Brussels is not a humongous capital city, but it sure has a lot of very Instagrammable places. We listed all the favorite photo spots of a local, map included. Hopefully, it’ll allow you to discover new neighborhoods in this very lovable city!
Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
If you were looking for a beautiful perspective shot, here it is! The Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert was built in 1847 and is still home to a lot of high-end boutiques and typical cafés. The glass ceilings are a true masterpiece and the perspective is insane, don’t miss this photo spot!
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Grand Place
How could we make a list of the most beautiful photo spots in Brussels without mentioning the Grand Place? The crooked houses, the golden paintings on the facades and the asymmetrical city hall are such a treat for the eyes that even the locals take pictures each time they stop by. Our insider tips to snap the best shots: go up the few stairs of Maison Grand Place for a better perspective, or to the first floor of the Hard Rock Café Brussels! The view from up there is insane right after the sunset when the Grand Place lights up.
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Mont des Arts and its rows of trees
Mont des Arts has it all! The view of the MIM (Music Instruments Museum, which also has an amazing rooftop for great skyline pictures), the Royal Library, and even the Grand Place in the background. Yes, you can snap a shot of all this from that very spot. And when the trees get greener, there’s a beautiful contrast with their white trunks.
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Marolles elevator
This elevator lets you go directly from Poelart to the Marolles neighborhood, and vice versa. But that’s not really why we love this elevator! The truth is that it has very nice architecture and overlooks the city, offering one of the best views of Brussels. And if you take a walk on the bridge leading from Poelart to the elevator, you’ll also get a nice new perspective on the Marolles neighborhood.
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Place de l’Albertine
Right under Mont des Arts, when walking towards the Grand Place, you’ll find yourself at Place de l’Albertine with its gorgeous old houses and a great view of the city hall tower in the background. In the Spring, the cherry blossoms make it one of the most stunning views in Brussels.
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Ursulines skatepark
If you’re looking for some action, head to the Marolles neighborhood. Between cafés and antique shops, you’ll find a very lively and colorful… skatepark! It’s the perfect place to snap a shot of the urban culture that makes up a huge part of this capital city.
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Botanique
Botanique is a historic botanical garden that was converted into a cultural center in 1984. The old greenhouses surrounded by trees and greenery are may seem a bit random in the middle of more modern constructions and high rises. And it is precisely the contrast of old, new, and green that makes it a perfect photo spot.
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Royal Greenhouses of Laeken
Every year, in the Spring, the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken open to the public for only 3 weeks. It’s a unique opportunity to discover the masterful architecture of Alphonse Balat, Victor Horta’s teacher, and the amazing floral collection nested in those glass walls. All the colors of the flowers perfectly complete the metallic structures of the greenhouses. Tip if you’re planning a little photo op: go early. Like at the opening. Trust us!
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From May 13 to June 6, 2021 at the Château de Laeken. More info on koninklijke-serres-royales.be.
Cinquantenaire from Montgomery rond point
The Arcades and Parc du Cinquantenaire are obviously gorgeous, however, taking pictures from too close can be fatal to, well, your art. Instead of being a basic tourist, go the extra mile (literally) and walk to the Statue Field Marshal Montgomery. And that’s your photo spot. From there, you’ll get a perfect line up of the road leading to the Arcades!
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Bois de la Cambre & Chalet Robinson
Bois de la Cambre is the green lung of Brussels, where everyone goes for a run, to walk their dog or to eat a picnic. And in the middle of that huge park lies Chalet Robinson on a teeny tiny island accessible by boat only! The view is quite random, with this gorgeous chalet just sitting there, surrounded by trees and water.
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Villa Empain
Villa Empain is a masterpiece of Art Déco built in the 1930’s a little outside the city center. The facade itself is a treat for the eye, but the inside and the garden of the place are straight out of a movie. And do you trust us if we tell you they have a pool? That’s right, an art déco pool in the city.
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Bois de Halle
Bois de Halle, or Hallerbos, is a place like you’ve only seen in fairy tales. In April and May, thousands of wild hyacinths turn the forest into a beautiful blue-purple ocean. A rare natural phenomenon, at just a few kilometers from Brussels, which attracts tourists from all over the world. About that actually, we strongly recommend you to visit Bois de Halle during the days of week to have a chance to have the woods to yourself!
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Flowering between April and May, more info on hallerbos.be.
Jam Hotel
Opened in 2016, the JAM Hotel has been decorated by Belgium’s most fashionable interior designer, Lionel Jadot. And it has the most instagrammable pool of the city! It’s located on the rooftop of the building, giving it a beautiful view on the city.
Jam Hotel, 132 Chaussée de Charleroi, 1060 Brussels
Humus x Hortense
With their no waste policy, veggie menu and a superb score of 14/20 in the Gault & Millau, Hortense x Humus is one of the best restaurants in Brussels. But it’s also one of the most beautiful ones! Its mesmerizing ceiling and beautiful overall decor, you have to grab lunch over there… And use that time to take beautiful photos!
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Humus x Hortense, 2 de Vergnies street, 1050 Brussels
Librairie Tropismes
The Librairie Tropismes is located in the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert (yes, the ones at the beginning of this article) and is probably the most gorgeous old library you’ll ever see! In addition to being classy and stylish, they offer a wide selection of books.
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Librairie Tropismes, 11 Galerie des Princes, 1000 Bruxelles.
