Brussels

Belgium's love of wacky humour and comic book art come together in this wonderful museum housed in a fabulous Art Nouveau building designed by Victor Horta. Permanent exhibitions detail the history of European comic strips, while ever-changing temporary exhibitions focus on specific artists, time periods, and political contexts.Visitors can see plenty of its most famous subject, Hergé's Tintin, as well as the Smurfs and art from over 670 cartoonists. This is a temple to cartooning, now considered an art form worthy of serious consideration, and so the museum aims to trace the history and development of the discipline rather than to entertain. Guided tours are available for larger groups.

Address : Rue des Sables 20

Website : www.comicscenter.net/en/home

Telephone : +32 2 219 1980

Opening times : Tuesday to Thursday 10am-5pm, Friday to Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 12pm-6pm.

Admission : €8 adults, €6 children 12-18. Other concessions available.

Mall lovers everywhere should make a pilgrimage to the Galeries Royales Saint Hubert, the very first shopping arcade in Europe. Opened in 1847, the arcade became a drawcard for the elite of 19th century society and today continues to inspire shoppers and browsers alike. People from across the globe, young and old, enjoy perusing here and everyone will find something to their taste.The building is an architectural marvel: arcaded shop fronts across two floors are separated by pilasters, conceived in a Cinquecento style. The roof above is made of arched glass panes, connected by a delicate cast-iron framework. In between the various shops you'll find cafes, restaurants, a theatre, and even a cinema. With so much to see and do here, this attraction is family friendly and one the kids will enjoy too.

Address : Galerie du Roi 5, 1000 Bruxelles

Website : www.grsh.be/en

Telephone : +32 545 09 90

Opening times : Varied times depending on stores. Check website for details.

Admission : Free

The Grand Place is the heart of Brussels and has been since the Middle Ages. One of Europe's more beautiful squares, it lies in the centre of a maze of small cobbled streets and is surrounded by richly decorated 17th century Baroque Guildhouses, various Neo-Gothic buildings, and museums.It is, however, the town hall, a magnificent Gothic building that dominates the square. Markets, flower stalls, and various events are held here and this is the place to get to grips with the essence of Brussels, perhaps over a local delicacy at a pavement café.

Address : 1000 Brussels

Website : https://www.brussels.be/grand-place-brussels

Transport : Catch the Metro to get to the Grand Place. Metro stop: Centrale, Bourse (pre-metro) or De Broukere.

Opening times : Daily 9am-8pm

Admission : Free

Brussels' town hall is rated as one of the most splendid civic building in Europe. The foundations were laid in 1402 and it survived the bombing during World War II when most of the other buildings on the Grand Place were destroyed.The façade is embellished with gargoyles and images of nobility while the intricate 100 metre-high tower is resolved by a fine statue of St Michel, patron saint of Brussels. Guided tours are available for a small fee - well worth it to see the fine tapestries and miscellaneous works of art inside.

Address : Grand Place, 1000 Bruxelles

Website : www.brussels.be

Transport : Catch the Metro to get to the Grand Place. Metro stop: Centrale, Bourse (pre-metro) or De Broukere.

Opening times : Tuesday 10am-5pm, Wednesday 10am-12pm, Thursday 2pm-5pm

Admission : Guided tours €6 adults; €4 seniors, students, and children 6–12. Free for children 5 and under. Tickets sold at tourist office in Grand-Place.

The distinctive statue has been described as the Eiffel Tower of Brussels and tourists throng the streets in search of the tiny urinating urchin. The bronze mannequin is thought to represent the irreverent spirit of Brussels but there are numerous tales about its beginnings.Started by Louis XV of France many years ago, it has been the custom of foreign countries, companies, visiting dignitaries, or charities to donate an outfit to the Manneken-Pis and the little boy is usually decked out in the latest costume. Previous costumes are displayed in the City of Brussels Museum.As the cheeky fountain is one of the most popular attractions in Brussels, visitors can expect large crowds at most times of day, especially in tourist season.

Address : Rue de l’Etuve 31, located two blocks behind the Town Hall at Grand Place

Website : www.brussels.info/peeing-boy

Transport : Catch the Metro to get to the Grand Place. Metro stop: Centrale, Bourse (pre-metro) or De Broukere.

Admission : Free

Belgium's magnificent Royal Palace was built in the 19th century as the official residence of the Belgian Royal family although today is used for official functions and other ceremonial purposes. The palace is positioned in front of Brussels Park, itself well worth exploring, and directly opposite the modern Parliament building as if symbolically representing the country's system of government, a constitutional monarchy. Tours are only possible in summer and commence after the National Holiday on 21 July. Inside are a multitude of historical artefacts and some impressive contemporary art, commissioned by the queen in 2002.

Address : Rue Brederode 16, B-1000 Bruxelles

Website : www.monarchie.be

Opening times : Open Tuesday to Sunday, 22 July to 4 September

Admission : Free

An unmissable attraction for art lovers: the Royal Museums of Fine Art are Brussels' premier art museums. Consisting of the Musée Old Masters Museum, Musée Modern Museum, Musée Wiertz Museum, Musée Meunier Museum, Musée Magritte Museum, and the new Musée Fin-de-Siècle Museum.The largest is the Old Masters Museum, opened in 1887, featuring the best collection of Flemish art in the world; highlights include works by Van Dyck and over 20 paintings by Rubens. The Museum of Modern Art was opened in 1984 and includes fine examples from Belgium's best artists over the past century, plus modern legends such as Francis Bacon.The Magritte Museum is devoted to works of famous Belgian Surrealist René Magritte, and houses more than 200 of his works; while the new Musée Fin-de-Siècle Museum is dedicated to the 1900s when Brussels was the capital of Art Nouveau.

Address : Rue de la Régence 3

Website : www.fine-arts-museum.be

Transport : Public bus services 27, 29, 38, 71, 95

Opening times : Weekdays 10am-5pm, Weekends 11am-6pm. Closed on Mondays.

Admission : €15 for all museums.