Brussels invented Art Nouveau in 1893, exported Surrealism through Magritte, and turned comics into a national art form. Three days across Horta's houses, Bozar's Art Deco halls, Wiels' brewery galleries and the Marolles' auction rooms.
Victor Horta's own 1901 house in Saint-Gilles, a UNESCO site and the purest Art Nouveau interior anywhere: the glass-roofed stairwell, curved bannisters and mosaic floors. Open Tue–Sun 10:00–17:30, closed Mondays. Timed tickets online only.
The Royal Museums' underground wing devoted to 1868–1914 Brussels: Khnopff, Ensor's masks, Rops, plus Wolfers silver and original Horta furniture. Six descending levels built into the old Royal Museums quarry. Tue–Fri 10:00–17:00.
A 1930 Blomme-designed Art Deco brewery turned contemporary art centre in 2007. Raw concrete halls host mid-career international solo shows; the residency programme keeps 12 artists working upstairs. Wed–Sun 11:00–18:00.
Paul Cauchie's 1905 home near the Cinquantenaire, its entire façade a sgraffito fresco of muses advertising his decorative studio. The interior opens only the first weekend of each month, 10:00–13:00 and 14:00–17:30.
Horta's 1928 Art Deco complex, built low so it would not block the King's view of the lower town. Henry Le Bœuf Hall is among Europe's finest acoustics and home to the National Orchestra; galleries run major exhibitions alongside.
Horta's 1906 Waucquez textile warehouse, saved from demolition and reopened in 1989 as the museum of the Ninth Art. Tintin, Spirou, Peyo's Smurfs and original inked plates, under the same iron-and-glass canopy.
Paul Saintenoy's 1899 wrought-iron department store holds 1,200 instruments over four floors, each triggering audio through infrared headphones. The componium and Adolphe Sax's own saxophones are here.
The Royal Film Archive screens roughly 40 films a week from a 70,000-print collection, including nightly silents with live piano accompaniment — a practice unbroken since 1962. Tickets sold at the door from an hour before.
Running every single morning since 1873, 6:00–14:00 (to 15:00 weekends). Around 500 stalls of estate clearances, Congolese masks, vinyl and genuine junk in the working-class Marolles, where Brusseleir dialect is still spoken.
Since 1991 the city has commissioned over 60 building-side murals — Broussaille on Rue du Marché au Charbon, Tintin's fire escape on Rue de l'Étuve, Blake and Mortimer near Notre-Dame de la Chapelle. Self-guided, permanently visible.
Housed in the former Compagnie des Bronzes foundry along the canal, it documents the industrial Brussels the EU quarter erased. Also runs canal boat tours and neighbourhood walks in Molenbeek. Tue–Fri 10:00–17:00.
Opened 1886 by Italian grocer Francesco Cirio, its Belle Époque interior of etched mirrors, brass and dark wood is protected heritage. The house drink is the half-en-half, still white wine cut with champagne, served since opening.