Brussels has spent 30+ years turning its blank walls into a city-wide art gallery. The official Brussels Comic Strip Route — started in 1991 by the city council and the Belgian Comic Strip Center — now features 60+ giant murals depicting Tintin, the Smurfs, Lucky Luke, and dozens of other Belgian comic characters. Add to that the dozens of contemporary graffiti pieces by Bonom, Créons, and international street artists, and Brussels has become one of Europe’s most rewarding cities for street-art walking. This Brussels street art guide for 2026 covers the best murals, walking routes, and how to plan a self-guided street art tour.
Why Walk the Brussels Street Art Guide?
Brussels’s street art is free, outdoor, and accessible 24/7. The Brussels street art guide essentials cluster on two layers: the official Comic Strip Route (60+ legally commissioned giant comic-character murals, mostly inside the Pentagon) and the broader contemporary street art scene (graffiti, stencils, paste-ups by artists like Bonom, Roa, and Créons). Together they form a 6-kilometre self-guided walking trail that takes 3-4 hours to complete properly.
For comics fans, the Brussels street art guide is essential. For casual visitors, the walking trail rewards exactly the kind of slow exploration that makes Brussels memorable.
The Brussels Comic Strip Route
Started in 1991. 60+ official murals across the Pentagon. Each mural commissioned by the city and the Belgian Comic Strip Center. The Brussels street art guide for the Comic Strip Route covers:
1. Tintin Murals (Multiple Locations)
Brussels celebrates its most famous comic export — Tintin — with multiple giant murals. The most iconic shows Tintin and Snowy descending a Brussels fire escape on Rue de l’Etuve.
2. Lucky Luke (Rue de la Buanderie)
Morris’s cowboy character on his trademark white horse Jolly Jumper.
3. The Smurfs (Rue de l’Olivier)
Peyo’s beloved blue creatures appearing in their forest setting.
4. Gaston Lagaffe (Multiple Locations)
Franquin’s office-bumbling Gaston in several Brussels murals.
5. Marsupilami (Multiple Locations)
The yellow spotted creature Franquin created.
6. Asterix (Rue des Sables)
The French Gaul Asterix (originally created by Goscinny — born in Belgium) appears in murals near the Belgian Comic Strip Centre.
7. Spirou et Fantasio (Multiple Locations)
The original Belgian comic adventure heroes.
8. Boule et Bill (Rue des Capucins)
The boy-and-dog French-Belgian comic.
Contemporary Brussels Street Art
Beyond the official Comic Strip Route, Brussels has a thriving contemporary street art scene:
Bonom
The most internationally recognised Belgian street artist. Known for large-scale animal murals across Brussels, particularly in the Pentagon and Schaerbeek.
Roa
Ghent-based street artist whose massive black-and-white animal murals appear across Brussels and Flanders.
Créons
Belgian street art collective specialising in figurative and surrealist murals.
Kool Koor
American-Belgian graffiti pioneer with several Brussels works.
International Visiting Artists
Brussels hosts regular international street-art festivals featuring artists from across Europe and beyond.
Brussels Street Art Guide: Recommended Walking Route
Start: Belgian Comic Strip Centre (Rue des Sables 20)
1. The Comic Strip Centre Tintin Mural: Largest Tintin mural in Brussels, right outside the museum.
2. Walk south to Rue de l’Etuve (Tintin and Snowy mural).
3. Past Manneken Pis to Rue du Marché au Charbon (Brokers mural by Cromheecke).
4. Continue to Rue de la Buanderie (Lucky Luke).
5. Cross the Pentagon to Rue de l’Olivier (Smurfs).
6. End in the Marolles neighbourhood — multiple murals plus the Jeu de Balle flea market.
Total walking distance: 5-6 km, 3-4 hours. Pick up the official Comic Strip Route map at any tourist office.
Brussels Street Art Guide: Practical Tips
Start at the Comic Strip Centre. Get the official map; visit the museum first for context. See our Belgian Comic Strip Centre Brussels.
Wear comfortable shoes. Cobblestones throughout the Pentagon. Plan for 3-4 hours of walking.
Go on weekday afternoons. Quieter streets; better photography.
Bring a camera. The Brussels street art guide rewards photographers.
Combine with food. Many murals are near friteries, chocolate shops, and waffle stands. See our best frites in Brussels.
Take a guided tour for context. Several Brussels operators offer guided street-art tours for €15-€40 per person.
Brussels Street Art Guide: Quick Reference
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Comic Strip Route murals | 60+ official murals |
| Walking distance | 5-6 km |
| Time needed | 3-4 hours |
| Cost | Free (self-guided) |
| Start point | Belgian Comic Strip Centre |
| Top characters | Tintin, Smurfs, Lucky Luke, Gaston |
| Best time | Weekday afternoons |
Sample Half-Day Brussels Street Art Walking Route
Brussels street art is concentrated in three pockets: the central Comic Strip Route, the Marolles district, and the canal zone around Molenbeek. This three-hour loop combines the first two and gives a strong introduction without wearing out your legs.
- Start: Brussels Central Station (10:00) – Walk five minutes to Rue de l’Etuve to see the iconic Manneken Pis mural by Joost Swarte across from the statue itself.
- Tintin and Captain Haddock, Rue de l’Etuve 33 (10:15) – The most photographed comic mural in Brussels, painted in 2005. Best photographed before 11:00 before crowds arrive.
- Broussaille, Rue du Marche au Charbon 33 (10:30) – The first official Brussels comic mural from 1991, depicting a couple walking arm-in-arm. The neighbouring rainbow crosswalk makes a good photo composition.
- Marolles district via Rue Haute (11:15) – Bonom’s giant black-and-white animal murals dominate side streets near Place du Jeu de Balle. Bonom is a Belgian artist whose monumental scale defines the area’s character.
- Recyclart and Chapelle station underpass (12:00) – A constantly changing tunnel of legal graffiti and large-scale pieces. New work appears weekly.
- Finish: Lunch at Chez Richard, Place du Jeu de Balle (13:00) – Croque-monsieur €9, beer €4, surrounded by the famous flea market that ends at 14:00 daily.
If you have more time, take metro line 5 to Comte de Flandre and walk the Molenbeek canal zone, where MIMA (Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art) anchors a five-block radius of warehouse murals. Entry €11, closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Best Photo Spots in the Brussels Street Art Scene
Light matters for street art photography in Brussels. Murals on south-facing walls (most of the Comic Strip Route) work best mid-morning; west-facing walls in the canal zone glow at sunset. Here are six spots that consistently produce frame-worthy shots.
- Le Passage by Frank Pe (Rue du Bon Secours) – A 25-metre-tall mural of a young woman with a bird, best photographed from the opposite corner with a 24mm lens equivalent.
- Lucky Luke (Rue de la Buanderie) – The cowboy faces west; shoot between 17:00 and 19:00 in summer for warm light.
- MIMA exterior murals (Quai du Hainaut) – Rotating large-scale work from international artists like Maya Hayuk and Swoon, often with the canal in the foreground.
- Place Saint-Gery rooftops – Climb to the top floor of Halles Saint-Gery for a free view over surrounding rooftop murals.
- Hotel Bloom (Rue Royale 250) – Each of the 287 rooms has a unique mural visible from the street. The Rue du Damier facade rotates exhibitions every two years.
- Brusselicious cow sculptures and pavement art near Place de la Bourse – Constantly refreshed temporary installations during summer festivals.
Etiquette, Permissions and Combining With Nearby Sights
Brussels treats street art as part of the cultural fabric, with the city commissioning new murals every year through the Parcours BD programme. That means most large works are legal and intended for the public eye, but a few common-sense rules apply on any Brussels street art guide walk.
- Photograph the art, not the residents – Many murals are on the walls of occupied apartment buildings. Keep cameras pointed up, not into ground-floor windows.
- Tagging and stickering are illegal even where commissioned murals exist. Fines start at €250.
- Drone photography requires permits from the Brussels region and is forbidden over the canal zone without prior approval.
- Tip your guide if you join a free walking tour – €10-€15 per person is standard for Brussels Street Art Tours, which run daily at 11:00 from Place Sainte-Catherine.
- Respect changing work – many pieces are temporary by design. The artist Bonom in particular paints over his own work; what you see today may be gone in six months.
Combine the central comic murals with a stop at the Belgian Comic Strip Center (Rue des Sables 20, entry €13) to see original artwork by the artists behind the outdoor murals. After lunch, extend toward the Sablon for a contrasting morning of antiques and chocolate, or use our walking in Brussels guide to plan onward routes. If street art has hooked you, plan a future visit around the annual Propaganza festival in September, which fills entire warehouse walls with new pieces. For a complementary cultural day, our 2-day Brussels itinerary dedicates a half-day specifically to murals and contemporary art.
Related Brussels Guides
Keep planning with these companion guides:
- Magritte Museum Brussels — Visitor Guide & Tickets
- Royal Museums Fine Arts Brussels — Bruegel & Rubens Guide
- Atomium Brussels Guide — Tickets, Mini-Europe Combo & Visit
Useful Resources
- Brussels Comic Strip Route — official site with downloadable map.
- visit.brussels Street Art — official guide.
- Belgian Comic Strip Centre — start your tour here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many comic strip murals are in Brussels?
Over 60 official murals on the Brussels Comic Strip Route, started in 1991. Plus dozens of contemporary street art pieces by Belgian and international artists.
How long does the Brussels street art walk take?
3-4 hours to walk the full 5-6 km Comic Strip Route. Plan a half-day visit including coffee and lunch stops.
Is the Brussels street art guide free?
Yes — self-guided walking is free. Pick up the official Comic Strip Route map at any tourist office. Guided tours cost €15-€40 per person.
What’s the most famous Brussels mural?
The Tintin and Snowy mural on Rue de l’Etuve, near Manneken Pis. The most photographed Brussels Comic Strip Route piece.
Where do I start a Brussels street art tour?
The Belgian Comic Strip Centre (Rue des Sables 20). Get the official map and ideally visit the museum for context first.
Are there contemporary street art pieces too?
Yes. Brussels has a strong contemporary scene featuring Bonom, Roa, Créons, and international visiting artists. The Pentagon and Schaerbeek host the highest concentration of contemporary works.
Final Thoughts
The Brussels street art guide rewards walkers and photographers alike. Whether you complete the 60+ comic strip murals on the official route, hunt for Bonom’s contemporary animals, or simply photograph the Tintin and Snowy fire-escape mural, you’ll find Brussels offers one of Europe’s best urban art experiences. For more, see our Belgian Comic Strip Centre Brussels and Brussels museums guide.
