Parking ING Arena Brussels: how to park stress-free for your concert

Why parking at the ING Arena is not as hard as it seems

The ING Arena in Brussels, previously known as Palais 12, is a concert venue for 15,000 visitors on the Heysel site in Laeken. The building is part of the Brussels Expo complex and shares the parking infrastructure with King Baudouin Stadium, the Atomium, Kinepolis Bruxelles and the exhibition halls. Brussels Expo holds more than 12,000 parking spaces across five zones in total, according to brussels-expo.com.

On concert nights most visitors start arriving between 18:30 and 19:30, for shows that typically begin at 20:00 or 20:30. The access roads (the A12 from Antwerp and the R0 from the west) fill up during that 90-minute window. Arriving earlier makes it easier to find a spot; later arrivals rush through the pedestrian tunnel to the venue.

The ING Arena sits inside the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) of the Brussels-Capital Region. Since 1 January 2026, diesel vehicles older than Euro 6 and petrol vehicles older than Euro 3 are no longer allowed. Check your vehicle on lez.brussels before you set off, because an offence costs 350 euros. Read our guide on Brussels LEZ rules for more information.

From our experience at SparkSpot, visitors underestimate concert-night traffic. A Saturday night with a sold-out show means the direct Parking Palais 12 fills up by 19:00. A solid backup strategy prevents panic and fines.

Parking Palais 12: the direct option next to the venue

The closest option is Parking Palais 12, right beside the ING Arena building. This is the official car park for visitors with a ticket for a show in the venue. If you pre-book it through event ticketing (available for some shows), your spot is guaranteed. Otherwise it runs on a first-come basis, which rewards early arrival.

The rate for event parking around the Heysel is typically 12 euros per day according to brussels-expo.com. Some concerts apply a higher evening rate, depending on the organiser. This parking is the automatic choice for most visitors because you emerge 100 meters from the main entrance.

Drawback: the exit flow after the show runs slowly. Thousands of cars leave through the same barriers at once. Expect a 30-minute wait to exit, even after midnight. Anyone facing a long drive home may therefore prefer an alternative with a quicker exit.

Brussels Expo Parking B, T and M: open year-round

Parkings B, T and M of Brussels Expo are open 24 hours a day, all year round, and fully automated. They sit near the public entrance of the Heysel site, with Parking T less than 200 meters from the ING Arena. Maximum vehicle height is 2 meters 20 centimeters, which excludes vans and larger trucks.

The tariff follows the Brussels Expo standard, usually around 12 euros per day or an hourly rate for shorter visits. EV charging stations are available at Parking T and at the nearby Greenfly chargers on Avenue de Madrid. The automated exit after the show uses a ticket or Pcard+, speeding up the departure flow compared to the large event-parkings.

Based on our booking data, Parking T is the favourite among regular concertgoers. The distance to the entrance is practically equal to Palais 12, but you leave faster because fewer visitors use this car park. The combination of a short walk and a quick exit often gets you home half an hour earlier than parking at Palais 12.

Parking C: 10,000 spaces, only during major events

For sold-out shows or events that coincide with major trade fairs (Motor Show, Batibouw), Parking C opens on Romeinsesteenweg in Strombeek-Bever. With 10,000 spaces this is by far the largest parking facility on the Heysel site. The car park is accessible via exit 7A of the Ring (R0) and connects to Brussels Expo through a pedestrian bridge and privatised footpath.

The walking distance to the ING Arena is about 500 meters, largely covered. The rate is 12 euros per day. One critical limitation: Parking C does not open for every show. For a standard weekday concert evening the car park usually stays closed. Consult the events calendar on brussels-expo.com or the organiser's confirmation email before you set off.

Anyone who still chooses Parking C while it is closed faces a barrier that will not open, four kilometres from the venue with a show starting in thirty minutes. This is a risk you avoid by checking in advance. Read our full guide on all parking options at the Heysel.

Metro 6 from central Brussels: the car-free option

Anyone coming from Brussels itself takes metro 6. From De Brouckère in the centre you step off at the Heysel stop in about ten minutes, only 300 meters from the ING Arena. Metro 6 runs every four to six minutes between 06:00 and midnight, which also covers the return trip after a late-ending concert.

A single ticket costs 2.10 euros, a day pass 7.50 euros. The metro is the cheapest and fastest option for anyone living in or near Brussels. Intermediate stops from the centre include De Brouckère, Yser, Rogier, Bockstael and Houba-Brugmann. From Bockstael you reach Heysel in about nine minutes.

For visitors coming from outside Brussels, the free P+R plus metro combination does not work perfectly: none of the four free P+R car parks sits directly on metro 6. You must transfer. From P+R Delta (metro 5) you travel via Beekkant and Simonis to Heysel, about 35 minutes total. For a concert this is realistic if you leave an hour before the start.

Free street parking in Laeken after 18:00

The streets around the Heysel site (Rue Marie-Christine, Avenue de Laeken, Avenue Houba de Strooper, Place de Paris) sit largely inside the green and grey zones of parking.brussels. On weekdays after 18:00 and all day Sunday, on-street parking is free. Since concerts mostly start after 18:00, this strategy works perfectly for an evening visit.

One recurring mistake we see: visitors park just before 18:00 thinking the meter stops immediately. The payment obligation runs until precisely 18:00. Anyone arriving at 17:30 still needs to insert coins or wait ten minutes. Arrive at 17:50 and you start at zero cost.

For a sold-out concert you usually find a spot on Place de Paris or one of the side streets of Avenue de Laeken. Search between 17:50 and 18:30 and accept an 8- to 12-minute walk to the venue. The saving compared to Palais 12 or Parking T is 12 to 15 euros per evening, and the post-show exit flow is dramatically better.

From our experience with concertgoers, this is the most popular option among locals and people who know where to look. For visitors from further afield, a pre-reserved spot via SparkSpot is more reliable.

Park smart for your ING Arena concert

For a stress-free concert visit to the ING Arena you have four workable strategies. Parking T or Palais 12 (12 euros, direct access) is the safe choice if you want no hassle. Parking C only opens during very large shows, so check in advance. Metro 6 from Brussels centre is the fastest for car-free visitors. Free street parking in Laeken after 18:00 saves you the full parking rate, provided you walk ten minutes.

When you want certainty about a spot or prefer to avoid the crowds at Palais 12, you can reserve a private parking space via sparkspot.be. Fixed price, guaranteed availability, and often closer to the venue than you might think. Based on our booking data, reservations for major concerts sell out up to two weeks in advance.

Reserve a private parking space near the ING Arena via sparkspot.be/en/parking/brussel. Fixed price, guaranteed spot, within walking distance of the Heysel.

Frequently asked questions

How much does parking at the ING Arena Brussels cost?

Official event parking on the Heysel site typically costs 12 euros per day according to brussels-expo.com. This applies to Parking Palais 12 (beside the venue), Parking T, B and M (open year-round) and Parking C (only during major events). Metro 6 from Brussels centre costs 2.10 euros one way. Street parking in Laeken after 18:00 is free in green and grey zones.

Can I reserve a parking space at the ING Arena in advance?

For some shows the organiser offers a parking ticket when you buy your event ticket, usually for Parking Palais 12. This guarantees a spot right beside the venue. For later bookings or an alternative, you can reserve a private spot via sparkspot.be. On regular concert nights you find availability up to two weeks in advance.

Which metro stops at the ING Arena?

Metro 6 stops at the Heysel station, 300 meters from the ING Arena and the Brussels Expo entrance. The terminus is King Baudouin, whose platform serves the stadium directly. Metro 6 runs from De Brouckère to King Baudouin in about ten minutes, with intermediate stops Yser, Rogier, Bockstael and Houba-Brugmann. Trams 51 and 93 also serve the site from specific directions.

Last updated: April 2026