RunCity

Brussels on foot: a self-guided walking route

This route takes you past 11 of Brussels's best-known sights, including St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral, Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, Grand-Place and more. It is about 4 km on foot, roughly 2 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Follow the list on your own, or play it as a free GPS checkpoint game with RunCity and race the clock on the Brussels leaderboard.

  • 11Stops
  • about 4 kmDistance
  • 2 hoursWalking
  • about 46 minRunning
Play Brussels in RunCity

Free during launch. Runs in your phone's browser; the app is in English, German and Hungarian.

Brussels
Photo: Francisco Conde Sánchez · CC BY-SA 3.0

Brussels' centre is small, and this route covers it in about 4 km, from the upper town to the Marolles. It starts at the twin-towered Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula, passes through the glass-roofed Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert and opens onto the Grand-Place, ringed by guildhalls and the town hall tower. The Bourse and the Manneken Pis, often dressed in one of his hundreds of costumes, are a few minutes away.

The Mont des Arts gardens climb to Place Royale, and from there the route crosses the Sablon, with its Gothic church and chocolatiers, to the colossal dome of the Palais de Justice. A lift beside it drops into the Marolles for the bonus stop, the flea market on Place du Jeu de Balle, held every morning. Pick up frites or waffles along the way; the Grand-Place is at its best after dark.

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Download the route as GPX (for Komoot, Strava or a watch)

The stops

A suggested order. In the game you can visit them in any order.

  1. St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral

    St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral Photo

    The twin-towered cathedral on its hill.

    Photo: Luc Viatour · CC BY-SA 3.0

  2. Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert

    Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert

    The glass-roofed arcade of chocolate shops and cafés.

    Photo: iMahesh · CC BY-SA 4.0

  3. Grand-Place

    Grand-Place Photo

    The guildhalls and the town hall tower around the square.

    Photo: Celuici · CC BY-SA 4.0

  4. Brussels Stock Exchange (Bourse)

    Brussels Stock Exchange (Bourse) Photo

    The Bourse's columned façade from the pedestrian boulevard.

    Photo: Karmakolle · CC0

  5. Manneken Pis

    Manneken Pis Photo

    The little bronze boy on his corner, often in costume.

    Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0

  6. Mont des Arts

    Mont des Arts

    The terraced gardens with the city stretched out below.

    Photo: Julian Lupyan · CC0

  7. Place Royale

    Place Royale

    The neoclassical square with the statue of Godfrey of Bouillon.

    Photo: Michielverbeek · CC BY-SA 4.0

  8. Notre-Dame du Sablon

    Notre-Dame du Sablon Photo

    The Gothic church façade across the little park.

    Photo: J.Nicolas KONDA YANS… · CC BY 3.0

  9. Grand Sablon

    Grand Sablon

    The antiques square lined with chocolatiers.

    Photo: Rolf Kranz · CC BY-SA 4.0

  10. Palais de Justice

    Palais de Justice Photo

    The colossal dome from the Place Poelaert terrace.

    Photo: Martin Mycielski (Stansfield) · CC BY-SA 3.0

  11. Place du Jeu de Balle

    Place du Jeu de Balle Bonus

    The Marolles flea-market square.

    Photo: User:Ben2 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Play Brussels in RunCity

Leaderboard

    Questions

    Can you see Brussels on foot in one day?

    Yes. The 11 stops on this route add up to about 4 km, roughly 2 hours at an easy pace with short stops.

    Is this self-guided walking tour free?

    Yes. The route and map on this page are free, and the RunCity game for Brussels is free during launch.

    How does the RunCity game work in Brussels?

    Open Brussels in RunCity, walk to a stop and tap Validate: your phone's GPS confirms you are there. Some stops also ask for a photo. Timed runs go on the Brussels leaderboard.

    Where does the route start?

    This page suggests starting at St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral and finishing at Place du Jeu de Balle. In the game you can take the stops in any order.

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