7 Best Hikes in and Around Brussels, from City Walks to Forest Trails

Brussels offers far more hiking than most visitors expect, with forest loops, park trails, countryside walks and longer green routes all within easy reach of the city.

These seven hikes in and around Brussels range from relaxed urban escapes to full-day outings through woodland and rural Belgium.

Why Hike in Brussels?

Brussels might be best known for its waffles, its international politics, and its surrealist art, but don’t let the city vibes of this place fool you.

You see, it’s also a surprisingly great base for hikers.

That’s because with all of its lush forests, riverside trails, and charming countryside paths that are all within easy reach by train or tram, Brussels makes it beyond easy to swap urban buzz for birdsong without ever needing a car.

Regardless of whether you’re flying in for a long weekend or if you’ll be catching a train from a nearby capital, these seven hikes that we’re about to check out together offer the perfect excuse to lace up your boots and get outside.

Some are quick escapes right on the city’s edge, while others make for full-day adventures.

But all share one thing in common: they are all super easy to reach, and all worth your time as well.

Make sure to check out our ‘Brussels: A City Guide To Hikers’ companion article for info and tips on getting around, more tourist hot spots and hidden gems!

1. Best Urban Escape Hike from Brussels: Forêt de Soignes (Sonian Forest) Loop

Just 20 minutes from the city center by metro or tram, Forêt de Soignes is Brussels’ beloved backyard forest and it’s also one of the easiest nature escapes you’ll find without actually leaving town.

This ancient beech forest stretches out across the city’s southeast edge and it also offers miles of wide and peaceful trails through cathedral-like trees and quiet clearings.

It’s a flexible area that is fully great for a short walk or a longer loop depending on your energy level.

The forest is also well-marked and connected to the Groenendaal and Boitsfort train stations, which makes it one of the most accessible hiking areas around.

It’s a local favorite year-round, and especially during autumn when the leaves go golden and the entire place feels like a fairytale.

Forêt de Soignes (Sonian Forest) Loop Details

• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Average time: Approx. 2.5–3 hours
• Distance: Approx. 10 km / 6.2 miles
• Elevation gain: Approx. 100 m / 328 ft
• Route type: Loop
• Start/end: Groenendaal area
• Best for: An easy forest escape from central Brussels
• Highlights: Ancient beech forest, wide woodland trails and peaceful clearings
• Trail highlight: The towering beech avenues give parts of the Sonian Forest an almost cathedral-like feel despite being so close to Brussels.

“Every hiker starts somewhere — grab your free Hiking for Beginners guide.”

2. Best Full Day Loop Around Brussels: La Promenade Verte, AKA The Green Walk

This 60-km loop trail wraps completely around the entire Brussels Capital Region and offers a surprisingly varied look at the city’s greener side.

You don’t have to hike the full thing in one go (unless you’re feeling heroic) since it’s broken into 7 manageable sections, with each highlighting a different slice of Brussels’ natural and urban landscapes.

From canal paths to wooded sections (and open fields to urban farms) the Promenade Verte is a choose-your-own-adventure hike that keeps things fresh around every bend.

It’s also very well signed and easily accessible from multiple metro and tram and bus stops, so you can hop in or out wherever suits your schedule.

La Promenade Verte (The Green Walk) Details

• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Average time: Approx. 1.5–3 hours per section
• Distance: 5–12 km / 3.1–7.5 miles per section
• Full route: Approx. 60 km / 37 miles
• Elevation gain: Varies by section
• Route type: Long-distance loop divided into 7 sections
• Start/end: Multiple access points around Brussels
• Best for: Exploring Brussels’ green spaces over several separate walks
• Highlights: Forests, parks, wetlands, countryside, canals and urban green corridors
• Trail highlight: Walking different sections gives you a surprisingly varied tour of Brussels without needing to tackle the entire 60 km route at once.

The official Green Walk is more than 60 km and divided into seven sections of 5–12 km.

3. Best Short Hike for Nature and History: Rouge-Cloître Abbey Trails

Tucked at the edge of the Sonian Forest near Auderghem, Rouge-Cloître (Rood Klooster) is a former medieval monastery surrounded by ponds with wooded trails and quiet picnic spots.

The area is small but rich in charm, and it also makes for a perfect 1 or 2 hour stroll that mixes natural beauty with a bit of local lore.

It’s a popular weekend walk for locals, but it’s rarely overcrowded.

The well-maintained loop trails are flat and family-friendly, which makes this a great option if you’re short on time but still want a meaningful walk.

Bonus: there’s often a small art exhibit or food truck parked nearby!

Rouge-Cloître Abbey Trails Details

• Difficulty: Easy
• Average time: Approx. 1.5 hours for the shorter loop
• Distance: Approx. 5 km / 3.1 miles
• Elevation gain: Minimal to gently rolling
• Route type: Loop
• Start/end: ADEPS centre, Auderghem
• Best for: A short walk combining nature and history
• Highlights: Rouge-Cloître Abbey, ponds, Sonian Forest and woodland paths
• Trail highlight: The ponds and remains of the former priory give this short forest walk far more character than its distance suggests.

4. Best Seasonal Hike Near Brussels: Hallebos of The Blue Forest

Hallebos is Brussels’ most famous springtime hike, and for good reason! Every April, this quiet forest south of the city turns electric with blooming bluebells.

The forest floor becomes a sea of violet and it subsequently draws photographers, walkers, and just about anyone who has a deep love for flowers.

It’s a short train ride to Halle, and it’s also followed by a gentle hike into one of the most magical seasonal experiences that Belgium has to offer.

Outside of bluebell season, Hallebos is still a lovely forest to explore thanks to its easy paths and peaceful scenery.

But if you can catch it during peak bloom, it’s truly one of the most unforgettable hikes in the region.

Hallerbos Blue Forest Walk Details

• Difficulty: Easy
• Average time: Approx. 1.5–2 hours
• Distance: 5.3 km / 3.3 miles
• Elevation gain: Gentle rolling elevation
• Route type: Loop
• Start/end: Hallerbos Parking 1a or Parking 2
• Best for: Spring bluebells and an easy forest walk
• Highlights: Bluebell-covered forest floor, giant sequoias and peaceful woodland
• Trail highlight: Visit during the April bluebell season when huge areas of the forest floor turn violet beneath the trees.

5. Best Beginners Hike near Brussels: Tervuren Park and Arboretum Loop

Tervuren, which is a quick tram ride from the city, effortlessly blends manicured parkland with pockets of wild Sonian Forest, which makes it an easy first stop for anyone who is new to Belgian trails.

The best place to start is at the stately Africa Museum, and then you can follow lakeside paths and gentle forest tracks that showcase towering redwoods, the flowering azaleas, and the hidden sculptures that are scattered throughout the vast arboretum.

Because the gradients are mellow and the way-marking is also clear, this loop is perfect for families, casual walkers, or jet-lagged visitors who are just looking to stretch their legs without breaking a sweat.

Pack a picnic and linger at one of the lakeside lawns, or alternatively you could pop into a café on the terrace of the museum for post-hike waffles. Either way is great!

Tervuren Park and Arboretum Loop Details

• Difficulty: Easy
• Average time: Approx. 1.5–2 hours
• Distance: 7 km / 4.3 miles
• Elevation gain: Approx. 80 m / 262 ft
• Route type: Loop
• Start/end: Vlaktedreef, Tervuren Arboretum
• Best for: Beginners, families and relaxed woodland walking
• Highlights: Arboretum, giant trees, forest avenues and varied woodland
• Trail highlight: The geographical arboretum lets you walk among trees and forest landscapes representing different parts of the world.

6. Best Day Hike from Brussels: Gaasbeek–Groenenberg Castles & Countryside Walk

South-west of Brussels lies the Pajottenland, which is a patchwork of rolling fields, orchards, and fairy-tale castles that feels worlds away from EU offices yet sits just thirty minutes by train.

You should begin in Gaasbeek, and then you can wander past grazing cattle and hop fields and then detour into Gaasbeek Castle’s romantic park before continuing through meandering lanes that are lined with fruit trees and classic Flemish farmhouses.

This route is all about big skies with sleepy villages and the occasional café pouring hyper-local lambic beer.

It is a full-day outing that rewards steady walkers with landscape variety and plenty of history, and without demanding alpine fitness levels.

Remember to bring cash for a farmhouse bakery or simply toast your efforts with a glass of Gueuze at walk’s end.

Pajottenland Castles and Countryside Walk Details

• Difficulty: Easy
• Average time: Approx. 2 hours
• Distance: 7.1 km / 4.4 miles
• Elevation gain: Gentle rolling elevation
• Route type: Loop
• Start/end: Gaasbeek village
• Best for: Countryside walking, castles and an easy day outside Brussels
• Highlights: Gaasbeek Castle, Groenenberg Castle, rolling Pajottenland countryside and traditional farms
• Trail highlight: The route links two castle estates while still giving you a good taste of the open fields and gently rolling countryside that define Pajottenland.

“Turn your dream trek into a plan — get your free Plan Your Own European Walking Holiday ebook ”

7. Best Day Hike for Families: Meise and Botanic Garden Walk

Just north of Brussels, Meise Botanic Garden offers over 90 hectares of themed plant zones and greenhouse jungles that double as a gentle trail network.

After exploring the grounds, you can follow a signposted footpath through quiet fields and along the Maalbeek stream toward the medieval towers of Grimbergen Abbey, which is where monk-brewed beer awaits thirsty walkers.

The terrain is flat and stroller-friendly, and it’s also peppered with picnic spots, which makes it ideal for families or mixed-ability groups.

Kids often chase butterflies among rare blooms in Meise, while adults can enjoy a scenic canal bridge crossing and everyone can finish with a Belgian blond in the abbey courtyard. It’s hiking diplomacy at its finest!

Meise and Botanic Garden Walk Details

• Difficulty: Easy
• Average time: Approx. 2.5–3 hours
• Distance: 9.8 km / 6.1 miles
• Route type: Loop
• Start/end: Sint-Martinus Church, Meise
• Best for: Families, relaxed countryside walking and combining nature with the Botanic Garden
• Highlights: Meise village, countryside, views towards Brussels and the edge of Meise Botanic Garden
• Trail highlight: The route passes beside one of Belgium’s largest botanic gardens, making it easy to combine the walk with a longer visit to the grounds.

When Is the Best Time to Hike in Brussels?

Spring and early autumn generally offer the best conditions for hiking around Brussels, with mild temperatures, greener landscapes and comfortable weather for longer walks.

April to June is one of the best times to explore the forests and parks around Brussels. Trails are greener, temperatures are usually comfortable and spring flowers can add plenty of colour to woodland routes.

July and August are still good for walking, but warmer and more humid days can make longer countryside routes feel tougher than their elevation suggests. Forest walks such as the Sonian Forest are often more comfortable thanks to the extra shade.

September and October bring cooler conditions and some excellent autumn colour, particularly through the Sonian Forest and other wooded areas.

Winter is quieter and still perfectly usable for many lower-level walks, although forest trails can become muddy after prolonged rain. Waterproof footwear with good grip becomes much more useful at this time of year.

For Hallerbos specifically, mid to late April is usually the key seasonal window for the famous bluebell display.

What to Pack for Hiking Around Brussels

You won’t need specialist mountain equipment for most hikes around Brussels, but a few practical basics will make forest, park and countryside walks more comfortable.

For most routes, consider packing:

• Comfortable hiking shoes or walking shoes with reliable grip for muddy forest paths and uneven ground
• A lightweight waterproof jacket for Belgium’s changeable weather
• A practical layering system so you can adjust between cooler woodland and more open sections
• A 20–30L daypack for food, water and spare clothing
• Sun protection for longer exposed walks during spring and summer
• Enough water for your route, particularly on longer countryside sections
• Offline maps or a GPS device if you’re combining several forest paths or tackling a longer route
• Trekking poles if you prefer extra stability on muddy or uneven woodland trails

🗒️ Free Checklist: Planning your next hiking trip?? Download our printable hiking checklist to make sure you don’t miss the essentials.

Conclusion

Brussels may be better known for museums, chocolate and moules-frites, but the amount of walking within easy reach of the city is one of its more underrated strengths.

You can spend a couple of hours wandering through ancient beech forest, follow one of the city’s green corridors, explore castle country in Pajottenland or catch a train out for a quieter countryside walk.

That variety makes Brussels a surprisingly easy place to build a walking-focused break around.

You don’t need dramatic mountains or huge elevation gains for a hike to be worthwhile, and the strong public transport network means many of these routes are accessible without hiring a car.

Whether you’re looking for a short nature escape, a seasonal forest walk or a longer day beyond the capital, Brussels gives you plenty of reasons to explore beyond the usual city sights.

Where to Next?

Planning more hiking in Belgium? These guides will help you keep building your trip:

• Brussels for Hikers: A City Guide — plan transport, seasonal timing and how to use the capital as a base for nearby walks.
• Ultimate Guide to Hiking in Belgium — get a broader overview of Belgium’s main hiking regions, landscapes and practical planning information.
• Best Hikes in Belgium — discover more standout forest, river and countryside routes across the country.
• Walking Holiday in Belgium — turn individual day hikes into a longer walking-focused trip through Belgium.