Comic Mural Trails of Brussels

If you’re a fan of street art and comics, then Brussels is the place to be! As the capital of comics, walls of buildings around the city have been decorated with characters and scenes from some of their famous comics resulting in over 80 produced since 1991! While it is hard to miss the murals, there are mapped-out trails of the comics available for a self-guided tour. 

Belgium has a long history of producing comics, from the beginning of the 20th century. The movement was referred to as “Le Neuvième Art,” called the Ninth Art starting with the production of bandes dessinées, literally translating to drawn strips, also called BD. During World War I, the popularity of BDs began to grow with the production of some of the most world-renowned comics such as The Adventures of Tintin by Georges Remi, “Le Journal de Mickey”, and The Smurfs. 

Select from the five routes below and start exploring the comic murals of Brussels!

Historical Center

The ideal route if you have limited time available in Brussels and want to get the most out of the most popular tourist sights and comic murals. This route is 5 kilometers in length, taking about 3 hours by foot, and will bring you through the historical center and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Click this link for the complete Google Maps.

The Marolles

Located in one of the districts of Brussels that gets a bad rep, there are several famous comic heroes to guide you through the neighborhood such as Quick and Flupke, Billy and Buddy, Blake and Mortimer, and Léonard. This route is also 5 kilometers long, taking 3 hours by foot. I recommend doing this route in the daylight and remaining aware of your surroundings. Click this link for the complete Google Maps.

Laeken and Haren

Take a break from the loud noises and concrete of the city center and take a more nature-filled route. Close to the popular city sites the Atomium and Mini Europe is another comic strip route, this one 7 kilometers long and 4 hours by a combination of walking and bus. If you’re planning on visiting these popular tourist attractions, consider adding this mural path to your itinerary. Click here for the complete Google Maps.

Sainte-Catherine

A short walk from the city center is the neighborhood of Sainte-Catherine which is a popular nightlife spot among locals. Within this route is one of the most impressive murals in the city, the Corto Maltese mural. This route is shorter, at 5 kilometers, and takes 3 hours by foot. Click here for the complete Google Maps.

Other Neighborhoods

This route is great for those that are interested in exploring the other regions of the city, and enjoy sightseeing from public transport. While there are only 6 comic murals on this route, it is a great option for a rest/sightseeing day in your itinerary. Click the link for the complete Google Maps.

As a fan of street art, exploring the comic mural trails of Brussels was super fun and added an element of surprise and beauty into everyday sights, while paying tribute to a famous aspect of Belgian culture. A big shout out to Visit Brussels for their amazing, well-crafted together comic mural routes on Google Maps, which has made planning and visiting the murals even easier!

Planning a visit to Belgium? Check out my complete travel guide!