Sonian Forest
Sonian Forest
4.5
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The area
How to get there
- Herrmann-Debroux • 3 min walk
- Demey • 10 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
474 reviews
Excellent
321
Very good
140
Average
9
Poor
3
Terrible
1
Lucas M
Belgium169 contributions
Dec 2020
An impressively large forest on the edge of Brussels. There are many different walks starting from many different locations. I have lived pretty much in the middle of it (Tervuren) for my entire life, and still sometimes stumble upon new paths or entire swathes of forest.
Written February 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christiaan Slabbert
Cape Town, South Africa532 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
While walking through the Sonian Forest, I couldn't believe I was just a couple of kilometres away from the busy, bustling inner city of Brussels. Somewhere I must've walked through a portal to a very different place!
I reached the forest by taking tram 44 from the Montgomery tram stop, itself reachable by many trams and buses. Once it reached its final stop, it was easiest to get to the forest by walking through the Tervuren Park.
Like many other Unesco world heritage sites – especially ones that are free to visit, like this one – it really is hard to summarise the breadth of the experience succinctly. All I'm going to say: Go – and get lost! And when you leave: Return, return, return. It's nature lovers' heaven, really.
I reached the forest by taking tram 44 from the Montgomery tram stop, itself reachable by many trams and buses. Once it reached its final stop, it was easiest to get to the forest by walking through the Tervuren Park.
Like many other Unesco world heritage sites – especially ones that are free to visit, like this one – it really is hard to summarise the breadth of the experience succinctly. All I'm going to say: Go – and get lost! And when you leave: Return, return, return. It's nature lovers' heaven, really.
Written August 15, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gerald L
Brussels, Belgium487 contributions
Mar 2018 • Friends
This seemingly endless forest is one of Brussels' great treasures. Accessible by car (there are entry points with car parks), and by public transport (how fun to go on a hike starting out by tram). Choice of wide "paved" paths and wilder trails, we've been discovering new ones for years. Not too many wild animals, but we've seen a few deer.
Written March 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KentBaz
Robertsbridge, UK195 contributions
May 2016 • Business
We lived in Brussels for 6 years in the 1980s near the village of Hoeillart, which was adjacent to the E40 motorway. Our favourite activity was walking our Boxer dog in the Foret de Soignes - he chased deer, squirrels, rabbits - you name it - and never caught a thing. Our beloved Max also leaqrnt to trot up to the E40 on his own and wait for the unique (on the E40) traffic lights to change so he could trot into the woods.
This is probably a lousy review and done out of selfish, wonderful memories.
This is probably a lousy review and done out of selfish, wonderful memories.
Written May 19, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Piri66
Parma, Italy42 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
The Foret des Soignes is one of the highlights of Brussels. A few minutes from the city centre you can immerse yourself in a real wood and pretend you are a million miles away from the city. There's plenty of paths to explore. Some sections are also excellent for bird lovers.
Written April 23, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Monblan M
Bruxelles33 contributions
Aug 2014 • Business
You should start with a stroll through the Bois de la Cambre, which is actually more a park, like Central Park. From there, you can enter the forest from any of 3 sides, either from the Bois de la Cambre, or from the Boitsfort side, or from the Uccle side. There are places to leave your car on all 3 sides. If you're on foot, I would advise to take the metro to the Herrmann-Debroux terminus and from there to walk inside the forest (follow the indication for the "Centre Adeps de la Forêt de Soignes"). You can of course also access another part of the forest from Tervuren (first visiting the park of the Colonial Museum). In all cases, you should experience the unique character of cathedral beech that can still be felt and that dates back to the 17th century and the Austrian rule.
Written December 3, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brigitte B
Brussels, Belgium11 contributions
Oct 2014 • Family
This is an amazing forest of huge and old trees. It is extremely well kept and one can choose tiny underwood paths as well as large avenues. It is widespread and one can hike or run for hours on ends. Clearings, ponds and bridges are also noteworthy.
Written November 1, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sojourner06
Scottsdale, AZ142 contributions
Mar 2014 • Friends
After staying in Brussels long enough, your first impression of Brussels, more often than not, tends to hover over Rogier, Parc, the Grad Palace, etc. That's precisely the reason why Foret des Soignes was such a wonderful surprise. At first glance its not really Brussels - with tall trees, thick bushes and surroundings resembling a jungle. Keep walking along and you can find beautiful lakes and pools on the way. A very country atmosphere with ducks and birds playing around in the lakes. A beautiful place to visit especially during Autumn.
How to get there: take the metro to Hermann-Debroux and get down in the same, its five minutes walk from there.
How to get there: take the metro to Hermann-Debroux and get down in the same, its five minutes walk from there.
Written June 10, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eleanor M L
13 contributions
Jan 2020
did you know the sonian forest was there centuries ago? enjoy the woods, the quietness yet not far from city center. a must!
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amy J
Brussels, Belgium8 contributions
Oct 2018 • Solo
Very pretty forest, I entered via the Rouge Cloître and got a bit lost, but it's a really beautiful place with plenty of well-trodden pathways. A bit of a trek to get there from Hermann-Debroux, but there is a tramstop right at the top of the forest too... a bit of googling will see you right!
I went in autumn and the leaves were all colours, some still green, others falling off the trees as a nice gold colour.
I went in autumn and the leaves were all colours, some still green, others falling off the trees as a nice gold colour.
Written October 17, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
como podemos llegar mi mujer ,mis niños y yo desde bruselas al bosque de soignes,y q ver alli, o q ruta hacer?
Written April 1, 2018
Roxane H
Jodoigne, Belgium
Bonjour,
quelle balade est la plus conseillée? quel itinéraire? quel point de départ? Rouge cloitre? un grand merci!
Written April 7, 2017
i am planning to visit brussels around christmast. is it a good time to visit this place?
Written June 15, 2016
I love winter and I always visit nature in this period. Just go for it!
Written September 23, 2016
We would like to hire bikes, so we can ride round the forest where would we go to hire them?
Celia
Written July 20, 2015
What movie you are showing today? Do we need to buy tickets at advance? What time is showing?
Written December 27, 2014
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