' museums are also great for children
Museums are not boring at all! Brussels has a wide range of museums and most of them offer guided tours or fact-finding missions for children. Let your children be amazed, learn and play all in one. Museums are perfect for children and families.
©VisitFlanders - Christophe Licoppe
1. Museum of Natural Sciences
Those who visit the Museum of Natural Sciences will immediately be surprised by the giant dinosaur. The Natural History Museum is not called the Dino Museum for nothing and is the ideal museum to visit with children. It has a fun exploration route where you can learn something about evolution and our planet.
Address: Vautierstraat 29
Website: www.naturalsciences.be/en/museum/home
2. The Comics Art Museum
Dive into the wonderful world of comic books at the Comics Art Museum in Brussels. The museum is located in the heart of Brussels, in a beautiful art nouveau building. Here you will find the classics as well as contemporary comic books. Even after the museum, you can continue to enjoy comic art: wander the streets of Brussels, look up and admire drawings of comic book heroes on walls and facades. The ideal way to discover the city centre with children!
Address: Zandstraat 20
Website: www.comicscenter.net/en/home
3. Train World
Give your children a unique railway experience with a visit to Train World. Discover the very first steam locomotives, take a seat on 100-year-old trains and dive into the world of flashy high-speed trains. Train World is a fantastic experience for railway enthusiasts and especially for children. There are special treasure hunts for the whole family. Tip: download the app in advance!
Train World is located next to Schaarbeek station and is easily accessible by metro, bus and bicycle.
Address: Pr. Elisabethplein 5
Website: www.trainworld.be/en
What activities are there for children
Want to do something outdoors too? Then take the comic book walk or look at the following tips.
4. Bruparck - Mini Europe
Take your children on a trip through Europe in just a few hours during a visit to Bruparck family park! This extraordinary attraction is a miniature city with about 350 models of the most beautiful monuments of the countries of the European Union. Mini-Europa is located at the foot of the Atomium and next to the large cinema complex Kinepolis. So, you can easily visit both.
Address: Eeuwfeestlaan 20
Website: bruparck.com/minieurope-en.html
5. Explore the Brussels Forests with children
Do you like to explore nature with your children? Put on your walking shoes and go exploring in the Brussels forest or discover the different green oases around Brussels. Wander through the historic Forêt de Soignes, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Or discover the flora and fauna of the Scheut forest. With its many footpaths, beautiful playgrounds and green views, it is a great place to have fun with the kids! At Brussels Central Station there are buses that go directly to Scheutbos, the travel time is about 45 minutes.
6. Visit the historic centre with kids
Explore the centre of Brussels with the whole family. See the Grand Place and walk past Manneken Pis. "Why hasn't Manneken Pis gotten dressed?", your children will probably ask. Admire the collection of costumes of the world-famous statue at the GardeRobe Manneken Pis museum, located in the Bread House on the Grand Place, a stone's throw from the fountain.
Travel with children to Brussels by train
Do you want to take the whole family on a city trip to Brussels? Then choose to travel by train. The train is ideal when travelling with children: they can play, walk around or read a book on the way. What's more, children can travel to Brussels at a discount. Eurostar and Intercity Brussels offer attractive discounts, so you can travel with the whole family for a great price.
Child discount Intercity Brussels
- Children 0 to 3 years travel for free without a ticket
- Children aged 4 to 11 travel for free with an adult (aged 18 or over) when booking online. Please indicate at the time of booking that your child is travelling with you and you will receive a ticket (free of charge).
Child discount Eurostar
The ticket price for children will change for train journeys from 4 November 2024. You will then get 50% off the adult fare in Eurostar Standard and Plus. Children will not receive a discount in Eurostar Premier.
Brussels with kids
Restaurants in Brussels
We have picked the top ten restaurants in Brussels, so you can have a lovely meal immediately upon arrival.
Hotels in Brussels
Stay in a cheap and nice hotel in the city centre or close to Brussels Airport. We offer you 8 tips.
Museums in Brussels
Which museum in Brussels should you not miss? Here an overview of the 10 best museums in Brussels.
Shopping in Brussels
The 5 best districts and shopping streets for a shopping spree.
Discover Brussels per bike
Enjoy historical monuments, green landscapes and numerous museums and activities along the way.
Walking tours Brussels
The city has over 900 remarkable trees, spread over many gardens and parks. So, don’t skip Warande Park.
© Foto hoofdbeeld VisitFlanders SOFAM 2018 - Christophe Licoppe