Historic buildings in the centre of Brussels, ideal for a one-day itinerary
🕐📍🍫🧇🍺🕐📍🍫🧇🍺🕐📍🍫🧇
Brussels · One-day itinerary

One Day in Brussels: Itinerary With Lunch, Chocolate and Waffles

⏱ 4-hour tour🍽 Lunch included📍 Grand Place 23
Check availability & book →
The easiest way to spend one day in Brussels is to build it around a guided food tour. Ours starts at 11:00 AM at the Grand Place and lasts 4 hours, with a full-course lunch, 3 chocolate tastings, 2 beers, a Brussels waffle and the main sights of the centre. That leaves your morning and late afternoon free.
⏱Starts
11:00 AM, on time
📍Meeting point
Grand Place 23
🗣Guide language
English, German
🍽You eat
Lunch, chocolate, beer, waffle
Your perfect day, hour by hour
  • Morning
  • Lunch
  • Afternoon

A one-day plan

  1. Morning: arrive and settle inDrop your bags, have a coffee and walk to the Grand Place. Arrive at least 15 minutes before 11:00 AM.
  2. 11:00 AM: the food tour startsHistory of the Grand Place and its guild houses, then 3 chocolate tastings, the Bourse, the oldest taverns and Jeanneke Pis.
  3. Around 12:30: lunchA full-course lunch away from the tourist spots, with mussels, meatballs in tomato sauce and gratin, 2 beer tastings and a Brussels waffle for dessert.
  4. Afternoon: the tour continuesSaint Catherine, the Old Port, the view from the city hall rooftop, the city gates and Manneken Pis. The tour ends at the Grand Place.
  5. Late afternoon and evening: your choiceUse the free time for shopping, a museum or a walk. Book dinner only if you are hungry: the lunch is a full meal.
People walking past a white historic building in Brussels
Plate of Belgian waffles in BrusselsTable of Belgian chocolate candies in Brussels

What is included

  • A full-course lunch with Belgian dishes: mussels, meatballs in tomato sauce, gratin
  • Dessert: a Brussels waffle with pastries and chocolate
  • 3 chocolate tastings at leading chocolate shops
  • 2 beer tastings along with the food
  • A guided walk past the major sights of Brussels
  • Other options for non-beer drinkers
  • Food and drinks

Not included: tips or gratuities for your guide.

Why a food tour is the best backbone for one day

With only one day, the hardest decisions are what to see and where to eat. The tour answers both: you cross the old town from the Grand Place to the Old Port and back, you eat lunch in a place chosen by your guide, and you see the main sights without checking a map.

You also keep the morning and the late afternoon for what matters to you, such as a museum, shopping or simply a rest.

Good to know before you plan

Opening hours, train times and museum tickets change, so check them before you plan the free parts of your day. The tour starts on time at 11:00 AM and late arrivals are not accepted or refunded, so plan your arrival with a margin.

Is this tour right for you?

Great if you

  • have one day in Brussels and want a clear plan
  • want lunch, chocolate, beer and waffles in one outing
  • prefer a guide to a long list of attractions
  • travel by train and arrive in the morning

Think twice if

  • you have food allergies: the tour is not recommended
  • you are gluten-free or vegan: not recommended
  • you arrive after 11:00 AM: the tour starts on time

Practical tips before you book

  • Come hungry: lunch is part of the tour.
  • Arrive at least 15 minutes before 11:00 AM. The tour starts on time.
  • Wear comfortable shoes: you walk through the old town for 4 hours.
  • Booking closes 1 hour before the start. Brussels Central Station is nearby.
  • If you do not drink beer, other options are available. Tips for the guide are not included.

Where the tour starts

The tour starts at Grand Place 23, 1000 Brussels. Meet your guide outside Mary Grand'Place at least 15 minutes before 11:00 AM. Open the meeting point in Google Maps.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to spend one day in Brussels?

A guided food tour is an easy backbone for the day: it covers lunch, chocolate, a waffle and the main sights of the centre in 4 hours.

What time does the food tour start and finish?

It starts at 11:00 AM at Grand Place 23, lasts 4 hours and ends at the Grand Place.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A full-course lunch is included, with Belgian dishes such as mussels, meatballs in tomato sauce and gratin.

What is the minimum age?

12 years.

Which languages are available?

English and German.

Can I book at the last minute?

Booking closes 1 hour before the start. Check live availability on the booking page.

Make your one day in Brussels count

Choose your date, check live availability and reserve online in a few minutes.

Check availability & book →Secure online booking with major credit cards · Cancellation policy

Want something more focused? See our chocolate tour and workshop or our beer tasting tour.