city tours brussels

Brussels City Tours

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Bruges and Ghent - Belgium's Fairytale Cities - from Brussels

Luxembourg and Dinant Day Trip from Brussels

Brussels Highlights Walking and Bus Tour w/ Waffle

Amsterdam Day Trip from Brussels With Cheese, Clogs and Windmills

Flanders Fields Remembrance Tour from Brussels with Lunch

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Brussels City Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Guided tours that showcase Brussels’ heritage

09 March 2022

Is it your first time in Brussels? Or are you looking to get to know the city’s heritage better? The best way to discover or rediscover Brussels’ classics and must-sees is with a guided tour. Original tours, packed with juicy anecdotes, take you past places that are key parts of our capital's history.

Gothic grandeur

Feast your eyes on the grandeur of Brussels' Grand-Place , with its glorious town hall and countless guild houses. The colourful umbrellas of the passionate guides will lead you through the glorious history of this stunning world heritage site . There's a guided tour almost every hour. It's ideal for last-minute decisions... (psst: don't forget a little tip!). 

With its richly decorated facade and impressive tower, the City of Brussels' Town Hall is one of the most beautiful buildings in the country. But did you know that the inside is also worth a visit? On Wednesdays and Sundays , an experienced guide will escort you through the many halls and galleries , interspersed with anecdotes from Brussels city politics.

Can't get enough of cross-ribbed vaults and Brabant Gothic architecture ? Then walk up the Treurberg hill for a guided tour of the Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula . The free tour of the cathedral is the perfect opportunity to learn more about the history of this remarkable religious building. If you're not afraid of heights and a bit of exercise you can even take a tour of the cathedral's towers . Be advised that a tour of the towers must be requested at least two weeks in advance and costs €10 per person.

Brussels' Palace of Justice is a real eye-catching jewel of Brussels' heritage. It's the largest courthouse in the world . This gigantic building, designed by Joseph Poelaert, has a usable area of 40,000m². The dome is 100 metres high and there are more than 250 rooms, including 27 impressive courtrooms! That's bigger than Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. A visit is, therefore, a must.

By tram, bus or horse-drawn carriage

Sightseeing in Brussels with a guide on board? The electric hop-on-hop-off Tootbus takes you from the Atomium to the Grand-Place and from the Mont des Arts to the European Quarter. Brussels City Tours also offer tour bus rides .

Prefer a mode of transport with a touch of historical flair? Hop on board the Brussels Tourist Tramway for a four-hour vintage tram ride that takes you past Brussels heritage sites. Or let yourself be driven around the capital a horse-drawn carriage . The carriages are available every day of the week on rue Charles Buls .

Guided tours through a patchwork of architectural styles

From Art Nouveau, Art Deco, typically Brussels eclecticism and modernism to contemporary architecture... Brussels’ urban landscape is a patchwork of architectural styles. Stroll along the squares and stately avenues with a guide, or take a peek behind the magnificent facades on an exclusive guided tour of private residences with explore.brussels .

Die-hard architecture fans are in for a treat with no less than three architecture festivals : the  Brussels Art Nouveau & Art Deco (BANAD) Festival , the  Brussels Biennale of Eclectic Architecture (BBEA) and the  Brussels Biennalle - Neoclassic . 

Guided tours: architectural heritage

City run art nouveau.

Discover Art Nouveau while jogging at your ease!

Capital of Belgium and Europe, Brussels is also the capital of ... Art Nouveau! Join us on a 9 km tour to discover some buildings representative of this current architecture but also other monuments of the commune of Saint-Gilles. You do not have to be a great athlete to participate: this run is accessible for « start to runners » as well.The route may be adapted to your wishes. All year round, by reservation.

Quartier Porte de Hal

Saint-Gilles

Guided tours

Art Nouveau, from the Spring to the Ponds

The tour “Art Nouveau, from the Spring to the Ponds” takes you to the heart of Ixelles, from the Defacqz district to the Ixelles ponds, to discover the architects of the first and second generation of Art Nouveau.

The Defacqz district is home to several works by major architects and shows the first impulses of Art Nouveau architecture in Brussels. After a few stops around rue Defacqz and avenue Louise, the tour takes you to the peaceful district of Ixelles ponds to discover other architectural treasures. Discover unsuspected jewels in neighborhoods crossed every day by thousands of people and which have seen, despite the urban (r)evolutions, their beauty and their wealth preserved! WHAT ARE YOU GONNA SEE ? The tour “Art Nouveau, from the Spring to the Ponds” takes you to the heart of Ixelles, from the Defacqz district to the Ixelles ponds, to discover the architects of the first and second generation of Art Nouveau. Let us tell you the urban history of these neighborhoods next to Avenue Louise and Abbaye de La Cambre by (re-)discovering many houses and private mansions. On the program of the walk, among others… – Tassel Hotel, by Victor Horta ; – Solvay Hotel, by Victor Horta; – Otlet Hotel, by Octave van Rysselberghe and Henry Van de Velde; – Ciamberlani Hotel, by Paul Hankar; – Other works by Albert Roosenboom, Ernest Delune, Ernest Blerot ; – But also many small stories and anecdotes! We will not go into the houses and mansions (most of the are occupied), but photographic supports are provided to give you a better idea of the interior of the buildings. Because Art Nouveau is a “Total Art” which certainly does not stop at the facades! PRACTICAL INFO Regular tours in english and french : Cost : Voluntary* Duration : About 2 hours Group max : 25 people (less in Corona period) Meeting point : Avenue Louise 149 – 1000 Bruxelles (next to Defacqz tram stop) This tour takes place every other sunday. check our website to make sure it takes place ;-) Private tour on demand in english or french

Original guided tour designed and run by the Brussels By Foot independant guides

Defacqz Tram Stop

Art Nouveau dans le Quartier des Squares

Brussels by Foot

Musical monuments

Brussels is bursting with musical talent that loves to sing its praises. Think of icons like Stromae and Angèle. But the capital's master singer-songwriter is, without doubt,  Jacques Brel.

Armed with an audio guide , discover Brel's beloved Brussels through songs, interviews, testimonies and anecdotes on the Brel in Brussels walks. You'll be introduced to his youth, his private life and his life as an artist. Let yourself be guided to all the places where his voice echoes to this day.

Guided tours: musical heritage

With brel in brussels - walking tour.

Brel Foundation

Brussels heritage: monuments and gastronomy

Follow the guide to Brussels' iconic monuments: the Grand-Place, the Royal Saint Hubert Galleries and the legendary Manneken-Pis. Along the narrow streets, cafes, restaurants and typical taverns serve Brussels specialities : mussels, chips, chocolate... Brussels also boast a fantastic intangible heritage , with our beer culture being its most effervescent example. Treat yourself!

Guided tours: gastronomic heritage

Factory visit and demonstration at planète chocolat.

Our guests learn all about the various stages in the production of pralines and caraques , involving a lot of humour and passion, and not forgetting the deliciious degustation of our artisan pralines and our own hot chocolate. Duration: 45 min - 60 min (depends on the questions of the visitors)

Demonstrations for individuals are arranged on Saturdays at 4:00 PM and on Sundays at 3:00 PM and are held in English and in French. You find us in the heart of Brussels beetween the popular Manneken Pis and the Grand Place.

A master chocolate maker from Planète Chocolat

Planète Chocolat

Belgian Chocolate Village

A new chocolate museum opened its doors on September 20th 2014 in Brussels on the former Victoria chocolate works. Sited near the Koekelberg Basilica, the Belgian Chocolate Village is one of the largest museums in Europe to be dedicated to chocolate.

The museum tour route displays and explains the stages of the manufacture of chocolate, its uses, its history, its benefits, its economics and its diversity. It appeals to all the visitors' senses. At the heart of the museum there is a unique tropical greenhouse. You can also participate at chocolate workshops (on reservation - 15 days before) and you can buy chocolate in our shop.

Brussels Beer Bus

Brussels and its beers with the Brussels Beer Bus

Go back in time by boarding an ambulance 1940-45 completely transformed into a rolling museum of the unusual and old Brussels. Let yourself be guided by a Brussels guide through the streets and monuments of our capital and have fun with his anecdotes. While visiting, taste Brussels beers "on board" or at a local brewery. An experience for those who want to discover unusual Brussels and off the beaten track. Bookings on our website www.brusselsbeerbus.com

Local guides

Discover Brussels in a unique way

Discover Brussels with our red double deckers : the most easy and adorable way to visit the city. Get a 20% discount on your ticket with City Sightseeing Brussels: 360° panoramical view guaranteed.

Live your greatest citytrip nosing out  the main attractions and sights of the city.

Get on our bus at the Cathedrale (Place Saint Gudula) for a tour between 60 and 90 minutes, without stopping!

Audio guide in several languages

Our tour is guided in 8 different languages : French, English, German, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Russian and Dutch.

Our busses have WIFI, airco and heating during winter . When the nice Belgian wheater does not play its role, the upper deck of the busses can be covered.

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Latest reviews

Very insightful and fun, would recommend to get a good intro to Brussels!

Amazing tour. My husband and I have taken many tours around the word, and honestly, Pablo has been so far the best tour guide. He made the tour enjoyable, and shared a lot of his knowledge with the group. I highly recommend Pablo.

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The best tours & experiences in brussels.

Brussels is a city known for being home to numerous EU institutions, beautiful architecture, and a fascinating history—oh, and it's a chocolate paradise!

What to see in Brussels?

The Grand Place, the historic heart of the city, is considered by many to be the most beautiful city in the world. Nearby you will find the Brussels Cathedral , the Manneken Pis sculpture , the  Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries , the Mont des Arts garden and other iconic sites.

If you're at all interested in politics, a visit to the European Parliament or another EU institution is well worth it!

What to eat?

Chocolate lovers will quickly find themselves falling in love with Brussels, which has plenty of chocolate shops and specialised museums all around the city. Belgian waffles ,  moules frites (mussels and french fries), and Belgian beer are other must-try delicacies when in the city.

The best day trips from Brussels

When visiting Brussels, many travellers will embark on a day trip or two outside of the city. Ghent and Bruges are two of the most popular options, both known for canals and medieval architecture. Leuven , with its university life, and Dinant , with its picturesque landscapes and collegiate church, are other, perhaps slightly underrated options!

Other attractions in Bruselas that might interest you

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Description

This is a great way to discover Brussels: we offer no preregistered general audio comments and you get so much more than a walking tour of just the city center .  Our guides make the difference ! We are one of the very few companies that use qualified local, professional guides that are born and bred here . T hey are passionate about sharing information about our city’s past, present and future with you . This tour will be an   eye opener that helps you understand Belgium and to see the links with European history. We advise you to take this excursion upon your arrival in Belgium.    

We start out with a walking tour of the city center. Then you join us for a comfortable coach tour along all  important monuments. We'll show you everything: the old town, the Atomium , the diplomatic   district of the EU, the royal palaces, u pper and downtown Brussels . Nothing relevant is left out yet, with our live guides there are never two tours that are fully identical…   

BRUSSELS CITY TOURS Grasmarkt, 61, Rue du Marché aux Herbes B 1000 BRUSSELS (Belgium)

0032 (0)2/513.77.44

Guided City Tours, Private Tours &

The best free walking tour in brussels, local storytellers unveiling the history of the city through stories, our tours & activites in brussels lead by local guides, tell me stories about brussels.

Free Tour of Brussels

With our team of young, dynamic storytellers this is the not-boring walking tour of Brussels. See the highlight of Belgium's capital and use our recommendations afterwards.

Brussels Beer Tour

Beer Tasting & Stories Tour

Let's sample some beers! Beer is what unites Belgium. Let us do the talking, you can do the tasting.

2-hour Highlights of Brussels

Brussels Private Tour

Get your private storyteller. Focus on the highlights, discover the lesser known parts, let us introduce you to Belgian food & drinks or a combination of those!

About Brussels

Discover brussels' rich history and culture with a local guide.

Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is a treasure trove of history and culture. Its charming architecture, delicious cuisine, and vibrant arts scene make it the perfect place to discover with a local guide.

You'll have the opportunity to explore the city's hidden gems and learn about its highlights. Visit the iconic Grand Place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and marvel at the impressive Gothic architecture of the Town Hall and the Breadhouse.

Stroll through the scenic streets of the neighbourhoods around the city centre. Or stay in the centre to see the famous murals dedicated to Belgian comics. Take a walk around the picturesque Mont des Arts and discover the museums and Royal Palace.

Brussels is also known for its typical Belgian delicacies. With our expert local guides, you can try some of the city's famous chocolate, waffles, fries and beer while also learning about the local culinary traditions.

Join us to discover Brussels' history and culture while also gaining insight into the daily life of the locals.

Reviews we are proud of

Left by our guests on independent platforms.

Definitely going to judge all future tours against this one. Pascal was so great and you could feel his love for the city in the tour. We had so much fun with this tour and definitely walked away feeling like we’d gotten the best of Brugge.

We had a wonderful tour with Edward! He was so knowledgeable and friendly and we really got to know the city from a local perspective.

We had a great walking tour with Ray. It was very informative and hit all the must see spots. Ray was a super knowledgeable and fun guy to walk with. I would definitely recommend this to anyone traveling to Bruges.

Frequently Asked Questions

It means that it's a Pay What You Want tour. At the end of the tour, you decide what the tour is worth to you and whether you want to reward the guide accordingly (and according to your budget). That way everyone can enjoy a tour.

We do allow people to join our tours on the spot. If you want to have your spot guaranteed however, booking through our own website here is advised (and it's free and simple).

Yes they do! If we were affraid of a little rain that half of the time we'd have to cancel our tours. Instead we adapt! With some light rain: we try to fix an umbrella for the participants that forgot their own, walk faster and relax once we've found shelter again. With heavy rain: we make sure everyone is properly dressed for bad weather or divert into buildings.

Proud Founding Member of

For years local & independant tour companies like us had to fight against a few global players and large booking platforms extorting us with booking fees. The 2020 global pandemic gave us the opportunity to work on a shared platform.

If you liked our tours then take a look at freetourcommunity.com to find the highest rated free walking tours in 65 cities in 36 countries , carefully curated by an amazing coalition of free tour enthousiasts.

Quality Guaranteed Walking Tours

Whether you're looking for a free walking tour of Brussels to get introduced to the city or for a small group tour to get a greater understanding of it: we're here for you!

• Small groups : hear your guide & be able to ask questions
• We focus on our stops instead of jamming in as many instagram locations as possible
• Our guides are locals that know the city they work/live in inside out

Ambassadors of Brussels: historic tour guides storytellers in Brussels

Since most factual details are likely to be forgotten, we focus on stories to be remembered. Historically correct of course! That's how we achieved our 5-star rating.

Our Expert Recommendations for Brussels

Are being put together right now (february 2023).

We guide our guests through the city every day, buy our mums Belgian pralines, have a quick waffle before a tour, we meet our fellow guides over a beer and bring our girlfriends and boyfriends to that new breakfast or lunch spot or to a restaurant for dinner.

With all our experience we're compiling a list with recommendations for Brussels.

Check back soon and the map will be filled with our favourite places!

Meet our guides

A true Brusseleir. Storyteller by day. Stand-up comedian by night.

He spent his childhood all over the world before rooting in Brussels. And since Tom's granddad was from Brussels, you'll be in for stories from a truly local perspective.

The Irishman who lives in Brussels.

A mid-life crisis in 2014 is working out quite well for this Canadian-born Brusseleir at heart. Tristan made a career change and is now a tour guide, sketch writer, performer on The Schuman Show and he runs a weekly English comedy show .

Coming soon.

Top Tours in Brussels, Belgium

Brussels tours.

• Walking Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Chinese (Simplified)
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

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What travellers are saying.

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WALKING TOURS & ACTIVITIES IN BRUSSELS

• Select Tours
• PRIVATE TOURS

Free Tour of Brussels

Book the original Brussels free walking tour and visit many of the city's highlights with a local gu ...

Brussels Beer Tasting Tour

Taste some of the best Belgian beers with us!

Brussels Chocolate Tasting Tour

Taste the famous Belgian chocolate with SANDEMANs expert locals

2-hour Brussels Highlights Private Tour

Make the most out of your visit and discover Brussels' main attractions with your private tour guide

3-hour Brussels Private City Tour

Enjoy a comprehensive overview of the fascinating history of Brussels and visit all the must-see sit ...

Tell us the landmarks, stories or parts of the city you want to see, how long you have to see them and when you want to go, and we’ll build an itinerary that suits you.

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Discover the many faces of Brussels with a passionate local guide

Brussels is best known for beer, chocolate and the European Parliament, but there are is so much more to see in Brussels than that! With stunning buildings, beautiful parks, and a thriving alternative scene, we show you this incredible city through the eyes of some of Brussels’ best local tour guides.

The original  Free Tour of Brussels  covers many of Brussels top attractions, including the Manneken Pis, Grand Place and Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert. After you’ve got the overview with the free walking tour, delve deeper with us!

After all that walking, you’ll be looking forward to experiencing some Belgian beer and chocolate. Our beer tour  includes beer tastings from some of Brussels’ best bars and the chocolate tour takes you to some of Brussels’ best chocolate shops. Want to keep going? Our top-rated pub crawl  is a great night out in Brussels, with bars, clubs and drink deals all night.

If you’ve still got energy the next day, why not try a day trip to Bruges? The  Bruges tour  will take you to one of the most beautiful medieval areas in all of Europe.

Enjoy authentic local experiences

Brussels is part of the SANDEMANs NEW Europe network, one of the largest walking tour companies in the world. Offering daily tours in English and Spanish, we believe in supporting local communities and are committed to giving a voice to some of Berlin's best local freelance tour guides, who passionately share the city's history and culture with their own unique and always-entertaining style.

Aside from the Free Tour, in Brussels you’ll also find unforgettable tours and experiences. We’re looking forward to seeing you soon!

Tours & activities across Europe, Israel & USA

• Over 2 million guests per year
• Over 160,000 five-star reviews
• Over 100 tours daily, rain, hail or shine
• Top quality tours with local guides, whatever your budget

Things to do in Brussels

Ready to start exploring Brussels? Check out these useful tips and don't miss any of the city's main attractions

The best accommodation in town

Finding the right place to stay can be difficult - that's why we have sorted you out with a list of our favourite hostels and hotels in Brussels

The best places to eat in Brussels

Don't fall into any tourist trap! Here's a list of the top places to eat in Brussels recommended by locals

The greatest bars in the city

Discover our selection of popular spots among the locals to taste from authentic Belgian beer to delicious cocktails

The best shopping in Brussels

Find everything you are looking for with this guide to the best shops, markets and shopping streets in Brussels

The local expert guides we work with are proud to show you the best Brussels has to offer!

Scroll through to learn more about these unforgettable guides, including where they’re from, why they love Brussels and which tours they can offer you.

Participation in tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe is strictly on a voluntary basis. Neither SANDEMANs NEW Europe, nor the self-employed freelance guides who are the providers of the tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe, will be held responsible in any way for injuries to body or property incurred during tours. The tour guides reserve the right to deny participation in any tour, to any person, for any reason. Thank you for your understanding.

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About Brussels City Tours

Brussels city tours is the first sightseeing tour of its kind in brussels who provides more than just a great way to travel around belgium..

We offer well organized excursions to the most beautiful and important landmarks of Belgium and its surroundings.

We are extremely passionate about giving the you historically, socially and culturally a sound understanding of the visited venue, in all its many aspects. Our team is our biggest asset: we work with full time professional and multilingual guides who are highly knowledgeable about their tours. We are the only sightseeing tour who is physically present at the heart of the city center of Brussels. Brussels City Tours staff is there to help you with all your requests and will not rest until your tours are excellent. Brussels City Tours will make your time in Belgium one to remember. You can rely on our local expertise to ensure that your every need is fulfilled.

Our luxury coaches and the professional drivers will take you comfortably and safely to the destination of your choice, while our planned itineraries will help you see everything and take in every moment.

Our Destinations

Cologne & monschau, keukenhof & delft, flanders fields, maasmechelen village.

BRUSSELS CITY TOURS Grasmarkt, 61, Rue du Marché aux Herbes B 1000 BRUSSELS (Belgium)

0032 (0)2/513.77.44

Cinquantenaire Park (Parc du Cinquantenaire)

Brussels, BEL

Spanning around 74 acres (30 hectares), sprawling Cinquantenaire Park (Parc du Cinquantenaire) was named in honor of the 50th anniversary of Belgian independence, which was celebrated there with the 1880 National. Today, the park is home to three museums, along with the Great Mosque of Brussels and a triumphal arch dating to 1905.

Most travelers go to Cinquantenaire Park to visit one of its museums. The oldest is the Royal Military Museum, with all sorts of military-related objects (including aircraft). The Cinquantenaire Museum features artifacts and art from around the world, while Autoworld hosts a collection of vintage cars.

Other park facilities include sports pitches, picnic tables, benches, and a couple of playgrounds. If you’re there in summer, check out the pop-up drive-in/walk-in movie theater that’s sometimes set up in the park.

• The entrance on the Schuman side of the park (to the west) is accessible to wheelchairs.

Cinquantenaire Park is about a 30-minute walk from Central Station. You can also get there by bus or metro. If you want to wander through the park, get off at Schuman station, to the west; if you’re heading straight to the museums, Merode (to the east) will get you there quicker.

Cinquantenaire is a year-round attraction, though it’s naturally at its best in the summer months, when the days are longer and rain is less likely. Various cultural celebrations take place in the park throughout the year, from concerts and parades to fireworks displays and other events. The park usually closes only in cases of extreme weather.

The Temple of Human Passions is a small pavilion built in 1896 to host Human Passions, a huge marble relief made by Belgian sculptor Jef Lambeaux. The sculpture was highly controversial at the time, partially because it cost the government a small fortune, and partially because it depicted naked people engaged in all sorts of unchaste acts. Sealed for decades after its creation, the temple is now open to visitors.

Things To Do Available ( 14 )

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A slow tour of green Ghent: Graffiti art walks, canoe clean ups and zero-waste restaurants

M y journey from the bustling Belgian capital of Brussels across to the ancient Flemish city of Ghent traverses bucolic countryside marked by traditional windmills and ecological wind turbines, and taking just 30 minutes by train. It's a low-carbon footprint beginning to discover one of Europe's most sustainable destinations and a much more relaxed manner of travel than driving out of traffic-congested Brussels.

Arriving at the grandiose neo-Gothic Saint-Peter station, I jump on an electric tram that takes only 10 minutes to trundle into the city's medieval centre, which has been car-free since 1997.

That is just the tip of Ghent’s green iceberg as the destination is a long-time eco-pioneer for citizens and travellers looking for an environmentally responsible experience. Within easy reach for walkers and cyclists, the city's cafes and restaurants are big on zero-waste philosophies and many create delicious dishes with organic locavore ingredients, such as championing locally grown celeriac instead of imported avocado. Vegetarian and vegan eateries are everywhere, and the city created “Thursday Veggie Day” which, according to the World Wildlife Fund , has become popular around the world, including in Helsinki, San Francisco, Cape Town and Sao Paulo.

Many hotels in the city follow the Green Key and Green Globe manifestos of energy-saving to reduce their ecological footprint, and that of their guests. And while Ghent’s high street is home to many of the common global fashion brands like H&M, Zara and Benetton, there are also some brilliant independent boutiques where local designers create their own fashions and accessories, often from upcycled vintage materials.

Unlike its better-known neighbour Bruges, which suffers from an invasion of day-trippers similar to Amsterdam and Venice , Ghent is more discrete and less crowded but still has magnificent Gothic castles and cathedrals, artwork from the early Renaissance and impressive museum collections.

A slow tour of the city is the ideal way to get under its skin. I begin by exploring languid canals lined by ornate medieval guild houses and palaces, dating back to when the textile trade made Ghent one of the richest and most powerful entrepots in Europe. I take the easy option of jumping on a guided electric boat trip, but can’t help noticing the eager canoeists who stop every so often to fish rubbish out of the water. Rented by DoKano as part of the city's Clear Water Project, it's a project aimed at increasing eco-awareness among the city's students and visiting tourists.

Back on land, there are some obligatory must-sees for any visitor heading to Ghent starting with Saint-Bavo’s Cathedral with the Van Eycks' Adoration of the Mystic Lamb , followed by a trip to the top of the Unesco World Heritage belfry for spectacular city views. Outside the belfry I rent a bike and cycle across town to the venerable Museum of Fine Arts, for a quiet afternoon viewing works by Old Masters Breugel, Bosch and Rubens.

But what makes Ghent such a quirky, under-the-radar destination are not these classic sights but its more offbeat attractions where the city actively promotes alternative culture. Taking a longer bike road through the old medieval town into the historic docklands, I explore the 19th century industrial heritage of rusting cranes, abandoned warehouses and factories, brought back to life today as craft breweries, theatres, parks and sustainable social housing.

Hidden away in a wild, overgrown garden, the bohemian Bar Bricolage, a riot of recycled retro furniture, hosts everything from brunch and barbecues to live concerts, flea markets and exhibitions. Right on the water’s edge, a discrete red-brick building, once an old welding factory, houses the innovative 019 project, an experimental centre for a local artists that combines architecture, graphic design and visual art.

Street art is on display everywhere you walk, so it is no surprise to learn that Ghent proudly declares itself a graffiti-friendly city. There are more than 500 murals dotted around, which can be tracked down on an official self-guided street art tour, but I head straight for an unofficial open-air gallery right in the heart of the centre that runs along the walls of Werregarenstraat, known to all as Graffiti Alley. It has been opened to street artists since 1995, and the creations continually reinvented by essentially local Ghentois spray-can artists. Every few years the walls are painted white, giving a new generation of graffitists a blank canvas.

Ghent has always been one of the top foodie destinations in Belgium, carving a name for itself with casual eateries rather than upmarket restaurants. There is even a municipal Food Council for sustainable food that promotes the reuse and redistribution of restaurant leftovers. Before lunch I drop by the organic Lousberg Market, an old textile factory taken over by a co-operative of local farmers, artisan bakers, butcher and cheese makers alongside a casual canteen serving daily home-cooked dishes, soups and cakes using solely market produce.

There's vast choice for non-meat eaters in Ghent, including at the recently opened Soul Kitchen, where young chef Misha Berger’s vegan menu proudly lists the name of each farmer alongside his vegetables, proposing original recipes like yellow beet tartare with horseradish and sweet and sour carrot.

For dinner, I cannot resist reserving a table at Publiek, run by talented chef Olly Ceulenaere who tells me that “people need to know where they are, so we only use seasonal, local products like sustainably fished seafood from the North Sea. You won’t find things like imported pineapples or lemon grass on our menu and I am also against using luxury products like truffles and caviar – for me the luxury products we use are onions and garlic, of an incredibly high quality." And the proof is in the pudding, as they say, presenting itself when you taste the simple but entirely delicious dishes he is creating: cabbage topped with smoked eel and shavings of parsnip root, or marinated herrings smothered with baby radishes, fava beans and smoked seaweed.

He even makes a tart, sour sauce out of vegetable peelings to avoid waste. Publiek now has the recognition of a Michelin star, but Ceulenaere insists that nothing will change. “We will not alter our philosophy and I will not let our prices rise. Basically we arrive in the morning and start with an empty fridge. The produce arrives, we are in the kitchen all day and by closing time the fridge is empty again. What better way for a chef to cook?”