Brussels

A 30-hectare neoclassical park crowned by the triumphal arch built for Belgium's 50th anniversary in 1880. Dogs are welcome on leash throughout, and the wide gravel paths and lawns are popular with expat dog-walking groups.

This 124-hectare forest park is the city's favourite weekend escape, with a lake, rolling lawns and a dedicated unfenced off-leash zone on the western side. The road through it is closed to cars every weekend.

A UNESCO-listed 4,400-hectare beech forest on the southern edge of the city, with hundreds of kilometres of trails. Dogs must be leashed in ecological reserves but can roam free on most footpaths.

The UNESCO-listed central square is surrounded by gilded 17th-century guild houses and the Gothic Town Hall. Leashed dogs are free to cross and even pose for photos, though they can't enter the Town Hall tours.

A 70-hectare English-style park with ponds and ancient beeches, featuring two large fenced off-leash zones. A favourite with the Brussels-EU crowd living nearby.

The antique-dealer district doubles as Brussels' chicest café square, with chocolatiers like Wittamer and Pierre Marcolini. Most terraces welcome dogs, and the adjacent Petit Sablon gardens are a leafy cool-down spot.