14 Historical Tours in Brussels Worth Booking

1.Historical Walking Tour with Chocolate & Waffle Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,165 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $42Our pick

Walk through Brussels with an English-speaking guide for about 2.5 hours, from Grand Place to Place Royale. See major sights, hear stories about Belgian history and culture, enjoy a warm waffle near Manneken Pis, and taste Mary chocolates in the Royal Galleries. Groups are capped at 14 people.

“We really enjoyed our 2.5 hour tour with Paul seeing the sights of Brussels, enjoying a waffle and chocolate treats from Mary’s.”

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2.Tell Me About Brussels! | First Day Must-Do | Local Storytellers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 649 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $3Best value

Start at Brussels’ Grand Place and walk through the old center with an English-speaking guide such as Tom, Tristan, Conor, or Pascal. In about two and a half hours, you’ll see Manneken Pis, the Bourse, Delirium, the Royal Galleries, the cathedral, Brussels Park, and the Royal Palace. The small-group format keeps the tour personal, while the pay-what-you-want model lets you decide the guide’s value.

“Conor was fantastic in story telling and sharing with all the fun and historical facts. he is passionate about what he does and very knowledgeable. This tour gave us a much needed overview picture when we just started our 4-day stay in the city. It is a tour I absolutely recommend to everyone visiting the city.”

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3.Historical Tour with Chocolate & Waffle Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 642 reviews · from $40

See Brussels’ Grand Place, Manneken Pis, Royal Galleries, cathedral, palace, and Mont des Arts with guides such as Louise, Ian, Sarah, and Sancar. The 2.5-hour walk includes a Belgian waffle, a praline from a royal warrant holder, and practical food and sightseeing tips.

“A very informative, yet entertaining tour. Tour guide Ian brings the history of Brussels and the true, or almost true, stories about it to life. In between, you'll enjoy a waffle for refreshment and later, authentic chocolates to sample. The tour is relatively long at 2.5 to 3 hours, but it covers the historical part and the Mont des Arts. I highly recommend the tour, and especially Ian!”

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4.Historical Walking Tour: The Story of Brussels – by Legends

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 164 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Follow an English-speaking guide through Brussels on a 2.5-hour walk from Grand Place to Mont des Arts. You’ll see Manneken Pis, Saint Nicholas Church, La Monnaie, the cathedral, Royal Park, and comic art sites. Guides such as Dan, Isabella, Patrick, Rita, Julien, and Pablo have led the route, which mixes history, legends, views, and local food advice.

“Although very early for the hour and having waited 30 minutes later, we only saw a red umbrella but who was visiting in Spanish and did not work for viator. So total disappointment. No message or call to indicate a possible cancellation. On the other hand the cost of the reservation has been debited. We saw a few newlyweds on the balcony of the city hall as entertainment in waiting. Finally we managed by ourselves for the visit, but it ruined our start of stay.Auto-translated”

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5.Visite guidée : Bruxelles, 1000 Ans de Luttes

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 82 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $3

Walk through Brussels’ Marolles district in English with a local guide such as Thomas, Simon, or François. Over about two hours, connect a 12th-century church, the unfinished Palace of Justice renovation, a city-view elevator, neighborhood history, and the Place du Jeu de Balle flea market. The tour ends among cafés and restaurants.

“Being a group of 12 friends from different places in Europe, Francois was a wonderful host during this tour. Starting at hotel Amigo, he guided us on a sunny Sunday morning to unusual & unique places in the Sablon & Marolles districts of Brussels. We thought we knew Brussels somewhat, we now know there is still so much more to explore & discover. Thank you very much Francois for being such a generous storyteller !”

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6.Museum Art & History Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 58 reviews · 1 day · from $11

Spend a full day at Brussels’ Museum of Art and History, where ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Belgian archaeology, Asian Buddhas, Islamic art, and Art Nouveau share one grand building. Your $11 ticket includes entry, skips the ticket line, and works well for families, history fans, and rainy-day plans.

“El museo es impresionante y lo disfrutan grandes y chicos.”

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7.Historic Battle of the Bulge Sites Tour from Brussels

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · from $701

Spend 8 to 10 hours with historian István of History Wolf Tours, traveling from Brussels to Bastogne and nearby battle sites. Visit Jack’s Wood, the Bastogne War Museum, Mardasson Memorial, Bastogne Barracks, Sherman tanks, and local food shops. Hotel pickup, lunch, snacks, drinks, and private transport are included.

“Communication from then was awesome and my guide Wolf was a star! He discussed my interests at the start and adapted the tour to best suit me, never before have I had such personal engagement that resulted in the most brilliant and memorable experience. I cannot speak more highly of Wolf and this tour. He and tour are cemented in my memory for ever 🙏🏻👍”

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8.BELvue Belgium History Museum Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 27 reviews · 1 day · from $11

Visit BELvue Museum beside Brussels’ Royal Palace and trace Belgium through democracy, prosperity, solidarity, migration, language, pluralism, and Europe. Use the downloadable guide in Dutch, English, French, German, or Italian, then browse more than 200 objects, from coffee filters and fryers to crystal and a Red Devils football.

“musée à découvrir pour connaître ce beau pays”

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9.2-Hour Walking Tour of the Historic Center with a Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 8 reviews · from $3

Join a local Spanish or French-speaking guide for a two-hour walk through Brussels’ historic center. Start at Grand-Place, see the Tintin mural and Manneken Pis, pause at Bourse and Delirium Café, pass through the Galeries Royales Saint Hubert, and finish at Mont des Arts. The tour includes local tips but no food, drinks, museum entry, or transport.

“les explications précises, l'historique intéressant un bon moment”

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10.Private Historical Tour: Highlights of Brussels

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $105

See central Brussels with a private English-speaking guide on a 2.5-hour walk from Grand Place to Mont des Arts. The route covers guildhalls, comic art, Manneken Pis, churches, royal squares, and Saint-Géry. Guides including Sebastian, Daniel, and Don have led engaging walks with humor, clear history, and useful tips for exploring on your own.

“Our private tour guide Don was amazingly knowledgeable about the city and finding hidden treasures most guides could not. Don took us to narrow streets and explained the term gang. Also hidden artifacts. I believe he went above and beyond our expectations. Dons recommendations to continue on our own after tour completed was well worth it. I for sure will take similar tours in the future when traveling.”

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11.Historic Ypres WWI Sites – Tour from Brussels

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $701

Spend 7 to 10 hours with History Wolf Tours visiting major WWI sites around Ypres. A historian guide, including István or the guide known as The Wolf, leads you through museums, preserved trenches, memorials, and cemeteries. Lunch, snacks, drinks, transport, and admission fees are included. Minimum age is 16.

“Fantastic, made such an effort to find out what I was interested in and tailor it to that. Went the extra mile to ensure I could see everything. Had great conversations surrounding the wars and the politics involved.”

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12.A Self-Guided Tour of Brussels: From Medieval to Modern Times

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5 reviews · from $9

Use the VoiceMap app to follow Isaac’s English audio tour from the Royal Palace through Grand Place, historic lanes, comic murals, churches, museums, and Marolles. The route takes about 90 minutes to two hours, works offline, and can be used on foot or virtually at home. Bring your own phone and headphones.

“Nice tour but it’s all uphill. I don’t know why they wouldn’t just have you go the other way then it would be downhill….”

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13.Brussels, 1000 Years of Struggles

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 4 reviews · 2 hours · from $3

Walk Brussels’ Marolles with a live English- or French-speaking guide and trace the neighborhood’s long record of protest, resistance, and change. Simon has led the tour with humor and energy. Expect major landmarks, obscure alleys, social history, and a possible extra payment at the end, so carry cash.

“Excellente visite guidée par Simon, passionnant. Le site guetyourguide ne dit pas qu’il faut payer à la fin de la visite en plus des 3 euros, du coup je n’avais pas prévu d’argent liquide , c’est dommage .”

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14.Brussels Walking Tour with Waffle Tasting: History and Delights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $45

Spend about 2.5 hours walking central Brussels with a local guide, from the Royal Galleries and Grand Place to Manneken Pis, Sablon, and Mont des Arts. Your waffle tasting is included. Guides may lead the tour in English or Spanish, and Yasmine is one guide praised for her care and city knowledge.

“The ladies at Brussels City Tours were so nice and helpful. The lady who did the walking tour for us was full of information about all the places we visited. Recommended tour if you have limited time.”

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