Autumn Colour in the Sonian Forest: Four Walks You Can Reach by Tram or Train

The Sonian Forest (Forêt de Soignes in French, Zoniënwoud in Dutch) wraps around the south-east edge of Brussels. It is a forest of tall, straight beeches whose canopy closes high overhead. In autumn that canopy turns from green to yellow to deep copper, and the forest floor follows.

Parts of the forest are on UNESCO's World Heritage List as part of the Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe. That listing groups 94 beech forests in 18 countries. Only the best-protected sections fall within the listing, but the walks below all pass through the same old beech woodland.

The beeches usually colour up in the second half of autumn, though timing varies from year to year. Walking in early to mid October may give you the first yellows and quieter paths. If you like the route, you can go back in a few weeks for more colour.

1. Rouge-Cloître, Auderghem: priory ponds and beech slopes

This is the classic Brussels entry point. The Rouge-Cloître priory, its ponds and old buildings sit right at the forest edge. The beech slopes start almost as soon as you leave the grounds.

Getting there

The most scenic approach is by tram 44. Get off at Auderghem-Forêt and follow the Chemin des Chênes, a forest path that brings you to Rouge-Cloître after about 1 km. Other metro, tram and bus lines also serve this gateway, with a walk of about 10 minutes from some stops. Check the official gateways page for the current list of lines.

The walk

A popular loop runs from the priory into the forest and back. If you add the Chemin des Chênes approach from tram 44, allow extra time for the walk in.

Café stop

The priory grounds are the natural place to stop. We could not confirm what is open this season, so bring a flask and a snack as back-up.

2. Tervuren and the Geographic Arboretum: by tram 44 to the end of the line

Tram 44 is one of the best rides out of Brussels. It runs from the city along the edge of the forest to the terminus at Tervuren. visit.brussels has a guide to the line and its stops.

The walk

From the terminus, head into the Park van Tervuren and then south towards the Geographic Arboretum of Tervuren, where trees are arranged by region of origin.

In autumn this walk shows more variety than a pure beech wood. Maples, oaks and conifers sit side by side, so you get reds and golds alongside the beech copper. There is no single set loop, so you can shorten or lengthen it easily. A circuit from the tram stop through the park and around the arboretum makes a comfortable half-day.

Café stop

Tervuren's town centre, close to the tram terminus, is the place to look for coffee before or after the walk.

3. Groenendaal: a train ride into the deep forest

Groenendaal station sits in Hoeilaart, with the forest right on its doorstep. After renovation, the station and its surroundings were officially reopened on 18 March 2026, so it is a good time to use it as a starting point. Check the SNCB website for which trains stop there.

The walk

Paths start close to the station and lead into some of the quietest woodland in the forest. This is the walk to choose if you want to feel properly away from the city.

Café stop

The forest around Groenendaal is mostly woodland with few facilities, so take food and water with you.

4. The Bois de la Cambre end: the forest on the city's doorstep

The Bois de la Cambre, at the top of Avenue Louise, is the easiest way to get a dose of autumn colour without leaving the city. Check STIB for the trams that serve it.

The walk

A lap of the park and its lake is a gentle walk on flat paths. To go further into the forest proper, the Hippodrome de Boitsfort tram stop is a useful starting point on the Boitsfort side. Tram 8 serves it, and the ride from the Roodebeek Park & Ride (189 spaces) takes about 25 minutes. From the old racecourse, paths lead south into the beeches. You can walk as far as you like and come back the same way.

Café stop

Because this end of the forest is so close to the city, it is easy to finish with coffee in Ixelles or Uccle on the tram ride home.

Before you set out

• Footwear: the paths are wide but turn muddy after rain, so wear proper shoes rather than trainers.
• Light: days get shorter fast in October, and under the beech canopy it gets dark early. Aim to be out of the forest well before sunset.
• Combine routes: tram 44 links Auderghem-Forêt and Tervuren, so walks 1 and 2 make an easy pair for one day.

Forestry work sometimes closes individual paths, and visitor-centre hours, arboretum access and tram and train timetables can all change. Check sonianforest.be, Brussels Environment and STIB before you go.