Belgium holds the world record for the highest concentration of comic book authors and artists per square kilometer and Brussels is the best place for an introduction. 

If you arrive by train into Midi Central you can start your adventure immediately as the station is home to two murals of Belgium’s most beloved comic character, Tintin. He made his debut in 1929 and still sells over a million copies annually. Just outside is a giant rotating billboard featuring Tintin with his pal Snowy.

To celebrate the country’s comic book history, the city of Brussels created the Comic Book Route, an 8 mile trail with over 80 murals of Belgian and French comic characters.

There are actual Google walking routes, or you can do as we did and enjoy the surprise of spotting the murals while wandering the city center exploring the museums (Brussels: About Suffering They Were Never Wrong) and Art Nouveau masterpieces (Brussels: The Heart of Art Nouveau (and a Bit of Paris, too)).

Most murals have a QR code for additional information. Even if you’re not familiar with the characters, they are still fun works of art. Visit the Belgian Comic Strip Center or local bookshops for more information.