Mont des Arts

The terraced garden between the old town and the royal quarter — the classic postcard view of the Town Hall spire, a geometric French garden, and Brussels' museum cluster on all sides. Free, open all hours, and where locals eat lunch on sunny days. It's a passage more than a destination, but the best one in the city.

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

What's the musical clock everyone mentions?

The carillon on the archway near the bottom of the hill — 12 bronze figures of historical characters, chiming a melody every 15 minutes and a longer tune on the hour. Easy to miss if you don't look up.

Which museums are right there?

The Magritte Museum and Royal Museums of Fine Arts are at the top of the hill, the Musical Instruments Museum a block away, and KBR (Royal Library) forms one side of the garden. You could anchor an entire museum day here.

Is there a good café with a view?

Yes — the rooftop café of KBR, the Royal Library, right on Mont des Arts. Access to the terrace level is free; buy a drink and you get one of the best quiet views over the lower town and the Palace of Justice.

Where's the famous viewpoint?

Top of the main staircase, looking down the garden's axis to the Town Hall spire — on a clear day you can spot the Atomium and the Koekelberg basilica on the horizon. Sunset is the money shot.

How do I fit it into a walking route?

It's the natural hinge of any Brussels walk: Grand Place, Galeries, then up through Mont des Arts to Place Royale and the museums, ending at the Sablon for chocolate. All of that is 20 minutes' walking, ignoring stops.

What exactly is Mont des Arts?

A landscaped hill and garden linking the lower town (Grand Place area) with the upper town (Royal Palace, museums). The name means 'hill of the arts' because the Royal Library, Magritte Museum, MIM and Fine Arts museums all cluster around it.

Does it cost anything?

Nothing — it's public space, open around the clock. The only things that cost money are the museums around it and a coffee if you sit down.

Is Mont des Arts safe at night?

Generally fine in the evening when people are around for the lit-up view, but the garden gets quiet late at night — standard big-city awareness applies. Daylight and golden hour are when it's at its best anyway.

Nearby in Ask Brussels

• Musical Instruments Museum (MIM)Museum0.18 km · 2 min walk
• Musée des Instruments de Musique (MIM) — EXCLUDED, replacing with: AutoworldMuseum0.2 km · 2 min walk
• Musée des Instruments de Musique (MIM)Attraction0.2 km · 2 min walk
• Magritte MuseumMuseum0.21 km · 3 min walk
• Musée Magritte MuseumAttraction0.21 km · 3 min walk