Summer solstice in Brussels: where to see the longest sunset of the year (Sunday, June 21)

Updated June 16, 2026 by Pierre

If you're a bit sentimental like us, you already know this: Sunday, June 21st, is the summer solstice.The longest day of the year. The day when, in Brussels, the sun will not set until... 22:01Yes, 10:01 PM. Make a note of the time, because that's what we wait for all year.

For your information, on Sunday we will have exactly 16 hours and 35 minutes of daylightCompare that to the eight hours of daylight at the winter solstice. Needless to say, we must make the most of it, because the very next day, we start to lose days very slowly, and before we know it, we'll be back to the endless Decembers of Brussels.

So here are our seven favorite spots to experience this sunset in style. From the most well-known to the most secluded. And all free (except one, we'll explain).

1. Place Poelaert: a sure bet 🏛️

It is le An obvious spot, and there's a reason for that. The square in front of the Palace of Justice is the largest square in Brussels, situated on high ground, with an unobstructed view to the west and north. When you're there around 21 pm in June, you can see the whole city slowly light up, the spire of the City Hall stand out in the distance, and the sky begin to turn pink.

The bonus in June and July: The City is installing deckchairs in the square in front of the Palace. So you don't even have to bring your blanket. You arrive, you spread out, you wait. Most people go there without knowing, and stumble upon this little setup with a surprised smile.

Our tip: Arrive around 20:30 pmYou will have time to choose your deckchair, have an aperitif (the bars of Sablon are a 5-minute walk away), and get settled in for the last 30 minutes before bedtime, which are the most beautiful.

🚇 Metro Louise, then a 5-minute walk. Or tram 92 / 93 / 97.

2. The Mont des Arts esplanade: the postcard view 📸

If you want to take THE photo that sums up Brussels, this is it. The esplanade at the top of the Mont des Arts steps offers this perfect perspective: the geometric gardens in the foreground, the Grand-Place and the City Hall spire in the middle, and the sunset behind. We've seen a thousand photos like this. We never get tired of them.

The thing is, because of the orientation, you won't literally see the sun disappear over the horizon (the city center is in front of you), but you will see The whole city takes on this orangey light typical of late summer days.Very Brussels, very chic, very Instagrammable.

Our tip: go up the stairs rather than staying down in the garden. The view is completely different from up there. And if you want something even more special, the cafeteria on the 5th floor of the KBR (Royal Library) offers an almost equally beautiful view, with added comfort.

🚇 Central Station Metro, Mont des Arts exit.

3. Altitude 100 and Duden Park: the secret of the Forestois 🌳

Now we're starting to get into real insider territory. TheAltitude 100In Forest, it's literally the highest point of Brussels approximately 100 meters above sea level (hence the name). And the Square Lainé, right next door, between Duden Park and Forest Park, offers an unobstructed panoramic view of the entire city spread out below.

This is where Brussels residents go when they're fed up with the crowds at Mont des Arts. You grab your blanket, your bottle, two glasses, settle down on the grass at the top of Square Lainé, and watch the sun set over Brussels from the southwest. Unobstructed view, few people, neighborhood picnic atmosphere.

Combine it with a stroll in Duden Park right afterwards, and you have your ideal solstice Sunday.

🚇 Tram 97 or bus 50, Altitude 100 stop.

4. The Stock Exchange rooftop: the new rooftop that's generating buzz 🍻

Okay, we're cheating a little on this one, because it's not entirely free. Since the renovation of the Stock Exchange in 2023 and the opening of the Belgian Beer WorldThe roof of the listed building has been transformed into panoramic terrace with bar : the Skybar and the BeerLab, which boasts over 150 Belgian beers, including around fifty on tap.

Access to rooftop This can be done either after visiting Belgian Beer World (which requires a fee), or directly at the bar, depending on opening hours. Honestly, since it's Sunday evening (the solstice), go as soon as possible. 16:30 PM without reservationStay for the sunset. You'll have a view of the city center rooftops, the City Hall spire, and all the hustle and bustle of the pedestrian zone below. All this with a nice cold beer in hand.

The place is new, so it's worth checking out before it gets crowded every weekend.

🚇 Metro Bourse, it's literally there.

5. Cinquantenaire Park: to combine with the Fête de la Musique 🎶

Hardly anyone thinks of the Cinquantenaire Park for a sunset, and that's a shame. The west-facing esplanade in front of the arches offers a magnificent view of the sky as it begins to turn orange. And on June 21st, to be precise, you will be full Music Festival (we talked about it in our guide of the week).

So the ideal Sunday solstice program could look like this: Block Party at Bruegel in the afternoon, heading back up to the Cinquantenaire around 19pm for the last sets, and sunset behind the arches around 21:45pm. It's amazing, it's free, and it perfectly sums up why we love June in Brussels.

🚇 Metro Mérode or Schuman.

6. Bois de la Cambre: for lovers of the green 🌿

If you prefer a more natural and less urban atmosphere, direction the Wood of the Cambre. The ideal: around the lake, on the west shorewhere you'll see the sun set over the trees. Enchanted forest atmosphere, squirrels as a bonus, and absolute calm after a day of music.

This is our preferred option when we want a solstice version slow A chilled white wine, a book, and the sound of birds falling asleep. We go there regularly in June and it's exactly the kind of evening that makes you say "hey, actually, Brussels isn't so bad".

Quick tip: the Robinson Chalet (in the middle of the lake, accessible by a small ferry, it always makes visitors laugh) opens its terrace seasonally. Sunset + a drink on the water, it's hard to beat.

🚇 Tram 7 or 8, Legrand terminus.

7. Place du Châtelain: Sunset with an aperitif 🍷

Not a true panoramic spot, but we had to include it on the list for a reason: it's leaves that we always end our summer evenings in Brussels. Not for the view, but for the end-of-day atmosphereThe terraces were full, conversations mingled, and light fell between the trees in the square.

It's our little summer Sunday ritual: we come to watch the sky change color from the terrace of our favorite bistro, we stay perfectly still, and we wait for night to truly fall. If you want to extend the evening after a sunset elsewhere, this is the place to be.

Don't hesitate to try Old Boy En passant (see our yummy article).

🚇 Tram 81 or 93, Bailli or Châtelain stop.

Bonus: three tips for enjoying your solstice Sunday to the fullest 🌞

• Don't miss the golden hourIt begins around 21 hrs Sunday, about an hour before the official sunset. That's leaves The light becomes magical, not at the precise moment the sun touches the horizon. Be there at 21 p.m., you won't regret it.
• Plan for an extra layerEven on June 21st in Brussels, as soon as the sun sets, the temperature drops quickly. A light jacket, a scarf, or a blanket if you're in the park. No one envies the guy shivering at 22:30 PM in a t-shirt.
• Take advantage of the fact that it's SundayIt's rare in 2026 for the solstice to fall exactly on a Sunday evening. No work the next day, no excuse to go home early. Stay. Have one too many drinks. Watch the stars appear. It's evenings like these that make us love this city.

What comes next?

Once the sun has set, night doesn't fall immediately. In Brussels, at that time of year, Civil twilight lasts approximately 30 minutes, during which the sky remains bright. So you have until Around 22:30 pm to enjoy truly soft lightand full night doesn't even arrive until midnight.

That's why the solstice in Brussels is magical. Not just for the 30 seconds when the sun disappears, but for the incredibly long evening that stretches on and on, where you feel like the day will never end. Enjoy it. See you Sunday 🌅

👉 Read also : our complete guide to the 2026 Fête de la Musiqueperfect for combining sunset and free concerts