BUS TOURS -- Though the city is compact and most of the major sites can be visited on foot, Brussels’ steep streets might prove a challenge for some, which is where these bus tours come in handy. Guided bus tours of Brussels last 2.5 hours, operate throughout the year, and are available from Brussels City Tours (www.brussels-city-tours.com; tel. 02/513-7744); they cover most of the city highlights and include farther-flung destinations like the Atomium and the EU district. The tours start at 29€ for adults, 26€ for seniors and students, children 4–12 are half off, and 3 and under are free. Also offered: tours to Bruges, Antwerp, Ghent, and the Flanders battlefields. Reservations can be made through most hotels, and hotel pickup is often available.
CitySightseeing Brussels (www.city-sightseeing.com) offers the now-ubiquitous hop-on, hop-off circular tour of the city; with 2 lines servicing 22 stops at all major attractions, including Cinqantenaire, Palais Royal, and Atomium. Prices start at 25€; departures vary from every 45 minutes in winter to every 15 minutes in July and August. Again: for most travelers, simply walking from site to site will be more cost and time effective, but for those with mobility impairments, this bus can be helpful.
WALKING TOURS -- Bravo Discovery (www.bravodiscovery.com; tel 02/470-603-505) operates daily free tours of Brussels that introduce visitors to the history of the city. These are so compelling (and fun), that many travelers go on to book the company’s pre-paid themed walking tours, which range in subject matter from beer or chocolate tasting to discovering Jewish Brussels (there are 7 themes in all). Most tours take 2 hours, prices start at 8€.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.