Seriously, give me an “ideal’ itinerary for Brussels. Yes, Brussels.

What made you decide you wanted to visit Brussels? What’s that attracted you to wanting to go there for 2-3 days? I ask this because there is no one-size-fits-all perfect itinerary. Different people have different interests and different people like different things.

Here are some things that might fill two or three days:

Grand Place and surroundings, including the Brussels City Museum and the shopping arcades, and the Mannekin Pis.

The Mont des Arts and the various component museums of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts.

The Victor Horta House and maybe a self-guided walk looking at various Art Nouveau houses.

Maybe the Atomium?

I don’t dislike Brussels. I find it interesting and almost impressive in its aloofness and lack of loveability.

However I loved Antwerp, so if you’re in the market for a large Belgian city, that’s a good’un.

Well traditionally I do whatever Rick Steve’s guides suggests and I am literally waiting for my updated, brand new Belgium guidebook to arrive and I have really enjoyed the like minded travel lovers on here and seeing what they say. So, I do like architecture, like cathedrals and such, I like medieval art the best but I also love Impressionism. I guess I like everything but not modern art so much. I’m definitely no expert as you can tell. My favorite towns in Europe are Sevilla, Paris and Venice and I have traditionally traveled off season though this will be the first time I’ve gone so close to peak season and whatever that means I guess I want to take advantage of that fact vis a vis longer hours, etc. does that help at all?

Well in that case, given how your trip isn’t until September, why don’t you just read the guidebook first? You can then decide what it is that you want to see and do, instead of doing what others think you should do.

You don't have to wait until the guidebook arrives. Good into here on the site, especially the AT A GLANCE section.
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/belgium/brussels

Thanks for the at a glance tip. I didn’t know about these being online. Good tip!

I can recommend a hostel - the SleepWell, which is just off Rue Neuve, the main shopping street in the centre-ville of Brussels. I have not stayed there for quite some time, in fact not since they rebuilt after a fire, but the location is very good in my opinion:

https://www.sleepwell.be/index.php/en/

Don't stay near Brussels-Midi station or north of Rogier / near Brussels-North station. There are cheaper accommodations there but it's also a bit gritty and I would want you to feel safe.

Are you a museums person? Brussels has good museums in spades, great for when the weather turns rainy (which is often).

EDIT: I just realised you talked about your interests in another post. I would highly recommend the Royal Museums of Fine Arts. It is a complex of art museums, some ancient, some modern. I would also recommend visiting the antiques market at Place du Grand Sablon, near the art museums (Sat/ Sun). if you like art, I find that antiques give an interesting glimpse into a country's art history (art in everyday objects). There are also chocolate shops and some interesting cafés there (such as Au Vieux Saint-Martin), and a lovely church, Notre Dame des Victoires au Sablon.

Lavandula

You can hike and bike in the parc of the AfricaMuseum in Tervuren, east of Brussels. From there you can go to the "Zoniënwoud" and the "Ter Kamerenbos" too. Initially the museum started as a permanent exhibition about the colonial period of Belgium in central Africa, but reopend in 2018 after a 5 year renovation with a contemporary aproach towards Africa. I have visited it a few years before the renovation and sure it's worth to visit.

https://www.africamuseum.be/en

My favorite towns in Europe are Sevilla, Paris and Venice

A woman after my own heart.

So, I do like architecture, like cathedrals and such, I like medieval art the best

I second Golden Girl's suggestion to consider Antwerp. I really liked it. Sounds like you'd enjoy Museum Mayer van den Bergh (not found in Rick's book), and some of the churches I visited there. Here's my trip report which goes into more detail: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-the-netherlands-belgium-sept-2022

https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/belgium/antwerp

I stayed here in Dec 2023 for two nights.

https://www.dansaerthotel.com/en/

I nipped over from London on Eurostar for a quick visit.
It was E11 to there in a taxi from MIDI Station.
Very clean, tiny rooms, L’Occitane toiletries, ok breakfast…..but easy walking distance from everything in the centre of Brussels, such as the Grande Place.
I’d stay there again.