Brussels, Belgium is an under-rated city from a travel perspective. There are some wonderful examples of older European architecture, grand squares and charming neighborhoods, important institutions such as NATO and the EU, terrific museums, and a cosmopolitan flair, mixing French cuisine, a Dutch influence, and a growing North African population. This is our guide to running in Brussels, Belgium. If you’d like to have an in-person guided running experience in Brussels, we highly recommend our friends at Go! Running Tours. And, runners — the city has great chocolate and even a chocolate museum!
The running scene is defined by a series of lovely parks. String a few of them together to get a longer jaunt in. A 3–4 mile route through the compact city center will provide a ‘running tour’ of some of the city’s most important sites, between Parc Bruxelles and the Cinquantenaire. One of the best places to run in Brussels is the Sonian Forest, with its vast network of trails, Royal Walk, & Arboretum. There’s some great running along the canals, and in several Forest Parks near the city: Parc de Forest/Parc Duden, and Bois de la Cambre. Another nice linear park run is between Rodebeek and Auderghem, showcasing Parc de Woluwe. And don’t forget our ‘chocolate‘ run!
The city’s 4 metro lines and excellent tram and bus system make it easy to get anywhere and to running spots a bit further afield.