Brussels sightseeing tour including the european parliament

Get to know Brussels, as well as the greater European Union, on this afternoon sightseeing tour that includes a visit to the European Parliament. See World Heritage-listed Grand Place; admire the stunning, Gothic-era Town Hall; and pass by major sights like St Michael's Cathedral and the Chinese Pavilion. Then head to the seat of the European Parliament to learn about its role within the EU and experience a simulated parliament session! It’s an afternoon of history, culture and politics that shouldn’t be missed.

After meeting your guide at a central location or being picked up from your hotel, your Brussels sightseeing tour starts in Grand Place, the city’s famous market square, where you’ll take a short walk with your guide. Hear the history of the square, which dates back to the Middle Ages, and admire its spectacular Gothic and Baroque buildings, including the remarkable Town Hall (built in the 1400s) and the quaint guildhalls.

Next, tour the city by luxury coach to see top attractions like beautiful St Michael's Cathedral, the Congress Column, the Heyseldistrict and world-famous Atomium, the Chinese Pavilion, and the Japanese Tower. Then head back to the city center to see the popular Sablon district with its countless antique shops.

Your tour continues with a drive to the magnificent Palace of Justice and fashionable Louise Square. Passing stately Royal Square, the Royal Palace and the Houses of Parliament, you'll arrive in the Cinquantenaire district, with its Triumphal Arch, exceptional museums and splendid Art Nouveau houses that make this a much-loved area of Brussels.

Finally, you’ll arrive in the European Quarter and the heart of the European Union – the imposing buildings that house the European Commission and European Council and act as the seat of the European Parliament, which represents the 500 million citizens of the EU. This is where parliamentary committees meet and where some plenary sessions are held.

Soak up the bustling ambiance and then head inside the Parlamentarium – the European Parliament Visitor Centre. After going through airport-style security, receive an audio-guide in your choice of languages (it’s available in all 23 official languages of the EU), and then explore the two-story exhibition space during your 45- to 60-minute self-guided tour. Your guide will be at the Parlamentarium while you are there, but you will take your tour independently.

Learn about the history of the EU through interactive displays and experience a simulation of an EP session, which puts you in the middle of the parliamentary action with a 360-degree digital screen. At the end of the Parlamentarium tour, you'll be taken back to the central departure point. If you wish to stay in the European Quarter you may, but you will then have to make your own way back when you're ready.