Grand Place / City Center

Brussels' central square and main tourist zone. Good for sightseeing but high pickpocket and scam risk. Lots of police so violent crime is rare, but watch your stuff constantly. Visit for a few hours, don't stay here.

Grand Place is Brussels' main square with ornate guildhalls and a Gothic town hall. During the day it's packed with tour groups, street performers, and people taking photos. Streets around it are full of chocolate shops, waffle stands, lace stores, and tourist restaurants. All these tourists make it prime territory for pickpockets and scammers. You'll see distraction teams - someone spills something on you while their partner grabs your bag, or fake charity workers with clipboards. The area around Manneken Pis and between Grand Place and Central Station has constant petty crime. Heavy police presence though, and violent crime is rare. After tour groups clear out around 6pm it gets quieter but stays lit and patrolled. Most restaurants near Grand Place are tourist traps - overpriced, mediocre food. Walk a few blocks for better options. Beer cafes like Delirium and A la Mort Subite are the real deal though. Everyone's a tourist so eating alone is normal. Convenient for sightseeing but exhausting to actually stay here because of the constant crowds and tourist-focused everything.