We love using hop-on, hop-off buses to explore cities conveniently. Initially, we were a bit disappointed to find that Big Bus doesn’t operate in Belgium, but the excitement of trying Toot Bus quickly made up for it. Operating in a few countries across Europe, Toot Bus turned out to be a great option. Conveniently, the starting point of the route was right behind our hotel, so we decided to give it a go.
Booking and Cost
We booked our Toot Bus tickets online to take advantage of discounts. They offer various options, including one or two-day passes and combined passes with mini-Europe tickets. After considering our itinerary, we opted for a one-day pass, which cost us 72 euros for two adults and one child. We kept checking the prices but found no fluctuations, unlike the Big Bus in Paris, so we booked our tickets the day before our tour.
Toot Bus provides an audio guide in 11 languages (French, English, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, German, Japanese, Brazilian, Chinese, Russian, and Arabic), along with a special guide for kids in three languages (English, French, and Dutch). There were also plenty of informative leaflets about Brussels’ attractions. The headphones provided were of good quality, better than those from the Big Bus.
The route covers 16-18 stops, making it easy to explore. We planned our day carefully, picking a few key stops to visit and enjoying the rest from the comfort of the bus. Given the forecast of rain in the afternoon, we decided to prioritize outdoor attractions first.
Overall Experience
We caught the first bus at Stop 1 and headed to Mini-Europe, located next to the Atomium (Stop 6). We had pre-booked combo tickets for both attractions for €65, so we entered Mini-Europe at 10:15 a.m. without any crowds. Upon entry, a photographer captured our moment with the Mini-Europe mascot.
Mini-Europe
Mini-Europe offers a captivating miniature world, showcasing 350 of Europe’s most iconic landmarks. Each monument is meticulously reproduced at a 1/25 scale. This park showcases the historical, architectural, and cultural wealth of the 27 member states of the European Union, including the United Kingdom. To enhance its beauty, Mini-Europe features bonsai trees, flowery groves, and dwarf trees. The park also boasts thousands of lifelike figurines, animations, and interactive activities that children can thoroughly enjoy. We spent 2-3 hours exploring the park, finding it both entertaining and educational.
We were amazed by the intricate details captured in the miniature versions of the monuments. Many attractions have interactive elements, such as buttons that trigger sounds, boats that sail, containers that load and unload, train and plane simulators, and rocket launchers. Some of these features require a small fee, while others are free. The park also has miniature versions of the TGV, Eurostar, and metro trains running throughout. Yuven had a blast with all the activities. Later, a group of schoolchildren arrived for a field trip, and the park became a bit more crowded. As the rain started to fall, we rushed through our last 15 minutes.
Before leaving, we explored the park’s in-house games and activities, along with a café, souvenir store, and picture collection center. We purchased a printed photo of ourselves and a keychain with the picture for around 12 euros. Afterward, we walked over to Atomium, which is just a 5–7-minute stroll from Mini-Europe.
Atomium
This iconic structure was designed and built for the Brussels World’s Fair in 1958 as a symbol of peaceful atomic energy for scientific purposes. Originally constructed of aluminum, it underwent renovations in 2004-2006, replacing the aluminum with stainless steel. Standing at 335 feet tall, the Atomium is one of Belgium’s tallest structures. Its nine stainless steel-clad spheres are connected in the shape of a unit cell, resembling an iron crystal. The connecting tubes house stairs, escalators, and an elevator, providing access to the six visitable spheres, which contain exhibition halls and public spaces. The top sphere features a restaurant with panoramic views of Brussels.
We waited in line for about 10-15 minutes to reach the viewing deck on the top floor. The deck offers telescopes for enjoying breathtaking views of the city. Although the rain prevented us from seeing distant views, the city looked stunning and green from above. The top floor also has a café and free, clean restrooms. We took the elevator down to the ground floor and explored the exhibition, which took approximately an hour. The exhibition includes tunnels, stairs, and various sections to explore. On exit, we found a souvenir soap shop, paid restrooms, pram and stroller parking, a restaurant, and a store.
After our visit, it was still drizzling, so we grabbed some quick snacks while waiting for the next Toot Bus to arrive. The surrounding area was beautiful, with parks, natural trails, and a pond with swans. We enjoyed the serene atmosphere while waiting for the bus, which arrived after 20 minutes.
In the next part, we will continue our exploration with a visit to the iconic Cinquantenaire Arch and some other beautiful landmarks. Stay tuned!
Read about our experience of exploring the magnificent Grand Place…
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