When autumn adorns Belgium in its most beautiful finery, the area around Brussels is transformed into a veritable tableau vivant. The forests are decked out in blazing reds, coppery golds and amber shadows, offering an ephemeral spectacle not to be missed. Just a stone’s throw from the capital, magnificent hikes and family walks invite you to breathe in the fresh air and tread the paths carpeted with golden leaves. Let yourself be enchanted by the soft autumn light and discover our selection of the most beautiful escapades to do around Brussels – a pure enchantment for lovers of nature and color.
1. From Laerbeek Wood to Dieleghem
Half-marked hike
Style: loop | Distance: 8.9km | Duration: 2h30 | Difficulty: easy
You don’t have to go far to start this fabulous escapade through three of the most important woods in the Brussels region. Starting from Jette station, you’ll discover the long wooded paths of Dieleghem woods, King Baudouin park and Laerbeek woods. Special mention for the Ganshoren marsh, a marvel of the Molenbeek valley!
2. Forêt de Soignes
Very little marked hiking
Style: loop | Distance: 16.5km | Duration: 4h30 | Difficulty: medium
The great loop of the Forêt de Soignes is a marvel for those who take the time to admire its varied foliage, wild animals (sometimes), streams and ponds (in the middle of the trail). From Boitsfort station, you can immerse yourself in a natural setting completely disconnected from the hustle and bustle of the city, culminating in the fabulous Groenendael Arboretum and its giant sequoias…
➕Read more3. Discover the Brussels countryside
Unmarked hike
Style: loop | Distance: 12.3km | Duration: 3h30 | Difficulty: medium
Discovering the Brussels countryside is a must, whether you live or stay in the city. In the west of the city, huge expanses of fields within easy reach of the metro (in this case, we’ll get off at Erasme station, line 5) open their arms to us and their typical rural landscapes. Authentic hamlets, old-fashioned farms, animals, churches and ponds… you’ll discover Sainte-Anne and Sainte-Gertrude, two pretty villages in Flemish Brabant. Great hiking without moving too much!
4. Château de la Hulpe and Domaine de Solvay
Very little marked hiking
Style: loop | Distance: 14.6km | Duration: 4h | Difficulty: medium
A royal hike awaits you at the Domaine de Solvay, as it’s around the splendid Château de la Hulpe that you’ll spend no less than four hours walking between streams and forests, ponds, plains and fields as far as the eye can see. The Domaine de Solvay is 227 hectares of vegetation, with many remarkable trees and works of art in every corner. The highlight is the formidable 19th-century Château de la Hulpe.
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5. Tervuren and its Arboretum
Unmarked walk
Style: loop | Distance: 12.8km | Duration: 3h | Difficulty: medium
Departing from the terminus of tramway line 44, you’ll escape to lush green countryside as you discover the pretty little Flemish town of Tervuren. You’ll enter one of the region’s most remarkable (and oldest) arboretums, planted as early as 1902 and comprising over 700 plant species from all over the world. Glades, stretches of water… you’ll finish with the magnificent Musée de l’Afrique and its formal garden.
➕Read moreWhich of these hikes do you prefer?