Belgium · MUSEUMS
On a wet Belgian afternoon a museum is not the fallback, it is the plan. The 15 below cover the chocolate museums, the fine-art collections and the Atomium, with entry prices and which tickets skip the queue.
Visit Brussels’ Atomium, the giant iron-crystal pavilion built for the 1958 World’s Fair, for city views, light displays, and temporary exhibitions. Your ticket also covers the Design Museum Brussels, an eight-minute walk away, including its 2,000-piece Plastics Design Collection.
“It was absolutely amazing! The views were amazing and to get to the Atomium was super easy!”
At Choco-Story Brussels, you follow a self-guided audio tour through cocoa’s Aztec roots, European rise, and Belgian praline-making. Interactive displays and games lead to a live chocolatier demonstration, where you taste the freshly made praline. Audio is available in several languages, including English, French, and Dutch.
“Thoroughly enjoyed this experience. As you walk in you get a small chocolate sample and you walk around using a hand held audio guide. You learn all about the history of chocolate and have chocolate samples too. The best part was watching a chocolate making demonstration and we got to try this chocolate too!”
At Choco-Story Bruges, follow an audio-guided route through chocolate’s Maya and Aztec origins, European rise, ingredients, and production. Interactive displays suit children, while a live praline demonstration and tastings finish the 1.5-hour visit. The tour begins and ends at Wijnzakstraat 2.
“We took our 8 year old daughter during our stop with the Disney Dream. We read the reviews and figured we would take the chance for the price. It was fantastic, we loved the listening devices and how easy it was to use them. We loved the interactive games to play. Also loved the chocolate demonstration and of course trying the chocolate that was shown to us how they make it. There was also 4 different types of chocolate to try. Spent lots in the gift all reasonably priced. Lovely chocolate. X”
At Choco-Story Brussels, a chocolatier such as Mario or Louise shows you how to pipe chocolate and decorate bars, lollies, and drawings. You get about 50 minutes of hands-on making, then explore the museum with an audio guide, tastings, and a praline demonstration.
“We really enjoyed the chocolate making class, we got to make several bars and lollies. The lady taking the class was also lovely. The museum afterwards is fun and interactive with plenty of chocolate samples!”
Spend about an hour with more than 130 Banksy pieces and life-size murals in a former fabric house near Place De Brouckere and Place Sainte Catherine. This self-guided exhibition uses French, English, and Dutch information, with a calm layout across two floors and a small gift shop.
“Yes, all copies as you would expect but despite the unappealing look of the building that houses the exhibition it was great. Very well laid out. Just enough information to go with each exhibit and description of Banksy ideas very simple but poignant. Yes go, we enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and lay out of the exhibition.”
At Choco-Story in Bruges, you follow four floors of cocoa and chocolate history inside a 15th-century building. An English audio guide explains more than 1,000 objects, while child-friendly content suits families. Finish with a praline-making demonstration and chocolate samples.
“This was a great little musuem. We got audio guides and they do a child's version that my 4 year old loved using and did listen to. A really nice way to learn about chocolate, lots of clever and interactive ways of showing the story. And all you can eat chocolate buttons at the end!”
Visit Train World in Brussels independently with a one-day entry ticket, free app, and access to the Draw me a train! exhibition through August 31, 2025. See the 19th-century Pays de Waes locomotive, old railway cottages, Schaerbeek station, interactive displays, and five steam engines.
“Odd about the animals on the leaflet The display of clothing was good however it was hard to see behind the walls and wasn’t in English”
At Choco-Story Brugge, a chocolatier shows you how to shape and decorate lollipops and mendiants with several types of chocolate and toppings. You keep what you make, then tour the museum with an audio guide in 11 languages. The one-hour session suits adults and children age 7 and up.
“We visited as a family of 3. Enjoyed and still have chocolate in the fridge. Will be happy to visit again.”
Use the digital Musea Brugge Card for one-time entry to 11 museums and monuments over 72 hours. Climb the Belfry, see Flemish Primitives at Groeninge, admire Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child, and explore Bruges on foot at your own pace.
“Bruges is totally enchanting and the Museum card gave me the impetus to get to as many of the included sites as possible (plus a few that weren't on the card). It was nice to just be able to scan the digital card and walk on in!”
Explore Choco-Story Brussels at your own pace with an audio guide, cocoa history, interactive displays, chocolate samples, and a live praline demonstration. The museum is near Grand Place, takes about 45 to 90 minutes, and works well for families and chocolate fans.
“Very good presentation, with a cooking demo and tasting to end it. The only problem is that the staff allows too many people in the cramped exhibit rooms at any one time. It was difficult to access the code bars’readers.”
Spend about two hours at Train World in Brussels, housed beside Schaerbeek station. See five steam engines, royal carriages, railway cottages, historic objects, and interactive displays. A timed ticket secures entry, while the advertised audio guide adds stories and facts as you move through the museum.
“My Mom and I went and checked this museum out. The audio guide was 2 euros and was worth the price. It gave lots of interesting stories and facts that weren't written on any of the didactics around the museum. The reason for a 4/5 review was we found the staff to be a bit rude and unhelpful and the museum itself was very confusing to find your way around and there was not a lot of signage directing you how to exit. Overall though the trains were super cool, you could climb into many of them to get a better look, and the kids that were visiting with other…”
Visit Bruges Beer Experience in the Old Town and use an iPad Mini audio guide to explore brewing, Trappist beer, food pairing, and beer culture. Taste by sight, smell, and touch, then add a tasting for €6. Children up to 12 can follow the Bruges bear Kids Tour.
“tutto ottimo, soprattutto per la presenza di un'audioguida in italiano non così scontata in Belgio. Per il resto se nel reparto bar ci fosse una più ampia scelta di cibo sarebbe molto apprezzato da chi predilige bere a stomaco pieno”
Step into Brussels’ Autoworld Museum in Cinquantenaire Park for more than 250 cars, trucks, motorcycles, and royal limousines. Your ticket includes an audioguide and flexible museum entry. Allow one to two hours, or longer if classic cars are your passion.
“Amazing collection of cars, very informative and helpful - beautiful and well maintained venue - outstanding!”
Visit the Salvador Dalí: Marquis de Púbol exhibition in the Belfry’s Adornes Hall at Markt 7 in Bruges. You’ll see original sculptures, graphic works, and a dramatic Dalínian interior by Barron Saint Mythelfinger. Allow 15 minutes to 2 hours, depending on your interest.
“Why do you oblige me to write this much? I gave some feedback, that should be enough. This is the last time I’ll respond to your reuquest!”
Use the Brussels Card on your own schedule for 24, 48, or 72 hours. It covers 49 listed museums, skip-the-line Atomium entry, a city map, pocket guide, and discounts on tours, food, shopping, and attractions. Public transport is not included, so plan your museum route carefully.
A bench, a boat, a bar or a battlefield.
