Neighbourhood guide

Grand-Place and Îlot Sacré

The guild houses, Manneken-Pis and the lanes behind the Town Hall

The Grand-Place is the historic centre of Brussels. The Îlot Sacré is the knot of lanes around it, including Rue des Bouchers, Impasse de la Fidélité and the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert.

Fashion and Lace Museum is a museum on Rue de la Violette, close to the Grand-Place, about fashion and lace. Choco-Story Brussels is a chocolate museum on Rue de l'Étuve, a few steps from Manneken-Pis, that follows cocoa from the Aztecs to Belgian pralines. Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula is the Gothic cathedral of Brussels, on the slope between the Central Station and the upper town. Plaisirs d'Hiver (Winter Wonders) is the Christmas market and winter festival in the centre of Brussels.

Also on the map in this area: Grand-Place, Brussels Town Hall, Manneken-Pis, Jeanneke-Pis, Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, Maison du Roi, Zinneke Pis, Statue of Everard 't Serclaes, Delirium Café, La Mort Subite, À la Bécasse, Poechenellekelder, Maison Dandoy Tearoom, Chez Léon.

29 places

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Nearby neighbourhoods

Place Saint-Géry Halles Saint-Géry, the Bourse and the evening terraces 8 places · under 1 km away

Sainte-Catherine and De Brouckère, Brussels

Sainte-Catherine and De Brouckère The old fish quays, the opera and the central boulevards 14 places · under 1 km away

Mont des Arts and Royal Quarter, Brussels

Mont des Arts and Royal Quarter Palace, parks and the big museums of the upper town 19 places · under 1 km away

Sablon and Marolles Antique dealers and chocolatiers above, the flea market below 21 places · under 1 km away

The best of Grand-Place and Îlot Sacré

Best museum Fashion and Lace Museum A museum on Rue de la Violette, close to the Grand-Place, about fashion and lace.

Best landmark Grand-Place The central square of Brussels, ringed by guild houses and the Town Hall.

Best church Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula The Gothic cathedral of Brussels, on the slope between the Central Station and the upper town.

Things to do in Grand-Place and Îlot Sacré

Museum Fashion and Lace Museum A museum on Rue de la Violette, close to the Grand-Place, about fashion and lace.

Museum Choco-Story Brussels A chocolate museum on Rue de l'Étuve, a few steps from Manneken-Pis, that follows cocoa from the Aztecs to Belgian pralines.

Guild houses of the Grand-Place lit up at night in Brussels

Landmark · Free Grand-Place The central square of Brussels, ringed by guild houses and the Town Hall. Its decoration was largely rebuilt after the bombardment of 1695.

Brussels Town Hall and its Gothic tower floodlit at night on the Grand-Place

Landmark Brussels Town Hall The Gothic Town Hall on the Grand-Place, with a tall tower topped by a figure of Saint Michael.

Manneken-Pis bronze statue in its stone niche on a Brussels street corner

Landmark · Free Manneken-Pis A small bronze fountain statue of a boy on Rue de l'Étuve, one of the best known sights of the city.

Jeanneke-Pis bronze statue behind railings in an alley off Rue des Bouchers, Brussels

Landmark · Free Jeanneke-Pis A small fountain statue of a girl in an alley off Rue des Bouchers.

Glass-roofed arcade of the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert with pale stone arches in Brussels

Landmark Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert A glass-roofed shopping arcade opened in 1847, with chocolate shops, cafes and a cinema.

Maison du Roi neo-Gothic facade on the Grand-Place under a blue sky, Brussels

Landmark Maison du Roi The building facing the Town Hall on the Grand-Place that houses the Brussels City Museum.

Twin towers of the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels

Church · Free Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula The Gothic cathedral of Brussels, on the slope between the Central Station and the upper town.

Market · Free Plaisirs d'Hiver (Winter Wonders) The Christmas market and winter festival in the centre of Brussels.

Shopping Maison Dandoy A biscuit and waffle maker on Rue au Beurre.

Shopping Delvaux A Belgian leather goods house with a shop in the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert.

Shopping Tropismes A bookshop in the Galerie des Princes, in a former ballroom.

Shopping Pierre Marcolini A chocolatier with a shop on Rue des Minimes, facing the Sablon.

Food Chez Léon A restaurant on Rue des Bouchers that has served mussels and fries since 1893.

Food Aux Armes de Bruxelles A Brussels restaurant on Rue des Bouchers.

Cafe Maison Dandoy Tearoom A tearoom of the Maison Dandoy biscuit maker, on Rue Charles Buls.

Pub Delirium Café A beer cafe in Impasse de la Fidélité with a very long beer list.

Pub La Mort Subite A traditional beer hall near the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert.

Pub À la Bécasse A traditional beer hall on Rue de Tabora.

Pub Poechenellekelder A beer cafe on Rue du Chêne opposite Manneken-Pis, hung with marionettes.

Nightlife Théâtre Royal des Galeries A theatre in the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert.

Nightlife Cinéma Galeries An arthouse cinema in the Galerie de la Reine.

Zinneke Pis bronze dog statue beside a bollard on a Brussels street

Landmark · Free Zinneke Pis A bronze statue of a dog lifting its leg, at the corner of Rue des Chartreux and Rue du Vieux Marché aux Grains.

Memorial plaque of Everard 't Serclaes on a wall near the Grand-Place, Brussels

Landmark · Free Statue of Everard 't Serclaes A 14th-century hero of the city is shown on a bronze relief in a wall of Rue Charles Buls beside the Grand-Place.

Food Waffle Factory A waffle shop on Rue du Marché aux Herbes, a short walk from the Grand-Place.

Shopping Galler Chocolatier A Belgian chocolate maker with a shop on Rue au Beurre.

Shopping Godiva The Belgian chocolatier, with a shop on the Grand-Place.

Shopping Planète Chocolat A chocolate shop and workshop on Rue du Lombard, close to Manneken-Pis.

What's on in Grand-Place and Îlot Sacré

Local events in the next 30 days, read from the ward, park and organiser pages each one links to.

CAVE invites Kluster: Stranger Sounds Nightlife
Fri 13 Nov · CAVE at UMI
A club night at UMI with the Madrid collective Kluster and its resident DJ, for ages 18 and over.
23:00 to 06:00 · Map · Source: CAVE Brussels · CAVE invites Kluster - Stranger Sounds
Opening of the Three Artists exhibition Exhibition
Thu 19 Nov · GC De Markten
An exhibition opening at the community centre De Markten.
Free · Map · Source: De Markten · Vernissage: Expo Drie artiesten
BIZA turns 3 Festival
20 to 21 Nov · GC De Markten
A two day anniversary event of BIZA at the community centre De Markten.
Free · Map · Source: De Markten · BIZA viert 3 jaar
Creative Café: collage Activities
Fri 20 Nov · GC De Markten
A free collage workshop for ages 16 to 30 at the community centre De Markten.
Free · Map · Source: De Markten · Creatief Café - Collage
MashaaDunya exhibition Exhibition
On now, until 29 Nov · GC De Markten
An exhibition at the community centre De Markten.
Free · Map · Source: De Markten · Tentoonstelling MashaaDunya
Swipe. Scroll. Sniff. Repeat. showing Theatre and shows
Wed 2 Dec · GC De Markten
A public showing of a theatre project by Avansa Citizenne at the community centre De Markten.
Map · Source: De Markten · Swipe. Scroll. Sniff. Repeat. - Toonmoment
CAVE x Monarch x Fetish Project: LVST Nightlife
Fri 4 Dec · CAVE at UMI
A club night at UMI with Monarch Paris and Fetish Project, for ages 18 and over.
23:00 to 06:00 · Map · Source: CAVE Brussels · CAVE x Monarch x Fetish Project - LVST
Ecopolis Fair(er) Future Festival Festival
Sat 5 Dec · GC De Markten
A one day festival at De Markten run with Muntpunt, Kaaitheater, VUB and other partners.
Map · Source: De Markten

More local events around Brussels

From the blog

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Grand-Place Area or Saint-Gilles: Where to Stay in Brussels Read

Stay in Grand-Place and Îlot Sacré

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