Last year, I took a 20km walk through Brussels, trying to photograph all the cherry blossoms in Brussels. And trust me when I tell you that there are so many places where you can see beautiful pink flowers. I’ve written about flowers before, most notably about flower spots all over Belgium but I always wanted to focus on Brussels and the magic of cherry blossoms. If you ask me, mid-April is the best time to visit Brussels because everything looks like pure magic!
To marvel at these fluffy trees, you’ll have to wander away from the city center. Schaerbeek is your best option but you’ll find plenty of gems in Ixelles, Etterbeek, and Woluwe-Saint-Lambert. In essence, you can walk through all of those neighborhoods in one day if you can brave an extremely long stroll. For a clearer picture of the itinerary, you can consult the map at the bottom of this blog post. It contains all the locations featured here and a few more!
Where to spot cherry blossoms in Brussels
Rue Leekaerts, 1140 Evere
To begin with, this hidden gem is one of my favorite places to marvel at cherry blossoms in Brussels. When in full bloom, the flowers basically create a tree tunnel. It’s truly one of the most enchanting sights! While it’s true that it’s rather far, I think it’s worth the trouble. This was my starting point precisely because it’s quite far even from the farthest train station in Brussels. However, I found it so wonderful that I probably spent the most time here!
Avenue Emile Max, 1030 Schaerbeek
One of the most popular places to see cherry blossoms in Brussels, Avenue Emile Max is a wonderful place! The trees are almost leaning onto some of the most beautiful buildings in the city. Owing to the fact that it’s in a residential area, the street felt like a peaceful oasis. I was terribly inspired by the cherry blossoms with a backdrop of pretty houses. The sight of those two combinations never gets old!
Avenue Jules Malou, 1040 Etterbeek
This street stands out because the cherry blossoms perfectly frame the church of St. Anthony of Padua. The sun had just come out as I was photographing it. And best of all, as I approached the church and turned around, the wind began to gently carry the petals of cherry blossoms. It was as if the tiniest pink snowflakes were swirling through the air. Genuinely one of the most beautiful sights I had ever witnessed!
Place des Bienfaiteurs, 1030 Schaerbeek
One side of this square is completely lined with cherry blossom trees. In fact, they hide a handful of Art Nouveau buildings. And I guess if there’s anything that’s allowed to hide such beautiful architecture, then it’s pink fluffy trees. Standing right underneath them and seeing the sun peeking through was a delightful sight. Frankly, as dazzling as my photos from that day look like, the reality is even more astonishing!
Avenue du Diamant, 1030 Schaerbeek
The street preceding Avenue Emile Max, Avenue du Diamant is its busier counterpart. In fact, I had to pay attention to cars a lot more while here. Nonetheless, it’s still a lovely street that you should include in your long walk through Brussels!
Josaphat Park, 1030 Schaerbeek
One of the many parks in Brussels, Josaphat Park is hiding this little secret. Another tree tunnel consisting purely of cherry blossoms, it’s a popular place for seeing cherry blossoms in Brussels. When you’re done being astonished by this corner, walk through the remainder of the park. This is the only floral part of it but it still makes for a lovely promenade.
Avenue de Mai, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert
Another one of my personal favorites, Avenue de Mai has a unique layout. Two adjacent rows of trees create an alluring alley of cherry blossoms. In truth, this would be one of the places I would return to for a photoshoot under the fluffy canopy. I can just imagine so many dreamy portraits taken here at sunrise!
Avenue des Cerisiers, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert
This particular street was an accidental discovery, a continuation of Avenue du Diamant. However, here you will spot more white blossoms as opposed to pink ones. Somehow, they look even fluffier because they genuinely look like little clouds! Overall, the neighborhood of Woluve-Saint-Lambert is brimming with cherry blossoms. So exploring its streets thoroughly is a great idea because you’re bound to spot lots of flowers!
Parc du Viaduc, 1050 Ixelles
The last stop of my 20km walk, Parc du Viaduc is a hidden little park. And when I say hidden, I truly mean that because I circled the neighborhood before finally finding the entrance. While small, it’s adorable and obviously popular. I saw many people hanging around in the park that day which I thought was nice. Because it must be lovely to live nearby such a place!
Avenue d’Italie, 1050 Ixelles
Finally, at the very end of the Ixelles neighborhood, you’ll find a wide street lined with cherry blossoms. It’s a calm residential area with mostly modern buildings. Despite that, the blossoming trees are a splendid sight.
All things considered, I hope this little visual guide inspired you to go on some long walks this April. Because if I still lived in Brussels, I would be out there all April long, chasing the magnificent cherry blossoms. That day was utterly magical and a smile never left my face. How could anyone get tired of this soft explosion of spring blossoms?
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