Brussels Comic Art Day Itinerary (2026)

A day in the capital of the comic strip

Belgium gave the world Tintin, the Smurfs and Lucky Luke, and Brussels celebrates that heritage with 50+ giant murals, a superb museum, and a whole culture around the “ninth art.” This one-day itinerary is a joyful, largely-free comic crawl — perfect for fans, families, and anyone who loves the city’s playful side. For the background, see Belgian comics explained.

Morning — the mural hunt

09:30 — Start at the Tintin wall. By Manneken-Pis on Rue de l’Étuve: Tintin, Snowy and Captain Haddock on a fire escape — the icon (Tintin in Brussels).

10:00 — Hunt the central murals. Loop through the lower town (Marché au Charbon, Saint-Géry) collecting Broussaille (the first mural, 1991), Le Chat, Ric Hochet, the Smurfs and more, map in hand (murals map). A comic murals tour or a Tintin & street-art walk adds the stories.

It’s free, outdoors, and a brilliant game for kids (family things to do).

Midday — the Comics Art Museum

12:00 — Lunch near Rue des Sables.

13:00 — Comics Art Museum (Belgian Comic Strip Center). Original Tintin and Smurfs art, a rocket model, the history of the ligne claire style — all inside a stunning Victor Horta Art Nouveau building, so you get architecture too (guide). A museum ticket skips the queue. Allow ~1.5–2 hrs.

Afternoon — shops & more murals

15:00 — The Tintin Shop & comic stores. Near the Grand-Place, browse figurines, prints and collector editions — the best comic souvenirs (Tintin guide).

15:45 — More walls. Catch any murals you missed — Gaston Lagaffe near the museum, others toward Saint-Géry. Look for Tintin at Brussels-Midi station if you’re passing through.

16:30 — Treat stop. A waffle or chocolate to finish — the perfect comic-day reward (best waffles).

For serious fans: the Hergé Museum

If Tintin is a deep love, a separate half-day trip to the Hergé Museum in Louvain-la-Neuve (~30 km, by train) is the ultimate pilgrimage — though it’s outside Brussels, so weigh it against the city’s other day trips.

Tips

It’s mostly free — only the museum and souvenirs cost (budget itinerary).
Great for kids — turn the murals into a “spot the character” game.
Look up and around corners — some murals are high or down side streets.
Combine with Art Nouveau — the museum’s Horta building bridges both (art nouveau day).

The takeaway

A comic-art day captures Brussels’ soul better than any monument — playful, free-spirited, and proud of the cartoonists it gave the world. Hunt the walls, dive into the museum’s Horta-housed collection, follow Tintin, and you’ll see why the city paints its heroes on its buildings. Start with the comic strip route and pair it with the Art Nouveau day for a full visual-culture weekend.