Royal Galleries

A glass-roofed shopping street from the 1840s that’s still one of Brussels’ most beautiful spots.

Not just window-shopping

Designed in 1847 by a 25-year-old architect named Jean-Pierre Cluysenaar, these galleries inspired similar arcades in Paris, Milan and London.

Belgium’s very first motion picture was shown here, and literary heavyweights like Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, and Baudelaire once hanged out in these halls. Poet Paul Verlaine even bought a pistol here—changing both his life and that of Arthur Rimbaud forever.

Living above it all

Look up above the shops and you’ll spot something unexpected – there are actual apartments up there. While tourists browse below, people are living their everyday lives behind these elegant windows. One of these apartments is always kept for the director of La Monnaie opera house. So next time you see someone slipping through a door upstairs, you’ll know where they’re heading.

Insider tip

Each section—King’s, Queen’s, and Prince’s Galleries—hosts different shops. Explore them all to find hidden chocolatiers and cafés. Visit early for fewer crowds or late evening for a romantic vibe under the lights.

When you need a rest, duck into Mokafé in the King’s Gallery. Their shrimp croquettes are a Brussels institution, best followed by their light-as-air waffles. For culture lovers, peek into Tropismes Libraires in the Prince’s Gallery – even if you don’t read French, those gilded ceilings will take your breath away.