Whether you’re a tourist or a city-lover, there’s always something to do in Brussels. Whatever the season, Brussels is a green city full of parks and sumptuous gardens to visit. Here are our favorites!
The most beautiful parks and gardens to visit in Brussels
Brussels Park
Covering 11 hectares, the Parc de Bruxelles (also known as the Parc Royal) is one of the prettiest gardens in Brussels. It is even listed as a heritage site by the Brussels-Capital Region! It’s home to rare trees (sycamore maples, oriental plane trees, American hackberry trees, Japanese zelkovas), some sixty sculptures, an octagonal pond, as well as the Théâtre Royal and the Waux-Hall.
📍Address: Parc de Bruxelles. Open 24 hours a day.
Bois de la Cambre
Bois de la Cambre is a bit like Brussels’ Central Park (though not in the center). Everyone in Brussels has been there on a sunny Sunday. Take a stroll around the lake, sail over to the Chalet Robinson for a spot on the terrace, grab a waffle from one of the park’s waffle trucks and let yourself drift off to the sound of the surrounding birdsong.
📍Address: Bois de la Cambre. Open 24 hours a day.
Abbaye de la Cambre garden
To the north of the Bois de la Cambre lies a garden of unparalleled poetry: that of the Abbaye de la Cambre, laid out on two levels. The western level, with its terraced garden accessed by a monumental staircase, is in no way inferior to the southeastern level, where the more tree-lined style is combined with the so-called mare aux canards, which has its source in the Maelbeek.
📍Address: Avenue Emile Duray 64. Open 24 hours a day.
Forest Park
Nestled in the heart of the commune of Forest, this Brussels heritage park has benefited from an ambitious 10 million euro renovation. With redesigned paths, restored period furniture, a new playground and improved water management, it now offers a green and friendly setting, ideal for relaxing in summer. What’s more, after 70 years, the Parc de Forest has just been completely renovated.
📍Address: Parc de Forest, 1190 Forest
Jardins du Fleuriste
Did you know that the Jardins du Fleuriste have a rainwater recovery system that feeds the plants and ponds? Located to the north of the city, these gardens are popular with families for their relaxing setting, the pond and the view of the city skyline. The gardens’ floral variety and meticulous upkeep are designed to promote didactic development.
📍Address: Jardins du Fleuriste. Daily 8am-5.20pm.
Botanical Gardens
Soon to be two hundred years old (it was created in 1826), the listed Jardin Botanique is home to the Botanique, a major cultural center in the capital. The greenhouse and its garden rotunda are emblematic figures on every postcard. Visitors to the Jardin Botanique can also admire a number of remarkable trees and some 30 bronze sculptures.
📍Address: Boulevard Saint-Lazare, 1210 Saint-Josse-ten-Noode. Daily 8.30am-8.15pm.
Tenbosch Park
Parc Tenbosch in Ixelles, recently classified as a protected site, is unique in Belgium thanks to its collection of over 400 rare plant species. Designed as a veritable arboretum, it is home to trees and plants almost impossible to find anywhere else in the country. This little corner of nature in the heart of Brussels invites you to discover, relax and escape among extraordinary botanical treasures.
📍Address: Rue des Mélèzes 52, 1050 Ixelles – open daily from 8 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Parc du Cinquantenaire
Of all the parks in Brussels, it’s the Parc du Cinquantenaire and its famous Arcades that are probably the most familiar to many Brussels residents. The park contains important heritage museums, such as the Army Museum, the Aviation Museum, Autoworld and the Art and History Museum. Its majestic esplanade is also the scene of numerous events: the 20 km of Brussels, concerts, festivals… The Parc du Cinquantenaire is currently being renovated to celebrate Belgium’s 200th anniversary in 2030.
📍Address: Parc du Cinquantenaire, 1000 Brussels. Daily 6am-10pm.
Square du Petit Sablon
It’s hard not to mention Square du Petit Sablon, a magnificent, uncluttered space in the spirit of the finest neo-Renaissance gardens… Statues of prominent figures from Belgian history, arcaded hedges, a splendid flowerbed, fountain… it’s an ideal place to cool off in summer, right in the heart of the city. Can you recognize the sculptures of the Counts of Egmont and Hornes?
📍Address: Square du Petit Sablon. Daily 8.15am-7.45pm.
Laeken Park
This landscape-style park covers over 186 hectares and includes the Domaine Royal and an impressive list of surrounding parks (hello, Jardins du Fleuriste!). It is one of the few French-style parks in Belgium. Observe its grand avenues, winding paths, copses, flower-filled grounds and famous Royal Greenhouses, Japanese Tower…
📍Address: Parc de Laeken, 1020 Brussels. Open 24 hours a day.
Meise Botanical Garden
Just ten kilometers from Brussels, this is one of the largest plant gardens in the world. Consisting notably of the Château de Bouchout and a splendid orangery (in the former site of the Château de Meise), it’s an essential must-see for horticultural enthusiasts or those looking for a relaxing stroll in the fresh air.
📍Address: Nieuwelaan 38, 1860 Meise. Daily 10am-6pm.