Mont des Arts
Brussels, Belgium
The panoramic gardens and cultural heart of central Brussels
Gardens · Viewpoint · Museums
What is Mont des Arts?
Mont des Arts, also known as Kunstberg, is a historic cultural district and landscaped public garden in central Brussels, known for its panoramic city viewpoint and its concentration of museums, libraries and cultural institutions.
French: Mont des Arts · Dutch: Kunstberg · Often searched as “mont des arts brussels”, “mont des arts bruxelles” and “Kunstberg Brussels”.
Discover Mont des Arts
Mont des Arts links the upper town and the lower town of Brussels with a staircase of terraced gardens, fountains and modernist buildings. It is one of the most successful urban public spaces in Europe: a place where neoclassical palace fronts and 20th-century glass architecture frame a single, uninterrupted view over the old town.
Visit Guide
- The square and gardens are open 24 hours a day and free of charge
- Best light for photos: early morning and the hour before sunset
- Nearby venues such as KBR and BOZAR keep their own hours, usually 10:00–17:00
- Most museums in the district close on Mondays
Highlights
- Terraced gardens, central fountain and panoramic viewpoint
- One of Europe's most successful public spaces
- BOZAR, KBR and the Royal Museums of Fine Arts within a few minutes' walk
About Mont des Arts
Do You Need Tickets for Mont des Arts?
No. Mont des Arts itself is a public outdoor space and does not require an entrance ticket. The gardens, terraces and viewpoint are free to visit at any time of day. Tickets are only needed for the surrounding museums and exhibitions, such as BOZAR, KBR and the Royal Museums of Fine Arts.
- Mont des Arts gardens, terraces and viewpoint — free, no ticket needed
- BOZAR, KBR exhibitions and the Royal Museums of Fine Arts — separate tickets
- Many Brussels museums are closed on Mondays
- The Brussels Card covers several museums in this district
Always check the official website of the venue you plan to enter, as temporary exhibitions may use a separate entrance and timetable.
Mont des Arts Gardens
The Mont des Arts gardens are a sequence of symmetrical terraces, clipped hedges and lawns that step down the hillside towards the lower town. Designed in the post-war decades by landscape architect René Pechère, the geometric planting softens the monumental architecture around the square and gives visitors a quiet place to sit between museum visits.
- Formal terraces with seasonal flower beds and a central fountain
- Shaded benches along the upper level, facing the old town
- Refurbished several times since the 1990s, most recently with new lighting and planting
Mont des Arts Viewpoint
The upper terrace of Mont des Arts is one of the best free viewpoints in Brussels. From the balustrade you look down across the rooftops of the old town towards the tower of Brussels Town Hall on the Grand Place, with the spires of the Sablon churches to the left and, on clear days, the Atomium on the horizon.
- Best time: the hour before sunset, when the limestone façades turn golden
- The viewpoint is outdoors, free and accessible at any hour
- Tripods are tolerated outside events; drones are not allowed on the square
Explore the Wonders of Mont des Arts
Historical Significance
Mont des Arts represents the pinnacle of Brussels urban planning and symbolises Belgium's modernisation and national identity. In the late 19th century King Leopold II wanted to turn this hillside into a monumental arts district. After decades of debate and two world wars, the project was finally completed after 1945 with a different purpose: instead of glorifying the monarchy, it gave ordinary citizens a public place from which to see the whole city.
Architectural Features
The design combines cascading terraced gardens with modernist glass and stone buildings, creating a flowing perspective that frames the old town below. Neoclassical palace elements sit next to the sober lines of 20th-century modernism, producing an eclectic style that is both solemn and light. KBR, BOZAR and the surrounding institutions are placed at the edge of the square with carefully controlled heights, like a picture frame around the historic centre.
Cultural Value
Mont des Arts marks the shift from royal privilege to civic culture. Today it is a meeting place for photographers, street musicians and visitors from all over the world, and it expresses the open, multilingual character of Brussels. The square saw major refurbishment campaigns from the 1990s onwards, adding contemporary lighting and sculptures while keeping its original spirit.
Recommended Walking Route
Start at the top of the square around 10:00 for the panoramic view, then walk down the main staircase to the central fountain. Continue through the gardens to discover sculptures and small galleries, and finish inside KBR, BOZAR or the Royal Museums of Fine Arts. This loop takes about two hours; add the Grand Place and the Sablon and you easily fill half a day.
Essential Information
Opening Hours
The Mont des Arts square and gardens are open 24 hours a day and are one of Brussels' everyday leisure spaces. Night visits are possible, but the light is most beautiful at dawn and dusk. Surrounding venues such as KBR and BOZAR keep their own hours, generally 10:00 to 17:00, and are usually closed on Mondays. During the winter light shows in December, evening events on the square run later into the night.
Admission & Tickets
Access to Mont des Arts is free: there is no gate, no ticket office and no closing time for the outdoor space. Nearby museums charge separately, with adult tickets for major institutions typically ranging from about €8 to €15. Reduced rates are usually offered to students, seniors and under-26s, and the Brussels Card bundles several museums in this district.
Getting There
Mont des Arts sits between Brussels-Central Station and the Royal Quarter, about a five-minute walk from the station exit. From Brussels-South (Midi) station take metro lines 2 or 6 to Parc/Park and walk through the Royal Park. From the Grand Place, walk up through the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert and continue uphill for roughly ten minutes. Trams and buses stop at Mont des Arts / Kunstberg on the boulevards below the square.
Photography Tips
The steps and paving of Mont des Arts are pale stone and reflect strong light, so a polarising filter helps reduce glare. The classic shot is taken from the centre of the upper terrace towards the Town Hall tower, ideally in the hour before sunset. Low angles in front of the fountain catch the spray in the light, and the staircase works well for silhouettes of people on the level above. Drones are prohibited on the square.
Photo Gallery
Mont des Arts photos: gardens, viewpoint and the Brussels skyline
Mont des Arts panoramic view over Brussels
Mont des Arts terraced gardens and the old town
Mont des Arts central fountain
Mont des Arts upper plaza viewpoint
Mont des Arts viewpoint at golden hour
Neoclassical architecture around Mont des Arts
KBR Royal Library of Belgium near Mont des Arts
BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts near Mont des Arts
Where to Stay Near Mont des Arts
Mont des Arts sits between the historic centre and the Royal Quarter, so most areas of central Brussels are within a short walk. These are the districts travellers usually choose:
Grand Place & Îlot Sacré (5–10 min walk)
The classic choice for a first visit: hotels in restored 17th-century houses, right next to the Grand Place, the Manneken Pis and hundreds of restaurants. Streets can be lively at night.
Royal Quarter & Sablon (5–8 min walk)
Quiet, elegant streets between the Royal Palace and the Sablon, with boutique hotels and design apartments. The closest area to BOZAR and the Royal Museums of Fine Arts.
Around Brussels-Central Station (3–6 min walk)
Practical for short stays and early trains: chain hotels and aparthotels on the boulevards between the station and Mont des Arts, with direct airport connections.
Lower town & Saint-Gilles (15–20 min by metro)
The best value for money. Art-deco townhouses, hostels and apart-hotels south of the ring, connected to Mont des Arts by metro lines 2 and 6 in about ten minutes.
Visitor Reviews
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Map & How to Get to Mont des Arts
Mont des Arts 1, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium · Plus Code R9V4+9X Brussels
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mont des Arts?
Mont des Arts is a historic cultural district and landscaped public garden in central Brussels, Belgium. Known in Dutch as Kunstberg, it is famous for its terraced gardens, its central fountain and its panoramic viewpoint over the old town, and for the museums and cultural institutions gathered around the square.
Do you need tickets for Mont des Arts?
No. Mont des Arts is a public outdoor space with no entrance ticket and no gate — the gardens, terraces and viewpoint are free to visit at any time. You only need tickets for the surrounding attractions such as BOZAR, KBR exhibitions and the Royal Museums of Fine Arts.
Is Mont des Arts free to visit?
Yes. Walking through the square and gardens, sitting on the terraces and enjoying the viewpoint are completely free. Only indoor museums and temporary exhibitions around the square charge admission.
What are the opening hours of Mont des Arts?
The outdoor square and gardens are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The surrounding institutions keep their own schedules, usually around 10:00 to 17:00, and most of them close on Mondays.
How do I get to Mont des Arts from Brussels-Central Station?
Mont des Arts is about a five-minute walk from Brussels-Central Station: leave towards the Royal Quarter and walk up the slope past BOZAR. Trams and buses also stop at the Mont des Arts / Kunstberg stops on the boulevards below the square.
How far is Mont des Arts from the Grand Place?
Around ten minutes on foot. Walk through the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert and continue uphill; the climb ends at the upper terrace of Mont des Arts, from where you can look back over the Grand Place tower.
Where is the best viewpoint at Mont des Arts?
The balustrade of the upper terrace, directly above the main staircase, offers the classic panorama over the rooftops of the old town towards the Town Hall tower on the Grand Place. Sunset and the hour before it are the most popular moments.
What is the Dutch name for Mont des Arts?
Kunstberg, literally “art hill”. Both names — Mont des Arts in French and Kunstberg in Dutch — refer to the same square and gardens in central Brussels, and both appear on public signage and transport stops.
How much time do you need at Mont des Arts?
Allow about 45 minutes to an hour to walk the gardens, the staircase and the viewpoint. Adding one museum such as BOZAR or the Royal Museums of Fine Arts brings the visit to two or three hours, and a half-day is enough for the square plus the Grand Place and the Sablon.
Which museums are near Mont des Arts?
BOZAR (Centre for Fine Arts), KBR (Royal Library of Belgium), the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, the Magritte Museum and the Musical Instruments Museum are all within a few minutes' walk of the square.
What is the best time of day to visit Mont des Arts?
Early morning is quietest and best for photos without crowds; the hour before sunset gives the warmest light on the limestone façades. December brings evening light installations to the square.