dinant tourist attractions

Home » Travel Guides » Belgium » 15 Best Things to Do in Dinant (Belgium)

15 Best Things to Do in Dinant (Belgium)

This city on the Meuse River is in an incredibly picturesque spot, squeezed between the water and the high valley walls.

To the east is an insurmountable wall of limestone that has long made Dinant an attractive place for armies to gain a foothold on the Meuse.

That cliff is still topped by a citadel, above the distinctive 16th-centuy onion dome of the Collegiate Church.

On the riverside is Boulevard Léon Sasserath and its unending string of restaurant and cafe terraces.

Safe to say that Dinant is a city with sax appeal, as the birthplace of Adolphe Sax (1814-1894), the inventor of the saxophone.

There are saxophone monuments all over town in his honour, including along the bridge on which Charles de Gaulle took a bullet in the leg in 1914.

1. La Citadelle de Dinant

The formidable cliff enclosing Dinant to the east has been fortified since the 11th century when the Bishop of Liège ordered a castle defending the town and the crossing on the Meuse below.

This building was razed by the Burgundians in the Sack of Dinant in 1466. Later, the French military mastermind Vauban adapted the citadel for gunpowder, and this defence was modified by the Dutch in 1818-1821. The citadel was heavily involved in the Battle of Dinant in 1914, and there’s a space inside dedicated to this violent event, recreating trench warfare.

You’ll also find an intriguing weapons museum, apt for a city that has been caught up in so much fighting.

The preserved bakery, kitchens, barracks and dungeons meanwhile offer a sense of what it was like to be posted at the citadel in the early 19th century.

And to get up here you can save yourself long-winded journey by catching the cable-car that departs just next to the Collégiale Notre-Dame.

2. Collégiale Notre-Dame de Dinant

Maybe the first thing you’ll notice about the church on the riverside below the citadel is the curious onion dome that crests the western tower at a height of 100 metres, and dating back to the 16th century.

Another unusual feature is the rather short choir, curtailed by the church’s small plot as there’s a immense wall of rock behind.

In fact a rock fall took out the Collégiale Notre-Dame’s Romanesque predecessor, only the north portal of which survives.

The rest was built in the 13th and 14th century, but has had to be reconstructed three times after taking damage in 1466, 1554 and 1914. There’s painting inside by the Dinant-born Romantic artist Antoine Wiertz (1806-1865). Exceptionally old are the lifelike faces carved into the hexagonal Romanesque basin of the baptismal font, dating from the 1000s.

3. Grotte la Merveilleuse

This show-cave was discovered over the left bank of the Meuse in 1904 and quickly won a lot of admirers for its many concretions in varying colours.

On three levels, these stalactites and stalagmites come in pink, brown, blue and bright white, and are accompanied by subterranean waterfalls.

You can enjoy Grotte la Merveilleuse on a light stairway (120 steps) and the temperature in the cave rests at a steady 13°C all year round.

4. Rocher Bayard

On the right bank of the Meuse between Dinant and Anseremme is an iconic needle of rock, 40 metres tall.

Rocher Bayard stands along from an epic ridge of protruding limestone that continues up the side of the valley, and you can drive between the needle and the rest of the ridge along the northbound lane of Rue Defoin.

The story of how Rocher Bayard broke away is steeped in folklore, namely the Ardennes’ tale of the Four Sons of Aymon.

The story goes that the cleave was created by the hooves of their magical horse Bayard as it rescued the knight Renaud de Montauban and his three brothers from Charlemagne.

5. Parc de Furfooz

It’s hard to resist the lure of the nature all around Dinant.

You can traverse a piece of this terrain on foot along the Lesse Valley at Parc de Furfooz.

The scenery in this nature reserve, with its sun-baked limestone rock, has been compared to Provence.

There’s an archaeological angle to the place too, as people (or our close ancestors) have been living here since the Palaeolithic period.

A stairway carries you through caves once inhabited by humans, but there’s also a reconstructed Roman bath and a plateau that was fortified in the Middle Ages.

The main yellow trail at Parc de Furfooz is four kilometres and will take two hours at a gentle clip.

6. Maison Leffe

Abbaye Notre-Dame de Leffe has a brewing tradition going back to 1240, later spawning one of Europe’s most famous beer brands.

You can discover this riveting history at a museum set up by the brand in the chapel of the former Bethléem convent, now an upscale hotel.

Maison Leffe is a modern experience, full of touch-screens and interactivity.

You’ll discover how the abbey brewed beer initially as a way of avoiding waterborne diseases like typhus, and find out about its long-held reputation for hospitality.

There are also nine different Leffe beers to try, some of which may not be available in your country, and you’ll find out what food goes best with each brew.

7. Château de Vêves

This beautiful 15th-century château in the nearby village of Celles is posted on a rocky spur that has been fortified since as long ago as the 7th century and the days of Frankish statesman Pepin of Herstal.

The current early Renaissance design, with five commanding circular towers, came in the wake the building’s destruction at the beginning of the 1400s.

The outward appearance hasn’t changed much since then, but the interior courtyard was reworked several times, and has a fine two-level, half-timbered gallery and another facade in an 18th-century Louis XV style.

Head in for a guided tour to appreciate centuries’ worth of art, decoration and historical keepsakes, including ceramics, portraits and furniture, all in a stately setting.

8. Maison de Monsieur Sax

There’s lots of little reminders around Dinant about the famous wind instrument inventor Adolphe Sax who was born here.

And you can visit the house where Sax was born in 1914, set on his namesake street, fronted by a bench with a statue of the man holding his invention.

Go in and there’s a smart multimedia exhibition letting you distinguish between the various types of saxophones and explaining Sax’s immense technical contribution to the music world.

You’ll discover the saxophone’s impact on popular culture, from Charlie Parker to Lisa Simpson, and learn Sax’s unfortunate life story, which ended in poverty, with only posthumous recognition and success after a 20-year legal dispute over patent infringement.

9. Jardins d’Annevoie

A few minutes down the Meuse and you’ll come to a château embedded in a set of water gardens unique in Belgium.

Primarily in the French formal style, but with Italian and English flourishes, these gardens were laid out by the Montpellier family at the same time as the château in the middle of the 18th century.

The water for this sequence of ponds, waterfalls and fountains is channelled from the Rouillon River, and rather than being pumped by artificial means, flows through the gardens according to the natural contours of the landscape.

The château is closed to the public but from the end of March to the start of November you can spend an hour or two lost in the beauty of the water gardens.

10. Crèvecœur Castle

High on the Meuse’s left bank are the crumbling ruins of a castle constructed in the 14th century to defend Bouvignes-sur-Meuse.

In 1554 this was besieged and fell to Henry II of France.

The king slighted the castle to stop it being reused, which is the origin of its current name, ” Crèvecœur” (Heartbreak). The story goes that three local women threw themselves from the highest tower to avoid falling into the hands of the invaders.

Meeting you at the bottom of the steps is a historic gatehouse, once part of the castle.

And up among the ruins you can easily make out the base of a powerful semicircular tower erected around 1430. The ruins command stirring vistas of the Meuse Valley, over Bouvignes and south to Dinant, just a couple of kilometres away.

11. Abbaye Notre-Dame de Leffe

On the right bank of the Meuse pay a visit to the Premonstratensian abbey that gave us the famous beer.

This was founded in the middle of the 12th century and has operated ever since, apart from during a hiatus from 1784 to 1903 caused by the French Revolution.

In the summer months you can take a look around for free on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 15:00. Long before the French Revolution Abbaye Notre-Dame de Leffe had been largely destroyed in 1466 by Burgundian forces during the Wars of Liège.

The oldest buildings on the double interior courtyard date from the rebuild during the 17th century.

The Abbots’ quarter is particularly grand, and has a chamber with an expansive fireplace, Renaissance furniture and numerous sculptures and portraits.

12. Castle of Freÿr

A short drive up the Meuse from Dinant will bring you to this fine property that was the summer residence for the Dukes of Beaufort-Spontin.

The Castle of Freÿr’s opulence comes from 16th and 17th-century Renaissance and Baroque extensions.

But before that time it had defensive role on a strategic stretch of the Meuse until its keep was destroyed by the French in 1554. As you see it now, the castle, which has been in the Beaufort-Spontin family for 20 generations, is a shining example of an 18th-century aristocratic residence, enriched with the family’s period furniture.

There are glorious Louis XV-style ceiling frescoes and wall paintings by Frans Snyders (1579-1657), but it’s the formal terraced gardens landscaped in the style of André Le Nôtre that are most celebrated.

These have magnificent views of the soaring limestone cliffs on the opposite bank and are famed for their orange trees planted at the beginning of the 18th century and among the oldest in Europe.

At the highest point is a Rococo pavilion with dainty stucco mouldings of tritons and angels.

13. Pont Charles de Gaulle

Possibly the darkest moment in Dinant’s tempestuous history came in August 1914, during an engagement between the French and Germans in a fight for control of the Meuse.

The Battle of Dinant was bloody and chaotic, and amid the confusion (probably caused by friendly fire) the Germans accused Dinant’s citizens of partisan attacks and massacred 674 unarmed civilians.

The battle also laid much of the historic cityscape to waste.

One man involved in the fighting was the young lieutenant Charles de Gaulle, who was also one of the first to be wounded when he was shot in the lower leg.

Close to the west bank there’s a plaque marking the spot where the future president of France was wounded, and there’s a stylised statue of the man close by.

On the brighter side of things, since 2010 the bridge’s roadway has been lined with saxophones, each painted in the style of a different European country.

14. Lesse River Trip

The Lesse meanders through breathtaking scenery on the way to its confluence with the Meuse at Anseremme.

This river threads through peaceful, sparsely inhabited woodland, and looming over the banks are wild rock formations and fairytale castles.

The best way to appreciate this scenery in all its majesty is from the water.

In the summer Dinant Evasion offers kayaking experiences on a short (12km) or long (21km) course down the river.

There’s a regular shuttle taking you to your starting point, and as you float back to Anseremme you’ll pass plenty of places where you can pull your kayak ashore for a drink or meal.

For trips on the Meuse, Dinant Evasion also rents out silent and eco-friendly electric boats.

15. Dinant Aventure

The same company renting out kayaks on the Lesse also runs an outdoor adventure park close by at a converted sandstone quarry.

Dinant Aventure sprawls over almost 20 hectares and has a variety of rope courses high above the Meuse Valley.

These vary in difficulty and the time it takes to complete them, as you traverse a variety of suspended bridges, scale sheer rock walls on Via Vita trail, put your sense of balance to the test and swing from tree to tree.

The longest crossing is 100 metres long, 60 metres high, while on the XL swing you’ll swoop from a 60-metre platform.

Dinant Aventure also has two landscaped arenas for paintballing and laser tag, and you can combine these courses/activities in a range of different packages.

15 Best Things to Do in Dinant (Belgium):

• La Citadelle de Dinant
• Collégiale Notre-Dame de Dinant
• Grotte la Merveilleuse
• Rocher Bayard
• Parc de Furfooz
• Maison Leffe
• Château de Vêves
• Maison de Monsieur Sax
• Jardins d'Annevoie
• Crèvecœur Castle
• Abbaye Notre-Dame de Leffe
• Castle of Freÿr
• Pont Charles de Gaulle
• Lesse River Trip
• Dinant Aventure

Worldwide Walkers

13 Absolute BEST Things to do in Dinant

There are so many great things to do in Belgium’s charming town Dinant.

Dinant is famous for being the hometown of the man who created the saxophone, it’s known for its breathtaking scenery, and for having one of the driest (yet most historically interesting) biscuits on earth – It’s definitely a town worth exploring!

We recently stayed 2 nights in beautiful Dinant, so we had the chance to visit all of the great landmarks in the city. To our delight, we quickly discovered that there are so many great things to do in Dinant in spite of its small size.

In this travel guide, we aim to share everything we learned about Dinant. This includes practical information such as how to get there and where to stay, and then we’ll of course list all of the best things you can do in Dinant.

Hopefully, this guide can help you get the most out of your visit to this little historical pearl in Belgium.

AFFILIATE LINKS DISCLOSURE: Dear Reader, this blog post contains affiliate links. If you click on them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more here .

Things to know before you visit Dinant

Why visit dinant.

Before continuing this blog post, we want to say a few words about why Dinant is worth a visit. There are so many great places to see in Belgium, so why should you bother to visit Dinant?

First of all, Dinant is just beautiful. Located deep within the countryside of Wallonia, you’ll find some really beautiful landscapes here. The Meuse River is running through the town, there are several cliffs and caves in the area, and you can be sure to find beautiful hiking trails in the woods.

Secondly, Dinant is a great escape from the big cities in Belgium. If you’re a bit tired of the hustle and bustle of Brussels, then Dinant is the perfect day trip! But even though Dinant is a small town, there are still plenty of things to see and do – which this blog post will show you in a minute.

Lastly, Dinant is full of history. Especially the dark stories about Charles the Bold and World War 1 is just so interesting to learn about. Dinant is definitely a town that has endured some hardships over the years, yet it proudly keeps rebuilding itself, which is just so fascinating! A great way to learn about the history of Dinant is to visit the Citadel – but more about that later.

How to get to Dinant?

Since Dinant has a train station, it’s easy to get there with public transportation. There is a direct train from Bruxelles-Luxembourg Station to Dinant Station which takes 1 hour and 25 minutes and costs €14,5 for a one-way trip.

If you prefer to skip the public transportation and if you don’t have a car, then you can also join a guided tour to Dinant and Luxembourg . However, it’s only possible to join the tour group from Brussels 2-3 days a week or else you have to book a private tour.

Check availability for the guided tour in the box below:

Where to stay in Dinant?

We stayed 2 nights in Dinant at an affordable guesthouse named Les Voisins De Mr Sax .

It was really great, and we can really recommend this place! It was located right in the middle of the city center, we had a big spacious room with a private bathroom, and there was a shared kitchen with everything you needed to cook a meal. We paid around €100 per night.

If you prefer to stay in a hotel, then here are a few other good options in Dinant.

Consider staying at La Merveilleuse by Infiniti Resorts , which is an old monastery located on top of a hill overlooking the river and Dinant city center – and it’s where you’ll find Maison Leffe.

Another good option is ibis Dinant Centre . This hotel is a basic 3-star hotel, but it’s located right by the Meuse River, so it offers some excellent views – yet it’s pretty affordable.

Top things to do in Dinant

Now let’s move on to the main purpose of this blog post – discovering everything that Dinant has to offer! Here are the 13 best things you can do in Dinant. We hope you’ll have fun!

1. Explore the Citadel

The Citadel of Dinant is probably the most popular thing you can do in town.

The citadel is full of interesting history, it has the best views over Dinant and its surroundings, plus there are many great things to do and see while you’re here.

The citadel has always been an important part of the city because it used to defend Dinant against its enemies. In the year of 1040, the Prince-Bishop of Liège built a fortress on the rock where the citadel lies, however, it was destroyed and rebuilt many times over the centuries. It wasn’t until 1819 when the Dutch army arrived and constructed the citadel as we know it today.

During our visit, we learned a lot about the citadel and its importance to the city. But my favorite parts were seeing the beautiful view of Dinant and then of course experiencing the collapsed shelter which challenges your balance in a fun way!

You’ll also walk through the citadel’s many chambers, learn about life in the garrison, and you can follow a 150-meter long tunnel that tells the story of Dinant during World War 1. It’s honestly super interesting!

You can either walk the 408 steps to the top of the citadel or take the cable car. We chose to walk up – I mean, Worldwide Walkers should mean something. Right? The ticket price is actually the same whether you walk up or take the cable car – so just do what you feel. But mind the very steep steps to the top.

The entrance fee to the Citadel of Dinant in 2024 is as follows: It costs €12 per adult and €10 per child. You can also buy the combined ticket that includes the citadel and a river cruise for just €20 per adult and €15 per child.

The opening hours to the Citadel vary according to the season – see the table below for more information:

2. Visit the Cathedral

The most iconic building of Dinant is definitely the cathedral – also known as Notre Dame de Dinant. It’s a gothic cathedral that dates back to the 13th century, it has a long and interesting history, and it’s known for its round pear-shaped bell tower.

In one of the chambers of the church (to the right upon your entry), you’ll find a short documentary about the church. Here you can learn more about the history of Notre Dame and of Dinant itself. So take a seat and spend 10 minutes getting to know the history – it’s honestly super interesting and it makes you understand Dinant better.

One thing is for sure, visiting Dinant’s cathedral is without a doubt one of the things you must do if you really want to get to know this charming, little town in Belgium.

The Dinant Cathedral is free to visit, and it’s open every day – but the opening hours differ depending on the season:

3. Stop by the Sax Museum

If you visit Dinant, then you’ll quickly notice a recurring theme – there are saxophones everywhere! Why? Because the creator of the saxophone was born here.

Adolpe Sax was born on the 6th of November 1814 in a house in Dinant. Today this house has been turned into a small museum where you can learn all about Adolphe Sax’s life and how the saxophone (among other instruments) came to life.

It’s a very small museum and it won’t take more than 15 minutes to visit. The Sax House is completely free to enter, and it’s open every day from 9 AM to 7 PM.

So make sure to pay a visit to the Sax House. Oh, and don’t forget to take a picture with the statue of Mr. Sax, who’s sitting in front of the house. It’s an absolute must-do for any tourist in Dinant!

4. Count the saxophones!

Talking about saxophones… Dinant is full of them.

There are so many saxophone statues placed around town – You’ll find most of them on the Charles de Gaulle Bridge, but really, they’re everywhere. So I had a little game with myself to see how many statues I could count during our visit, and if I remember correctly then it came to 32 saxophones!

The saxophone statues are super colorful and they often represent a country. It’s honestly pretty cool. Write a comment below and let me know how many saxophones you found during your trip to Dinant.

5. Try the Dinant cookie

The most iconic thing you can eat in Dinant is the “Couque de Dinant”, which is basically the driest and hardest cookie I’ve ever tried in my life… However, this little treat has so much history behind it that it’s an absolute must try in Dinant.

The cookie originates from the 15th century when the town was besieged by Charles the Bold and there was a lack of food in Dinant. That’s when people had the idea to create something from the supplies that was left in town – flour and honey.

So, the dough of Couque de Dinant only consists of flour and honey, which is kneaded by hand before it’s flattened and pressed into moulds with different motives. It’s then baked in an oven at a high temperature ranging from 250 – 320 degrees celcius. The last step of the process is to let the cookie cool down …and become extremely hard.

We bought our Couque de Dinant for €5 at “Maison Jacobs Fabrique de Couques” on Rue Grande 147. We chose the motive of a rooster because it’s the symbol of the Walloon Region in Belgium, but you can choose many other motives in the shop.

It’s actually pretty cool to just stop by and see the motives whether you want to try the cookie or not.

When we bought the cookie, we were advised not to bite into it because of its hardness, but instead break pieces off and suck on them or dip them into coffee. That’s how you eat the Dinant biscuit without losing any teeth.

While I may not sell this cookie very well on this blog, I still advise you to go and try it!

6. See the War Memorial of 1914

Another thing to do in Dinant is to visit the War Memorial of 1914. The memorial was inaugurated in 2014, marking the 100 year date since Dinant lost many of its innocent citizens to the first World War.

The memorial is specifically dedicated to the victims of the 23rd of August 1914, when the germans took Dinant, destroyed many of the city’s buildings, and executed a total of 674 civilians.

You can freely enter the memorial at any time, and while you’re there, you can read the information board and see the pictures from when the germans took control of Dinant in 1914.

There is also a nice view of the river from the memorial, so make sure to go here and enjoy and appreciate a moment of peace – A privilege the people of Dinant didn’t have in 1914.

7. Rent a boat

One of the most popular and fun things to do in Dinant is to rent a boat.

The rental boats are located in the Meuse River right by the cathedral and Café Leffe. They’re electric boats, so they don’t pollute the Meuse River and they’re easy to sail.

Boat rental in Dinant is open daily from April 1st, and it’s closed during winter. The opening hours range from 10 AM – 6:30 PM, and one boat costs €59/hour in 2024 (up to 7 people are allowed in the boats, so you can split the cost).

8. Do a river cruise

Don’t want to be your own captain, but still want to see Dinant from the river? Then go on a river cruise!

There are several river cruises you can do in Dinant – some last 45 minutes, some are 2 hours long, and some last for days! Since we never did a river cruise we can’t share our experience of this.

However, you can buy the combined river cruise/citadel ticket for just €20 per adult if you want to save some money.

9. Visit the Merveilleuse Cave

The absolute coolest things to do in Dinant (literally, I was freezing cold) is to visit the Merveilleuse Cave! Also known as “Grotte de Dinant la Merveilleuse”, which translates into “The Wonderful Cave of Dinant”. It’s definitely one of the most beautiful caves in Belgium – and it’s only a 10 minute walk out of the city center.

Visiting the Merveilleuse Cave was without a doubt the biggest experience we had in Dinant. Walking several 100 meters underground and discovering chamber after chamber while getting dripped on by stalagmites was just so incredible!

We paid €10 per person (2022 prices), and it took us a small hour to reach the surface again. We really enjoyed it, and it was such a great place to cool off during the heatwave of August. You can either enter by yourself, like we did, or buy a guide to take you around.

We can’t find the exact opening hours of Merveilleuse Cave in 2024, but expect it to be something like this: Weekdays from 12 AM – 4 PM and weekends from 11 AM – 4 PM. Basically, just go by the cave during the middle of the day and you will most likely be able to enter.

10. Drink beer at Maison Leffe

One of the best things to do in Dinant, if you love beer, is to visit the House of Leffe. While the beer actually originates from Leffe Abbey, which you can also visit in Dinant, you’ll still learn about the history of Leffe while walking the old corridors of an ancient monastery.

It costs €12 to visit House of Leffe, which also includes a beer tasting and a gift. House of Leffe is open daily from 11 AM to 7 PM. But if you want to enjoy the old monastery a little bit longer, then you can always book a room at the La Merveilleuse Hotel , which is located at the House of Leffe.

You can see the House of Leffe from the city center of Dinant, so it’s only a short walk uphill to get there. And whether you visit the house or not, we still advise you to go here and enjoy the great view over Dinant!

11. Walk to Leffe Abbey

Want to see where the Leffe Beer was actually made? Then you should head to the Leffe Abbey. The Abbey was founded by the Premonstratensian canons of Floreffe in 1152. Less than 100 years later, in 1240, the canons began to brew beer.

The beer became very popular with the people of Dinant because back in the Middle Ages it was safer to drink beer than water. Unlike drinking water, the beer was boiled during the brewing process, so all the microbes got killed – thus making it safer to drink.

So basically, beer saved lives. Okay, maybe that’s a bit farfetched… But it was very popular with the people back then, and it still is today!

Walking from the city center to Leffe Abbey takes about 10-15 minutes. However, you can only do a guided tour in the weekends of July and August. So don’t expect to see anything but the old buildings if you come any other time than this.

12. Go on a hike

There is so much beautiful nature in the area of Dinant, so you can easily strap on your best shoes and go for a hike!

While we didn’t have time for this activity during our stay (plus we felt exhausted from the 30+ degrees celcius), we would still have loved to do it. The area is known for rocks, cliffs, forests, rivers, and caves. So if you want to get into nature, then just follow your feet and get going!

13. Take a day trip to Maredsous

Not only are there many great things to do in Dinant, but the whole area surrounding this little town is full of some great places to explore!

You can find a lot of beautiful, old abbeys in the area or you can go visit some enchanting caves.

We chose a day trip to beautiful Maredsous Abbey to taste the beer and cheese they make here. We luckily had a car since we were visiting Dinant with Glenn’s family, but you can also get here with public transportation.

There is a direct bus line from Dinant to Maredsous (line #35), but it doesn’t go that often, so check the timetable on Google Maps before you set out on your day trip.

Our 3 favorite things to do in Dinant

So, what was our 3 favorite things to do in Belgium’s beautiful Dinant? In this section we’ll give you our top 3 recommendations for what to do in the town if you only have a limited time here. This hopefully helps you choose what things to go for while you’re here.

• The Citadel: The Citadel is just a must-visit on your trip to Dinant because it has it all. It has the views, it’s historical, and it’s full of great information, plus there are even some interactive exhibitions about the war in the citadel. It’s the best place to explore if you really want to get to know Dinant’s history.
• The Merveilleuse Cave: We absolutely LOVED exploring the cave. It’s so fun and adventurous, and it’s probably the experience, which we found most spectacular. Walking hundreds of meters below earth is just something extraordinary.
• The saxophones: We loved exploring everything that had to do with Mr. Adolpe Sax. He’s just such a big part of Dinant! Learning more about him, his life, and the way he created instruments is just a must. So make sure to visit the little Sax Museum and see all the different statues of saxophones on the way.

We hope you enjoyed this blog post about all the best things to do in Dinant. It was our second time here, and we absolutely loved it. Dinant is such a charming little town that shows you a different side of Belgium – it totally stands in contrast to the large cities of the country.

Hopefully this blog post was helpful to you – or else just ask any questions in the comment section below.

Thanks for reading and happy travels!

First time in Belgium? Read this blog post: 35 things Belgium is famous for . Want to discover more great cities in Belgium? Check out:

• Things to do in Namur
• Things to do in Ghent
• Things to do in Bruges
• Things to do in Brussels

Hi, I'm Cecilie! And I'm the writer behind our travel blog. I only write about places that we've personally been to and want to recommend to you. I'm passionate about creating truthful travel guides, which can help you plan your own trip. When I'm not traveling or writing, you'll find me on a hiking trail, in a coffee shop, or in a shoe store around Copenhagen.

Similar Posts

Visiting the Gruesome Gravensteen Castle in Ghent

One of the darkest, yet most impressive places to visit in Ghent is the Gravensteen Castle. Within Gravensteen’s castle walls you’ll go back in time and learn about the counts…

My First Months Living in Belgium

*2024 Edit: I no longer live in Belgium. This blog post is my point of view of living in Belgium from 2020-2021. Today, both Glenn and I have moved to…

10 Things to do in Ghent on a day trip

Ghent is our favorite city in Belgium. It really has it all – beautiful buildings, intertwining canals, a great food scene, and friendly locals. It’s no wonder, we chose to…

16 Things to do in Namur – Belgium’s most Underrated City

We went on a day trip to Namur and found that there are so many things to do in this beautiful city in Belgium. So why is nobody talking about…

Brussels Itinerary: See the Highlights in just 2 Days

Truth be told, we actually didn’t care much for Brussels at first, but we’ve really come around to love this city. And we hope you will too. That’s why we’ve…

24 Things to do in Beautiful Bruges in 2024

Bruges is not to be missed. Known for its intertwining canals, its Medieval buildings, and its cobblestone streets, Bruges is without a doubt one of Belgium’s most beautiful cities. But…

Thank you for sharing your experience. Will be visiting there soon and your blog has been very helpful.

Hi BB Love, I’m so happy you found my blog post helpful! Hope you’ll have an amazing trip to Dinant 😊

🎷Hello to my sisters and brothers from beautiful 🇨🇦Canada. I will start by mentioning, this ARTICLE has been extremely interesting and a pleasure to read. Thank you for this valuable information as this piece is quite well thought out and put together 📚 … After recently watching a mind blowing documentary called –THE DEVILS HORN,( a must watch for horn players)🎷only to realize that Adolf Sax’s birthday is highly celebrated, every year on November 6th … My point to this is ???? I will soon be in Italy, and again realized why not drive there🚙 🎷As a sax player myself, this is my calling.I must be a part of this energy 🎁 breaking last year’s world’s record 🌎which was 1000 saxophone players all standing in the same space ,playing the same song at the same time 💥🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷💥 are you freaking kidding me mate🤷. So thank you for pushing me through to a final decision as to where I will be come this November 6th Thank you Mr Adolf Sax🎷 I look forward to share a pic of Mr Sax and I soon🎷🎷 🇨🇦One Love around the world for all ❤️

WOW 🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷 I hope you find Mr. Sax in Dinant. All the best, Cecilie 😊

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

16 Things to Do in Dinant: Discovering the Hidden Gems of Belgium

Traveling to Dinant, Belgium and you’re not sure how to spend your time in the charming town? Then you’re definitely in the right place because this detailed guide to all the top things to do in Dinant will help you plan out an itinerary!

Dinant might be a small town but it’s got a history that few big cities can compete with. The town’s strategic position on the Meuse river has made it a battle site more than once, even during World War I. Such rich history translates to many citadels and interesting museums, which are just some of the popular attractions in the picturesque town.

Read on to learn more about the fascinating town of Dinant, and see all the top attractions you shouldn’t miss while you’re in this famous Belgian city !

Table of Contents

How To Get To Dinant

Dinant is a small town in the French-speaking region of Wallonia. It doesn’t have an airport, but it is connected to other major cities in Belgium by trains and buses. If you’re traveling specifically to this charming little town, look for flights that land at Brussels South Charleroi Airport.

This is the closest international airport to Dinant, and it’s the second-largest airport in Belgium so it sees a lot of direct international flights. Driving time from the airport to Dinant is some 50 minutes, so renting a car is definitely the quickest way of traveling from the airport to the medieval town.

You can also take a train from Charleroi to Namur, and then from Namur to Dinant. The quickest option takes about an hour and 15 minutes, but that doesn’t account for the amount of time you need to travel from the airport to the South Charleroi train station. Buses also transport passengers between Charleroi and Dinant, but they’re slower than the trains.

If you’re traveling to Dinant from Brussels , the train is your best option. Again, you have to ride the (IC) train to Namur and from there the (L) train to Dinant. The average travel time is a little under two hours, and ticket prices start at some 15 Euros.

Best Time To Visit Dinant

The best time to visit Dinant, Belgium is between May and September. Spring is the busiest tourist season in the town, so it’s a great time to visit if you want to have loads of things to do. However, it’s worth noting that spring is chilly in Dinant and it gets quite a bit of rain, so summer is generally considered the perfect time to visit this charming little town.

Even the summers in Dinant are mild, with average daily highs of 22 degrees Celsius and lows that usually don’t drop below 14 degrees Celsius. It’s worth noting that temperatures can get higher in July and August, but they rarely exceed 30 degrees Celsius. So, even though it’s pretty warm, it’s not so hot that you can’t stand to walk around and explore the town.

The summer months, along with April and September, are the driest months in this charming town. There’s shouldn’t be any snow on the ground during this season (but you never know), plus the chance of rain remains under 30%.

Try The Delicious Couque de Dinant

Couque de Dinant is a famous biscuit native to this lovely little Belgian town. It’s traditionally made with wheat flour and honey, and it’s very hard in texture. The dough is made from flour and honey, placed into wooden molds, and then cooked in the oven at the highest temperature possible. The wooden molds are made in many different shapes, so a true Dinant biscuit will always have an interesting motif on it.

It’s usually cooked for about 15 minutes at 300 degrees Celsius which allows the honey to caramelize. Once cooled, the biscuit becomes extremely hard and it can be preserved indefinitely, which is why it’s a popular decoration. Belgians even use it to decorate Christmas trees and to commemorate special occasions.

It’s worth noting that the rock-hard texture of the biscuit is certainly not for everyone. It’s actually not meant to be bitten into – the biscuit is supposed to be broken down into smaller pieces, which can be dipped into coffee, left to melt in the mouth, or gently sucked on.

Go On A Meuse River Cruise

Meuse River runs through Dinant and it’s certainly one of the highlights of this charming little town. A river cruise is a great way of discovering the lovely Belgian town from a different perspective and getting to know more about this iconic river.

Many cruises are organized by Dinant Evasion, a recreation center that offers heaps of ways to have fun in this Belgian town. They organize many different types of cruises, from simple sightseeing river cruises to themed murder mystery parties on their boats. This is definitely a unique way of exploring this quaint town, and an adventure worth experiencing if you’re looking to try something fun and exciting.

Also, it’s worth noting that it’s possible to rent houseboats on the Meuse. Consider this if you want to explore Dinant from the water at your own pace, but also if you would like to cruise to other towns in the region. You’ll get detailed instructions on how to operate a houseboat from the marina staff – they’re super easy to maneuver, and most people get the hang of it in the first 15 minutes.

Cross The Charles de Gaulle Bridge

Charles de Gaulle Bridge is Dinant’s main bridge over the Meuse river. It’s a simple road bridge and there’s nothing too special about it, other than the saxophone statues that can be found all over town. You can see this bridge from pretty much every corner of Dinant, and if you have any plans to get to the other side of the river bank, you’ll have to cross it.

Although the bridge itself is not very special, it does offer a spectacular view of Dinant. You can see both banks of the Meuse River, so you will get a good, 360-degree look at the picturesque town. It’s one of the best spots in town to take photographs, but also just a good place to stop for a moment and take in the pretty views.

Stop By Collégiale Notre-Dame de Dinant

Notre-Dame de Dinant is a Gothic 13th-century church best known for its pear-shaped bell tower. The iconic church is impossible to miss, partly because of the impressive architecture, and partly because it’s much more grandiose than all the surrounding buildings.

It’s one of the most prominent buildings in the Dinant city center, and it’s definitely one of the top tourist attractions. Impressive as it is on the outside, it’s undoubtedly worth it to go inside the Gothic church as well. See the astonishing nave, the mesmerizing stained glass windows, and all the impressive statues and decorations inside Dinant’s famous church.

Visit Maison de Monsieur Sax

It was Adolphe Sax who invented the saxophone back in the 19th century and you can visit the house he lived in if you travel to Dinant. The iconic inventor was born in Dinant to instrument designer parents, so it’s easy to see where his interest in musical instruments came from.

The house has been turned into a fascinating museum dedicated to the inventor of the saxophone. Visitors can listen to the different varieties of the instrument and experience how the saxophone is used in different music genres.

Perhaps the best thing about this museum is that entrance is entirely free of charge and there’s no need to make a reservation. The popular Dinant museum is situated in the city centre – it’s in the same row as the Notre-Dame de Dinant, and you’ll easily spot it thanks to the brass statue of Adolphe Sax right in front of the entrance.

La Citadelle de Dinant

Dinant has always been a strategically important town thanks to its position on the Meuse river. The town has been a setting for many battles and pillaging, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it’s also home to quite a few citadels. La Citadelle de Dinant is probably the most famous one, and easily one of the top tourist attractions in this town.

It’s a medieval fortress with a museum perched atop the Dinant rock. The citadel can be accessed by climbing 408 steps or taking a cable car. It’s important to note that you pay the same fee whether you opt to walk or ride the cable car, so unless you’ve got something to prove to yourself, just ride the cable car and save your energy for exploration of the medieval fortress.

Walk around the Dinant citadel grounds, visit the on-site museums, and be sure to stop at least for a moment and enjoy the panoramic view of the town and the River Meuse. It’s quite a sight, and reason enough to visit the clifftop citadel, even if you don’t care for all the history behind it.

Beer Tasting At Maison Leffe Beer Museum

Belgian has a long history of manufacturing beer in former monasteries and Dinant is no different. It’s home to the Leffe Beer Museum, and a trip to this museum is an absolute must for all beer lovers.

Whether or not you appreciate the intricate taste of the Belgian Leffe beers , this museum is a must-see. It features interactive displays that detail both the history and the brewing tradition of the monastery, as well as the process of brewing the beer. It’s worth noting that this is a small museum and when it gets crowded, it becomes difficult to hear the digital exhibit.

Museum tickets are about 10 Euros per person and they include a museum entrance, a Leffe beer of your choice at the end of the tour, and a gift that consists of a Leffe glass and two small beer cans.

One thing worth noting is that the museum is separate from the Our Lady of Leffe Abbey. Also, beer hasn’t been brewed in this monastery since the French Revolution, so Leffe isn’t a true Trappist beer. It’s been brewed at the Stella Artois brewery in Leuven since the 1950s.

Experience The Fascinating Castle of Freÿr

Castle of Freÿr is situated south of Dinant but it’s such a fascinating attraction that it’s absolutely worth it to ride the bus for 10 minutes just to see this mesmerizing castle. It’s one of the most important heritage sites in the entire Wallonia region, so it’s definitely worth your time.

The fascinating Belgian castle is often compared to Versailles, but it’s considered a smaller version of the French masterpiece. This was originally a Renaissance castle but it was expanded in the 18th century, so it is possible to notice architectural elements from different time periods.

The Castle of Freÿr was once used as the dukes’ residence, and at the time it would house all the royal guests. Nowadays it’s open to the public, and visitors can go on tours of the various rooms of the castle that are mostly decorated with period furniture.

The castle gardens are even more fascinating than the rooms inside. They were designed in the style of André Le Nôtre in the 18th century, with many ponds and fountains that are more than three centuries old. Hedge mazes in the gardens are also a popular attraction, so be sure to take your time while you are exploring the grounds of the impressive Freÿr Castle.

See The Ruins Of Castle of Crevecoeur

The Castle of Crevecoeur is situated north of Dinant and it can easily be accessed by public transport. Also, it’s a 25-minute walk from the Dinant city center to the castle ruins – it’s doable but not recommended since you’d have to walk along the road.

There’s no entrance fee for the site of the castle ruins – you just show up, walk around the grounds, and take in the views. It’s worth noting that there also aren’t any amenities on-site, so you’ll have to bring whatever you might need. Pack a picnic basket and spend an afternoon exploring the ruins of the Castle of Crevecoeur and admiring the panoramic views of the Belgian countryside.

Tour Grotte la Merveilleuse

Grotte la Merveilleuse is a dramatic cave situated on the left bank of the river Meuse in Dinant. It’s a very large cave filled with white stalactites and stalagmites, but it’s worth noting that the mineral deposits aren’t quite as impressive as the sheer size of this cave.

Visitors can go inside and wander around on their own, which is a great way of experiencing this impressive cave. You might even get to spot a bat or two in the more secluded cave chambers, so keep that in mind in case you’re not too keen on hanging around in a cave with bats.

Guided tours of a cave have become a thing of the past because of reduced visitor numbers, but the entire place is so well organized that you can easily tour the cave on your own. You’ll get some instructions before you go inside the cave, which will help you find your way through this fascinating natural attraction in Dinant.

See The Imposing Rocher Bayard

Rocher Bayard (the Bayard Rock) is a 40-meter tall needle rock in Dinant, on the bank of the river Meuse. It’s one of the most famous tourist attractions in this town and it’s truly a spectacular sight.

However, it is just a rock, so it’s not like you should go out of your way just to see it. You can go for a drive around town and you’ll get a good look at it. There’s even a road that passes between the imposing rock and a cliff – it’s a narrow road, but buses travel through here every day in Dinant.

It’s certainly an interesting experience, but definitely not for people who are even a little bit claustrophobic.

Visit Parc de Furfooz

Parc de Furfooz is a nature reserve situated south of Dinant. The beautiful town is one of the closest towns to this nature reserve, so if you’re already in Dinant, it’s an excellent opportunity to experience some truly spectacular Belgian nature.

The nature preserve boasts forests, meadows, caves, and ancient Roman ruins. It’s the best spot near Dinant for all adventurers and outdoor lovers who want to explore the great outdoors. The hike through the nature preserve is an easy one that can be done with small children, so keep that in mind in case you’re traveling in Belgium with your family.

Experience The Majestic Château de Vêves

Château de Vêves is a 15th-century castle situated not too far from the Furfooz nature preserve. It’s only a 15-minute drive from Dinant, and it can be accessed by train if you don’t mind walking for 20 minutes from the train station to the imposing castle.

This impressive castle is classified as an exceptional monument and one of the most important examples of 15th-century architecture. It was destroyed in the early 13th century and then entirely rebuilt just three decades later. The castle and all its buildings burned down in a fire in the 15th century, but they were rebuilt shortly after.

All the castle buildings were transformed during Renaissance, and even more improvements were done under Louis XV. Visitors can wander around the entire castle exploring the different rooms on all the floors, feeling like they’ve somehow stepped right into a fairytale.

Photograph The Picturesque Walzin Castle

The Walzin Castle is situated south of Dinant, close to both Parc de Furfooz and Château de Vêves. It’s a spectacular sight and one of the most picturesque attractions in this part of Belgium, so a visit is warranted if you’re trying to capture the beauty of this spectacular country.

However, if you want to tour the interior of an ancient castle, this isn’t the one to visit. It’s not open to the public and most people who decide to visit Walzin Castle do so for the epic photographs.

There are several viewpoints in the vicinity of this castle that are popular spots for photographers, and it’s worth noting that it’s possible to go kayaking in the river just below the castle. Whether you want to take pretty pictures or you just want to explore as much of Belgium as possible, this is certainly an attraction you shouldn’t miss while you’re traveling in Dinant.

Have Fun At Dinant Evasion

Dinant Evasion is an adventure park that offers a wide variety of fun and thrilling adventures. It’s situated in the southern area of the town, on the bank of the River Lesse. The adventure park is the best place in Dinant for anyone who wants to explore the great outdoors and engage in some exciting activities that are bound to give them an adrenaline rush.

This recreation center also organizes cruises on the Meuse and Lesse rivers, so it’s one of the best options if you want to go on a river cruise. They’re also great for kayaking, mountain biking, climbing, paintball, and a lot of other things.

Whether you’re just looking for ways to have fun and enjoy yourself or you’re serious about exploring the vast nature surrounding this Belgian town, Dinant Evasion is one of the places you shouldn’t miss while you’re in the area.

Experience A Bathtub Regatta

Dinant’s bathtub regatta takes place on August 15th of every year and it’s exactly what it sounds like. The one-of-a-kind event is incredibly fun to observe and even more fun to participate in, so if you happen to be traveling to Dinant in mid-August, don’t miss out on this spectacular event.

It all started in 1982 when Alberto Serpagli decided he didn’t need a boat when he could use a tub to race down the Meuse river. He was inspired by a radio story of a Frenchman who did the same thing, and little did he know that he was starting a tradition that would still be going on, four decades later.

Participants in the bathtub regatta are allowed to use any kind of float they create, as long it includes a bathtub somewhere in the design. There’s usually a theme every year that inspires their design, and it’s absolutely impressive to see just how creative some of the participants get.

All the floats must be self-propelled so no motors are allowed, and it’s worth noting that both participation and observation of the event are entirely free of charge.

Related Posts

Brussels Landmarks: A Fascinating Journey Through the Heart of Europe

21 Amazing Things to Do in Brussels

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Nederlands ( Dutch )
• Français ( French )

• Top 29 Tourist Places to Visit and Things to Do in Málaga, Spain
• 16 Cool Tourist Attractions to Visit and Things to Do in Saaremaa, Estonia
• Beautiful Beaches to Visit, Things to See and Fun Activities to Do in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)
• 17 Astonishing Tourist Attractions to See and Things to Do in Acapulco
• 20 Unforgettable Tourist Attractions to See and Things to Do in Inverness

17 Astonishing Places to Visit and Things to Do in Dinant, Belgium

Dinant is a city in Wallonia municipality in the Namur province of Belgium. The city is split by the river Meuse and is surrounded by mountains.  This hidden gem is packed with incredible attractions and will leave you breathless with its charm. The best things to do in Dinant , Belgium include exploring historical sites, the natural beauty around Meuse, nearby towns, and adventure activities.

Dinant boasts a long and fascinating history, dating back to the 11th century and beyond. There are numerous historical places to visit in Dinant with incredible architecture and stories.

From the ancient Dinant Citadel to the impressive Notre Dame de Dinant, the town is filled with historical landmarks that offer insights into its past. Exploring these Dinant tourist attractions allows you to immerse yourself in the stories and heritage of the region.

The city is also home to several museums dedicated to various people, places, and things. The most popular among these Dinant attractions include the Museum of Adolphe Sax and the Museum of Leffe. Although almost all historical sites have museums of their own.

Another major reason for people to visit Dinant is the natural surroundings. Situated along the picturesque Meuse River, the city is surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. The river and the lush green landscapes create a scenic backdrop for the town and boast some of the most beautiful things to see in Dinant .

This makes it a perfect destination for those seeking tranquility and outdoor adventures. From hiking trails and kayaking to river cruises, there are plenty of opportunities to explore and appreciate the natural places to see in Dinant .

And if you are done with Dinant sightseeing , you can head for the surrounding towns and natural sites. These places to visit near Dinant have unique historical and natural wonders of their own including castles, churches, museums, castle ruins, historical buildings, and more.

This Blog Post contains affiliate links. If you purchase anything from that link then I may earn a small part of the commission and for that, you do not need to pay any extra amount.

Table of Contents

Top 17 Tourist Places to Visit in Dinant, Belgium

1. dinant citadel.

The history of this fort dates back to 1051 AD, however, the current version you would see was primarily built in 1815. The sight of this fort sitting atop the cliff is one of the most amazing places to see in Dinant, Belgium.

The fort overlooks the Meuse River that runs through the town. You can tour the vast fortress to learn about its structure, history of battles, stories of people that lived here, and more. It takes at least 2 hours from Dinant travel to tour this massive fort.

2. Abbaye Notre-Dame de Leffe

This abbey was established in 1152 and is one of the most important places to visit in Dinant, Belgium. It sits in the outskirts town of Leffe. It is renowned for its historical, cultural, and religious significance.

This abbey has been through plague, burning, war, flood, and more. It also stood through the effects of the French Revolution and the industrial revolution.  You will need about an hour to tour this abbey and explore its history when you visit Dinant.

3. Charles de Gaulle Bridge (Saxophone Bridge)

This bridge connects the two sides of the city and is lined with sculptures of saxophones. Each of these is painted in a theme to pay tribute to a country of the European Union and is paired with a flag of the country.

It is one of the most photographed Dinant tourist attractions, especially if you want to click a few whimsical ones. You can explore this bridge during Dinant sightseeing as you will come across it several times. Try to click a new and more creative picture each time you cross it.

4. Notre Dame de Dinant

This massive structure was built in the 13th century and still dominates the town’s skyline. The original building on this site collapsed when a rock fell on it in 1227.

The current iteration exhibits Gothic style architecture in the Mason style and looks like a palace from a fantasy tale. It is one of the most impressive things to see in Dinant, Belgium.

You can admire the wonderful architectural features, interior artwork, and historical artifacts in this collegiate. It takes about an hour to tour this place.

5. Maison Leffe

The history of the beer brand goes back to 1240 when the Premonstratensian canons started brewing ale in the monastery. You can explore the history and manufacturing process of Belgian beer at this brewery.

It is one of the best things to do in Dinant, Belgium. You can taste the delicious beer at different stages of production and engage with the interesting history of its unique taste. It takes about an hour or so to tour the brewery.

6. Grotte La Merveilleuse

The cave sits in the province of Namur near Dinant, Belgium. It was discovered in 1904 by railway workers. It is one of the most interesting places to visit near Dinant, Belgium.

Today the caves are segmented into galleries featuring natural rock formations, calcite waterfalls, underground river, stalactites, stalagmites, and so on. You need about 2 hours to explore the caves when you visit Dinant.

7. Rocher Bayard

This needle rock rises to a height of 40 meters and sits on the bank of River Meuse. The rock is included among Dinant attractions for its association with the ancient Ardennes legend of the four sons of Duke Aymon.

The rock is named after the horse of the Prince of the Ardennes. It is said that the rock had stuck the rock to split it away from the mountain and helped its rider escape Charlemagne. You will need about an hour to see the rock and hear about its legend.

8. Castle of Freÿr

This castle was built in the Middle Ages and is one of the most popular places to visit near Dinant, Belgium for its historical significance. The oldest part of the castle dates to 1571 and it was expanded during the 1700s.

The interior of the castle is adorned with artworks, furniture, paintings, and other decor from the 18th century. It represents the summer house of a nobleman from the era. You will need about 2 hours from Dinant sightseeing to tour this castle.

9. Brasserie Caracole

This brewery is known for its hand-crafted artisanal beers and is a popular Dinant tourist attraction for those who enjoy the beverage. They brew the beer over a wood-fired oven and even bottle the beer manually. You can take some time from Dinant Travel to enjoy a few drinks here.

10. Dinant River Cruise

This cruise boat takes you on a journey along river Muese for Dinant sightseeing. The boat has two levels: a panoramic lounge and a terrace. It glides through the river and under bridges.

As the journey progresses, a guide will tell you about the history, legends, and unique aspects of Dinant tourist attractions. There are 3 types of cruises you can take: Tourist, Themed, and Private. It is a nice way to explore the city and you need about 2 to 3 hours from Dinant travel for this experience.

11. Furfooz Park

This park is one of the best places to visit in Dinant to explore nature as well as to get insights into archeological history. The park has nature trails through forests, streams, and rock formations.

The park is also an archeological site with remnants of ancient settlers. You can explore the caves where humans once resided. You should can also see the reconstructed Roman baths that date back to the 3rd century. You need 2 hours to explore the Dinant attractions in this park.

12. Vêves Castle (Château de Vêves)

This 15th-century chateau, however, history goes back to the 7th century. It is one of the most magnificent places to see in Dinant. The structure exhibits Renaissance-style architecture and looks like a castle from a fairytale.

You can explore the grounds, the architecture, and part of the interior. The inside of the chateau reflects all the elements of a stately lifestyle from the period. You will need about an hour to tour this place when you visit Dinant.

13. Dinant Adventure Park

Spread over 20 hectares, this adventure park has a variety of outdoor activities to do in Dinant. It used to be a sandstone quarry and is now converted into a wonderful park with suspended bridges, rock walls, tree swings, paintball, laser tag, and trails. You can easily spend a few hours testing your fitness at this adventure park.

14. Maison de Monsieur Sax

Dinant is the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the Saxophone. This museum is developed inside his birth house and celebrates his life, his invention, and the history of saxophones.

It has some of the most interesting things to see in Dinant. You will see saxophones of all shapes and sizes.

The museum also traces the spread of this instrument across the world and its incorporation into various musical genres. You will need an hour or so to tour this museum.

15. Jardins d’Annevoie

These gardens are among the most wonderfully designed tourist attractions in Dinant. They have curated gardens in French formal, Italian, and English styles. They are also known for the sculptures, ponds, and water fountains that adorn the place. You can enjoy an hour exploring the gardens when you visit Dinant.

16. Castle of Crevecoeur

This castle was built in the 14th century and defended Bouvignes sur Meuse. It fell in 1554 to Henry II of France and still lies in ruins. It remains one of the most popular Dinant attractions, not for its history, but for the view and adventure.

People come to see the ruined castle, explore hiking trails around it, and take in an amazing view of the Meuse Valley. You will need 2 hours from Dinant travel to explore this castle and its surroundings.

17. Kayaking over Lesse River

If you are looking for a more adventurous way to explore River Lesse, then take a kayak and paddle on. It is one of the best things to do in Dinant, Belgium for thrill seekers.

You can kayak through forest streams or go downhill for more fun. The trails range between 9 to 12 km. You will need at least an hour for any of these kayak adventures.

If you are looking for more places to visit in Dinant or near it, check out the sections below. We have created an exhaustive list of attractions and activities that you can enjoy in the city and around it.

Things to do in dinant, belgium, monuments, museums & historical places to visit in dinant, belgium.

• Dinant Citadel
• Veves Castle
• Castle of Freyr
• Walzin Castle
• Notre Dame de Dinant
• Maison Leffe
• Maison de Adolphe Sax
• Chateau Fort de Montaigle
• Poilvache Castle
• Castle of Crevecoeur
• Crupet Castle
• Bioul Castle
• Abbaye Notre Dame de Leffe
• Annevoie Castle
• Maison de Patrimoine Medieval Mosan
• Spontin Castle
• Falaen Castle
• Waulsortium Museum
• Maison de la Pataphonie
• Le Moulin d’Hermeton
• Chevetogne Abbey
• Collegiale St. Hadelin de Celles
• Halte Royal d’Ardenne
• Haute-Meuse Museum of Archeology
• Museum of Remembrance May 1940
• Maison du Patrimoine de Hastiere
• La Spirale Centre des Metiers d’Art
• Grotte Saint Antoine de Padoue
• Chateau de Fontaine
• Monument a la Mur Tschoffen
• Abbey Church of St. Peter
• Chapelle du Maquis de Fenfe

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Dinant, Belgium

• Grotte la Merveilleuse Caves
• River Lesse
• River Muese
• Aiguilles de Chaleux
• Promenade de Waulsort
• Ille d’Androssart
• Isla de Houx

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Dinant, Belgium

• Park Furfooz
• Les Jardins d’Annevoie
• Grand Casino de Dinant
• Railbikes of the Molignee
• Chateau Bon Baron
• Sentiers d’art
• Isla de Yvoir
• Agimont Adventure
• Les Bains de Dinant
• Memorial aux Victimes du 23 Aout 1914
• Mes Adventure d’Enchanteur
• St. Roch Park
• Escape Cruise

Shopping in Dinant, Belgium

• Turquoise Avenue
• Ville 2 Centre Commercial

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Dinant, Belgium

• Rock Climbing
• River Cruise

Sightseeing in Dinant, Belgium

• Charles de Gaulle Bridge
• Rocher Bayard
• Le Chemin de Fer du Bocq
• Le Cascatelles

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Dinant, Belgium

• Le Coin a Tapas
• Chez Bouboule
• A la Ville de Bruges
• La Planche des Saveurs
• Ostaria le Piave
• Le Din’en ville
• Les Mougneus d’as
• La Table d’Antonio
• La Confessional
• Le Jardin de Fiorine
• Le Coin des Gourmets
• L’Oree du Gout
• Le Cafe Ardennais
• Taverne de la Meuse
• Pizzeria Taormina
• Le Cerf Vert
• L’ours Rouge
• Hostellerie Giain
• Le Saxophone

Where to Stay in Dinant?

Here we have listed Top Rated Hotels in Dinant. You can check the below-listed hotels for your perfect stay in Dinant.

• Dinant Castel de Pont a Lesse
• La Merveilleuse by Infiniti Resorts
• L’Auberge de Bouvignes
• Ibis Dinant
• Auberge des Cretes
• Les Voisins De Mr Sax
• Cote Sax bed and breakfast
• L’inattendu Sur La Croisette Dinant Centre

Custom Tours Package in Dinant

How to reach dinant, belgium.

The closest airport to get to Dinant is the Brussels South Charleroi Airport. It sits about 40 km away from the city. Although Brussels and Luxembourg are too far either. They sit 78 and 116 km away respectively. And each of these cities offers train connectivity to visit Dinant.

You get direct trains from several cities in Belgium and cities in neighbouring countries for Dinant travel. The majority of cities connect with Dinant via Namen. While trains from Luxembourg for Dinant travel connect through Aarlen, Libramont, and Bertrix.

You can also get direct buses from several cities in Belgium to reach Dinant. Although, if you are traveling from a distance, the train is a much cheaper and faster option.

If you are planning to reach Dinant by road, you should head for routes N96, N97, N94, or N95.

There are no direct water routes to reach Dinant. Although you can enjoy river cruises for Dinant sightseeing.

Image Reference

• Dinant Citadel – Dennis Jarvis / Flickr
• Abbaye Notre-Dame de Leffe – Tristan Schmurr / Flickr
• Charles de Gaulle Bridge (Saxophone Bridge) – LBM1948 / Wikimedia Commons
• Notre Dame de Dinant – Ben Kerckx / PixaBay
• Maison Leffe – peterolthof / Flickr
• Grotte La Merveilleuse – Farrukh / Flickr
• Rocher Bayard – Jean Housen / Wikimedia Commons
• Castle of Freÿr – Marc Ryckaert (MJJR) / Wikimedia Commons
• Brasserie Caracole – Denkhenk / Wikimedia Commons
• Dinant River Cruise – Jean Luc HEBERT / Flickr
• Furfooz Park – desiderata12 / Wikimedia Commons
• Vêves Castle (Château de Vêves) – KarelMeuleman / Wikimedia Commons
• Dinant Adventure Park –
• Maison de Monsieur Sax – Kyle Wagaman / Flickr
• Jardins d’Annevoie – James Stringer / Flickr
• Castle of Crevecoeur – Jean-Pol GRANDMONT / Wikimedia Commons
• Kayaking over Lesse River – Sally V / Wikimedia Commons
• 45 Must-See Attractions and Top Things to Do in Christchurch, New Zealand
• The Best 12 Tourist Places to Visit and Things to Do in Leoben, Austria

Mustafa Natalwala

Mustafa is a content writer and digital marketing expert at WideWorldTrips.com His mainly interests are into travelling, photography, film-making

You May Also Like

Amazing Tourist Attractions to See and Things to Do in Brussels

15 Must See Tourist Places and Things to Do in Liège

Explore The Best 16 Tourist Places and Things to Do in Ghent

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Kirstie Will Travel

Making Everywhere You Go An Adventure

Dinant · December 12, 2020

The Best Things to Do in Dinant, Belgium: A Dinant Day Trip Guide

The beautiful city of Dinant is one of the best day trips to take from Brussels and an absolute must on any Belgian holiday itinerary. Its main feature is an impressive skyline, with the Dinant citadel atop a huge rock face that dominates over the city, but there are other fun things to do during your Dinant day trip as well. I’ve picked my top things to do in Dinant, plus some other great activities if you have a little bit more time on your hands.

Dinant is high on my list of the most beautiful places in Belgium, so I hope that after reading my list of the best things to do in Dinant, you are compelled to visit this unique Walloon city too.

This post may contain affiliate links meaning I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.   Read more in my  disclaimer . Note: You’ll find all the locations at the end of this post.

Pin this post for later!

How to Get to Dinant from Brussels

Dinant is found in Wallonia, the French speaking region of Belgium, and is about an hour and a half south east of Brussels. There are direct train links which makes Dinant a really easy day trip to take from Brussels.

If you have a car, driving is a little quicker than taking the train. Leave Brussels to the south on the N3 road, and then join the E411 all the way to Dinant. You’ll turn onto the N936 just before you reach the city. Here’s the Google Maps route .

By train, make your way to Brussels Schuman (directly accessible on metro lines 1 and 5) or Brussels Luxembourg station. On weekdays you can take a direct train from either of these stations. On weekends you can take a direct train from any of the 5 train stations in Brussels: Midi; Central; Nord; Schuman and Luxembourg.

Take the IC-17 train which runs once an hour (from Schuman it’s 32 minutes past each hour), and takes just under an hour and a half. From Dinant, the train departs at 3 minutes to the hour on weekdays and 15 minutes past the hour on weekends. You can check all the departures and timetables on the SNCB website .

Top 5 Things to Do in Dinant

When heading to a city for a day trip, you want to make sure you make the most of your limited time, so here are the top 5 things to do in Dinant during your day trip.

Dinant Citadel (La Citadelle de Dinant)

Dinant Citadel is one of the most impressive attractions I’ve ever seen. It is built atop a huge rock face and bears down on the small city. To get to the top of the Citadel, you can either take the cable cars or brave the steep steps. Once there, you can admire the spectacular views over Dinant and the Meuse River, before exploring the inside of the citadel to learn about the history of the city and this impressive structure. For me, the best part of the experience is the views.

Tickets for the citadel cost €10 (€8 for children up to age 12), and include access to the cable cars or steps and the citadel itself. You are entitled to a return journey on the cable cars, but you might prefer to take the stairs for one of the legs. There are around 400 steps to climb, so be prepared, and like me, you might prefer to take the cable car up and tackle the stairs for the way down! The citadel is open daily (except in January), from 10 am. The closing times vary between 4:30 pm-6 pm depending on the season, but you can check the detailed opening hours here .

Please note: it is not free to climb the steps, even if you don’t want to visit the citadel. The entrance is behind the ticket barrier so you cannot gain access without buying a ticket.

• Notre-Dame Collegiate Church

At the foot of the cable car entrance for the citadel sits another impressive building, the Notre-Dame Collegiate Church of Dinant. Much like the citadel, it really stands out in its surroundings. It has had a turbulent history with many fires and accidents but it still stands strong in its gothic style.

The inside of the church is said to be nice, and you can enter for free (it’s usually open daily from around 9 am-5 pm but remember to be respectful of your surroundings and other people using the church). For me, the most impressive part is the exterior so you can definitely just admire the building from the outside.

Admire the Dinant Skyline

The Dinant Citadel and the Collegiate Church form part of Dinant’s most impressive feature, the skyline. If you’re arriving by train this is one of the first things you’ll see (both from the train as you arrive into the city, and as you walk into the centre), and so it’s the perfect way to really soak up why Dinant is so amazing.

The skyline is made up of the citadel and church as mentioned above, and also these gorgeous colourful houses that sit by the water. The best way to enjoy the view of the spectacular skyline is from the opposite side of the river, so you can really take it all in. It’s the perfect place for a photo!

• The Adolphe Sax Museum and Monument

One of Dinant’s most fun facts is that it’s the birthplace of the inventor of the saxophone, Mr. Adolphe Sax. The home he was born in has now been transformed into an interactive museum about his life and the saxophone.

The museum is free to enter and is open daily from 7 am-7 pm.

As you approach the museum, there are a few decorated lampposts with information, and outside you’ll find a bench where Mr Sax (well, a statue of him) sits. You can also see a large monument dedicated to the saxophone just down the road.

• The Charles de Gaulle Bridge

I can’t say that I’m a bridge enthusiast, and the thought of including a bridge in a top 5 list is a bit strange, but the Charles de Gaulle Bridge in Dinant is pretty cool.

Not only do you get an amazing view over the Meuse river, but the bridge is also adorned with saxophone statues to celebrate Adolphe Sax (who I just wrote about above). This city really loves to celebrate! The saxophones on the bridge are all decorated in the style of different themes or countries, with some information, and then real flags hanging off the side of the bridge. I guarantee that you’ll never see another bridge like this.

Visit Dinant hassle-free with a guided tour!

More Things to Do in Dinant

There were a lot of things that I didn’t get the chance to see or do during my Dinant day trip due to time restraints and the season. However they all come highly recommended and they were on my bucket list, so I’ll happily recommend them for more things to do in Dinant.

• Maison Leffe

On the other side of the river to most of Dinant’s attractions, you’ll find the home of Leffe beer. It’s a historic abbey where monks brewed the beer, now a museum and hotel! You can visit the museum to learn all about the history and creation of Leffe.

During a self-guided tour of the house (which costs around €7), you’ll get to sample some beers, which is a great bonus.

• Rocher Bayard

If you have some time and fancy a riverside walk, head a couple of kilometres (around a 30 minute walk) out of the centre and you’ll see Rocher Bayard. It’s a 40 metre high piece of rock that has separated from the main rock face, and now a road runs through it.

If you’re driving, you’ll actually be able to drive through the gap as you enter Dinant, which is a really cool experience.

River Cruise

During the spring and summer months, river cruises along the Meuse are incredibly popular in Dinant. They’re perfect for a Dinant day trip as you can see almost everything in one go, and you’ll get a unique view of the skyline and the Dinant citadel.

If you plan to visit the citadel, you can buy a combined ticket for a boat tour and the citadel entrance, and save a few euros. There are many different options, from sightseeing tours to self-driven boats, so it’s worth checking out the choices here .

If you’re feeling extra adventurous, kayaking along the river is a tourist and local favourite in the summer. You can take kayak tours for a unique experience, and you’ll pass by Walzin castle.

Where to Eat and Drink in Dinant

During a day trip, you’ll probably only eat one meal in the place you are visiting, so you want to make sure it’s good. The best option in Dinant is to grab a seat at a café or restaurant on the river. There are several options and usually, you can sit outside to enjoy your meal.

• Patisserie Jacobs

One place you definitely have to visit is this traditional patisserie and bakery in Dinant. They’re specialists in the local delicacy – the Couque de Dinant. It’s a biscuit made of flour, honey, and sugar, and the Jacobs family have been producing them since the late 1800s. The biscuits are very hard due to the way they’ve been made, so be careful biting them – you want to dunk them in a drink or suck on them.

You can purchase the traditional biscuits here or even take a guided tour of the process.

Now you’re ready for a Dinant day trip, all you have to do is go! With your list of the best things to do in Dinant, your day will be simple and enjoyable. Let me know in the comments if you have been to Dinant, or if you have any other questions about planning your trip.

Make sure you check out some of my other Belgium content, like the Brussels Ultimate Travel Guide , and The Best Instagram Spots in Bruges

Locations in this post:

• Dinant Citadel (La Citadelle de Dinant) / Entrance and Ticket Booth

Liked this post? Make sure to pin it!

Sharing is caring!

You’ll Also Love

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• Privacy Policy
• Destinations
• Travel Tips

Copyright © 2024 Kirstie Will Travel · Theme by 17th Avenue

• The 15 best things to do in Dinant, Belgium (2022)

The picture-perfect city of Dinant is located in the Ardennes in Wallonia, a French-speaking region of Belgium . Tucked below a cliff face on the banks of the Meuse river , it’s one of the region’s prettiest towns and and a great place to visit for a long weekend or as part of a longer road-trip , where you could include the Grottes de Han (Han Caves), Durbuy and even Brussels depending on how much time you have.

Today the city’s location along the river is a dream for photographers but it’s also played a part in the city’s tumultuous history . The river was an important means of transport for the town and was used for trade but its strategic importance controlling access to the Upper Meuse valley meant the it was frequently attacked.

One of the worst attacks took place in 1466 commanded by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy. The army put down a rebellion by the townspeople and, in doing so, drowned 800 of them in the river and the burned the town to the ground. 

Fortunately things are a little cheerier these days and visitors come year-round to see the picturesque city that is also the birthplace of Adolphe Sax , inventor of the saxophone; the hometown of Belgium’s most famous beer , Leffe; and home to Europe’s toughest biscuit, the Couque de Dinant , which is so hard you won’t want to risk biting into one!

Disclosure: We were guests of the Belgian Tourist Office – Wallonia for the purpose of producing this guide. This post may contain affiliate links. I have been or could be if you click on a link in this post compensated via a cash payment, gift or something else of value for writing this post. See our full disclosure policy for more details.

Is Dinant in Belgium worth visiting?

Table of Contents

Dinant might not be as well known as some other cities in Belgium but that’s precisely why we love it. This is a city with a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages and with plenty of stories to tell.

As well as being an interesting place to visit it’s ridiculously pretty, particularly when the sun shines. If visiting with kids then you’ll discover lots of family-friendly activities to keep everyone happy from tree top adventures and kid-friendly walking tours to eco-friendly boat rides , a delightfully quirky music museum and plenty of ice cream.

So if you’re wondering whether Dinant is worth visiting then quite simply the answer is yes! Read on to discover the best things to do in Dinant, Belgium.

You may also enjoy the following posts:

• 12 reasons to visit Durbuy, the smallest city in the world!
• Why you should definitely stop at the Caves of Han
• Try this fun 7 day Belgium road trip itinerary (+ map!)
• How to plan the perfect trip to Lapland with kids

Take the “Ghost of Dinant” tour

What’s the best way to get kids to enjoy a walking tour? By allowing them to use their smartphones! Created by the Tourism Office of Upper Meuse and Dinant , the Ghost of Dinant is an app that allows families to discover the best bits of Dinant while solving clues along the way.

The app invites users to help the ghost of Knight Quentin de la Marck find his murderer. Born in Dinant, this knight was killed during a particularly riotous episode in the town’s history. Since then Quentin de la Marck has been condemned to wander through time and history, unable to rest until the name of his murderer has been revealed once and for all.

Using your smartphone , the app takes you on a journey through the streets of Dinant , asking players to solve clues along the way. Graphically it’s not the most advanced of apps but it works very well and is a fun way to learn more about the small town . As well as solving clues, the app shares tales of the small city.

The walking tour starts on the Charles de Gaulle bridge (Pont Charles de Gaulle) and should take about an hour (although it took us a bit longer) with the option of adding on an additional section that should take an extra 30 minutes.

If you’re wondering why there’s a bridge named after French soldier and statesman Charles de Gaulle, it’s because he was wounded here in the First World War.

Take a look at the app here.

Take a photo with the Dinant sign

Located outside the Dinant Tourism Office in the city center, the large Dinant sign makes for the perfect photo opportunity and is a great place to begin your Ghost of Dinant walking tour.

Visit the Citadel

One of the first things you should do in town is visit the imposing Citadelle de Dinant that sits on top of a rocky outcrop overlooking the city. The current fort was built in 1815 but fortifications were first established here in 1051 when the area was ruled by Prince-Bishopric of Liège.

The main reason to head to the top of the 19th-century heavily fortified fort is for the spectacular views . The viewpoint from the top of the hill is one of the best places to get a birds eye view over the city, the Meuse river and the valley. It also explains the original Celtic name for the area, Divo-Nanto, which translates into “Divine Valley” .

Visitors can also explore the Citadel itself as well. The buildings house permanent displays showcasing when Belgium was ruled by the Netherlands and the House of Orange and you can see how the Dutch regiments billeted here at the time would have lived including their dormitories and the kitchen that would have prepared meals for 400 people at a time.

The most impressive rooms, however, are the ones built to r eplicate trenches from WWI . Visitors can walk through the trenches while the sound of explosions and gunfire take place around them. Immediately afterwards is the collapsed trench , a reconstruction of a bunker that has been hit by a shell. 

Walking through the collapsed trench is not dissimilar to a House of Mirrors or Crooked House at a traditional funfair, where your senses are distorted and you can’t tell up from down. We all gripped the sides as we made our way through the room, trying not to stumble or fall – especially not into the water! It’s great fun, but will leave your head spinning. 

There is also a military cemetery near to where the cable car stops is as well as an an old military plane and a playground. A cafe sits next to the playground.

The Dinant Citadel can be accessed via a cable car or you can climb up – or down – the 408 steps carved into the hillside. Be aware that the steps are steep so not suitable for younger children.

Visit the official website for the Citadel of Dinant here.

Take a River Cruise

One of our favourite things to do in Dinant was a cruise along the Meuse river in an electric boat . There are various tourists boats that run up and down the river but they can’t compare with captaining your own ship.

We loved the time that we spent sailing along the river and because no licence is needed to drive the boat , everyone could take a turn to steer the boat. It’s a great way to get another perspective of the city and to spend time along the river that has really shaped Dinant. It’s also affords an amazing view of the Rocher Bayard .

The impressive 35m-high ridge of Bayard Rock stands at the entrance to the town of Dinant, perfectly detached from the rest of the cliff. Local legend has it that this splinter of cliff was sheared by the hooves of the warhorse Bayard , who was bearing four knights on their escape from Emperor Charlemagne.

The truth is, however, that the road was carved by Louis XIV’s troops in the 17th century and later enlarged to allow cars and vehicles to drive into town.

The boats operate every day from the beginning to April to the first week in November from 10am to 7pm and no licence is needed to operate them. The dock for the electric boats is at the foot of the Charles de Gaulle bridge and the Citadel of Dinant. Boat tours last one hour.

Visit the website for Dinant Nautique here.

Visit the home of Adolphe Sax

Antoine-Joseph Sax, the inventor of the saxophone , was born in Dinant and his home is now the experience centre La maison de Monsieur Sax . The centre is not large but has interesting displays dedicated to him and the impact that his invention had on the music world.

Although Monsieur Sax himself only lived in Dinant for the first six months of his life and invented the saxophone while living in Paris, the city is understandably proud of him and you’ll spot dozens of saxophones dotting the city streets.

Make sure to take a picture with the statue of Adolphe outside the museum.

If you take the Ghost of Dinant guided tour then you will pass by this experience centre.

Visit the official website for La Maison de Monsieur Sax here .

Take the Saxophone Tour

Head to the Tourist Office in Dinant (located near the Charles I Bridge opposite the Notre Dame church) and pick up the Sax in the City Walking Tour map . 

There are some 60 enormous saxophones dotted around the city and this map will ensure that you don’t miss a single one. The saxophones are all decorated by countries of the European Union as well as a handful of interlopers including the USA, China and the UK. 

Don’t miss the giant saxophone made out of glass that sits in front of the Town Hall. 

Buy a biscuit from Pâtisserie Jacobs

As well as saxophones and beer, Dinant is famous for being home to the “Couque de Dinant” (the Dinant biscuit), an incredibly tough and impossible to chew cookie.

Although the exact origins of this biscuit are unknown there are plenty of legends and tales surrounding this hard cookie. One popular legend says that the couques arose during the sacking of Dinant in 1466 when the locals were so desperate for food that they mixed flour and honey together and the Couque was born.

The biscuits are made using only flour and honey and baked after using a cookie board to imprint them with a design. There are dozens of designs to choose from and they are often incredibly intricate. Given the town’s history, however, we opted for a saxophone design .

One of the best – and original – places to purchase a Couque is at Pâtisserie Jacobs , a family-run bakery that has been selling these traditional biscuits since 1860 . We met Marie Frederique when we visited, wife of the current owner (his great grandfather started the bakery) and she was delightful pointing out the nearest dentists as we left!

Because that’s the thing about the Couque de Dinant, these biscuits are not meant to be bitten into . Instead, you are meant to break off a piece and let it slowly dissolve in your mouth as you would a boiled sweet.

If you want to see how they are made you can visit the factory where the Couques are produced. The factory is open daily from 9am to 6pm (except January and February). Reservations are essential and a minimum of 8 people are needed (maximum 20 people). Inquire at the Pâtisserie Jacobs.

Address: Rue Grande 147, 5500 Dinant, Belgium

See the stained glass window in Notre-Dame Collegial Church

With its onion domed top, the impressive Notre-Dame Church is hard to miss. It’s not the first church to stand here but the original one was flattened by a rock fall in 1228. Dating back to the 13th century, the Gothic-style church is built entirely from the grey limestone of Dinant.

Inside there is an enormous – and enormously impressive – stained glass window that was created by Ghent glass artists Gustave Ladon. It’s one of the largest stained glass windows in Europe and depicts scenes from the bible. Also on display are examples of the intricate metalwork – dinanderie – for which Dinant was known throughout Europe.

One of the best ways to visit the church with kids – particularly if your kids are anything like mine and don’t find churches terribly riveting – is on the Ghost of Dinant walking tour . The tour stops at the church and is one of the locations where you can find a clue to help solve the mystery of the knight’s murder. 

See the website for the Notre-Dame church here .

Have an adventure with Dinant Evasion

One of the top things that we enjoyed was a morning spent with Dinant Evasion , a company that offer an array of adventure activities . We spent the morning at their adventure park tackling their Dinant Aventure, a treetop adventure course but they also offer activities including paintball, caving, kayaking, a via ferrata trail, and mountain biking.

The treetop adventure was excellent. We’ve tried a handful of other treetop adventures such as Go Ape in London or the adventure park in Morzine, France , but they have all been rather tame compared to this one! This is definitely a park to visit with adventurous kids who like to climb and who do not mind heights.

Rather than following one route around the park, at Dinant Evasion all treetop activities are led by a qualified guide . Our guide, Leon, was fantastic and very good at judging the kids’ abilities as well as explaining what we needed to do.

After an initial introduction and quick test so that we knew how to use the harness and how to hook ourselves onto the course, we set off. Along the way we traversed numerous bouncy bridges (including the longest of its kind in Belgium), did some climbing and zipped down a couple of long zip lines .

It’s a great centre and very well run – we all loved it. The minimum age is usually 10 but they are happy for parents to decide if they think their children can manage the course – Sam, aged 7, enjoyed it but did find the very long bridge quite challenging.

Dinant Evasion does get busy during the summer months in particular so it is worth booking activities in advance.

See the official website for Dinant Evasion here .

Make music at la Maison de la Pataphonie

Dinant is home to one of the quirkiest – and best – museums that we have been to. Located in one of the oldest buildings in Dinant dating back to the 15th century, the Maison de la Pataphonie is less a traditional museum and more a magical voyage through music and sound .

The name, House of Pataphony , comes from the word pataphysics a “philosophy” that deals with an imaginary realm and the Greek word phōnía, meaning voice.

Essentially, this small museum is dedicated to musical discovery and creation . All visits, or rather ‘Musical Journeys’, are guided and take visitors on a trip through different musical worlds where you’ll quickly learn the music – and instruments – can come from anywhere and can be created using anything around you.

Our guide was Olivier, who acted as the Conductor of the Orchestra as he led us through the various rooms.

In the first room he showed us an electric guitar made from a broom handle and the top of a water canister ; in the second room he made music using terracotta plant pots in a old fishing boat filled with water; in the third room he played an organ that was created using metal water canisters, wine bottles filled with water, and flower pots; and in the final room Olivier played a range of ‘wind’ instruments created from plastic piping .

The hour-long tours are great fun and very inclusive; my three kids all took turns playing instruments whether it was a xylophone made from wooden chair spindles or plastic tubing placed in and out of water.

The House of Pataphony is open to the general public on bank holidays, during school holidays (Mon to Fri) and on Sundays. Journeys begin at 2pm and 4pm and last for approximately one hour. All visits must be booked in advance. The recommended age is 5+yrs.

See the official website for La Maison de Pataphonie here .

Indulge your sweet tooth at L’Atelier Chocolate

As well as waffles, beer and frites, Belgium is justifiably famous for its chocolates. Head to L’Atelier Chocolat to sample some of the best in town. This small chocolate shop sits in the centre of Dinant and also sells homemade ice cream as well as other goodies including biscuits.  There is a small tea room on site.

See the official website for L’Atelier Chocolate here .

Quench your thirst at Maison Leffe

We didn’t get to visit Maison Leffe but if you do like beer then do pay a visit to the home of one of Dinant’s most famous exports . Leffe beer was first brewed in the Abbaye de Leffe back in 1240 and is today one of the world’s most recognisable Belgian beers. Although it is no longer brewed in town (it’s produced in Leuven instead), the museum tells the story of Leffe beer through multimedia exhibitions. Visits end with a beer tasting.

Visit the official website for Maison Leffe here .

Wander through the Jardins d’Eau D’Annevoie 

Set on the outskirts of won the Jardins D’Eau D’Annevoie make for a good half-day excursion, or a full day trip if you take a picnic (there is also a cafe on site). 

Created 250 years ago, the gardens are unique in the fact that the numerous water features (some 50 in total) function entirely without pumps or machinery. Instead, the fountains, water jets and cascading falls are fed with water thanks to the lay of the land and the laws of gravity. 

Italian, French and English style gardens are on display and a path winds its way gently through all three. At the heart of the gardens is the chateau that was built in the 18th century by the Montpellier family (this is not open to visitors). 

Open from the end of March until the first week in November from 9.30am – 5pm. 

See the official website for the Annevoie Gardens here .

Visit the Grottes de Han

Located just 30 minutes away from Dinant are the spectacular Grottes de Han (Caves of Han). This natural complex of caves were formed by the river Lesse and sit some 110m below ground.

During the 18th century the Caves of Han were a popular tourist spot and visitors would come here to explore the caves by torchlight . At one point one of the enormous caverns had even been turned into a bar and tourists could sit and quaff champagne while enjoying the otherworldly view.

Things are a little more tame in the caves these days but they are still well worth a visit. Today, as well as recreating a torchlit descent in one of the gigantic caverns, the caves are home to a magnificent sound and light show .

If you want to say in town then in Dinant itself is the Grotte la Merveilleuse .

See the official website for the Grottes de Han here .

Take a day trip to Durbuy

Less than an hour away from Dinant is Durbuy , the smallest city in the world . Durbuy’s city status dates back to 1331 when John I, Count of Luxembourg and King of Bohemia, bestowed the title. Ramparts were raised all around the tiny town, creating the world’s smallest city. If you’re wondering just how small it really is, you can walk from one side of the city to the other in five minutes.

Despite its small size, however, there is a lot to do in Durbuy. See our pick of the best things to do in Durbuy here .

Dinant Itinerary

It’s well worth spending two or three days in Dinant. This was our itinerary:

• Visit the Tourist Office and pick up the Sax in the City walking tour map, take a photo with the Dinant sign.
• Discover the town with ‘The Ghost of Dinant’ walking tour app
• Enjoy lunch either at Chez BouBoule or Le Cosma
• Take an electric boat ride along the river Meuse
• Go for ice cream at L’Atelier Chocolat
• Spend the morning at Dinant Evasion on the treetop adventure (*you can easily spend a day doing the various activities on offer here)
• Enjoy lunch at either Chez BouBoule or Le Cosma
• Visit the Museum Pataphonie – tours must be booked in advance and are only available during school holidays Mon to Fri and on Sundays. at 2pm and 4pm.
• Go to Boulangerie Pâtisserie Jacob and buy a Couque de Dinant
• Visit the Dinant Citadel
• Travel to the Grottes de Han or Durbuy for the afternoon and enjoy lunch there.

If you’re wondering how to include Dinant as part of a longer trip then take a look at our Belgium road trip itinerar y .

When to visit Dinant

The best time to visit Dinant is from May to September when the days are warmer and you’re more likely to experience sunny days. Remember, however that there’s a reason that this corner of Belgium is so green and that’s because of its propensity for rain. May and June can be quite wet.

June to August are the warmest months of the year and January is the coldest.

Visit during the month of August and you may get the chance to watch Les Baignoires , an annual comical boat race that takes place along the River Meuse in bathtubs. Participants are encouraged to decorate their float in any way they like! The race takes place on August 15ht.

Where to stay in Dinant

We stayed in Castel de Pont-à-Lesse , a hotel housed within a former chateaux. Located on the outskirts of town in 25 hectares of gardens, it’s a good spot to stay with families, not least because it has a swimming pool. The hotel also offers generous-sized rooms, many with balconies or terraces, and inter-connecting rooms for families. 

For more ideas on where to stay in Dinant, take a look at these hotel options on Booking.com .

Where to eat in Dinant

There are lots of good restaurants in Dinant. We enjoyed the following.

Chez Bouboule

Come here for moules frites (mussels and chips) cooked a variety of ways. We mistakenly chose other dishes for the menu and they were fine but I wish we had ordered the speciality! The location on the banks of the Meuse river is perfect.

The Bouboule website.

We had a great lunch at Le Cosma, a restaurant with a large outdoor dining area a 10 minute walk from the Charles de Gaule bridge. The menu is large and varied and includes salads, burgers, pasta, sandwiches and more.

See Le Cosma website here .

Les 7 Meuses

This is an excellent restaurant home to some of the best views in town. Located on a hilltop halfway between Dinant and Namur, The 7 Meuses enjoys views over the Meuse valley as well as excellent food using seasonal and local produce.

See Les 7 Meuses website here .

How to get to Dinant

Dinant is very easy to reach, either for a long weekend from Brussels or a longer trip from the UK . It’s a great option for an October or May half-term holiday.

We travelled with Irish Ferries on their Dover to Calais route, which was a very easy and comfortable trip. The journey takes around 90 minutes, which is the perfect length of time to enjoy one of the comfortable lounges and have something to eat. There’s also the option to upgrade to Club Class with reclining seats and complimentary drinks and snacks. From Calais it takes around 3hrs to reach Dinant.

If you do want to drive then you can get the Eurostar from King’s Cross St Pancras in London to Brussels. From Brussels you can either catch a train to Namur and then on to Dinant or a direct train from Brussels to Dinant . In Dinant the train station is located in the heart of town, not far from the tourist office.

Share this post:

About the author.

Katja Gaskell

Welcome to globetotting!

Join our mailing list and receive a free guide to discovering London with kids on the cheap!

Downloads London for Free Berlin Itinerary

You have Successfully Subscribed!

THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Dinant

Things to do in dinant, explore popular experiences, tours in and around dinant.

• Luxembourg and Dinant Day Trip from Brussels

Discover Dinant while playing! Escape game - The alchemist

• Luxembourg and Dinant Private Day Tour from Brussels

Excursion to Luxembourg and Dinant from Brussels

Discover the secrets of Namur while playing! Escape room

Discover Namur while playing! Escape game - The Walter case

Guided Tour of the Bee Apiary and Honey Tasting in Denée

Hungry Mary's Famous Beer and Chocolate Tour in Brussels

Bruges and Ghent - Belgium's Fairytale Cities - from Brussels

Walking tours.

Top Attractions in Dinant

Other Top Attractions around Dinant

Historical Tours

Cultural Tours

Ports of call tours.

Full-day Tours

What travellers are saying.

• Citadelle de Dinant
• Parc de Furfooz
• Maison Leffe
• Charles-de-Gaulle Bridge
• Eglise Collegiale Notre-Dame
• Château de Freyr
• Grotte La Merveilleuse
• Rocher Bayard
• Grotte de Dinant
• Bus day trip to Luxembourg and Dinant from Brussels
• Private tour : Luxembourg & Dinant from Brussels Full day
• Private tour Luxembourg & Dinant from Brussels Full day
• Adolphe Sax Statue

13 Unique and Fun Things to do in Dinant, Belgium

*FYI - this post may contain affiliate links, which means we earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase from them. Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Check out our Privacy Policy and Disclosure. for more info.

Ah, Dinant. This picturesque Belgian city is one of those places so boldly beautiful that you have no choice but to pine over it after seeing just a single photo.

At least that was the case for me! I must have had Dinant pinned on my travel bucket list for almost a decade before I got to see it for myself, and I’m happy to report it was every bit as beautiful in-person as it was on Pinterest. And, as a personal win I didn’t even cry !

Anyways, Dinant may be famed for its unique riverside aesthetic, but there’s a lot more to it than just postcard photo opps. Did you know for instance that the saxophone was invented here, which has resulted in DOZENS of giant saxophones scattered around town? Or that they host a bathtub regatta every year where people race through the river in decorated tubs? Yeah, Dinant isn’t just a pretty face… it’s a weird saxophone, bathtub wonderland too.

SO if you’re wondering what to do in Dinant, I’ve got you. From its photogenic citadel to more saxophone-themed attractions you even knew existed, here are the top fun things to do in Dinant, Belgium.

Save this list of Things to Do in Dinant for Later!

You’ll be very glad you did.

1. Photograph the Dinant view

We’ll start with the obvious. People from all around the world flock to Dinant likely because of this riverside view – colourful narrow facades, a majestic church and an epic castle-topped rock looming in the background.

I’m not usually one to travel for photo opps, but I literally gasped the first time I saw this in real life. It’s a very special view, and can be found along the river near Pont Charles de Gaulle.

2. Stop by The Collegiate Church of Our Lady

Way too often overshadowed (quite literally) by the Dinant Citadel, I’d say a stop inside the Collegiate Church of Our Lady is one of the best things to do in Dinant.

The Collegiate Church of Our Lady was founded in the 13th century, with construction beginning in the early 13th century and continuing over several centuries. Throughout its history, the church faced various challenges, including destruction during times of war. The most notable instance of destruction occurred during the French Revolution when the church was severely damaged and its treasures looted. It was subsequently rebuilt and restored in the 19th century, much to the benefit of tourists like you and me.

While small, this church is a delight to explore. Built primarily in the Gothic architectural style, which is characterized by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses (heh), its exterior is notable for its imposing façade with a tall, slender tower rising above it. Inside the church, visitors can admire the impressive nave with its ribbed vaults and slender columns, along with beautiful stained glass windows that filter colourful light into the space.

It’s also home to several valuable artistic treasures, including a 12th-century baptismal font, a magnificent organ and numerous sculptures.

My personal favourite? This statue clutching his church like he’s at a show and tell:

3. Head up the Dinant Citadel

While often considered THE top thing to do in Dinant, I have to say the Citadel is probably an attraction best suited to those really interested in the military history of the region.

The origins of the Dinant Citadel date back to the 11th century when a fortification was first constructed on this strategic hilltop location. Over the centuries, it underwent multiple renovations and expansions to defend against various threats and invasions. The citadel played a pivotal role in several historical events, including conflicts during the Middle Ages, the French Revolution, and both World Wars.

Apart from sweeping views over town (similar ones of which can be found across the river), the citadel’s main attraction is its museum, which offers visitors a comprehensive overview of its history, the town of Dinant, and the surrounding region. Exhibits include artefacts, weaponry, and informative displays that provide insights into the fortress’s role in different eras.

My personal highlight? The WWI trench simulation which was absolutely disorienting, but unique and memorable.

4. Pose with saxophones

Visitors who arrive in Dinant will find themselves confronted with many a colourful saxophone, which might seem weird at first but is actually a nod to the city’s most famous invention – yes, the mighty saxophone itself!

Antoine-Joseph “Adolphe” Sax was the inventor of the saxophone and he was born right in Dinant in 1814. As well as the saxophone he actually also invented the saxotromba, saxhorn and saxtuba (he really liked naming them after himself too). Plus he played the flute and clarinet, so all in all, he was a very musical man!

In honour of him, there are now giant saxophones all over the city, although the colourful ones on the main bridge are probably the most striking.

5. Pose with Mr. Sax himself

Of course, while in town, it’d be rude to not grab a photo with the saxy Adolphe Sax himself. Luckily, you can find a great photo opp with him just outside Maison Sax. Feel free to pretend you’re old friends. The photos come out much cuter:

6. Take a quick look around Maison Sax

Maison Sax is the former birthplace of Mr Saxophone himself, which has now been turned into a very cool (albeit small) museum that’s also free to enter!

There are no staff in this tiny museum, but it’s open daily year-round, so that you can take yourself on a little self-guided tour through the life and inventions of Adolphe Sax. You can see all eight of the different wind instruments he invented, including, of course, the very first saxophone.

NOTE: If you’re especially interested in Mr. Sax, then keep an eye out for these golden footprints around town – they’ll guide you to all the Adolphe Sax sights in town.

7. Visit Maison Leffe

Belgians take beer seriously, and if it’s international street cred we’re talking about, then few names are better known than Leffe.

Gracing the line-up of countless global pubs, Leffe is a common entry point for international appreciators of Belgian beer. Of course, this means that for many Belgian beer snobs, it’s a ‘bottom of the barrel’ pick. I still like it though, and given my penchant for over-the-top interactive experiences, then it’s no surprise I enjoyed my time at Maison Leffe so much.

Originally established in 1240, Maison Leffe is now a visitor centre and brewery experience – although at first, it was just where the canonical Norbertines (who were like monks) of Notre Dame de Leffe brewed beer to offer visitors as the water wasn’t always safe to drink!

Nowadays it provides educational materials and exhibits that delve into the art of beer brewing, the history of Leffe, and the Trappist tradition from which Leffe draws its inspiration. I loved how interactive the displays were (with quizzes to test your knowledge, for the dorkiest of dorks), and also got a kick out of how they displayed their beers like priceless religious relics:

Best of all though might be enjoying some Leffe in their beer garden with views over the city! NOTE: If you’re more beer-driven than knowledge driven, you can access this area without getting tickets to see the museum displays inside.

8. Shop for Belgian beers 

Of course, there’s no better souvenir than beer. A sentiment I didn’t intend to rhyme, but here we are…

There are plenty of places to do some beer shopping in Dinant, but none more thorough than A c’t’heure Dinant , a fantastic little shop selling beer, wine, gift sets and more from Belgium and beyond. Their collection is pretty astounding, so be sure to spend some time in here browsing all their goods!

9. Cozy into a cute cafe

Truth be told, Dinant is a small place, which on one hand means not a ton of things to do, but also plenty of time to relax and enjoy the city slowly.

One great way to do that is by stopping into a nice cafe or restaurant for the afternoon. I only had a day in Dinant, so don’t have too many recommendations to shower you with, but Le Lido had really tasty and affordable Croque Monsieur, washed down with an affordable little glass of 2 euro Jupiler. Not a bad deal for such a tourist-heavy place!

10. Go on a boat tour

Dinant is built on both sides of the River Meuse, which flows 925 kilometers (575 miles) through France, Belgium and the Netherlands. So, it would almost be rude not to spend some time on the water on a boat tour to see the sights of Dinant!

There are several types of river cruises available that allow visitors to explore the town and its picturesque surroundings from a unique perspective. You can opt for a standard cruise to see the sights, or (if you have enough time) perhaps you might enjoy a more refined and romantic dinner cruise?

The Dinant Evasion cruise company even offers some fun themed cruises like a barbecue cruise, a murder party or a Love Boat cruise!

11. Or rent an electric boat

Another thing I noticed while in Dinant were these cute little blue boats moored near the bridge, and on investigation it turns out they are electric boats which can be rented for your own self-steered river cruise!

Also operated by Dinant Evasion, these eco-friendly boats don’t require a boating license and are very easy to sail as they just use a lever to control everything. Plus they fit up to seven people so you could organise your own little intimate boat trip with some friends or a partner.

12. Visit the caves

Just up the road from Pont Charles de Gaulle (on the side of the river opposite the Citadel) is the Grotte La Merveilleuse – a fascinating natural cave system that is renowned for its stunning stalactite and stalagmite formations.

The name “La Merveilleuse” translates to “The Marvelous,” and it aptly describes the breathtaking beauty of the cave. This natural wonder has been a popular tourist attraction for over a century due to its enchanting underground landscapes. Grotte La Merveilleuse is not just a single tunnel but a series of interconnected chambers and passages. Each chamber has its unique formations and characteristics, making it a captivating experience to explore the depths of the cave.

You can explore by yourself or book a cave tour , just ensure you wear good shoes as it can be a little slippery. But it’s definitely a unique attraction not to miss while exploring Dinant!

13. Admire Rocher Bayard Rock

A little way down the river from Dinant proper is the unique rock formation known as Rocher Bayard Rock – a 40-meter high pinnacle that’s been split and has a road you can drive through between the two sheer sides.

As you might expect from a rock that looks this whimsical, Rocher Bayard is steeped in folklore. According to local legend, the rock was split by a powerful horse named Bayard, ridden by the famous Four Sons of Aymon. In actuality, the French created the passage through the original rock wall during the Nine Years’ War so they could march troops along the Meuse, and this was later expanded to create space for a road… but that’s much less fun to discuss.

There’s nothing particular to do here, but it’s definitely one of the most iconic sights to marvel at when you’re entering or leaving Dinant!

BONUS: Watch some bathtub racing

One of the weirdest and most delightful events you can catch in Dinant is the International Bathtub Regatta, which takes place every August 15th.

This bizarre event has been running since 1982 and sees people from all around the world competing to sail a kilometre down the Meuse River in bathtubs! Well, technically the rules are that the craft must include at least one bathtub and no motor, plus it has to be fully human or nature-powered. There’s a different theme each year so you never know what kind of amazing contraptions you might see.

The Régate de Baignoires (as it’s called in French), attracts around 25,000 spectators each year who come to watch around 50 teams compete and it’s totally free to attend or compete … do with that information what you will! This is one of those unique things you can only do in Belgium , so be sure to take advantage.

Did I miss any of your favourite things to do in Dinant?

Let me know in the comments! I hope you enjoyed this roundup of the best Dinant activities to enjoy on your next trip. Safe and happy travels! <3

My Go-To Travel Favourites:

🧳 Eagle Creek: My favourite packing cubes

💳 Wise: For FREE travel friendly credit cards

🍯 Airalo: My go-to eSIM

🏨 Booking.com: For searching hotels

📷 Sony A7IV: My (amazing) camera

✈️ Google Flights : For finding flight deals

🌎 WorldNomads: For travel insurance

🎉 GetYourGuide: For booking activities

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. *

Dinant Travel Guide: 17 Attractions to visit in Dinant, History, Hotels & Restaurants

December 3, 2023 | Posted in: Belgium

Dinant is a picturesque town situated along Belgium's Meuse River. Nestled between steep cliff walls in a sharp bend of the river, this medieval town looks like a scene straight from a fairytale. Dinant's strategic location has shaped its long history as a coveted trade port, leading to periods of prosperity as well as devastations from repeated invasions given its position on the frontier between Germanic and Latin Europe. Today, Dinant thrives as a popular tourist destination celebrated for its well-preserved Gothic architecture set amidst the beautiful Ardennes landscape.

The town is most famously known as the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, the acclaimed Belgian instrument maker who invented the saxophone in 1841. His father Charles Joseph Sax had opened a musical instrument workshop in Dinant in 1815 that specialized in brassware and woodwinds. This saxophone connection draws music lovers from around the world to visit the Maison Adolphe Sax museum located in Sax's birthplace.

Beyond the saxophone legacy, Dinant seduces visitors with its dramatic natural beauty and wealth of historic monuments. The town center is dominated by the imposing Citadelle de Dinant, a formidable hilltop fortress first built in the 11th century overlooking the Meuse. Perched on a cliff 155 meters above the river, the citadel provides spectacular views and houses collections spanning medieval arms to Dinant's involvement in World War I. The Collegiate Church of Notre Dame, rebuilt in Gothic style after its WWI destruction, remains a resplendent sight along the riverbanks with its distinctive pearl-shaped tower.

Listed below are the things to do in Dinant.

• Visit the Citadelle de Dinant. The Citadelle de Dinant is a hilltop fortress overlooking Dinant, with museum exhibits showcasing medieval to World War I and II military history. Visitors can take a self-guided tour, see weaponry and war trench recreations and take in spectacular views of the city and Meuse River. There is a café, restaurant and playground on site.
• Church of Our Lady (Notre-Dame de Dinant). The 13th-century Gothic Church of Our Lady in Dinant features distinctive architecture, like its pear-shaped bell tower. Visitors are welcome to appreciate the history, see religious artwork and relics, view the interior stained glass, sculptures and paintings and take in riverside views. The church can be added to Dinant itineraries.
• Maison Adolphe Sax Museum. This Maison Adolphe Sax Museum celebrates saxophone inventor Adolphe Sax's life and work. It features interactive elements like a saxophone-shaped floor and panels on Sax's musical legacy. Visitors can listen to sax music, interact with instrument displays and learn about the local history. The museum offers an engaging and informative experience, especially for music lovers.
• Couques de Dinant. Couques de Dinant is a signature Dinant specialty that is sweet, has a golden honey color and is known for its caramelized flavor. Visitors can observe the traditional production and purchase these biscuits at local bakeries and shops. Organized tours may include tastings and visitors can buy beautifully packaged Couques to take home.
• War Memorial aux Victimes du 23 Août 1914. The War Memorial aux Victimes du 23 Août 1914 Commemorates 674 Dinant civilians killed when German forces invaded on August 23, 1914, during World War I. Visitors can walk inside the memorial and pay tribute to those who lost their lives during the early days of World War I.
• Kayak on the River Lesse. The River Lesse offers kayaking along medieval castles, caves and unusual rock landscapes of Dinant. Kayakers can embark at various spots like Houyet, Gendron or Anseremme, depending on the chosen route and distance. Children ages 5+ can participate when accompanied by an adult, with gear provided. It is an adventurous activity perfect for solo travelers, friends and families.
• Cruise on the River Meuse. Cruise on the River Meuse offers journeys that pass through medieval castles, cliffs and villages, showcasing the landscapes of Dinant. Dinant Evasio offers themed tours like murder mystery evenings on the river, jazz cruises and gourmet cruises with food and drinks.
• Merveilleuse Cave. The Merveilleuse Cave contains 850 meters of galleries and chambers to explore, of which 650 meters are accessible to visitors. This natural wonder contains beautiful white stalactites and stalagmites, underground waterfalls, an underground river and colorful rock formations. Visitors can visit the caves through self-guided tours.

1. Visit the Citadelle de Dinant

The Citadelle de Dinant is an impressive fortress located overlooking the city of Dinant and the Meuse River. The fort was built in 1815 on the site of earlier fortifications dating back to 1051. Inside the citadel is a museum of weaponry and history, with exhibits showcasing the region's military past.

The citadel is its strategic hilltop location, the breadth of history contained within its walls spanning from medieval times to World War I and II and the views it offers. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the citadel, see exhibits ranging from medieval weaponry to recreations of war trenches and take in the spectacular views over Dinant. There is a café, restaurant and playground on site.

Visitors can reach the citadel via a stairway of 408 steps from the city center below or by taking a cable car. The citadel can be accessed via cable car or a 408-step stairway from the city center below. There is also vehicle access and parking available behind the citadel. It is open to visitors of all ages. Ticket prices start at €10 ($11, £8) for adults and €8 ($9, £7) for children.

2. Church of Our Lady (Notre-Dame de Dinant)

The Church of Our Lady (Notre-Dame de Dinant) is a 13th-century Gothic cathedral located along the banks of the Meuse River in the city of Dinant. The church is known as the Collegiate Church of Our Lady and has a distinctive pear-shaped bell tower from the 16th century.

Visitors can tour the interior of the church and admire the architecture, stained glass windows, sculptures and paintings inside. The church welcomes visitors daily, free of charge and is open for longer hours in summer. It makes an easy addition to any Dinant itinerary. All are welcome to visit the church, appreciate its history and architecture, see the religious relics and artwork and take in views of the dramatic natural backdrop along the Meuse River.

3. Stop by the Maison Adolphe Sax Museum

The Maison Adolphe Sax, known as Monsieur Sax's House, is a small museum located at 37 Rue Adolphe Sax in Dinant, Belgium. It is dedicated to Adolphe Sax, the Belgian inventor and musician who created the saxophone and other various musical instruments in the 1840s while living in Paris. The museum stands on the spot where Sax was born in 1814.

The museum is an interactive and interpretive center rather than a traditional one. Visitors can walk along a saxophone-shaped floor while exploring Sax's history and musical legacy. The museum features trilingual informative wall texts, panels set into the floor explaining his life and work and a giant facsimile of the 1846 saxophone patent document. Visitors can listen to sound clips of various saxophone styles and make some of the instruments “speak” using interactive elements.

The museum can be easily accessed on foot if staying nearby, as Adolphe Sax is located just down the road from the central Charles de Gaulle bridge. It is free to enter and open daily from 9 am to 7 pm in the summer months. The museum welcomes all visitors but especially caters to music lovers and anyone interested in learning about the local history of Dinant.

4. Try the Couques de Dinant

The Couques de Dinant is a type of hard sweet biscuit that originated in the southern Belgian city of Dinant in the 18th century. These are made using just two simple ingredients, wheat flour and honey, mixed together into a dough. The biscuits are baked at a high temperature of 300°C, which causes the honey to caramelize, giving the Couques their lovely golden color and making them hard to bite.

Couques de Dinant can be found in most bakeries and confectionery shops throughout the city of Dinant, such as Pâtisserie Jacobs on Rue Grande 147 or Pâtisserie V. Collard located at Rue Grande 72. Visitors can observe bakers pressing the dough into the carved wooden molds through storefront windows. Visitors can buy beautifully packaged Couques to take home at souvenir shops around town. Organized group tours include Couques de Dinant tastings and other regional specialties as part of an arranged activity itinerary and guide fee. The prices of these biscuits are from €3 ($3, £2) to €10 ($10, £8) depending on size and design.

5. See the War Mémorial aux Victimes du 23 Août 1914

The Mémorial aux Victimes du 23 Août 1914 is a memorial located next to the convent of the Capuchin nuns in Dinant, Belgium. It commemorates the 674 civilian victims who were killed during the German invasion of Dinant on August 23, 1914, at the start of World War I. The Saxon army carried out mass executions of civilians in retaliation for supposed attacks by francs-tireurs (irregular fighters). Hundreds of innocent men, women and children were shot or burnt alive as German soldiers rampaged through the town, destroying over two-thirds of its buildings.

The memorial was inaugurated on August 23, 2014, in the presence of the King of Belgium to mark the 100th anniversary of the massacre. The Brussels-based architecture firm Kascen designed the memorial, which features the victims' names etched into its walls. Visitors can walk inside the memorial. The memorial serves as a tribute to those who lost their lives and a reminder of the brutality that unfolded in Dinant during the early days of the World War I.

6. Kayak on the River Lesse

The River Lesse is a popular spot for kayaking. The cruise passes through the beautiful scenery, past medieval castles, prehistoric caves and unusual rock formations. Kayak rentals and tours are available through an operator called Dinant Evasion, located at 15 Rue du Vélodrome in the village of Anseremme. They offer self-guided kayak trips ranging from 9 to 22 kilometers (5.5 miles to 13 miles) in length. Kayakers can embark at various spots like Houyet, Gendron or Anseremme, depending on the chosen route and distance. Prices start at €24 ($26, £20) per person.

The river is open for kayaking from April 1st through October 15th each year. Kayaking the Lesse is fun for all ages and the river is perfect for beginners and families. Children as young as five can go kayaking if accompanied by an adult. Safety gear like life jackets is provided.

7. Cruise on the River Meuse

The River Meuse flows through France, Belgium and the Netherlands, offering beautiful scenery for river cruises. Visitors can embark on short sightseeing cruises along the Meuse Valley on boats operated by Dinant Evasion.

The cruises depart from Avenue Churchill near the town center and take passengers on a relaxing journey showcasing sights like Bayard Rock, the Anseremme lock, the medieval Château de Walzin and the famous limestone cliffs called Rochers du Freÿr. There are two main cruise options: a 45-minute route to Anseremme or a longer 2-hour roundtrip excursion to the village of Freÿr.

Dinant Evasio offers themed tours like murder mystery evenings on the river, jazz cruises and gourmet cruises with food and drinks. The boats have both indoor and outdoor seating. Cruises run daily from April 1st to October 15th, with discounts available for seniors and children under 12. It is an activity perfect for people of all ages looking to admire the landscapes of Dinant.

8. Visit the Merveilleuse Cave

The Merveilleuse Cave (Marvelous Cave), known as Grotte de Dinant La Merveilleuse, is an underground cave system located in the city center of Dinant, Belgium. The cave features 850 meters of galleries and chambers to explore, of which 650 meters are accessible to visitors. This natural wonder contains beautiful white stalactites and stalagmites, underground waterfalls, an underground river and colorful rock formations. The cave was discovered in 1904 during railway construction work that was used as a shelter during World War II when the River Meuse was the front line between the Allies and Germans.

Visitors can visit the caves through self-guided tours that cost around €10 ($10, £8) for adults.

The tours take about an hour as visitors descend into the Great Hall and traverse the various “rooms”, including the Chamber of Teats, Boers, Small Columns, Waterfalls and Lace, Diane's Temple, the Precipice, the Glacier, the Rotunda and the Gallery Albert I. Sturdy shoes are recommended as the terrain is wet and slippery.

9. Drink beer at Maison Leffe

Maison Leffe is a beer museum, tasting room and former monastery located at 23 Charreau des Capucins in Dinant. The museum is dedicated to the iconic Leffe blond abbey beer that has been brewed since 1240 AD. The museum takes visitors on an interactive self-guided tour through eight centuries of brewing history. Maison Leffe uses videos, artifacts and touch screens that explain traditional brewing methods and profile the family of Leffe beers.

Visitors receive beer-tasting tokens to sample two full-sized glasses from a choice of nine Leffe varieties, including the blonde, Ruby, Tripel and darker beers. The ticket costs €12 ($13, £10) and includes a souvenir Leffe glass to take home. The museum is open daily, houses a restaurant and offers views from its hilltop.

10. Parc de Furfooz

Parc de Furfooz is a nature reserve and archaeological park located in the Lesse River valley near the town of Dinant in Belgium. The nature reserve is spread across 50 hectares with a variety of landscapes, including forests, meadows and rocky cliffs along the riverbank.

Visitors can take a marked 4 kilometers (2.4 miles) walking trail that passes 15 points of interest related to the park's archaeological, geological and natural heritage. The features include the remains of ancient caves that were inhabited 14,000 years ago during the Paleolithic era, the ruins of Roman fortifications and baths dating to the 3rd century AD. The park is home to interesting plant species and sheep that help maintain the grounds. Facilities include a snack bar called La Flobette located on the riverside. Parc de Furfooz offers an educational and scenic walking experience suitable for families and nature enthusiasts. Reservations are required at the nature reserve.

11. Witness Rocher Bayard

Rocher Bayard is a 40-meter high rock formation located between Dinant and Anseremme in Belgium's Meuse River valley. The Bayard is shaped like an enormous stone needle from the cliffs along the riverbank. This landmark name is inspired by a legend about a magical flying horse called Bayard. The splitting of the rocky in two was created ages ago when a magical flying horse named Bayard passed through this spot, carrying four brothers to safety and cleaving the rock face with a blow from his powerful hooves based on a local medieval legend.

Rocher Bayard has become a highlight for road-trippers in the area. Visitors driving or cycling by can traverse the geological formation firsthand, feeling dwarfed between the monumental stone sentinels. Rocher Bayard is a must-see natural attraction that looks straight out of a fantastical tale, its towering rock needles an iconic symbol of Dinant. There is no admission cost to visit Rocher Bayard. It is free to access and view the rock formation.

12. Walk around the Castle of Freÿr

The Castle of Freÿr is a grand 16th-century Renaissance château located along a bend in the Meuse River near the town of Dinant, Belgium. The castle is classified among Wallonia’s heritage sites. The château has remained for over 20 generations within the same aristocratic family, who expanded and restored the palatial residence over time. Freÿr Castle is considered among Belgium’s most beautiful and is designed in the classic French style, with grounds like the Versailles.

Visitors can tour the interior’s historical grandeur by passing through rooms that feature original antique furnishings. Access to the interiors and grounds requires paid admission. Several vantage points across the river allow visitors to admire the château and walk the perimeter exterior wall for free. The romantic ambiance, history and outdoor spaces make Freÿr Castle a spot for couples, garden and architecture enthusiasts.

13. Attend the Bathtub Regatta

The International Bathtub Regatta is an annual event held every August 15th in the town of Dinant, Belgium along the Meuse River. The participants construct homemade, human-powered boats out of bathtubs and race them along a 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) stretch of the river. The regatta started in 1982 and has grown over the years, attracting over 25,000 spectators. Teams decorate their bathtub boats according to that year's theme and compete to have the most creative and fastest crafts. The race starts at the Boulevard des Souverains riverbank in central Dinant, near the Church of Our Lady and Dinant Citadel. Participants line the banks of the Meuse River and Charles de Gaulle Bridge to watch the festive, hilarious race. The regatta is open to participants of all ages draws a wide audience and appeals most to those with a quirky sense of humor.

14. Go through Charles de Gaulle Bridge

The Charles de Gaulle Bridge is a road bridge crossing the Meuse River in the town of Dinant, Belgium. Its official address is Rue de la Station, 5500 Dinant. The bridge is named after former French President Charles de Gaulle, who was wounded in the area during a battle in World War I before rising to prominence. The bridge was built in 1953 to replace earlier bridges destroyed in World War I and II. It stands about 54 meters long and 15 meters wide. In 2010, the bridge was decorated with 28 giant saxophone sculptures, one for each European Union nation at the time, as a nod to Dinant's history as the birthplace of the saxophone.

Tourists can photograph the colorful saxophone display and the views of Dinant from the bridge. The bridge is open to pedestrian traffic, so visitors can walk across for a close-up view of the saxophones and take photos with them. Vehicle traffic crosses the bridge, which is part of the main road passing through central Dinant. There is no cost to walk across or view the bridge.

15. Visit the Dinant Evasion Adventure Park

The Dinant Evasion Adventure Park is an 18-hectare outdoor adventure park located in a rehabilitated former quarry overlooking the Meuse River valley in Dinant. The park was originally a sandstone quarry and has been rehabilitated into a recreational park and listed as NATURA 2000 for its biodiversity.

The park offers over 30 different thrilling aerial and adventure activities, including treetop obstacle courses, giant suspended bridges, via ferratas, zip lines, free fall jumps, rock climbing and underground caving experiences. Visitors can choose from various multi-activity packages and difficulty levels to suit their needs, ranging from beginner courses to extreme challenges supervised by certified guides. The park has high-rope routes set 60 meters above the Meuse River, providing valley views. Dinant Evasion Adventure Park offers outdoor family fun and adrenaline-pumping challenges for adventure seekers and thrill-seekers aged eight and above. Prices depend on the activity packages selected.

16. Maison de la pataphonie

The Maison de la Pataphonie (House of Pataphony) is an imaginative sound museum located at Rue en Rhée 51, 5500 Dinant, Belgium. “Pataphonie” name inspired by French absurdist writer Alfred Jarry's “science of imaginary solutions”. The museum features sound “instruments” like the Aeropercussiophone, Zygzaboule and Mur du Son. The museum is home to resident “Pataphone” inventors, musicians Max Vandervorst and Claude Fafchamps.

Visitors are guided by expert “Pataphons”, where they can experiment with unconventional instrumental creations made from everyday objects and materials. Visitors tap into their inner musical genius to invent new sounds, rhythms and melodies as they explore rooms of Saxofolie, Métalodie, Aqualubie and Lithosphère. The museum hosts public and private groups, with specialized workshops available. he experience aims to awaken one's inner musical genius. The museum is open to the public on Sundays and holidays at 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm.

17. Ubique Gallery

Ubique Gallery is an art gallery located at 55 Rue Grande, 5500 Dinant, Belgium. It is an art space that exhibits and sells contemporary artworks across different mediums including paintings, sculptures, photographs and graphics. The gallery was opened in 2020 by Marc Albert, an art enthusiast who wanted to provide a platform to promote talented contemporary artists in Dinant. The name ‘Ubique' means “everywhere” in Latin and was chosen to reflect the gallery's goal of being accessible and adapting to showcase all kinds of contemporary art.

The gallery has a strong focus on expressionist and figurative art. Some of the artists exhibited at the gallery include Roland Lavianne, Christian Vandelois, David Deweerdt, Frédérique Longrée, Alain Dauchot and Lara Herbinia. The exhibitions are centered around specific themes related to expressionism, figuration, the human body, emotions, etc.

The gallery is open to visitors on Saturdays from 2 pm to 6 pm and by appointment on other days. It does not charge an entry fee. Ubique Gallery provides an excellent opportunity for art enthusiasts to discover and purchase contemporary artworks across different styles and mediums. The workshops organized make it an engaging space for those interested in exploring art.

Where is Dinant?

Dinant is a beautiful town located in the province of Namur in southern Belgium. Located on the river Meuse, it is known for its imposing Citadel perched atop a cliff overlooking the town. The town centre boasts and Renaissance buildings, including the Gothic-style Collegiate Church of Notre Dame, rebuilt after being destroyed during World War I. Dinant is also famous as the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, the 19th-century instrument maker and saxophone inventor. With its scenic setting between the river and steep valley walls lined with rock cliffs, the town has long been a popular tourist destination. Dinant offers visitors a charming look into Belgium's past and natural beauty.

What is the history of Dinant?

Dinant has a long and storied history stretching back to the 7th century AD when the town first developed around a fortress built on the cliffs overlooking the River Meuse. In the Middle Ages, Dinant became an important commercial centre as a port on the river and for its metalwork and brassware production. The distinctive Dinantais copper work was exported widely across Europe. Dinant’s prosperity in this period led to the construction of grand civic and religious buildings like the Collegiate Church of Notre Dame. However, Dinant was also highly contested between Burgundy and other powers who repeatedly invaded and plundered the town during the 14th and 15th centuries. Perhaps the darkest chapter was the massacre and near destruction of Dinant in 1466 by the army of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy. The town took decades to recover but rebuilt and entered a new golden era in the late 18th century as a hub for innovative industries like the Sax family's instrument workshop that produced the saxophone. Dinant's strategic location on the Meuse made it a key battleground during the World Wars in the 20th century, suffering heavy damage. Since rebuilding postwar, today's town has thrived as a popular tourist destination celebrated for its well-preserved architecture in the beautiful Ardennes landscape. Evidence indicates Dinant has a remarkably resilient history as a town coveted for its industry and natural beauty.

What language is spoken in Dinant?

The predominant language spoken in the town of Dinant today is French. As Dinant is located in southern Belgium within the Walloon Region, the official language is French rather than Flemish Dutch, spoken in the country's northern parts. Historically, the regional language of Wallonia was Walloon, a Romance language closely related to French that was spoken by the local populace during Dinant's early development in the period up through the 19th century. But over time, standard French spread and largely supplanted Walloon as the common vernacular, especially as education and mobility increased. So, while some elderly residents of Dinant may still converse in traditional Walloon, modern daily life in Dinant is conducted mostly in French, heard in the streets, shops and homes. Visitors to Dinant will find all signage, menus and information provided in French. Many locals near the tourist destinations will also speak English and potentially German. But French remains the mother tongue of the Dinantais people and the official language of business, government and education, showing the broader French-speaking influence in this region of Belgium. Evidence indicates that French has endured as Dinant's predominant first language despite the town's Walloon linguistic roots.

What timezone is Dinant on?

Dinant and the surrounding region follow Central European Time (CET), which is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). More specifically, Belgium observes Central European Summer Time (CEST) from the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in October every year. During this summertime period, clocks in Dinant are put forward by 1 hour to be 2 hours ahead of UTC. For the other half of the year, Belgium switches back to regular CET over autumn and winter, which positions Dinant 1 hour ahead of UTC. This seasonal time change was established nationally in Belgium in 1977 for improved daylight conditions and energy savings. As Dinant is located in western mainland Europe at a longitude of 4° 55′ E, it falls within the optimal longitudes for the CET/CEST time zone, which covers most of the European Union. This means sunset in Dinant is around 8:30 pm in the summer under CEST and as early as 4:30 pm in midwinter. Overall, the location of Dinant within Belgium and continental Europe firmly places it within the Central European Time zone and the seasonal cycle is observed uniformly across the region. Evidence indicates that Dinant's timezone is determined by its geographic position and Belgium's national time policy.

How many people live in Dinant?

The town of Dinant has an overall population of 13,210 residents as of 2019. Breaking this down, statistics show 6,558 males and 6,651 females living in Dinant which is 50% of each gender. Out of this, there are 4467 people aged 0-29 years, of which teenagers (14-19 years) are 755 while 5148 people are aged 30-59 years and 3595 aged 60 and above.The average age in Dinant is 42 years old.

What are the most interesting facts about Dinant?

Listed below are the most interesting facts about Dinant.

• Dinant Currency: In Dinant, which is located in Belgium, the official currency is the Euro (€), denoted as EUR. For travellers, it is beneficial to note that most establishments accept card payments, although carrying some cash might be handy for smaller purchases or visiting markets. The availability of ATMs in the city ensures that visitors can withdraw cash conveniently when necessary.
• Timezone Currency: Dinant, just like some common facts of Belgium, follows Central European Time (CET) during standard time and Central European Summer Time (CEST) during daylight. This information is important for travellers as it helps in planning their travel itinerary accordingly and helps in avoiding any inconveniences due to time differences.
• Language Spoken: In Dinant, the primary language spoken is French. Visitors will find that communication is relatively easy as many locals, especially in the hospitality industry, can communicate in English to assist tourists. However, it might be appreciated if visitors learn a few basic French phrases to navigate through the city and interact with locals, adding a personal touch to their Dinant experience.
• Power Plugs Used: In terms of electrical outlets and power plugs, Dinant, like the rest of Belgium, operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz. The power plugs and sockets used are of type E. For visitors from countries with different plug types, it is advisable to carry a universal adapter to facilitate the charging of electronic devices without any hassle.

What is Dinant famous for?

Dinant is most famously known as the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, the saxophone inventor in the early 1840s. Sax was born in Dinant in 1814 and his father ran an instrument workshop in the town. This lineage as the saxophone's hometown makes Dinant known to music lovers worldwide. Additionally, Dinant is celebrated for its magnificent architecture and dramatic natural setting along the Meuse River. Historic sights like the Collegiate Church of Notre Dame and the Citadel fortress on its perimeter attract many visitors. Dinant is also famous for its artisanal brassware dating back centuries, including the distinctive Dinanderie style exported across Europe during its heyday as a metals hub. Beyond tourism, Dinant earns fame from iconic food specialities like the flame tart and Couques de Dinant honey gingerbread. The town's fame stems from this mix of musical innovation, heritage, imposing landscapes and artisanal crafts that have made Dinant a recognisable destination along Belgium's Meuse River Valley. The evidence indicates Dinant has multiple facets contributing to its international fame and reputation.

What to do in Dinant for a day

Listed below is what to do in Dinant for a day:

• Visiting La Citadelle de Dinant. A trip to Dinant would be complete with visiting the historic La Citadelle de Dinant. Perched high above the city, it offers an unparalleled view of the surrounding areas. One finds a rich tapestry of history waiting to be explored within its walls. The guided tours provide insight into the fortress' storied past, making it a must-visit for history enthusiasts.
• Exploring Collégiale Notre-Dame de Dinant. The Collégiale Notre-Dame is a remarkable church, with its distinctive bulbous spire and is a testament to the Gothic architectural brilliance of the period. One is greeted by a serene ambience and striking stained glass windows, adding celestial charm to the entire visit.
• Embarking on a Lesse River Trip: A Lesse River trip provides a wonderful way to witness Dinant's natural beauty. The peaceful journey along the river unveils beautiful landscapes that are a treat to the eyes. Whether one opts for a canoeing adventure or a leisurely boat ride, the Lesse River offers a refreshing experience amidst nature's lap.
• Adventuring at Dinant Aventure: Dinant Aventure stands as a thrilling choice for those looking to add a dose of adrenaline to their day. Located in a lush green canopy, the park offers many outdoor activities, ranging from zip-lining to obstacle courses. It's a fantastic venue to challenge oneself and enjoy a day filled with excitement and fun.
• Strolling on the Pont Charles de Gaulle: A stroll on the Pont Charles de Gaulle promises a delightful experience. The bridge, adorned with saxophone sculptures, provides a unique photo opportunity against the backdrop of the beautiful city. It serves as a peaceful venue to reflect on the day's adventures and soak in the enchanting evening views of Dinant.

What is the ideal visit duration for a Dinant visit?

Visitors need between 1 and 2 days to visit Dinant. This allows sufficient time to explore the main historic sights, appreciate the scenic atmosphere along the river and sample the town's distinctive cuisine. For a one-day visit, Collegiate Church of Our Lady is perfect, which is a13th-century Citadel fortress and the cliffside promenade overlooking the Meuse River. An extra day enables visitors to delve into museums like the Adolphe Sax House, which chronicles the saxophone's history and the Leffe brewery tour. There is also a scenic boat tour along the river and shops and cafes to enjoy in the town centre. The major attractions and ambience can be soaked up in a comfortable 2-day visit without feeling rushed. Evidence indicates the optimum amount of time in Dinant balances appreciating the top historic sights and natural beauty while avoiding an overly hectic schedule in this quaint riverside town. The duration provides a meaningful taste of Dinant's charm rather than a hurried day trip.

What local food to eat in Dinant?

Dinant offers visitors plenty of tasty opportunities to sample Belgium's culinary traditions. One signature dish to notice is the flame, a savoury tart filled with cheese, bacon or other fillings. Dinant's flame au Marseilles is baked with the region's distinctive Maroilles cheese. The town is also famed for its Couques de Dinant, a gingerbread-style biscuit flavoured with honey and spices. These crunchy gingerbreads make an ideal snack or gift first made by the Dinantais in the 15th century. The only trip to Dinant is complete with stopping for waffles, Belgium's quintessential street food featuring warm vanilla waffles topped with powdered sugar or chocolate. Regarding drinks, visitors must try some of Belgium's iconic beers, including Leffe, a blond abbey ale brewed just outside Dinant. The surrounding Ardennes region is known for its trout dishes smoked or grilled in creamy sauce. Dinant provides a tasty introduction to food in Belgium and its culinary treats, from flame tarts, gingerbreads and waffles to beer and trout specialities. Evidence confirms Dinant serves up authentic local flavour, representing the nation's diverse food heritage.

What are the best restaurants in Dinant?

There are various best restaurants in Dinant. Leffe Plaza, located at the town's historic brewery, offers traditional Belgian brasserie fare like meatballs, frites and mussels alongside Leffe beers brewed onsite. For fine French cuisine, Le Mesnil features a seasonal menu in a converted 19th-century villa with river views. Dinantais specialities like flame and fish dishes can be enjoyed at the casually elegant L'Atelier de Bossimé or in a more rustic atmosphere at La Croisette along the Meuse. Food lovers will enjoy the gourmet tasting menus artfully prepared at Au Gastronome in a historic house in the city centre. And no visit to Dinant is complete without stopping for waffles, best sampled from the riverside Waf'Inn terrace on the main square. Visitors looking for a Michelin-star dining experience can reserve a table at Le Botaniste about 15 minutes outside Dinant. Whether craving Belgian brasserie classics or innovative fine dining overlooking the Meuse River, Dinant offers quality restaurants catering to all tastes and budgets for a perfect meal. Evidence confirms Dinant provides memorable dining experiences amidst its historic ambience.

Listed below are the best restaurants in Dinant.

• La Broche: La Broche is a warm and cosy restaurant that serves traditional Belgian cuisine like steak, seafood and seasonal dishes. Diners recommend the excellent steak frites and daily specials at La Broche.
• Le Jardin de Fiorine: Le Jardin de Fiorine is in a charming garden and offers creative French cuisine with a seasonal menu. Dishes use fresh local ingredients and fine wines at Le Jardin de Fiorine.
• CCnomie Restaurant: CCnomie Restaurant features a stylish interior and excels at modern European fare with Belgian influences. The tasting menu provides a special dining experience at CCnomie Restaurant.

1. La Broche

La Broche is a cosy restaurant in the heart of Dinant's historic city centre near the Meuse River. Housed in a charming 18th-century building, La Broche's interior evokes a traditional Belgian brasserie with a warm, inviting atmosphere. The restaurant has earned a good reputation for its excellent traditional Belgian cuisine prepared with locally sourced ingredients. Signature dishes at La Broche include steak frites, veal simmered in Belgian beer and fresh river trout served with creamy sauces. The menu changes seasonally to feature the best produce of the region. Diners consistently praise the top-quality meats and seafood, generous portions and impressive wine list with Belgian and French options. Service is also excellent, with knowledgeable staff providing recommendations. La Broche represents essential dining in Dinant for its authentic renditions of Belgian classics within a refined yet casual setting. Its location enables soaking up the town's ambience before or after a superb meal. La Broche is worth visiting for quintessential Belgian fare in the heart of scenic Dinant.

2. Le Jardin de Fiorine

Le Jardin de Fiorine is a refined restaurant in a peaceful garden just steps from the Meuse River in Dinant. Dining at Le Jardin feels like an escape to the countryside despite its proximity to Dinant's historic sights. The charming stone building was once an 18th-century convent and retains its original exposed beams and a fireplace. But the real draw is the sprawling garden with flowers, fruit trees and a scenic terrace for al fresco dining in warm months. Le Jardin de Fiorine distinguishes itself by serving creative French cuisine accentuated by fresh organic produce from the restaurant's garden or other local sources. The frequently changing seasonal menu highlights ingredients at their peak. Dishes like roasted duck with honey-ginger glaze or cod with spring vegetable risotto reflect refined technique and flavours. Service is gracious, complemented by an extensive wine list. Le Jardin de Fiorine promises a special meal to remember for gourmet French fare in a rural oasis within Dinant.

3. CCnomie Restaurant

CCnomie Restaurant provides a contemporary fine dining experience in the heart of Dinant's historic city centre. Housed in an elegantly converted 19th-century townhouse, the dining room evokes chic Belgian style with vaulted ceilings, neutral tones and artisan lighting. Head chef Christophe Clement's innovative tasting menus emphasise seasonal Belgian ingredients prepared with modern techniques for depth of flavour. Dishes like smoked trout with horseradish espuma and duck with black garlic emulsion display creativity. The compact menu changes monthly and includes excellent vegetarian options. CCnomie also offers an extensive wine list featuring Old and New World pairings. Service is exceptional, led by knowledgeable sommeliers describing the wines. While the atmosphere remains refined, children are welcomed in a relaxed way. For those seeking inventive regional cuisine with subtle twists in a smart but cosy environment, CCnomie Restaurant hits the mark for fine dining in Dinant. Its blend of tradition and innovation creates a memorable food and wine experience.

4. Les Mougneûs d'as

Les Mougneûs d'as is a charming restaurant in the countryside just outside of Dinant in the village of Anseremme. The beamed interior and stone fireplaces create a cosy, rustic setting in a converted old farmhouse. This provides a taste of authentic rural Wallonia separate from Dinant's bustle but only a 10-minute drive away. The restaurant is best known for its traditional Walloon-French cuisine that celebrates local ingredients. Hearty dishes like boar stew, veal kidney and trout with sorrel sauce reflect regional flavours. Daily chalkboard specials and suggestions from the friendly owner enhance the experience. The comprehensive wine list favours excellent Belgian wines from nearby wineries like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Outdoor seating offers lovely views of the surrounding pastures in nice weather. For a leisurely meal steeping diners in the provincial culinary heritage near Dinant, Les Mougneûs d'as delivers excellent comfort food in an idyllic rural setting.

5. Le Trois x 15

Le Trois x 15 provides a contemporary dining experience housed in a historic brick building from the 1500s in Dinant. The intimate interior featuring modern artwork creates a refined yet relaxed ambience. Chef Olivier Dargent focuses on seasonal nouvelle cuisine that creatively spotlights local ingredients. Examples include Meuse River trout with beets and horseradish or veal sweetbreads with morels from the Ardennes. Dishes expertly balance flavours and textures. The frequently changing five or seven-course tasting menu makes it quite versatile. Superb wines by the glass, including labels from rising young Belgian producers, are recommended for pairing by the sommelier (wine waiter.) Le Trois x 15's blend of historic setting, talented cooking and personable hospitality define fine dining in Dinant.

6. L'Atmosphère côté Meuse

L'Atmosphère côté Meuse occupies a prime location directly on the Meuse River promenade in central Dinant. Its scenic riverside terrace sits below the town's iconic Collegiate Church spire. The contemporary bistro interior with large windows allows gazing at the river's tranquillity or the passing tourist boats. Cuisine-wise, L'Atmosphère specialises in seafood, emphasising fresh river trout from the Meuse prepared in both traditional and creative ways. Signature dishes include trout tartare, whole grilled trout and trout with Champagne sauce. Non-seafood options like rack of lamb are also excellent. The comprehensive wine list features complementary Belgian, French and New World labels. Service is polished and warm. L'Atmosphère's idyllic spot on Dinant's atmospheric waterfront and well-executed seasonal cuisine make it perfect for a relaxing lunch or dinner while soaking up the town's unmatched riverside ambience. The experience captures Dinant's essence in both setting and taste.

What are the best areas to stay in Dinant?

Listed below are the best neighbourhoods to stay in Dinant.

• City Center: Staying in Dinant's historic city centre puts visitors just steps away from sights like the iconic Collegiate Church, the Meuse River promenade and Place Reine Astrid's main square lined with cafes and shops. Accommodation options include quaint guesthouses and hotels housed in heritage buildings, immersing guests in the atmosphere. The central location is ideal for exploring all Dinant's attractions on foot.
• Citadel Area: Lodging in the Citadel area clustered beneath the fortress means waking up to dramatic cliffside views. Hotels like the Hotel Les Deux Ourses offer exceptional vistas and an easy 1015-minute walk along the river into the city centre. This area provides a scenic ambience, a bit removed from the bustling downtown.
• Sax Village: Sax Village across the Charles de Gaulle Bridge is the perfect choice for a serene escape. Guesthouses are set amid the handsome stone buildings where Adolphe Sax was born and learned instrument making, creating a peaceful scene. Sax Village exudes vintage charm and is linked to Dinant by a relaxing riverside stroll.
• Leffe: The brewery village of Leffe just south of town contains several hotels located in nature yet only 5 minutes from Dinant by car. Accommodations like Le Val De Leffe combine proximity to Dinant with a more secluded, rural setting.
• Meuse Riverfront: For waterfront living, lodgings along the Meuse River, such as Les Jardins de la Molignée, offer unparalleled riverside views and direct access to water sports or strolls into town. The riverfront creates an idyllic, natural escape.
• Anseremme: Located further south along the Meuse Valley, the village of Anseremme provides an authentic rural village experience, with lodgings surrounded by hiking trails through the forested bluffs. Peaceful and beautiful.

What are the best hotels in Dinant?

Listed below are the best hotels in Dinant.

• Hotel Le Fenil: Hotel Le Fenil is set in a former farmhouse, blending rustic charm with modern comforts, including a scenic terrace and sauna. Its location near the Citadel is ideal for exploring Dinant's top attractions.
• Hotel Le Saint Hadelin: Hotel Le Saint Hadelin is housed in a beautifully restored old chapel, offering a historic ambience and views of the Meuse River just steps from the city centre making it one of the best hotels in Dinant.
• Ibis Dinant. Ibis Dinant provides contemporary rooms in a cliffside setting and boasts impressive views of Dinant's Citadel and direct access to the riverfront promenade.

1. Hotel Le Fenil

The Hotel Le Fenil is a charming hotel in the heart of Dinant. With its beautiful location alongside the River Meuse, the hotel offers beautiful city and surrounding countryside views. The hotel building dates back to the 19th century and retains much of its original character and architecture. Inside, the hotel features classically styled rooms furnished with antique pieces. Large windows allow ample natural light and lovely river views from many rooms. The hotel aims to provide guests a relaxed, peaceful atmosphere during their stay in Dinant. The on-site restaurant serves delightful regional cuisine featuring fresh local ingredients. Many dishes highlight the area's famous smoked salmon and hearty meat dishes. The hotel has lovely gardens along the riverfront, which guests can stroll through. With its old-world charm, scenic vistas and excellent service, the Hotel Le Feni offers an idyllic place for travellers to stay when visiting the historic and beautiful city of Dinant.

2. Hotel Le Saint Hadelin

Hotel Le Saint Hadelin is prime in the heart of Dinant's historic city centre, just steps from the Meuse River. Hotel Le Saint Hadelin boutique hotel is housed in a beautifully restored former 17th-century chapel still retaining its original stonework, stained glass windows and carved wood interiors. Each of the eight guest rooms has been designed to accentuate the building's heritage through details like exposed beams while providing modern amenities. Rooms offer views of the church square or the river. The intimate bar provides a relaxing spot for a drink. The buffet breakfast served in the vaulted chapel interior is ample. As Dinant's top boutique historic hotel, Le Saint Hadelin summarises the town's timeless charm blended seamlessly with comfort. The central location immerses guests in Dinant's captivating atmosphere and architecture. For accommodation steeped in heritage amidst Dinant's attractions, Hotel Le Saint Hadelin promises a special experience in this riverside town.

3. B&B Windsor – Chambres d'hôtes de charme – Meuse – Hastière – Dinant

B&B Windsor is a charming bed and breakfast located in the village of Hastière, about a 15-minute drive south of Dinant along the Meuse River. Set within a beautifully restored 18th-century mansion with a turret, B&B Windsor contains four spacious guest rooms blending historic details like wooden beams with contemporary comforts. Each room has been individually decorated, from the romantic Chambre Rose to the relaxing Chambre Zen. Owners Jean-Michel and Vinciane provide a warm welcome and an excellent breakfast spread. The tree-lined garden and riverside patio allow peaceful relaxation while gazing at the Meuse. Nearby activities include kayaking, hiking trails and seeing Hastière's riverside caves. For accommodation offering sophisticated style in a countryside manor house with river access, B&B Windsor makes an idyllic escape just a short drive from Dinant's attractions.

4. La Clochette

Hotel La Clochette is a welcoming family-run hotel conveniently located just a 5-minute walk from Dinant's city centre, providing easy access to the historical sights. Set in a traditional 19th-century townhouse, La Clochette offers personalised service and comfortably furnished rooms, some overlooking the garden terrace. The extensive breakfast buffet provides energy for a day exploring Dinant. Jean-Michel and Dominique aim to make guests feel at home with area tips and attentive care. Little extras like complimentary parking, bikes for rent and public transit passes add value. While not a boutique hotel, La Clochette's charm, cleanliness and prime location right near the action make it a solid choice for an affordable stay immersed in Dinant's atmosphere. Its family hospitality embodies this small riverside town's warm, inviting nature. For a quality, budget-friendly hotel close to Dinant's top sites, La Clochette hits the mark.

5. Ibis Dinant

The Ibis Dinant is a modern chain hotel strategically located along Dinant's Meuse River promenade just steps from the city centre. While not boutique, the hotel's cliffside position provides some of the best direct views of Dinant's impressive Citadel fortress. The Ibis also boasts its patio for al fresco dining right above the river. Stylish modern rooms are appointed with contemporary decor and amenities like rainfall showers. While compact, rooms include touches like river views. Dining options consist of the standard Ibis breakfast buffet and light snacks. A bar overlooks the water as well. As one of the only newer chain hotels in Dinant, the Ibis suits those seeking reliable comfort in the heart of town with scenic riverside ambience. While rooms lack historic charm, the location affords unbeatable access to Dinant's top sights.

What is the transportation like in Dinant?

Dinant benefits from good transportation connections by road, rail and waterways, facilitating access for visitors. Here’s how to get to Dinant. It is just under 2 hours by train from Brussels and under 3.5 hours from Paris, thanks to Belgium's efficient rail network. Eurostar via Brussels provides direct rail access for those travelling from London in around 3.5 hours. Driving from Brussels takes just over 1.5 hours via the E411 motorway. Bus routes will connect Dinant to nearby cities like Namur. Once in town, the small historic centre is easily walkable, but local buses also operate to access outer areas. The Meuse River forms a transportation thoroughfare with tourist boats and kayak rentals. Dinant's compact nature means most sights are reachable on foot, supplemented by regional public transit options. Evidence indicates Dinant has integrated transportation infrastructure, allowing seamless visits whether arriving by high-speed train from afar or visiting locally. Well-maintained roads, rail and river transport give easy access to this scenic town.

How to get from Dinant to Brussels?

Listed below are the steps to get to Brussels from Dinant.

• First, the guest planning the journey from Dinant to Brussels should take a moment to gather pertinent information regarding the journey's distance and the available routes; it is prudent to remember that the distance separating Dinant from Brussels is around 97 km (60 miles).
• Second, for those contemplating a road journey, it would be sensible to arrange for a vehicle, either by hiring a rental car or ensuring that their car is in good condition.
• Third, before embarking on the drive, one would find it beneficial to ensure the car is fuelled up to avoid unnecessary stops during the 1.5-hour journey.
• Fourth, setting off early in the morning might provide a more pleasant driving experience by avoiding the rush hours commonly encountered on routes leading to Brussels.
• Fifth, to facilitate an uncomplicated and straightforward drive, using GPS technology or reliable mobile applications will provide accurate directions and help navigate the optimal routes to Brussels.
• Sixth, for those preferring rail travel, their first step would involve proceeding to Dinant's primary railway station, adequately prepared with necessary items for the journey.
• Seventh, securing train tickets ahead of time through online platforms or buying them at the station is essential, keeping in mind to check the timetable for available trains and planning the journey accordingly.
• Eighth, boarding the train and settling in for the journey, one would notice that trains frequently operate on a direct route between the two cities, offering a travel time of approximately 90 minutes.
• Ninth, upon reaching Brussels, visitors can explore the city through its well-connected local transport systems or travel on foot to their specific destinations.
• Last, regardless of the chosen method of travel, individuals should keep essential documents, including identification and necessary travel paperwork, easily accessible to ensure a seamless and enjoyable journey.

Are Christmas markets crowded in Dinant?

Not really. Christmas markets in Dinant attract substantial crowds during the holiday season, but generally not to an excessive degree. As one of Belgium's most beautiful and famous towns, Dinant unsurprisingly sees an influx of visitors for the charming Christmas market atmosphere. The riverside market lining the Meuse and the market in the old city centre tend to be liveliest on weekends and peak times nearer Christmas. However, the relatively compact size of Dinant's markets helps prevent overcrowding issues. Being a smaller provincial town than a major city also means fewer massive tourist numbers descending on the markets. While visitors should expect festive bustle and attendance, Dinant Christmas market retain their quaint character. Planning trips for off-peak days and weeknights results in a calmer experience. So, the evidence indicates that while popular, Dinant's markets do not reach uncomfortable congestion that would detract from enjoying the town's seasonal beauty and joyful spirit.

What are the most visited Christmas markets in Belgium?

Listed below are the most visited Christmas markets in Belgium :

• Brussels Winter Wonders: Brussels Winter Wonders is one of Belgium's largest and most visited Christmas markets in the heart of Brussels. It features over 200 chalets, a grand ice rink and a mesmerising sound and light show at the Grand Place.
• Bruges Christmas Market: Bruges Christmas Market is set in Bruges. Bruges Christmas market offers a fairytale setting with its cobbled streets and historic buildings. It's particularly famous for its ice sculpture festival and the variety of handmade crafts available.
• Ghent Christmas Market: Ghent Christmas Market is located in the historic city of Ghent; The market is known for its diverse range of stalls and activities. From traditional Belgian waffles to artisanal crafts, it offers something for everyone.
• Antwerp Christmas Market: Antwerp Christmas Market spreads across several squares in the city. The Antwerp Christmas market is a must-visit for its international food stalls, unique gifts and a special ‘Winterbar' serving seasonal drinks.
• Leuven Christmas Market: Leuven Christmas Market is located in the university city of Leuven. The market is popular among both locals and tourists. It's smaller than other markets but offers a cosy atmosphere focusing on local products and crafts.
• Liège Christmas Village: Liège Christmas Village is known as the oldest Christmas market in Belgium. The Liège Christmas Village offers a unique experience with its Walloon traditions. It features a wide range of food stalls, including the famous Liège waffles, making it one of the best Christmas markets in Belgium.

Is there music in Christmas markets in Belgium?

Yes, there’s music in Christmas markets in Belgium. Christmas carols and live music are integral to the holiday ambience at Belgium's festive markets. In the leadup to Christmas, choral groups and musicians frequently give free public performances on makeshift stages and in market square foyers to entertain crowds and amplify the Yuletide spirit. Brass bands, choirs and a cappella groups are popular. Specific needs even have dance troupes and costumed characters join in. In Brussels, classic melodies and tunes like “Jingle Bells” in English, French and Flemish ring through the air at Grand Place. Historic churches like the Cathedral of Our Lady host concerts to coincide with nearby markets in Antwerp. The jolly sounds of the season give Belgium's Christmas markets an even more magical mood. Checking for performance schedules can help visitors coordinate their marketing with these merry auditory experiences.

What are the best music festivals in Belgium?

Listed below are the best music festivals in Belgium:

• Tomorrowland: Tomorrowland is one of the biggest electronic and dance music festivals globally, spanning two weekends every July in Boom, Belgium, south of Antwerp. It features world-class DJs, extravagant set designs and lively crowds numbering over 400,000.
• Rock Werchter: Rock Werchter is Belgium's most prominent rock festival. It lasts four days in early July and has featured huge headliners like The Rolling Stones, Pearl Jam and Bruno Mars on its outdoor stages since 1975.
• Pukkelpop: Pukkelpop is an annual 3-day outdoor alternative music festival held each August showcasing major indie, electronic and hip hop acts across eight different stages.
• Dour Festival: The eclectic Dour Festival is among the Belgium music festivals that hosts over 200 artists across diverse genres like heavy metal, techno, hip hop and more for a 5-day extravaganza every July in Dour, Belgium. It attracts music fans from all over Europe.
• Graspop Metal Meeting: Graspop Metal Meeting is Belgium's largest heavy metal festival, annually in Dessel each June. It caters to metal, rock and punk fans, with major acts performing on five stages over four days.

What is the weather like in Dinant?

Dinant has a temperate oceanic climate that brings cool, wet winters and mild summers. Located inland, not far from the North Sea, it lies within the broader climate zone of Northern Europe. Winters are typically chilly, with average lows just above freezing and highs of 5-10°C. Frost, fog and precipitation in rain, sleet and snow are common. January is usually the coldest month. However, Dinant's summers are pleasantly warm though changeable, with high temperatures averaging around 20-25°C. But heatwaves can push highs to 30°C at times. Summer also tends to be the rainiest season. Surrounded by hilly topography, the town sees its share of precipitation year round, though late spring to early autumn is generally driest. But rainfall rarely dampens the enjoyment of Dinant's scenic, historic streets and river ambience. Overall, the town's inland European climate means seasonal variety from crisp, snowy winters to comfortable warmer periods suited for riverside strolling. Evidence confirms Dinant experiences a typical Belgian climate marked by moderated extremes.

Is Dinant worth visiting?

Yes, Dinant is worth a visit, especially for travellers interested in scenic towns, dramatic natural beauty and Belgian history and culture. As the hometown of the saxophone and inventor Adolphe Sax, Dinant holds a unique appeal for music lovers able to see his house museum. The town's remarkably intact Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture clustered around the Meuse River creates a postcard-perfect scene straight out of the Middle Ages. Historic sights like the monumental Leffe Castle and the Citadel fortress perched on a clifftop are some of Belgium's most stunning. Outdoor lovers will enjoy walks along the river promenade and exploring the forested cliffs. Dinant's artisanal traditions, including brassware, flame tarts and local beers, further bring its heritage to life. Yet it provides plentiful modern hotels, restaurants and transportation links as well.

Is Dinant expensive?

Yes, Dinant is considered moderately expensive to visit. Initially, focusing on the cost of basic goods, one might observe a noticeable difference in the pricing of items such as milk, cigarettes and water compared to other places. For instance, the average prices in Dinant for a litre of milk might vary, but it generally falls within a moderate range. The same could be said about water and cigarettes, priced according to the standard Belgian market rates. Now, turning attention towards the culinary delights, one would notice that enjoying breakfast in a local café can be a tad more expensive compared to other regions in Belgium. The cost of a decent breakfast meal could range from moderate to slightly higher prices. When indulging in the local beer culture, one will find that the average cost for a pint of beer in Dinant varies. Yet, it is not uncommon to encounter establishments charging a slightly premium rate for a pint, allowing visitors to soak in the vibrant local atmosphere while enjoying their beverage. Considering everything, one can ascertain that while Dinant offers a rich and fulfilling experience, it does come at a cost. Thus, visitors should prepare themselves for a moderate expenditure when accounting for the prices in Dinant.

Is Dinant safe?

Yes, Dinant is safe. The city crime rates are relatively low compared to other regions. Reports regarding criminality records indicate a lower incidence of serious offences, making it a safe place for residents and visitors alike. Moreover, instances of theft are not commonly reported, contributing to the peace of mind of those exploring the city. Regarding travel safety, the local authorities proactively ensure that roads and public transportation facilities are safe and well-maintained. Visitors often find that they can comfortably stroll through the streets without worry. However, as with any travel destination, it remains prudent for individuals to take basic precautions to safeguard themselves and their belongings. This might include avoiding poorly lit areas at night and securing personal items. Thus, one can confidently conclude that Dinant offers a safe and secure environment for locals and tourists, fostering a welcoming atmosphere for all to enjoy.

Is Dinant easy to visit with kids?

Yes, Dinant is easy to visit with kids. One must consider the accessibility of family-friendly activities available within the vicinity. The city offers a variety of outdoor activities which are suitable for kids and youngsters alike. Families might find themselves taking boat trips on the river Meuse, which is known to be a hit with the younger ones. Moreover, several parks allow families to enjoy a leisurely day out where kids can play freely. Furthermore, the local caves offer a thrilling adventure for older children, who would be captivated by the stunning geological formations. One should pay attention to the delicious culinary offerings of the area, which can be a delightful treat for adults and children. Additionally, the transportation facilities in and around Dinant are quite efficient, making it easier for families to navigate the city relatively easily. Therefore, one can anticipate a stress-free and enjoyable time visiting Dinant with kids and toddlers.

What are the UNESCO world heritage sites in Belgium?

Listed below are the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Belgium:

• Belfry and Cloth Hall, Ghent: The Belfry and Cloth Hall, Ghent stands as grand symbols of the city's economic and cultural prosperity in the past. With its towering belfry, The majestic structure allows visitors to soak in panoramic views of the city, offering a glimpse of Ghent in all its glory. One finds an architectural marvel and a repository of the city's history within its confines, narrating tales of the glorious days of trade and commerce.
• Saint Rumbold's Cathedral Tower, Mechelen: The magnificence of Saint Rumbold's Cathedral Tower cannot be missed as one steps into Mechelen. The towering structure, a prominent part of Mechelen's skyline, tells a story of architectural brilliance and religious significance. A visit here promises a spiritual retreat and a journey through time, with its intricate carvings and stunning artworks narrating the tales of a bygone era.
• Basilica of Our Lady and City Tower, Tongeren: The Basilica of Our Lady and City Tower in Tongeren stand as testimony to the region's rich religious and cultural heritage. With its stunning Gothic architecture and impressive city tower, The sacred site offers visitors a tranquil retreat where history and spirituality meld to enrich the experience, leaving a lasting imprint on one's soul.
• Belfry and Aldermen's House, Aalst: Belfry and Aldermen's House in Aalst is a site embodying Belgian heritage and architecture. This is among Belgium’s UNESCO World’s Heritage sites and serves as a beacon of the city's historical and cultural narratives, where each stone and carving holds tales of the past. A visit here promises an enriching journey, offering insights into the region's rich history and travel through time.
• Cathedral of Our Lady, Antwerp: The Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp stands as a beacon of architectural brilliance and spiritual serenity. The towering structure, adorned with stunning artworks and Gothic architecture, invites visitors to embark on a journey of spiritual enlightenment and artistic appreciation. As one World War I. Dinant is also famous as the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, the 19th century instrument maker and inventor of the saxophone. With its scenic setting located between the river and steep valley walls lined with rock cliffs, the town has long been a popular tourist destination. Overall, Dinant offers visitors a charming look into Belgium's past and natural beauty.

PIN FOR LATER

Dates of Holidays in Belgium 2024 [Annually updated]

Namur Travel Guide: 15 Best Attractions to visit in Namur!

Mons Travel Guide: 15 Best things to do in Mons, History, Attractions

15 Fun things to do in Ypres: A Visitor's Travel Guide

16 Best things to do in Ninove: Travel Guide, History, Attractions, Transportation & Markets

15 Amazing Things to do in Kortrijk: Travel Guide: History, Attractions, Transportation & Markets

15 Top Things to do in Tournai: Travel Guide, History, Attractions, Facts and Transportation

Ghent Christmas Market 2023-2024:🎅 Dates, Location, Attractions

15 Best restaurants in Brussels: Where to eat in Brussels?

19 Best Hotels to stay in Brussels – Neighbourhoods, Luxury, Hostels, Family and Airport Hotels

20 Fun Christmas Markets in Belgium to visit in 2023 – 2024

Mechelen Christmas Market 2023-2024:🎅 Dates, Location, Attractions

Charleroi Christmas Market 2023-2024: 🎅 Dates, Location, Attractions

Mons Christmas Market 2023-2024:🎅 Dates, Location, Attractions

Namur Christmas Market 2023-2024: 🎅 Dates, Location, Attractions

Ostend Christmas Market 2023-2024: 🎅 Dates, Location, Attractions

17 Best Bars in Brussels and their signature Drinks

Dinant Christmas Market 2023-2024:🎅 Dates, Location, Attractions

Louvain-la-Neuve Christmas Market 2023-2024: 🎅 Dates, Location, Attractions

Liege Christmas Market 2023-2024:🎅 Dates, Location, Attractions

10 Best Brussels Museums, Art Galleries and Exhibitions

20 Best things to do in Ardennes: My 4 day itinerary

29 Interesting Facts about Brussels

Brussels Travel Guide: 18 Best Things to Do, History, Facts and Hotels

Brussels Christmas Markets 2023-2024: 🎅 Dates, Location, Attractions

Visiting Hallerbos: The Blue Forest of Belgium

Visiting the Villers Abbey: Location, History and Guide!

Fort Breendonk: Concentration camp turned National Memorial

C-mine Genk: Mining site turned to Cultural center

Waterloo Battlefield: A Travelers Guide, 200+ years after the Battle

The editorial team at Wonderful Wanderings brings together travel experts with backgrounds in travel writing, web development and digital marketing. The team, through their collaborative effort, provides readers with relevant travel experiences and up-to-date digital content. The vast expertise within the team ensures an informative blend of travel stories and useful online travel guides and trip experiences, built on a foundation of both industry recognition and hands-on global adventures. Learn more about Wonderful Wanderings

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Join 58,000+ other Wonderful Wanderers!

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

13 Best Things to do in Dinant, Belgium – The Road Is Life

Set on the banks of the Meuse River against a back drop of dramatic cliffs, Dinant is easily one of the prettiest towns in Belgium. With many great things to do in Dinant, this is the ideal place to go for a weekend break or even a day trip from Brussels.

Dinant is located in the Wallonia region of Belgium’s south east which is the French speaking part of the country. It’s known for scenic landscapes of forested green hills, lush valleys and pretty medieval villages.

While most visitors to Belgium are eager to spend a few days in Brussels or take a day trip to Bruges , the southern half of the country is often overlooked by tourists. After reading this travel guide you will quickly see why this stunning region deserves a place on your Belgium itinerary .

➤ Looking for a day trip to Dinant from Brussels?

Check out this tour that organises every detail of the day for you! 

The charming town of Dinant

I recently spent a weekend in Dinant and thoroughly enjoyed all that this gorgeous town has to offer. I created this detailed guide that covers all the best things to do in Dinant to ensure that you make the most of your time there.

Dinant offers the perfect combination of natural beauty, unique architecture and fascinating history. From tasting the local beers to climbing the Dinant Citadel and exploring stunning castles, you certainly won’t be bored during your time in beautiful Dinant!

Dinant is small and compact making it easy to see all of the town’s highlights in a single day. If you have more time, I have included some extra things to see and do around Dinant that can easily be included on a weekend stay.

Table of Contents

13 Best Things to do in Dinant, Belgium

Dinant citadel.

The most popular thing to do in Dinant is making the trek up to the Citadel which sits high on a hilltop above the town. Packed full of history and unbeatable views, this is sure to be the highlight of your time in Dinant.

You can either climb the 408 steps to reach the top or take the cable car instead. Once you arrive at the Citadel you will be rewarded with an amazing panoramic view over the Meuse River and the town of Dinant below.

The Citadel of Dinant was constructed during the early 19th century when the Dutch occupied Belgium. It was built on the site of an old castle from the 11th century. This fortress has always been an important landmark of Dinant, defending the town against attacks and invasions for centuries.

The Citadel is home to a fantastic museum which takes you back in time through the history of Dinant. From the sacking of Dinant in 1466 to the German invasion of Dinant during the WWI and everything in between.

Soldier’s Sleeping Quarters – Dinant Citadel

The Citadel museum features plenty of interactive displays which makes it fun for all ages. You will walk through the soldier’s sleeping quarters, see many historic weapons and a replica of the WWI trenches. The Citadel’s viewing platform is a big highlight where you can take some memorable photos and see the best view of Dinant.

I would recommend beginning your sightseeing day in Dinant by visiting the Citadel to avoid the crowds and tour groups later in the day. You can also choose to park at the Citadel’s free parking lot and then walk into town or take the cable car down after your visit.

Tickets to the Citadel can be purchased on arrival and include access to the cable car. If you are planning to do a river cruise while visiting Dinant, you may want to purchase the 3 in 1 ticket. For €19 per person, this includes access to the Citadel, cable car and 45 minute river cruise.

Opening Hours : 10am – 5pm daily

Tickets : €12/adult, €10/child

Exploring the Dinant Citadel

Rocher Bayard Rock Formation

As you enter Dinant, you will be welcomed into town by passing through an impressive 40m tall rock spire. Driving along the narrow road that runs through the gap between the rocks is quite a dramatic way to enter or leave the town!

The best way to see this amazing rock formation up close is to take a walk along Dinant’s scenic riverside. You will eventually end up at Rocher Bayard which is located at the south end of town.

From here you can appreciate the unique rock formation and pose for a fun photo in front of it. Another way to view Rocher Bayard is by taking a river cruise along the the Meuse River.

Rocher Bayard – Entrance to Dinant

Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame de Dinant

One of the first buildings that will catch your eye in Dinant is the massive 13th-century Gothic cathedral and its unique pear shaped bell tower.

Set on the banks of the Meuse River, this striking church is the main landmark of Dinant. The Church of Notre-Dame is free to enter and worthy of a quick stop on your explorations around the town.

Enter the church though a door on the side of the building to admire the intricately decorated interior and beautiful stained glass windows. Learn more about Dinant’s colourful history by watching a 10 minute film in one of the rooms inside the church.

Opening Hours – 9am – 6pm daily

Tickets – Free

Notre-Dame de Dinant

La Maison de Monsieur Sax

One thing you may notice as you walk around Dinant is that there are statues of saxophones decorating the town. Dinant is known for being the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, the man who created the saxophone in 1841.

Take a short walk through this small museum to learn the history behind the legend who once called Dinant home. The house of Adolphe Sax is free to the public and located in the exact place where he was born.

This is only a quick stop as it won’t take you longer than 15 minutes to see the entire display. It is one of the most famous places to visit in Dinant as it’s an essential part of the town’s history!

Before you leave, be sure to take a seat on the bench and pose for a photo with a statue of the man himself.

Maison de Monsieur Sax

Cruise on the Meuse River

Get a different perspective of Dinant by taking a 45 minute relaxing cruise along the Meuse River. Doing a river cruise is a pleasant way to not only see the sights of Dinant but also the beautiful region that surrounds it.

The river cruises depart from the docks near the centre of Dinant and take you along the Meuse River toward the town of Anseremme. Admire the stunning scenery as you pass by highlights such as the Rocher Bayard, the pretty buildings of Dinant and more.

This is one of the most popular Dinant attractions and the perfect activity for a sunny day. There is a bar on board the boat as well indoor and outdoor seating areas. You will have a choice of languages to hear the commentary as you go.

There are several cruise departures throughout the day but this changes throughout the year depending on season. The price of the river cruise works out to be cheaper if you buy the combined ticket with the Citadel. Find more info about hours of operation and planning your visit at the official Dinant cruise website .

Opening Hours:  10:30am – 5:00pm

Tickets:  €11/adult, €8/child

Take in the pretty scenery of Dinant from a river cruise

Charles de Gaulle Bridge

The Charles de Gaulle Bridge crosses over the Meuse River connecting both sides of Dinant by car and foot. The bridge is lined with 28 colourful saxophones on either side. Each one is painted in a unique design and represents a different country from the European Union.

The bridge was named after Charles de Gaulle, a French general who played an important part in defending against the Nazis during WWII. The saxophones were a recent addition to the bridge and were only added in 2010.

Take a walk across the bridge to find a perfect view of Dinant from the other side of the river. This is where you will see the iconic Dinant sign which provides a great photo opportunity. With or without the sign, this was my favourite place in town to take photos.

View from Charles de Gaulle Bridge

Maison Leffe – Beer Museum & Tasting Experience

One of my favourite things to do in Dinant was tasting the iconic Leffe beer at the Maison Leffe . This is an absolute must for beer lovers and those curious to learn more about Belgium’s long history of beer making.

Once you cross over the Charles de Gaulle Bridge, continue walking for about 5 minutes to arrive at the Maison Leffe. Housed in an ancient monastery, this fantastic museum will take you through the complete history of brewing Leffe beer.

Through a series of interactive screens, follow the story of Leffe production from the year 1240 until the present day. At the end of your visit you will get the chance to taste some Leffe beer and even take a few gifts home.

This museum is very well organised and offers a great experience for a reasonable price. I would advise you to visit as early in the day as possible or in the late afternoon. When it gets busy, it is hard to hear the stories being told through the displays.

Opening Hours:  11am – 7pm daily

Tickets:  €12

Maison Leffe

Taste the Dinant Cookie

As you wander through Dinant you will see a commonly occurring item in every bakery around town: the Dinant Cookie. “ Couque de Dinant ” is a traditional Belgian cookie that can only be found in Dinant.

It is made from using two ingredients (honey and flour) and baked at extremely high temperatures resulting in a very hard cookie. These cookies are typically decorated with elaborate drawings which also makes them great as a decoration or Christmas ornament.

Stop in a local bakery to try a Dinant cookie or pick up a few to take home as souvenirs. If you do choose to eat one, it’s best to break off little pieces as the texture is so hard it may chip a tooth!

Dinant cookies

Grotte la Merveilleuse

An easy 10 minute walk from the centre of Dinant will bring you to this amazing underground cave. Venture into the cave on your own or with a guided tour to see the impressive stalagmites and stalactites.

There is an easy path to follow making it easy to explore the cave without doing a tour. If you want to hear interesting facts and stories about Grotte La Merveilleuse then it’s best to join a guided tour.

There are quite a few steps and uneven ground so be sure to come prepared with appropriate walking shoes. Allow for around one hour to see the entire cave. Opening hours change seasonally, find updated info about planning your visit here .

Opening Hours : 1pm – 3pm (weekdays) 11am – 5pm (weekends)

Tickets:  €10/adult, €7/child

View of Dinant from the Citadel

Château de Vêves

This fairy tale castle is located just outside of Dinant in the nearby town of Celles. The foundations of Château de Vêves date back to the 7th century, however the castle that we see today was built in the 1500’s.

The castle is relatively small and won’t take you longer than an hour to see everything. You can explore a series of furnished rooms and take a walk around the picturesque grounds. There is also a café on-site to refuel with drinks and snacks.

Only a 10 minute drive from the town, this incredible castle is the perfect addition to your trip to Dinant. Visiting the Château de Vêves is an awesome activity for families with children. The kids will love the opportunity to dress up as princesses or knights during your visit (included in the entry ticket).

Opening Hours:  10am – 5pm daily (view current opening hours here )

Tickets:  €9/adult, €6/child, free/children under 4

Things to do in Dinant If You Have More Than One Day

Castle of Freÿr

The Castle of Freÿr and its immaculate gardens is located in a picturesque spot along the Meuse River. It’s less than a 10 minute drive from Dinant so it’s easy to work into your sightseeing schedule if you have a car.

This lovely Renaissance castle was once a summer home for nobility and hosted famous guests such as Louis XIV of France. The oldest part of the castle dates to the 16th century and it has remained in the same family for 20 generations.

The inside of the castle is just beautiful as its well kept gardens. You’ll find an impressive collection of artwork decorating the hallways. The castle’s stunning terraced gardens date to the 1700’s and some of the orange trees are actually more than 300 years old!

A visit to the Castle of Freÿr will take around 1-2 hours so this is ideal to include if you’re planning to spend a weekend in Dinant. Find more details about seasonal opening hours at the official website .

Opening Hours:  11am – 5pm

Tickets:  €9/adult, €7.5/student, Free/child 12 and under

Parc de Furfooz

This pristine nature reserve is located 15 minutes from Dinant and is home to some unique sites and beautiful natural scenery. Discover some fascinating Roman ruins, explore ancient caverns and take a peaceful walk surrounded by trees and amazing views.

There are several easy hiking trails here which are great for all ages. There is even a little café where you can stop for drinks and refreshments along the way. Be sure to bring cash as card payments are not accepted at the café.

A trip to Parc de Furfooz is a nice way to add some exercise and adventure into your weekend in Dinant while enjoying the outdoors.

Take a Day Trip from Dinant

A 45 minute drive from Dinant along scenic country roads will bring you to the world’s smallest city, Durbuy. Yes, you can actually walk from one side of Durbuy to the other in just 5 minutes!

This idyllic little city will quickly steal your heart with its narrow cobbled lanes and ivy covered buildings. There are enough things to do in Durbuy that you can easily spend a day seeing the sites and exploring the pretty streets.

It’s a great place to stop for lunch at one of the many outdoor patios around town. Take your time browsing the little shops or rent an electric bike and explore the surrounding countryside.

I found that combining a visit to Durbuy with Dinant was the perfect way to escape the city for a relaxing weekend break.

Soaking up the stunning scenery in Durbuy

How to get to Dinant

Car – The easiest way to reach Dinant is by car. The drive from Brussels to Dinant takes around 1.5 hrs. Having your own car is definitely the best option as you will have more flexibility to explore the beauty and sites that surround Dinant.

If you need to rent a car, be sure to organise this beforehand. I would recommend checking out this website to browse from a large selection of rental car providers at the best prices.

►Browse prices and availability for your rental car here◄

Train – The train from Brussels to Dinant departs from Brussels-Centraal Station and runs every hour throughout the day. Depending on what time you select, the route is either direct or requires changing trains in Namur.

The entire journey will take around 1hr 45mins and stops 10 times before reaching Dinant. Be sure to book your train ticket online before you go to ensure you secure the desired date/time.

►Check the train schedule and buy your tickets online◄

Tour – Dinant can easily be seen on an organised day trip from Brussels. See the next section for my top recommendation.

Take a photo at the Dinant sign

How to Visit Dinant on a Day Trip from Brussels

Luxembourg & dinant day trip from brussels.

Duration – 11 hrs

Included – Hotel pick up/drop off (only if private option is selected), live tour guide, transportation by air-conditioned coach.

Discover the very best of Luxembourg and Dinant by taking this popular day trip from Brussels . Begin the day by meeting your tour guide and then departing Brussels by coach for an exciting full day of adventures and beautiful scenery.

After driving through the scenic Ardennes region of Belgium you will arrive in Luxembourg City. Your tour guide will take you to all of the key highlights of the old town such as the palace, fortifications and amazing Notre-Dame Cathedral.

You will also get some free time to explore the city of Luxembourg at your own pace before the tour continues to Dinant. Upon arrival in Dinant, your guide will take you on a tour through the Dinant Citadel followed by a visit to La Maison de Monsieur Sax.

The rest of the tour will give you some free time to sightsee around Dinant and tick off some of the above mentioned attractions. Lunch and entry tickets are not included in the tour, find more details about the tour at the link below.

➤Find tour prices and availability here

Saxophone on the Charles de Gaulle Bridge

Best Time of Year to Visit Dinant

The busiest time of year for tourism in Dinant is during the summer months of June – August. This is when the temperatures are at their highest and crowds of tourists fill the streets.

For comfortable temperatures and minimal crowds, I would recommend planning your trip to Dinant during spring (April – May) or fall (September – October).

I recently spent a weekend in Dinant in mid October. While it wasn’t all blue skies and sunshine, the temperatures were comfortable (15-20°C) and luckily it didn’t rain at all! The best part was that there were almost no other tourists around.

When travelling during low season in Europe there will always be a higher chance of rain and cooler weather. It is worth it to avoid the large crowds and have an easier sightseeing experience.

Dinant – The prettiest town in Belgium!

Where to Stay in Dinant

Dinant offers many affordable and conveniently located accommodation options. When I travelled to Dinant for a weekend, I chose to stay in the nearby village of Celles which is located between the towns of Dinant and Durbuy.

In my experience, this was a good location to be based as it was right around the corner from Château de Vêves. This made it easy to reach the attractions in and around Dinant and also take a day trip to Durbuy.

Les Voisins De Mr Sax – Centrally located in the heart of Dinant, these comfortable and spacious rooms have everything you need for the perfect stay.

There is a shared kitchen on-site and some of the rooms even have views overlooking the river. For those travelling with dogs or cats, this accommodation is pet friendly.

La Clochette – This cosy little hotel is the perfect choice for a weekend stay near Dinant. It is located in the charming village of Celles, an easy 10 minute drive from Dinant.

I recently spent two nights at La Clochette and had a really nice stay. With friendly staff and comfortable rooms, I really can’t recommend this place enough.

There is a restaurant on-site serving a delicious breakfast each morning for €7 per person. I also ate dinner at La Clochette which turned out to be the best meal I had all weekend!

Castel de Pont-a-Lesse – Located in the scenic countryside about 5km from Dinant, this stunning manor house is ideal for those seeking some extra comfort. Relax and unwind in a peaceful setting surrounded by nature and beautiful views.

This highly reviewed hotel features a restaurant/bar and a heated indoor swimming pool. The rooms are spacious and comfortable and offer great views. Some rooms also include a balcony. There is an excellent buffet breakfast served every morning with plenty of choices to suit everyone.

►Browse more accommodation options near Dinant◄

Take a stroll along the scenic riverside promenade in Dinant

Discover More Belgium Travel Guides

• The Ultimate 5 Day Belgium Itinerary
• How to Spend One Day in Antwerp
• The Ideal One Day Itinerary for Ghent
• Day Trip to Bruges from Amsterdam – How to Spend One Day in Bruges

Enjoy these fun things to do in Dinant? Pin me for later!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, I may receive a small commission on purchases made through these links. By making any purchase, you are directly supporting The Road Is Life Travel Blog which allows me to continue providing you with free high-quality travel guides. I only recommend products/services I have tried/love!

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Hello and welcome to my blog!

I’m Ann, a free-spirited Canadian adventurer who quit my 9-5 to hike mountains, chase waterfalls and live life to the fullest!

A lover of road trips, good wine and off the beaten path destinations – you will find these topics covered in depth on my blog.

Travel has changed my life for the better and I want to show you how it can do the same for you!

Welcome to my journey 🙂

Join my community! Subscribe to my mailing list for insider travel tips & inspiration, blog updates + more!

You may also like.

Best Things to Do in Dinant, Belgium (+Tips for Your Visit)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: December 19, 2022

Are you thinking of visiting Dinant in the French-speaking part of Belgium and wondering if it’s worth it or what there is to see and do in Dinant? This article should answer all your questions about visiting Dinant.

Dinant is one of the most beautiful little towns in Belgium. It’s charming, beautifully located, and full of history. It’s also very compact and you can easily see pretty much everything that the town has to offer in 3-4 hours.

This makes a perfect day trip from Luxembourg or from Brussels. In fact, there are tours from Brussels that visit Dinant and Luxembourg in a day (see here ).

So if you are wondering if Dinant is worth visiting, my answer is yes, absolutely! It’s a local’s favorite and a great place for those looking to explore Belgium deeper and beyond the most popular tourist cities in Flanders.

Below, you can find our suggestions for the best things to do in Dinant. Take a look!

Here are the best places to see and things to do in Dinant:

Citadel of Dinant

We arrived in Dinant in the morning and headed straight to the parking of the Citadel . It’s on the hill, outside the city center, it’s easily accessible and there is plenty of free parking space available.

There is a military cemetery here, which was the first thing our kids wanted to see. Here you’ll also find a playground and an old military plane.

We bought the all-in tickets which included the Citadel visit, a round-trip ticket for a cable car  to the city centre and back, and a 45-min boat cruise  on the river. It cost 14 EUR for an adult and 10 for a child.

You can only visit a small part of the Citadel privately, so we quickly joined the guided tour which was just leaving when we arrived.

To tell you the truth, we don’t really like organized tours and try to avoid them whenever we can, especially when traveling with kids. But we really enjoyed the guided tour of the Citadel of Dinant!

Our tour guide, an older gentleman, was exceptionally good. Not only did he speak perfect French, Dutch and English, he also managed to keep everyone interested and did a great job getting the kids involved too.

We learned some history of the place, saw the rooms soldiers used to sleep in, the kitchen where they had to cook food for 400 people… The kids loved seeing all those old-fashioned guns and the canons and we were all impressed with the canon ‘bullets’ – the smallest one weighs 8kg!

Just try to imagine bullets like that flying around the valley at a huge speed…

Some expositions were somewhat unsuitable for young children, but ours didn’t seem to care much about it, we just tried not to linger by the guillotine longer than necessary..

There were two rooms in the Citadel that left the biggest impression on us.

The first one was the room with a replica of WWI trenches . We were walking through the trenches in the dark while we could hear loud explosions and the sound of shooting bullets all around us. Very impressive!

The second was a   sloping room, a reconstruction of a bunker that has been hit by a bomb and it’s an amazing sensation to walk through it!

A bit of sloping floor you’d think, so what? Lots of paths and floors slope, but I’ve never experienced something like this! Gripping the walls we shuffled sideways, afraid of losing our balance, stumbling or falling in the water.

I watched the kids laugh when they tried to get out of the room at the same time trying to figure out what was going on with my body. My head was spinning as I finally reached the end of the room and could finally get a gasp of fresh air and feel a stable straight surface under my feet. The whole experience took no longer than 10 – 20 seconds, but I don’t think we’ll ever forget it!

You can find more practical information for visiting the Dinant Citadel on the official website .

Dinant Cable Car (or the 408-step Staircase)

After our visit to the Citadel, we took a cable car to the town center that’s located by the river below.

You can also take the stairs if you are in need of a challenge. We gladly skipped them – all 408 stairs – and used the cable car both ways. It takes less than a minute!

The Cathedral of Dinant

The 13th-century Gothic Collegiate Church of Our Lady is definitely worth a short visit. It’s located very close to the cable car entrance and the staircase to the Citadel.

The House of Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone

In Dinant, you can also visit the house of Adolphe Sax who invented the saxophone.

The house is easy to find on the main street, to the right after you exit the church. The entrance is free of charge, and there is only a very small exposition inside. It won’t take you longer than 5 minutes.

Dinant Bridge of Saxophones

Ok, this bridge is not really a bridge of saxophones . It’s actually called Pont Charles de Gaulle , but there are many colorful saxophones on the bridge, so we call it that way. 

Our kids loved this bridge with colorful saxophones and flags from different countries. They were running from one saxophone to another reading the country names and looking at their colorful designs. It definitely adds a lot of color to the little town center.

Dinant Boat Cruise on the Meuse River

There are several options when considering a boat trip in Dinant . First and the most popular one is the 45-minute river cruise to Ansereme that is included in the all-in ticket with a visit of the Citadel.

There is another company running river cruises. They have the same tours to Ansereme as well, but they also offer a longer – 2 hour – tour that leaves at 2.30 PM and goes all the way to the castle of Freÿr, another tour of 3 hours and possibilities for private tours as well.

If you like to explore the area from the water individually, you can also rent a small electric boat.

As already said, we opted for the all-in ticket and thus took a 45-min scenic cruise. It’s a rather big boat with all amenities and you can easily take a stroller on board.

We sat outside on the roof deck, but the stank of the engines was really bad when going in one direction. I guess it has to do with the wind and there is really no way to avoid it, but it ruined the whole experience for me.

It was nice to see the area around Dinant from the water and the kids liked being on the boat too. Was it not for the smell, it would have been much more enjoyable.

More things to see and do in Dinant

If you are looking for something else to do in Dinant, you could consider visiting the nearby caves of Dinant – Grotte la Merveilleuse .

These stalactites and stalagmites caves are located very close to the town center and can easily be visited on the same day as the rest of Dinant. Ask for some information and a discount voucher at the ticket office of the Citadel of Dinant! You can find practical information and opening times on their website .

We ended our day in Dinant at the playground of the Citadel and headed to Durbuy instead. Durbuy is said to be the smallest city in the world and is also worth a short visit. It looks like it’s close by, but it’s almost 1 hour drive time from Dinant. It’s a nice place to go to for dinner too or to stay for a couple of nights when exploring the Belgian Ardennes.

TIP: If you are in this area, you may also want to visit the beautiful town of Bastogne , mostly known for the Bastogne War Museum .

How to get to Dinant

The easiest way to get to Dinant is by car (100km, 1h20) or with an organized tour from Brussels . There is also a direct train from Brussels-Luxembourg train station to Dinant; it runs every hour and takes 1h25.

Where to eat in Dinant

There are many restaurants in the town center of Dinant and two on top of the hill, one at the playground of the Citadel, and one at the parking. We had lunch at an Italian restaurant by the river and it was ok (not great), but really touristic. They all are. If you are looking for good food, you may need to look a bit further away, further from the main tourist route.

Dinant Cake

A visit to Dinant wouldn’t be complete without tasting the Couque de Dinant – Cake of Dinant. It’s an extremely hard, sweet biscuit that comes in all shapes and forms and can be bought at any bakery in town. Our kids chose a car-shaped cookie each and a week later we were still eating it. It’s so hard that it lasts a very long time. Let’s just say you get some value for your money.

More travel tips for Belgium:

• Belgium Itinerary
• Best Things to Do in Brussels
• Where to Stay in Brussels
• Best Things To Do in Antwerp
• Antwerp’s Hidden Gems
• Best Things To Do in Bruges
• WWI Battlefields & Ypres
• Best Christmas Markets in Belgium
• Brussels Flower Carpet
• Fun & Interesting Belgium Facts

If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin this image!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Tuesday 12th of December 2023

Thanks for sharing! We will surely visit Dinant, when we are visiting the area at the end of the month. :)

Saturday 16th of December 2023

Happy to help. Have a great trip!

Saturday 22nd of May 2021

Thank you so much for all this very useful information!

Wednesday 26th of May 2021

Glad you found this useful, Daniela. Enjoy your time in Dinant! If you're looking for other nice places to see in that area, check out Namur and also the tiny 'city' of Durbuy.

Wednesday 12th of October 2016

Hey Jurga-- your blog is a gem!!! I happened upon it as I am planning a 17th wedding anniversary getaway with 4 kids...and I'm never leaving :) We share your love of travel and in fact travel to a location neither of us has been to every year on our wedding anniversary. This year we're doing something a little different and taking the kids on a short getaway rather than a weeklong adventure. This October it's a weekend in Antwerp by train! Any recommendations for a day's trip??

Hi Adaobi and thanks a lot for your kinds words; really appreciate it! What a nice tradition to travel to a new place on your wedding anniversary every year! Antwerp is a great choice and I'm sure you'll find plenty to see and do for a weekend. I have two posts about Antwerp, not sure if you read those already: Best of Antwerp in 1 day and Antwerp with kids: off-the-beaten-path. I have many suggestions in those posts and also a map with a recommended walk. So you could use it in your planning. Depending on how much time you have, there are also many nice museums that you can visit in Antwerp. If the weather is not so good, you might want to check Aquatopia (aquarium) - it's fun for young and old and it's inside ;). I suggest you read those posts and let me know if you have any questions! Have a nice time in Antwerp!

Monday 12th of September 2016

This place looks amazing and I am definitely adding it to my bucketlist. I really need to explore Belgium more next year.

Belgium has a lot to offer - you'll love it here!

Frank Halsted

Wednesday 24th of August 2016

Another summer day in Belgium, another adorable town nestled in the hills along a river with a castle to visit. Thankfully those are not things that we really ever get sick of, we discovered when we dove into exploring Bouillon the other weekend.

Friday 26th of August 2016

Thanks for your comment, Frank. Indeed there are many adorable little towns in Belgium. Bouillon is really nice as well! Were it not for its' remote location, I think it would attract many more visitors.

Top Things to Do in Dinant

Things to do in dinant, explore popular experiences, tours in and around dinant.

• Luxembourg and Dinant Day Trip from Brussels

Discover Dinant while playing! Escape game - The alchemist

• Luxembourg and Dinant Private Day Tour from Brussels

Excursion to Luxembourg and Dinant from Brussels

Discover the secrets of Namur while playing! Escape room

Discover Namur while playing! Escape game - The Walter case

Guided Tour of the Bee Apiary and Honey Tasting in Denée

Hungry Mary's Famous Beer and Chocolate Tour in Brussels

Bruges and Ghent - Belgium's Fairytale Cities - from Brussels

Walking tours.

Top Attractions in Dinant

Other Top Attractions around Dinant

Historical Tours

Cultural Tours

Ports of call tours.

Full-day Tours

What travelers are saying.

• Citadelle de Dinant
• Parc de Furfooz
• Maison Leffe
• Charles-de-Gaulle Bridge
• Eglise Collegiale Notre-Dame
• Château de Freyr
• Grotte La Merveilleuse
• Rocher Bayard
• Grotte de Dinant
• Bus day trip to Luxembourg and Dinant from Brussels
• Private tour : Luxembourg & Dinant from Brussels Full day
• Private tour Luxembourg & Dinant from Brussels Full day
• Adolphe Sax Statue

11 Epic Things to Do in Dinant, Belgium (2024)

Dinant is a charming city located by the river Meuse in Wallonia – the French-speaking part of Belgium . This town is quite picturesque and just a short journey away from Brussels , the capital. There are some fun and interesting things to do in Dinant, but considering that it is pretty small, one day here is enough unless you want to explore the surroundings too.

The small city of Dinant is most famous for being the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone . Apart from that, Dinant also has a pretty interesting history. This town has often been exposed to battles and war due to its strategic location along the river Meuse.

If you’re a lover of the outdoors , you will love to hear that there are beautiful hikes, fairytale castles and gigantic caves in the region surrounding Dinant too. You will find these at the end of this post.

I am from Belgium and I’ve visited Dinant and its surroundings a couple of times. This is an easy day trip from Brussels and I love exploring this region.

But without further ado, from visiting the Saxophone Bridge to heading to some of Belgium’s most beautiful castles, here are the best things to do in Dinant!

The Best Things to See and Do in Dinant

1. visit the citadelle de dinant.

If you would like to learn more about the history of the city, then you cannot miss the Citadelle de Dinant .

The Citadel of Dinant stands high on the Dinant Rock . It was built in 1815, but the site on which it stands has been fortified since 1051.

Inside this fortress, you will find a museum of weapons and history . This is the perfect place to learn more about the history of this city.

You can either reach the Citadelle de Dinant by taking the cable car (which is included in the price of a museum ticket) or by climbing up its 408 stairs.

It’s good to know that even if you don’t want to visit the museum inside the citadel, it’s still worth heading to the citadel to see a beautiful view of Dinant and its surroundings .

2. Enter the Church of Our Lady (Collégiale Notre Dame)

This majestic 13th-century cathedral is one of the most famous landmarks in Belgium . The Church of Our Lady was originally built as a Romanesque church, but a rockfall destroyed it in 1227 and it was later rebuilt in Gothic style.

The exterior of the church will immediately catch your eye and wait until you see the interior – the stained glass windows are stunning! The largest of these windows, which is called the “Stained Glass Window of Ladon”, is one of the largest stained glass windows in all of Europe .

So, if you’re into architecture, Dinant’s Church of Our Lady is a place that you will love visiting!

3. Cross the Charles de Gaulle Saxophone Bridge

This bridge crosses the river Meuse, and it’s one of Dinant’s most famous sights.

The Charles de Gaulle Saxophone Bridge gives access to the main square of the city. This is where you will find the Church of Our Lady and the Citadelle de Dinant. It was named after Charles de Gaulle, the former president of Fr a nce , who was injured in Dinant during WWI when he was a lieutenant in the army.

While crossing the bridge, you will undoubtedly notice the 28 colourful saxophones adorning it. These saxophones were placed here in 2010 as a tribute to the EU countries and if you look a little closer, you will see that each of these instruments represents a country in the European Union

Today, the bridge and its saxophones have become a symbol of Dinant. After all, this city is the birthplace of the saxophone, which brings me to the second point…

4. Visit La Maison de Monsieur Sax

One of the things Belgium is famous for is that this is the country where the saxophone was born. Adolphe Sax, who invented this instrument, was born in Dinant in 1814.

La Maison de Monsieur Sax (which means “The House of Mister Sax” in French), is the place where Adolphe Sax was born and it has been transformed into a museum .

You can learn more about Sax’s life and work here, and it will tell you the story of how the saxophone was born too. This is a great place to visit if you like music and the best part is that it’s completely free to visit !

5. Take a sightseeing cruise on the River Meuse

A great way to relax and admire Dinant from another point of view at the same time is by taking a sightseeing cruise on the River Meuse .

There are three options for these cruises:

• 45-minute boat tour: This tour will take you from Dinant to Anseremme and back, and it will bring you to the Anseremme Priory.
• 2-hour boat tour: The 2-hour tour goes from Dinant to Freyr and it passes the beautiful Castle of Freyr.
• 3-hour boat tour: This tour takes the same route as the 2-hour boat tour, but it will stop at the Castle of Freyr so that you can visit it.

6. Kayak on the River Lesse

If a river cruise isn’t active enough for you, you can also kayak on the nearby River Lesse. This is a great way to explore the surroundings.

It’s possible to start kayaking in the centre of Dinant, and you can choose between a kayak trip of 12 km (7.5 mi) or 21 km (13 mi).

Tip: Make sure to pass by the beautiful Walzin Castle if you go kayaking. This is one of the most beautiful places in Belgium (you can read more about it at #11 on this list)!

7. Pass Rocher Bayard

This 35-m (115 ft) high rock formation is one of Dinant’s most iconic landmarks. Rocher Bayard is split in two , which gives it a pretty unique look.

This rock carries an interesting legend which explains why the rock was split. According to the story, there were once four brothers (the four sons of Aymon ) who had a horse named Bayard.

Charles the Great wanted to have this horse and decided to kill the brothers. He went after them and when the brothers reached the river Meuse, they had nowhere to go. However, Bayard came to rescue them. The brothers climbed on his back, and the horse jumped over the river, splitting the rock in two with his hoof.

If you’re going to Dinant by car, you will pass through Rocher Bayard when you enter the city (which is a pretty cool thing to do). You can also walk to the rock or see it during a river cruise, though.

8. Visit Maison Leffe

Set in a former monastery, Maison Leffe will tell you the story of Leffe beer , which is one of Belgium’s most famous beers.

As you might have guessed, Leffe beer originated in Dinant. It was first brewed in the Abbaye de Leffe in the 13th century, but this abbey was destroyed. Today, this beer is brewed in Leuven.

Although the original Leffe Abbey doesn’t stand anymore, Maison Leffe is the perfect place to learn more about this beer and its history. You will learn everything about the beer brewing process here, and the best thing is that at the end of your visit, you will be able to taste various Leffe beers and determine which one is your favourite!

Would you like to taste more Belgian beers? Make sure to check out my post featuring the best beer tours in Brussels !

9. Try the Couques de Dinant

Couques de Dinant are Belgian biscuits that originated in Dinant and are made of wheat flour and honey.

These biscuits are quite unique, though!

After the dough is made, it’s put in wooden moulds in a wide variety of shapes. It’s then cooked and once the cookies cool down, they become very hard and can be preserved indefinitely !

These biscuits are not meant to be bitten into, but you’re supposed to break them into little pieces that can melt in your mouth. This being said, couques de Dinant are often used as decoration instead of being eaten. People use them as Christmas tree ornaments, for example.

According to the legend, the Couques de Diant originated in 1466 when Dinant was sacked during the Liège Wars. The citizens were desperate as they didn’t have anything to eat but flour and honey. That’s when they came up with the idea of mixing these two ingredients to make cookie dough. As the dough was so firm, they decided to imprint it and make various designs.

If you’re looking for a unique travel souvenir from Belgium , this might just be it!

Tip: Don’t forget to try some delicious Belgian chocolate too while you’re in this country. This is truly the best chocolate in the world (and I’m not saying that because I’m from Belgium)!

10. Go on outdoor adventures

There are plenty of fun outdoor, bucket list adventures around Dinant.

I already mentioned kayaking on the river Lesse (#6 in this post) but did you know that you can also go zip-lining and rock climbing in the region? One of the most famous rock climbing areas in the area is the Rochers de Freyr. You will find climbing routes for all levels here.

Other popular activities in the area are hiking, playing golf and exploring caves. The beautiful Grottes de Dinant La Merveilleuse are just a 10-minute walk from the centre of Dinant, for example.

If you have a little more time, you could also head to the Caves of Han . This is a pretty impressive cave complex that’s half an hour’s drive from Dinant. You can even spend an entire day here, as there’s a wildlife park here as well.

11. Visit the nearby castles

Some of Belgium’s most beautiful castles are just a short drive from Dinant. I briefly mentioned the stunning Castle of Freyr with its Versailles-like garden at #5 on this list. This castle is definitely worth visiting, but there are more!

Another castle, looking as if it comes straight out of a fairytale, is Vêves Castle . This castle is just 10 km (6 mi) from Dinant and it’s truly enchanting. It’s easy to understand why it’s also called “Sleeping Beauty’s Castle”. Vêves Castle dates back to the Middle Ages, and it looks like a castle from a fairytale.

Walzin Castle , one of my favourite Belgian castles, is also close to Dinant – it’s 8 km (4 mi) from this city. Although you can’t visit this castle’s interior because it’s a private domain, Walzin Castle is a really spectacular one. It’s perched high above a rock and overlooks the River Lesse.

Tip : You can hike from Vêves Castle to Walzin Castle through the Nature Park of Furfooz. This is one of my favourite hikes in Belgium ! The map of the Vêves Walzin trail can be found by clicking the link.

Map of the best places to visit in Dinant

How to get to Dinant

Dinant is located in the Belgian province of Namur, 97 km (60 mi) from Brussels. You can reach this city by:

• Train : Dinant can easily be reached by train from Brussels. You will need to take the train from Brussels to Namur first, then another train from Namur to Dinant. It takes approximately 2 hours in total and the railway station is located just 5 minutes from the city centre of Dinant.
• Car : If you want more flexibility or would like to visit the nearby caves or castles too, then the best way to head to Dinant is by car. Dinant is a little over an hour’s drive from Brussels.
• Guided tour : Dinant can also be visited by taking a guided tour from Brussels . If you book this tour, you will get to visit Luxembourg as well.

If you want to rent a car in Belgium, I recommend using Discover Cars . This company compares car rental companies so that you can get the best price.

Best Time to Visit Dinant

The best time to visit Dinant is in April, May and June or in September and October . The weather will be at its best during these months, and it won’t be too crowded.

This being said, Belgium is a country that can be visited all year round. You will find an overview of the weather that you can expect according to the seasons below:

• Spring (April to June): Spring is a great season to visit Dinant, with temperatures between 9°C and 25°C (48°F and 77°F).
• Summer (July to August): Dinant can be visited during the Summer, but this is the most crowded time as it’s a school holiday in Belgium. You can expect temperatures between 21°C and 34°C (70°F and 93°F) at this time of the year.
• Autumn (September to November): Autumn is also a great season to visit Belgium. During this season, temperatures will be between 10°C and 27°C (51°F and 81°F).
• Winter (December to March): Dinant can get pretty cold during the Winter, with temperatures between -6°C and 5°C (21°F and 42°F).

Where to Stay in Dinant

There are quite a few hotels to choose from in Dinant. It all depends on your personal taste and budget. You will find my top recommendations below.

• La Merveilleuse ( ⭐ 8.5/10): Located in an old monastery, La Merveilleuse is one of Dinant’s best hotels. The rooms are stunning and either offer a view over Dinant or the garden. On top of all that, there’s also a great breakfast buffet here every morning.
• Les Terrasses de Sax ( ⭐ 9.9/10): What makes this B&B so nice is its perfect location by the River Meuse. Les Terrasses de Sax offers beautiful rooms and some of them even come with a balcony overlooking the river.

Things to Do in Dinant: Final Thoughts

And there you have it – the best places to visit in Dinant and the surrounding region! I hope that you found exactly what you were looking for in this post.

The small city of Dinant is a wonderful place to visit if you want to explore more of what Belgium has to offer. This is a charming town full of beautiful places that aren’t visited by too many foreign tourists.

Check out the following places too if you would like to see more of Wallonia: Caves of Han , Radhadesh and Villers Abbey .

Read more about Belgium:

• 12 Great Hikes in Belgium
• 16 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Belgium
• 28 Famous Landmarks in Belgium
• 30+ Best Day Trips from Brussels
• 10 Reasons Why You Should Visit Belgium
• Belgium Itinerary: The Best Places in 3, 4 or 5 Days
• Backpacking Belgium: A Local’s Guide

Belgium Travel Planning Guide

🛫 Find the cheapest flights to Belgium on Skyscanner . 🏨 Find the best accommodation via Booking or Hostelworld . 🚗 Rent a car with Discover Cars to get the best rates. 💰 Get travel insurance via VisitorsCoverage , one of the best-reviewed travel insurance companies. 📋 Don’t forget to check if you need a visa to visit Belgium.

Pin it for later: Did you find this post helpful? Save it on Pinterest and follow me on Instagram and Facebook for more travel tips and inspiration.

Laura Meyers

Laura Meyers is the founder of Laure Wanders. She was born in Belgium and has travelled to over 40 countries, many of them solo. She currently spends most of her time between Belgium and South Asia and loves helping other travellers plan their adventures abroad.

You may also like

10 best canal view hotels in bruges (2024), 28 famous landmarks in belgium worth seeing [local’s..., power plant im, charleroi: an amazing urbex site..., 48 hours in scheldeland: scenic walks and alpacas, 15 castle hotels in belgium for an enchanting..., 12 reasons to visit belgium in 2024, 4 ways to get from brussels airport to..., cemetery dieweg: a forest of tombstones in uccle,..., 7 heritage hotels in antwerp to stay in..., 19 best museums in brussels: a local’s guide for..., leave a comment cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Top Things to Do in Dinant (Belgium Travel Guide & Tips)

by Aileen Adalid Things to Do , Belgium 33 comments

• France Facts & Trivia: 10 Things Foreigners Should Know
• 40 Best Websites for Work from Home Jobs to Make & Earn Money Online
• 20 Best Chrome Extensions for Productivity on Blogging, SEO, & Social Media
• Seoul Itinerary: Ultimate DIY Travel Guide for South Korea for 5 Days (More or Less)
• Exploring Bohol Island: A Gem in Visayas, Philippines
• Rosetta Stone ‘Your Plan’: Language Lessons Set for Your Lifestyle
• Wild Kiwi Australia: Plan Your Next Getaway with Road Trip Tours!
• Best Hotels in Seoul, South Korea: Cheap & Luxury Accommodations (Per District)
• Top 10 FREE Things to Do in Oslo, an Underrated Nordic Gem (Norway)
• Best Carry-On Suitcase with Laptop Compartment: LEVEL8 Roadrunner (20″) — Perfect for Digital Nomads!

When I first saw the photo above of Dinant, I was smitten. (Well, who wouldn’t be?)

Right then and there, I just knew that I had to visit this town and see its impressive beauty for myself — and once I did see its entirety with my own two eyes… I wasn’t disappointed at all. It was exactly how I imagined it to be: charming and picturesque, no matter how small of a town it is.

Located in the French-speaking region of Belgium in the south (Wallonia) , Dinant is a municipality in Namur that’s located on the River Meuse. It has an area of around 90 km 2 which is somehow huge, BUT the main town itself is small and can be walked in whole in just less than an hour!

TRIVIA : In the past, due to its strategic location on the Meuse, Dinant was often exposed to battle and pillage so it naturally follows that this area is quite packed with history and fortresses.

» Quick Travel Planning

• Top tours & experiences
• Find flights to Dinant
• Visa requirements
• Best hotels & hostels
• Travel insurance (5% discount)
• Stay connected

Table of Contents

Things to Do in Dinant

» walk or cruise down the river meuse.

The River Meuse is a major European river that rises from France, flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands until it trickles into the North Sea. So given how Dinant ‘sparkles’ along this river body, it’s a must to bask in its beauty! You can choose to walk or lounge beside the Meuse, or you can enjoy a cruise to take in all of the breathtaking scenery.

For rates and availability, it’s best to check Evasion.be for more information. We visited here in November and the cruises weren’t in season (as they’re typically available during April and October); but it was fine because we already enjoyed walking by the riverside.

Besides, it was also too cold and I don’t think I would have enjoyed a river cruise if there was one at the time.

» See the Collégiale Notre Dame de Dinant

Said to be the landmark of Dinant, this Collegiate Church of Our Lady is a 13th-century Gothic cathedral which has an iconic 16th-century pear-shaped bell tower.

It’s truly a lovely structure in itself that’s even perfectly backdropped by the cliff behind it where the town’s citadel sits.

» Visit Citadelle de Dinant

Built in 1815, this fortress overlooks the city of Dinant and is part of the so-called ‘Meuse Citadels’ (with the two others located in Huy and Namur).

To go up this cultural hotspot, you can either walk up the 405 steps or take the cable car that costs around 11 EUR. It’s well worth your time to visit this place since it does not only have an Arms Museum but it will also reward you with a great aerial view of Dinant!

» Go through Charles de Gaulle Bridge

The main bridge in Dinant is called ‘Charles De Gaulle’ to commemorate the presence of Charles de Gaulle himself — a previous president of the French Republic — when he was shot in the leg during the major battle in Dinant back in August 1914.

Last 2014, which was the 100th anniversary of World War I, they put up a statue of Charles at the foot of the bridge as a way of celebrating their association with him (which is somehow ironic and odd).

Now it’s not hard to find this bridge because today, it is lined with funky saxophones that are individually designed with each of the European Union members in mind. This was done in tribute to Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone who happened to have been born here in Dinant. (If you ask me, it fits better to call this the Saxophone Bridge.)

» Stop by Maison de Monsieur Sax

Speaking of Adolphe Sax, even if he had only lived in this town for a year before his family moved to Brussels and then to Paris, Dinant didn’t want to miss the opportunity of claiming him as their “son” and even celebrating his achievements with such gusto!

Therefore, gigantic saxophones are not only found on the Charles de Gulle bridge but can also be found in certain areas around the city. To add, they have even set up an open museum to Sax in the location where his family’s original home used to be and it’s named the Maison de Monsieur Sax .

Right outside this place, you will even see a bronze sculpture of Sax himself who is sitting on a bench, ‘waiting’ for someone to do a photo op with him!

TIP : If you want to have an interactive musical experience, head on to the Maison de la Pataphonie (House of Pataphony) located in the street of Rue En Rhee – 51. It’s a 15th-century house that’s been renovated into a series of rooms wherein you can play with the instruments that are made of household items!

» Visit Maison Leffe

Well of course, since we’re in Belgium, there has to be a musuem somewhere that’s dedicated to beer, and it is here in Maison Leffe that you can have the chance to take in the history of how Leffe was made — which is one of the most-known Belgian Trappist beers.

In this hotel-slash-museum, you can do a self-guided tour that will show you the beer-making process and the life of a Trappist Monk. To finish up the 7 EUR entrance fee, you will also get to have a beer-tasting spree and a gift as well!

For more information about this, go to Leffe .

» Witness Rocher Bayard

Photo by: Myben.be via Flickr / CC

Located between Dinant and Anseremme, the Bayard Rock is a spectacular rocky needle that is about 40 meters high and this… was quite a sight! Legend has it that it was formed when it was split by the hoof of Bayard, a giant magical horse that carried the 4 sons of Aymon (an ancient epic).

…In reality however, there used to be a small hole in between these rocks and it was split open by the soldiers of Louis XIV when they were trying to invade Dinant.

» Walk around Castle of Freÿr

Photo by: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT via Wikipedia / CC

Said to be a mini version of France’s Versailles, this castle is one of the most magnificent sites in Belgium and is even one of Wallonia’s major heritage sites!

Nestled on the left bank of the Meuse between Waulsort and Dinant, this castle is certainly impressive not only for its architecture but also for its terraced garden that is so wonderfully-designed. (Just look at that!)

» Do outdoor activities!

Now of course, since we’re in the south of Belgium (that’s more hilly and speckled with more lush forests) you must not miss out on the outdoor adventures that are available. Besides, if you go down near Anseremme , you will find a lot of providers that offer nature walks, kayaking, cross country cycling, ziplines, rock climbing, and more!

My friend and I, however, took it upon ourselves to try two things given the time that we have: cave exploration and hiking. There are several caves and hiking trails in the area to choose from, and since we are the kind of couple that’s into random and spontaneous activities, we ended up exploring Grotte de Dinant (as it was the first that we saw) and a random hiking trail somewhere near Anseremme.

End result: it was amazing. We loved the limestone formations in the cave of Grotte de Dinant and our random hiking trail had even led us to great spots that are clad with stunning cliffs and colorful autumn trees.

To get a better glimpse of our adventure, come watch my vlog below!

» Attend the Bathtub Regatta!

If you’re looking to attend a quirky yet traditional event in Belgium, then Dinant’s Bathtub Regatta is something that you shouldn’t miss! As the name suggests, it’s exactly what you think it is: a regatta in which people race in bathtubs that can only be propelled by human force. (Yep, that’s how it goes!)

The bathtubs are often decorated in line with the year’s theme and it’s really wacky. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to see this event since it was only held on the 15th of August. With that in mind, you bet that I will be scheduling my attendance for next year!

» Try some local Dinant food!

• Couque de Dinant : a sweet biscuit that’s native to Dinant, and apparently, this is Europe’s hardest biscuit! And boy, they were right! It leaves me to think that this is rather best for decoration than for eating… But when you do manage to dissolve and eat it (which I did) it’s quite good.
• Flamiche Dinantaise : This is much like the French quiche but here in Dinant, they make it with a special low-fat cheese called Boulette de Romedenne.

Dinant Travel Guide

» how to get to dinant.

By train.   From either Namur or Brussels, you can easily reach Dinant in just 1.5 hours and the stop is conveniently located in the other side of the river which is just a 5-minute walk away from the city center.

By car.   This is how we got to Dinant, and thanks to Belgium’s excellent motorway system, it was easy to reach it by car. Just follow the A4 motorway and you will easily find signs that will lead you to Dinant. If you’re from Brussels, it will just be an hour’s drive away; but since we are currently based in Antwerp, it took us around 2 hours.

By plane.  The closest airports are Brussels, Charleroi (Brussels South Charleroi Airport) and Liège.

NOTE : Once you’re in town, there’s no need to be concerned about getting around since as I’ve mentioned, Dinant is a very small (cute!) city. Though if you have to reach places like Castle Freyr, you would have to ride the bus, or you can opt to walk too, but it would only be about 6km away.

– – –

» Visa for Belgium

If you’re NOT a citizen of any of Belgium or the Schengen Area’s  exempted countries , you are then required to avail of a visa beforehand. (If you’re from the Philippines, you can read my guide on how to get a  Belgium Schengen visa  in Manila  here .)

• Check full visa requirements here as per your nationality.

» Where to Stay (Dinant Accommodations)

Given the size of the town there are only around a handful of hotels in the city and what I would highly recommend is  Ibis Hotel  which is the highest-rated accommodation in Dinant. We stayed here during the duration of our trip and it was pleasant; I especially loved how it was located just by the river!

To search for other best hotel accommodation at the best prices, I suggest cross-checking hotel prices between  Agoda  and  Booking.com . But if you’re rather interested in renting comfortable houses or apartments, you should search through AirBnB .

» Safety in Belgium

Belgium is one of the safest countries in the world — however , this is NO excuse to get too complacent. ‘Little crime’ does not mean ‘no crime’, so stay vigilant and be “street smart” by using your common sense at all times.

• HOW TO: Find the right travel insurance for you

» Helpful French Phrases

Belgium has 3 official languages: Dutch, French, German and since Dinant is part of Walloon or Wallonia, locals here would be speaking in French. Some people will be able to communicate with you in English, but it doesn’t hurt to learn a French phrase or two.

• RELATED READ: Best translation apps for travel

Hello (formal): Bonjour (bon-zhoor) Hello (informal): Salut (sah-luu) Thank you: Merci (merr-see) Yes: Oui (wee) No: Non (nohn) Goodbye (formal): Au revoir (oh ruh-vwahr) Goodbye (informal): Salut (sah-luu)

Excuse me: Pardon (pahr-dohn) or excusez-moi (ehk-skoo-zay mwah) (I’m) sorry: (Je suis) Désolé(e) (zyuh swee day-zoh-lay) or excusez-moi (ehk-skoo-zay mwah) Is there someone here who speaks English?: Est-ce qu’il y a quelqu’un ici qui parle anglais ? (ess keel-ee-AH kel-KUHN ee-see kee PAHRL lahng-LEH) or y a-t-il quelqu’un ici qui parle anglais ? (ee yah-TEEL kel-KUHN ee-see kee PAHRL lahng-LEH) Help!: Au secours! (oh suh-KOOR) Cheers!: À votre santé! ( ah vot-ruh san-taay)

Booking Essentials

TIP: It’s a good idea to crosscheck the prices with other popular travel insurance providers like World Nomads and HeyMondo (as my reader, you get 5% off)! . However, take note that a travel insurance’s affordability typically means lesser coverage; so please always ensure that you read the fine print in order to decipher which travel insurance company is the right fit for you and your trip!

Where to Stay in Dinant?

Check out these ‘ top accommodations in Dinant ‘ for the best place to stay!

Dinant may truly be a tiny city and municipality, but the beauty it holds can blow you away! That being said, this is definitely one of the hidden gems and best-kept secret of Belgium. Quaint and peaceful, this can be quite a serene getaway especially if you’re looking for some time away from big bustling cities.

Have you seen my latest vlog?

Hey there! I am Aileen Adalid. At 21, I quit my corporate job in the Philippines to pursue my dreams. Today, I am a successful  digital nomad  (online entrepreneur, travel writer, & vlogger) living a sustainable travel lifestyle.

My mission?  To show you how it is absolutely possible to  create a life of travel no matter the odds — and I will help you achieve that through my detailed travel hacks, guides, resources, tips, and MORE!

Follow Along

CURRENTLY BASED IN: The Philippines

• 100k Followers
• 51k Followers
• 80k Followers
• 10k Followers
• 23.1k Followers

Join over 1 million readers worldwide and get my FREE packing checklist, gain exclusive access to travel giveaways and more!

Success! Next, please check your email to confirm your subscription.

GET FREE PRINTABLE NOW!

Trending Now

Top 10 things to do on a trip to south america.

South America is one of the most diverse continents — full of natural wonders and fascinating cultures. Join us as we explore the top 10 things to do.

Top 10 Things to Do for Your First Tibet Travel

Make the most of your Tibet travel with these top 10 must-do activities, from exploring ancient monasteries to trekking mountains!

Geisha of Japan: Understanding the Facts, History & Myths

Japan’s geisha are cloaked in mystery & secrecy resulting in a number of false ideas about them — so let’s get the facts straight!

Maximizing Your Miles: Unlock Budget-Friendly Travel Hacks & Tips

Start traveling smart! Take note of these travel hacks that will help you in maximizing your miles or do points hacking.

EU261 Compensation: Your Essential Guide on European Flight Delays or Cancellations

Learn to claim EU261 compensation for flight disruptions like delays, cancellations, downgrades, or denied boarding!

Latest Posts

Learn Today

How to start a successful blog, 33 comments.

Hi, Aileen. I am a new visitor to your blog. I liked this blog very much as it is informative. Keep sharing great content. Xo, Jennifer

I stumbled upon Dinant when planning a trip thru Amsterdam, Netherlands and Mosel Valley. Loved the town, it was a perfect day trip which offered up a combination of natural beauty, architecture, history… oh and beer! Looks like you missed the fact that Leffe Beer was first produced there in the local Abbey in 1240.

Dinant sure is a very undiscovered little gem in Belgium. Quite an unique place :)

It surely is!

Wow, what a beautiful town and some amazing photos as well!!

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Be notified of follow-up comments by email

Be notified of new posts by email

Submit Comment

Pin It on Pinterest

Winter is here! Check out the winter wonderlands at these 5 amazing winter destinations in Montana

• Travel Destinations

Top Things To Do In Dinant (Belgium Travel Guide)

Published: September 8, 2023

Modified: December 27, 2023

by Alta Brent

• Plan Your Trip
• Travel Guide
• Travel Tips

Introduction

Welcome to Dinant, a charming town nestled in the heart of Belgium. With its rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture, Dinant is a must-visit destination for travelers seeking a unique and immersive experience. Situated on the banks of the picturesque Meuse River, this enchanting town offers a plethora of activities and attractions that cater to all interests.

Known as the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone, Dinant is a haven for music enthusiasts. The town also boasts a remarkable architectural heritage, with its iconic Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame and imposing Citadel that overlooks the town from atop a cliff. Whether you’re a history buff, nature lover, or foodie, Dinant has something to offer everyone.

Explore the ancient fortifications of the Citadel, enjoy a boat ride along the Meuse River, or delve into the captivating history of the Maison de la Pataphonie. For those looking to satisfy their taste buds, a visit to the Maison Leffe, where you can sample the renowned Leffe beer, is a must. And don’t forget to make your way up the Montagne de la Croix for breathtaking panoramic views of Dinant.

If you’re interested in discovering the hidden wonders beneath the town, the Caves of Dinant La Merveilleuse will take you on a magical underground journey. And for a dose of musical history, immerse yourself in the melodies at the Adolphe Sax House, where you’ll learn about the life and legacy of the famous saxophone inventor.

For a fun and educational experience, pay a visit to the Dinant Toy Museum, which showcases a fascinating collection of toys from different eras. And of course, no visit to Dinant would be complete without indulging in the local cuisine and delicacies. From savory Belgian waffles to delectable chocolates, your taste buds will thank you.

Get ready to embark on a memorable journey as we explore the top things to do in Dinant. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a nature lover, or simply seeking a charming getaway, you’ll find it all in this picturesque Belgian town.

Explore the Citadel of Dinant

Rising majestically above the town of Dinant, the Citadel is an impressive fortress that has played a significant role in the region’s history. Built in the 19th century, it offers panoramic views of the town and the Meuse River from its elevated position on the cliff.

To reach the Citadel, you can either take the scenic cable car or climb the 408 steps. Whichever way you choose, the journey is well worth the effort. As you ascend, you’ll be greeted with breathtaking vistas of Dinant’s rooftops and the picturesque river winding through the valley below.

Once you reach the top, explore the fortified walls and learn about the Citadel’s fascinating history through interactive exhibits and displays. Discover the strategic importance of the fortress and its involvement in various conflicts, including both World Wars. You can also visit the museum within the Citadel, which offers insights into the military history of the region.

For a different perspective, take a guided tour of the underground passages that once served as secret escape routes and storage areas. As you navigate through the network of tunnels, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the Citadel’s significance and the challenges faced by those who defended it.

Don’t miss the chance to step onto the panoramic terrace, where the stunning views of Dinant and its surroundings will leave you in awe. The Citadel also hosts a number of special events throughout the year, such as historical reenactments and exhibitions, offering visitors a unique and immersive experience.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, photography lover, or simply seeking breathtaking views, a visit to the Citadel of Dinant is an absolute must. Immerse yourself in the town’s rich history, enjoy the stunning vistas, and appreciate the architectural marvel that graces the skyline.

Admire the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame

The Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame is an architectural masterpiece that stands as a symbol of Dinant’s rich cultural heritage. Situated in the heart of the town, this stunning Gothic church is a must-visit for history and art lovers alike.

Dating back to the 13th century, the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame exhibits exquisite craftsmanship and intricate detailing. As you approach the church, the impressive spire and ornate facade capture your attention, hinting at the beauty that lies within.

Step inside the church and be amazed by the grandeur of the interior. Marvel at the soaring vaulted ceilings, intricate stained glass windows, and ornate altarpieces that adorn the sanctuary. The church houses a collection of valuable religious artifacts, including statues, paintings, and relics, providing a glimpse into the religious and artistic history of Dinant.

Don’t miss the opportunity to admire the famous Baptismal Font, a masterpiece of Mosan art, adorned with intricate carvings depicting biblical scenes. The church also houses the tomb of the prominent Sax family, paying homage to Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone, and his legacy in the world of music.

Take a moment to soak in the tranquil atmosphere and appreciate the timeless beauty of the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, an art lover, or simply seeking a peaceful retreat, this architectural gem is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Guided tours are available for those who want to delve deeper into the history and significance of the church. The knowledgeable guides provide fascinating insights into the construction techniques, artistic styles, and historical events associated with the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame.

Whether you’re seeking spiritual solace or an appreciation for fine art and architecture, a visit to the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame is an essential part of any trip to Dinant. Immerse yourself in the rich history and stunning beauty of this iconic landmark, and let it transport you to a bygone era.

Take a Boat Ride on the Meuse River

Enhance your visit to Dinant by embarking on a scenic boat ride along the picturesque Meuse River. This delightful experience allows you to take in the stunning landscapes, soak up the tranquility, and gain a new perspective on the town.

As you board the boat, find a comfortable spot and get ready to be mesmerized by the beauty that surrounds you. Cruise along the gentle waters of the Meuse River and marvel at the lush greenery, rolling hills, and charming villages that dot the landscape.

During the boat ride, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about Dinant’s history and landmarks from the informative commentary provided by the boat’s captain. Listen to fascinating stories of the region, including tales of ancient battles, medieval trade routes, and the local customs and traditions that have shaped the area.

Admire the panoramic views of Dinant’s skyline as you glide under picturesque bridges and past historic buildings. Capture the perfect photo of the iconic Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame or the imposing Citadel as they tower above the riverbanks.

If you’re visiting during the evening, consider taking a romantic sunset cruise. Watch as the fiery sun dips below the horizon, casting a golden glow on the water and creating a magical ambiance. It’s the perfect way to unwind and savor the beauty of Dinant.

Boat rides on the Meuse River cater to all tastes and preferences. Whether you prefer a short leisurely cruise or a longer expedition, there are plenty of options to choose from. You can opt for a guided sightseeing tour or even hop on a themed cruise, such as a wine tasting or a jazz music experience.

Immerse yourself in the tranquility of the Meuse River and let the gentle rhythm of the water transport you to a state of relaxation. It’s a unique and refreshing way to experience the beauty of Dinant, providing you with memories that will last a lifetime.

Visit the Maison de la Pataphonie

Prepare to enter a world of musical wonder and whimsy as you step foot into the Maison de la Pataphonie in Dinant. This unique museum is dedicated to the art of “pataphonie,” a term coined by the French writer and musician Alfred Jarry, which refers to the creation of music through unconventional and imaginative means.

Housed in a charming building in the heart of Dinant, the Maison de la Pataphonie showcases a collection of whimsical and peculiar musical instruments. These instruments, such as the harmonium, musical saw, and theremin, are not only visually intriguing but also produce unconventional and captivating sounds.

During your visit, you’ll have the opportunity to witness captivating musical performances and demonstrations by talented musicians who bring these unique instruments to life. Immerse yourself in the enchanting melodies and let yourself be transported to a world where music knows no boundaries.

The Maison de la Pataphonie is not only a museum but also a workshop, where you can actively participate in music-making. With the guidance of skilled instructors, you can try your hand at playing some of the unconventional instruments and explore the endless possibilities of sound creation.

For those who are curious about the technical aspects of pataphonie, the museum offers interactive exhibits that explain the principles behind the creation of these fascinating instruments. Learn about the science of sound, the mechanics of the instruments, and the creativity involved in composing and performing pataphonic music.

Whether you’re a music lover, an art enthusiast, or simply someone with a curious spirit, a visit to the Maison de la Pataphonie is sure to be a delightful and thought-provoking experience. Prepare to be enchanted by the unconventional sounds, inspired by the creativity, and captivated by the whimsical world of pataphonie.

Before you leave, make sure to visit the gift shop, where you can find a variety of musical instruments, recordings, and memorabilia to bring a piece of the pataphonic magic home with you. Whether it’s a handmade instrument or a quirky CD, it’s a unique and memorable souvenir of your visit to Dinant.

Discover the Maison Leffe

For beer enthusiasts, a visit to Dinant wouldn’t be complete without exploring the Maison Leffe. As one of Belgium’s most famous breweries, Maison Leffe offers a unique and immersive experience where you can learn about the history, brewing process, and, of course, taste the renowned Leffe beers.

Housed in a beautifully restored building, the Maison Leffe combines historical charm with modern facilities. As you step inside, you’ll be greeted by the rich aromas of malt and hops, instantly arousing your senses and piquing your curiosity.

Embark on a guided tour led by knowledgeable beer experts who will take you on a journey through the history of Leffe beers. Learn about the origins of the brewery, dating back to the 13th century, and how the monks played a vital role in the development and preservation of the brewing techniques.

Explore the different stages of the beer-making process, from the selection of the finest ingredients to the fermentation and aging in traditional oak barrels. Admire the craftsmanship and attention to detail that goes into brewing each batch of Leffe beer, and gain a deeper appreciation for the art of brewing.

The highlight of the tour is undoubtedly the tasting session, where you can savor a selection of Leffe beers. From the rich and complex Leffe Brune to the refreshing Leffe Blond, each beer has its own distinct characteristics and flavors. Sip and savor the beers while learning about the different styles and the best food pairings for each.

For those looking to enhance their beer knowledge, the Maison Leffe offers beer workshops and masterclasses. Discover the secrets of beer tasting, learn about beer and food pairings, and even get hands-on experience in brewing your own beer under the guidance of experts.

Before you leave, don’t forget to visit the Leffe shop and stock up on your favorite beers and merchandise. From bottles and glassware to Leffe-branded accessories, it’s the perfect way to bring a piece of the Maison Leffe experience home with you.

Whether you’re a beer connoisseur or simply someone interested in Belgian brewing traditions, a visit to the Maison Leffe is a delightful experience. Immerse yourself in the world of Leffe beers, indulge in tastings, and gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for this beloved Belgian beverage.

Climb the Montagne de la Croix

If you’re seeking breathtaking panoramic views of Dinant and its surroundings, a climb up the Montagne de la Croix should be high on your itinerary. Located just outside the town, this hill offers a mesmerizing vantage point that allows you to soak in the beauty of the Meuse River, the lush countryside, and the charming town below.

The Montagne de la Croix is named after the large cross that sits atop the hill, serving as a symbol of faith and a point of reference for hikers and visitors. The climb to the viewpoint is not only rewarding but also relatively easy, suitable for all fitness levels. As you ascend, take your time to appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds you, including the colorful wildflowers and the gentle rustling of leaves.

Upon reaching the top, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views that stretch as far as the eye can see. As you look out, you’ll see the picturesque town of Dinant nestled along the banks of the meandering Meuse River, with its quaint buildings and historical landmarks. The rolling hills and lush green valleys provide a picturesque backdrop, showcasing the natural splendor of the region.

Find a comfortable spot to sit and soak in the beauty of the landscape. Whether it’s a clear sunny day or a misty afternoon, the views from Montagne de la Croix never fail to captivate. It’s the perfect spot to snap some memorable photographs, capturing the essence of Dinant from a unique perspective.

Visiting Montagne de la Croix in the evening can be a magical experience. As the sun begins to set, the sky is bathed in hues of gold and orange, creating a breathtaking backdrop for the landscape below. Watching the tranquil transition from day to night is a truly special moment that you won’t want to miss.

For nature lovers, the Montagne de la Croix also serves as a gateway to exciting hiking trails that wind through the surrounding forests. Lace up your hiking boots and explore the pristine nature, immersing yourself in the sights and sounds of the Belgian wilderness.

Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a photography lover, or simply seeking a peaceful retreat, a climb up the Montagne de la Croix is an absolute must. Enjoy the fresh air, breathtaking vistas, and the sense of serenity that comes from being surrounded by nature’s beauty.

Explore the Caves of Dinant La Merveilleuse

Beneath the surface of Dinant lies an underground marvel waiting to be discovered – the Caves of Dinant La Merveilleuse. Step into a hidden world of stunning rock formations, mystical chambers, and enchanting subterranean beauty.

Located in the picturesque Lesse Valley, these limestone caves have been captivating visitors for centuries. As you enter the caves, you’ll be greeted by a cool and mysterious atmosphere, instantly transporting you to a different realm.

Embark on a guided tour where experienced guides will lead you through a series of remarkable caverns. Discover the intricate stalactites hanging from the ceiling and stalagmites rising from the ground, formed over thousands of years by the slow dripping of mineral-rich water.

The caves come alive as colorful lights illuminate the unique formations, creating a mesmerizing display of natural beauty. As you venture deeper into the caves, you’ll encounter spacious chambers adorned with delicate calcite crystals and glistening underground pools.

Marvel at the impressive geological features, such as the “Organ of the Cathedral” – a massive stalactite formation resembling the pipes of an organ. The guide’s expert storytelling will captivate your imagination, as they share the folklore and legends associated with these natural wonders.

Be sure to experience the immersive sound and light show that takes place in one of the cave’s vast chambers. The captivating combination of music, colors, and visuals will transport you into a mystical world, adding an extra layer of enchantment to your visit.

The caves are suitable for visitors of all ages, with well-lit pathways and safety precautions in place. The knowledgeable guides provide informative commentary and are happy to answer any questions you may have, making the experience both educational and entertaining.

After your underground journey, take a moment to visit the cave’s gift shop, where you can find unique souvenirs and mementos to commemorate your visit to the Caves of Dinant La Merveilleuse.

Exploring the Caves of Dinant La Merveilleuse is a chance to witness the wonders hidden beneath the surface and appreciate the captivating beauty of nature. It’s an otherworldly experience that will leave you in awe and create lasting memories of your time in Dinant.

Enjoy Saxophone Music at the Adolphe Sax House

Step into the world of music and pay homage to the legendary inventor of the saxophone, Adolphe Sax, at the Adolphe Sax House in Dinant. This unique museum and cultural center celebrates the life and legacy of this iconic figure in the world of music.

Housed in the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, the Adolphe Sax House takes visitors on a journey through the history of the saxophone and showcases its significance in the world of music. Admire the collection of saxophones on display, from the early prototypes to the modern variations, and gain an understanding of the craftsmanship and innovation behind these instruments.

The museum offers a multimedia experience, combining interactive exhibits and informative displays to provide a comprehensive look into the life and work of Adolphe Sax. Learn about his passion for music, his tireless dedication to perfecting the saxophone, and the impact his invention has had on the music industry.

One of the highlights of a visit to the Adolphe Sax House is the opportunity to enjoy live saxophone performances. Skilled musicians showcase the versatility and beauty of the instrument, filling the air with captivating melodies. From jazz to classical, the soulful sounds of the saxophone resonate throughout the museum, creating a truly immersive experience.

Immerse yourself in the captivating history and music of the saxophone as you explore the various rooms and exhibits. Learn about the influence of the saxophone in different genres of music, its role in orchestras and bands, and the notable musicians who have embraced this instrument.

For those eager to try their hand at playing the saxophone, the Adolphe Sax House offers workshops and lessons for all skill levels. Learn the basics of playing this iconic instrument or refine your technique under the guidance of experienced instructors, allowing you to channel your inner musician.

Before you leave, make sure to stop by the museum shop, where you can find a range of saxophone-themed merchandise, including books, recordings, and souvenirs, to commemorate your visit to this musical haven.

Whether you’re a music lover, a saxophone enthusiast, or simply someone with an appreciation for the arts, a visit to the Adolphe Sax House is a must. Immerse yourself in the world of saxophone music, pay tribute to the great Adolphe Sax, and revel in the beauty and versatility of this iconic instrument.

Visit the Dinant Toy Museum

Relive fond childhood memories and indulge in a journey of nostalgia at the Dinant Toy Museum. Located in the heart of Dinant, this charming museum is a treasure trove of toys from different eras, offering a delightful experience for visitors of all ages.

Step into the museum and be transported back in time as you explore the diverse collection of toys. From classic dolls and teddy bears to vintage board games and model trains, the museum showcases a wide range of toys that will bring back memories for adults and ignite the imagination of younger visitors.

The Dinant Toy Museum takes visitors on a captivating journey through the history of toys, highlighting their cultural significance and the role they play in shaping our childhood experiences. Each exhibit tells a story, shedding light on the evolution of toy design, technology, and play patterns over the years.

Admire the craftsmanship and attention to detail that went into creating these cherished playthings. Marvel at meticulously crafted dollhouses, intricately designed model cars, and beautifully painted tin toys. The museum’s displays capture the essence of different eras, showcasing the toys that entertained generations of children.

For those with a passion for collecting or an interest in vintage toys, the museum offers valuable insights and information. Learn about the materials used, the manufacturing processes, and the historical context behind these beloved playthings.

Interactive exhibits and play areas add an extra level of fun and engagement to the museum. Children and adults alike can enjoy hands-on activities where they can play with toys from different eras, allowing visitors to experience the joy and wonder of childhood through the ages.

The Dinant Toy Museum also hosts temporary exhibits and special events, such as workshops and themed activities, that further enhance the visitor experience. These provide additional opportunities to dive deeper into the world of toys and explore specific themes or historical periods in more detail.

Visiting the Dinant Toy Museum is like stepping into a time machine, allowing you to relive precious moments of your own childhood while discovering the toys that captivated previous generations. It’s a heartwarming and enchanting experience that will leave you with a renewed appreciation for the timeless joy that toys bring.

Sample Local Cuisine and Delicacies

A trip to Dinant wouldn’t be complete without indulging in the local cuisine and savoring the flavors that make Belgian gastronomy so renowned. The town boasts a variety of culinary delights and delicacies that are sure to tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving for more.

Start your gastronomic adventure by trying some Belgian classics, such as moules-frites (mussels and fries) or carbonade flamande (beef stewed in beer). These hearty dishes showcase the rich flavors and traditional cooking techniques that have been passed down through generations.

For a quick snack or a light meal, don’t miss the chance to sample some of Belgium’s world-famous waffles. Delight in the crispy exterior and fluffy interior of these delectable treats, which can be enjoyed plain or topped with a variety of mouthwatering toppings such as powdered sugar, fresh fruits, or decadent chocolate sauce.

To satisfy your sweet tooth, indulge in the exquisite Belgian chocolates that are renowned worldwide. Visit one of the local chocolate shops in Dinant and marvel at the wide array of handcrafted chocolates displayed with care. From pralines to truffles, each bite is a moment of pure bliss.

Beer lovers will rejoice in Dinant, as the town is home to several breweries known for their unique brews. Enjoy a refreshing Leffe beer, known for its rich history and robust flavors, or explore the variety of other local craft beers that showcase the region’s brewing traditions.

Dinant is also famous for its delicious cheeses. From creamy and mild to sharp and flavorful, the local fromageries offer a wide selection of artisanal cheeses that can be enjoyed on their own or as part of a delectable cheese platter.

When dining out, explore the local restaurants and eateries that showcase the best of Belgian cuisine. Indulge in dishes made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and savor the creative culinary creations prepared by talented chefs.

Don’t forget to pair your meal with a glass of Belgian wine, as the region is not only known for its beer but also boasts vineyards that produce excellent wines.

For a truly immersive culinary experience, consider joining a food tour or participating in a cooking workshop. These activities provide opportunities to learn about the local food culture, interact with passionate food professionals, and even try your hand at preparing traditional Belgian dishes.

From savory delights to sweet treats, Dinant offers a culinary adventure that will excite food enthusiasts and leave you with a newfound appreciation for Belgian gastronomy. So don’t hesitate to explore the local cuisine and indulge in the delicious flavors that define this charming town.

Dinant, with its captivating history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture, offers a truly immersive and unforgettable experience for travelers. From exploring the ancient Citadel to admiring the architectural masterpiece of the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame, there’s no shortage of remarkable sights to see in this enchanting Belgian town.

A boat ride along the Meuse River provides a unique perspective of Dinant’s natural beauty, while a visit to the Maison de la Pataphonie and the Adolphe Sax House immerses visitors in the world of whimsical music and celebrates the legacy of the saxophone inventor.

For those seeking outdoor adventures, climbing the Montagne de la Croix and exploring the mysterious Caves of Dinant La Merveilleuse offer breathtaking views and a glimpse into the hidden wonders that lie beneath the surface.

The Dinant Toy Museum takes visitors on a nostalgic journey through the history of toys, while sampling local cuisine and delicacies, such as Belgian waffles and chocolates, offers a delightful experience for food enthusiasts.

As you conclude your visit to Dinant, take a moment to reflect on the memories created and the unique experiences enjoyed. From the rich cultural heritage to the natural beauty that surrounds the town, Dinant will leave an indelible mark on your heart and create a desire to return and explore even more.

Whether you’re a history buff, nature lover, music enthusiast, or simply seeking a charming getaway, Dinant has something for everyone. Its unique attractions, warm hospitality, and rich cultural offerings make it a destination worth exploring.

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

•   
• Maison du Tou...
• Syndicat d In...

DINANT AND THE HIGH MEUSE , Valleys of fortresses and castles Anhée - Dinant - Hastière - Onhaye - Yvoir

Discover all the richnesses of DINANT and the HIGH MEUSE: leisures, attractions, sports, nature, excursions, museums, products of the soil... Its many formulas of lodging: hotels, rural lodgings, rooms of hosts, lists to the farm, furnished with tourism, camp-sites and other hirings...

For more informations, please take a look at the "Maison du Tourisme" website : https://www.exploremeuse.be/

[email protected]

Discovering Dinant, Belgium: Things To Do in Dinant

Situated in the south of Belgium, on the banks of the Meuse River, is the charming town of Dinant. This picturesque city has been a focal point of many battles throughout the centuries and is known for being the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, inventor of the Saxophone. With a famous Citadelle that towers over the city, Dinant is a must-see destination for visitors to Belgium .

Things to do in Dinant

The Dinant Citadel

The Dinant Citadel is a must-see attraction in the city of Dinant . This impressive fortress sits atop a hill overlooking the town and the Meuse River. The Citadel has been used in many wars over the centuries, and 1914 was the scene of fierce fighting during World War 1. 

Visitors can brave the 408 steps to climb to the top of the Citadel or take the cable car for a more straightforward ascent . From the top, there are stunning views over Dinant and the surrounding area. The Citadel also features a number of tunnels that can be explored.

An exhibition on Dinant’s role it played during World War 1 and especially in 1914 is displayed in a series of infographics and displays. The Citadel’s role during August 1914 is especially interesting and the exhibition is well done and informative. 

The history of the Citadel from its inception as a castle in 1040 through to the Middle Ages and present-day is laid out in several of the chambers around the Citadel. 

The views from the Dinant Citadel are truly spectacular as it sits high above the River Meuse and the town itself. You’ll find a small restaurant to grab a snack and a playground for the kids. 

Admission to the Dinant Citadel is €11 and includes the use of the cable car to and from the Citadel. 

Dinant Citadel Opening Hours:

April to October: Open every day

November to March: Close on Fridays.

January: Open only on weekends and during school holidays. 

10 am – 6 pm – High Season

10 am – 4.30 pm – Low Season 

Maison Leffe

The Maison Leffe is a must-see for beer lovers visiting Dinant . One of the most popular beers within Belgium and exportation around the world, Maison Leffe is a museum dedicated to the history of the Leffe beer. 

Once a monastery where monks brewed Leffe during the 13th century , nowadays it’s a 3-star hotel, Hotel la Merveilleuse. Maison Leffe offers an in-depth look at the brewing process of Leffe beer. 

Visitors can also sample different types of Leffe beer at the museum. The Maison Leffe is an excellent way to learn about one of Belgium’s most famous beers. The museum offers visitors a chance to learn about the brewing process of Leffe beer, as well as the history of the beer and the monastery where it was first brewed.

Entrance fee: €10 

Location: Charreau des Capucines 23, 5500 Dinant (Located within La Merveilleuse)

Website: Maison Leffe 

Couque de Dinant

The Couque de Dinant is an incredibly hard cookie or cake that has been made in the Dinant for centuries. It’s so hard that it comes with a warning, do not use your teeth or you may end up breaking them. The cookies are baked with honey and wheat flour before being pressed into a mold. 

The easiest way to eat the couque de Dinant is to break it off in your hands, and then let it soften in your mouth. You can also dip it in coffee or tea to help it soften. 

With various shapes and designs, some as big as your head, the Coques de Dinant are a unique gift to purchase from Dinant. You may want to schedule an appointment with the dentist after.

Collégiale Notre-Dame de Dinant

The remarkable church of Notre Dame de Dinant dates from the 13th century before its final iteration in the 1820s. The large bulbous dome is visible throughout the town and the church is located directly beside the access point to the Dinant Citadel.

Inside the church, there is a rather impressive stained-glass window, and that’s about it. 

River Meuse Cruises

If visiting Dinant during the warmer months, I would highly recommend hopping abroad and cruising down the river Meuse . The river cruise boats are affordable and offer breathtaking scenery and some places that are only visible from a boat such as Chateau Freÿr . 

River Meuse cruises depart from Avenue Winston Churchill . Cruise lengths depend on each vessel and you can even organize a private skipper for some of the boats. 

Saxophone lovers will be thrilled to learn that Dinant is the home to the inventor of the sax, Adolph Sax . Throughout the town, you will find hommage to the creator with large sax proudly displayed in various locations throughout the place. His former home has been turned into a free museum that only Sax fans will appreciate. 

The impressive Charles de Gaulle Saxophone Bridge connects the town’s two sides of the Dinant train station and the Notre Dame de Dinant church with enormous and decorative saxophones lining the bridge alongside flags from around the world. 

How to get to Dinant

Dinant is located in the south of Belgium, close to the French border and deep in the heart of the Ardennes forest and the Walloon province. It’s well connected to larger cities like Namur, which is the capital of the Walloon region, and from there can be connected to Brussels. 

You most definitely do not need a car to get around this region, but it does help to explore the smaller off-beaten-path towns and villages that make up this region of Belgium. Belgium is a small country and distances are often short in comparison to neighboring countries like Germany or France. 

We traveled down from our home in Antwerp to Dinant for the afternoon and it took an hour and 30 minutes in each direction. 

Getting to Dinant by Train

Dinant train station is around a 5-minute walk from the Charles de Gaulle Saxophone Bridge. 

Brussels to Dinant

The train journey from Brussels to Dinant takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. There are numerous trains throughout the day and the train journey costs around €16 one way.

Purchase your train tickets through Omio . 

Luxembourg to Dinant 

Hourly trains depart from Luxembourg Station to Dinant, with a change of train usually in Libramont. The train journey takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. And a one-way ticket is around €22.

Getting to Dinant by Car

Dinant is well connected by the large motorway that passes nearby the town. The A4 which connects Luxembourg and Brussels is a 5-minute drive from Dinant. The countryside surrounding Dinant is stunning and Walloon at its most beautiful. I recommend getting off the motorway and taking the smaller regional roads to Dinant.

Parking is available in the town of Dinant, however, do make sure you have coins with you as at the time of our visit in November 2022 the parking machines only accepted coins . There is a number of parking locations throughout the town, and there is a paid Interparking lot a short distance from the Collegiate Church of Our Lady. 

Dinant Free Parking

We found a free parking lot in Dinant a 7-minute walk from the Dinant Citadel & Cablecar. With 140 places to park throughout your stay, you can find free parking in Dinant at Place D’Armes . The walk from the parking lot takes you through the main street of Dinant. 

Dinant has an incredible history and just behind this sign of the Place D’Armes Parking Lot is a nondescript wall. A small plaque indicated that this wall was where over 100 townspeople were killed by a firing squad in 1914. A startling reminder that even a simple wall has seen the horrors of war. 

Dinant is a lovely day trip for those exploring the area of the south of Belgium. With breweries such as Chimay and Leffe in the area, you can easily spend the day exploring this area by river cruise or on a day trip from Brussels. A day is more than enough to explore all the sights that Dinant has to offer.

Interested in more sights around Belgium? Check out my posts on things to do in Antwerp and how to spend 24 hours in Bruges .

Similar Posts

The Ultimate Guide On How To Get From Santorini To Mykonos (2024)

Discover how to travel from Santorini to Mykonos and experience some of Europe’s most stunning scenery and luxurious islands in the Cyclades.

A Complete Guide to Visiting Portovenere in 2024

Often mentioned as the 6th town of the Cinque Terre, Portovenere is a fantastic place to not only visit for a day but should be considered as a base when visiting the Ligurian coast.

How To Spend 24 Hours in Paris (+ Map!) in 2024

Ok, so let’s get the bad news over and done with, 24 hours in Paris is going to make…

The Ultimate Guide to Finding The Perfect Hotel in Positano 2024

Positano is the quintessential Amalfi coast town that promises romance, beauty, and the Italian dream in one magnificent setting. Figuring out where to stay is made easy with this expert guide.

Portofino or Positano? Which One Should You Visit in 2024?

Torn between Positano or Portofino for your next Italian dream vacation? Read on to discover which one may suit your needs better?

8 Benefits of Traveling Alone in 2024

Uncover the many benefits of traveling alone. Discover your tribe, be your own boss and learn more about what makes you tick.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Dinant Belgium: A Guide To The City With The Best View

Posted on Published: February 14, 2020  - Last updated: December 22, 2023

Categories Belgium , Europe

When you’re looking up where to go in Belgium from Brussels , you might stumble upon Dinant. Dinant Belgium is a bit over an hour away from Brussels by car making it a great option for a day trip.

Dinant is a photographers, bloggers, and Instagrammers dream! It’s known for it’s spectacular view of the Dinant Citadel, with a giant church, buildings, and calm river in front. But I’m here to show you that there are so many things to do in Dinant that the city is a lot more than just a good view.

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Plan your Belgium vacation with these tools!

Digital & Printable Travel Planner Printout :  Etsy

Book hotels:   Booking.com   |  Expedia Book Flights : brusselsairlines.com Rent a car:    Enterprise | europcar.com Brussels Tours :  Viator.com

Related Posts To Read: 9 Easy Day Trips From Brussels You Have To Go On | Guide to Drinking Belgian Beer

Where Is Dinant Belgium?

Dinant Belgium is in the Wallonia region of Belgium (remember, there are two regions in Belgium: Wallonia and Flanders). Wallonia is the French speaking part of Belgium, so naturally, in Dinant they speak French.

Dinant is about an hour drive away from Brussels and 30 minutes from Namur ( another Wallonia city very similar to Dinant ).

You might also be interested in reading…

Should You Visit Namur, Dinant, or Both in Belgium?

How Long Should You Spend In Dinant?

Dinant is a very small city, like tiny! There are still a few things to do in Dinant, but nothing more than one or two days worth of activities.

Granted, if it’s a nice summer day outside and eat along the river, it seems like a great place to come for the weekend to get out of the city for a bit.

But really one day in Dinant Belgium is enough to get a taste of the city, see the important sites, and still have time to relax with a nice Belgian beer on the river Meuse.

Plan the ultimate vacation

My  digital travel planner template  has everything you need to plan your vacation: research templates, travel planner itinerary, travel budget templates…etc. . You can print it out or use it digitally on your phone, tablet, or computer.

What’s Dinant Known For: Let’s Talk About The View…

Dinant Belgium is mainly known for it’s spectacular view. Let’s be real, the view (you know the one I’m talking about) is the reason you decided to go to Dinant in the first place, I mean talk about an Instagram worthy backdrop. If you won’t admit it, then I will, it’s the reason we were originally drawn to Dinant.

There’s colourful buildings, a majestic church, and a giant mountain in the background. But the icing on the cake is that if the water is calm, it’s all doubled because of the reflection in the water.

You don’t have to look very far for this view either, it’s the first thing you see if you’re coming from the train station. And it hits you like a real slap in the face.

My Secret to Taking the Best Group Travel Photos

I was worried that it wouldn’t live up to the pictures I’d seen. I’m here to assure you, it’s somehow better than what you’ve seen ! You don’t get the sheer size of the church and the mountain from pictures.

So, if you were wondering if it was worth going just for that, the answer is YES! And don’t worry, once you read the other things to do in Dinant, you’ll be wanting to visit for so much more than just the view.

How To Get To Dinant From Brussels

If you’re coming to Dinant from Brussels, it’s just over an hour drive, or about an hour and a half by train. It should be the same train that goes by Namur from Brussels , it’s about 30 minutes passed there.

Book tickets from the  SNBC  and don’t forget if you’re under 26 and going on multiple trips in Belgium to look into the GoPass10.

9 Easy Day Trips From Brussels You Have To Go On

Things To Do In Dinant Belgium

Go hunting for saxophones & visit the saxophone museum.

I thought one of the coolest fun facts about Dinant is that it’s where Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the Saxophone, was born. I love how they have a celebrity even in this small city.

They’ve done a good job promoting him and celebrating the saxophone too. I don’t know if you noticed, but there are a few saxophones around the city (joking, they’re everywhere!) especially on the Charles de Gaulle bridge. (It’s named after Charles de Gaulle because he was among the wounded in Dinant in 1914).

Never forget a favourite travel memory

Keep track of your travels every day with my digital and printable travel journal . Use it on the go on your phone or tablet, or print it out!

The saxophones are art pieces that represent different countries. It’s fun to go around the city finding different saxophones (hint: they aren’t all on the bridge). Try to find your home countries, sadly we didn’t end up finding one for Canada.

If you walk a bit further along rue Adolphe Sax (the main street) you’ll eventually reach one that’s a bit different. It’s a gold saxophone, this is the official monument to Adolphe Sax. 

There’s also a small (free) museum they set up to tell you about his life and how he invented the saxophone.

Visit The Dinant Citadel

The Dinant citadel is the main attraction (other than the view of course) in Dinant. The Dinant Citadel is on top of that steep hill in the background of the best view in Belgium. It’s worthwhile to visit, but there are a few things to watch out for once you’re there.

Your ticket gives you access to the funicular that brings you to the top. If you’re not the biggest fans of funiculars (like us) there are also steps that you can walk up that will take you right to the Dinant Citadel. At some points they become quite steep and aren’t too well kept. It wasn’t too big of a deal because there’s always a railing to hold on to.

What caught me off guard is that the Dinant Citadel is actually privately owned instead of being owned by the city. This lead to some quirks to the visit…

Make Sure To Bring Change!

Being the young-ins that we are, we don’t carry around cash on us (my mom gets mad at me every day for this). While visiting the Dinant Citadel, there are two instances were you may need extra change on you, and you’ll feel awful if you don’t (we surely did).

First, the bathroom is tip-based despite it being inside a paid attraction. No one’s there (at least when I went) but there’s a sign asking for a tip. I just don’t appreciate that once I’m already paying to go inside an attraction…

Once you’re at the top there are also advertisements for tours. We asked around and found out that they’re for the visitors and they’re free, well “included in our ticket”! We were shocked at the end of the tour when our guide tells us he’s a volunteer and doesn’t get paid to be here. He only makes money from the tips he gets at the end.

We’re no strangers to tip based tours (in fact we LOVE going on free walking tours !), but we always plan to make sure we have cash on us beforehand when we know we’ve signed up for one. We weren’t alone either, at the same time everyone looked around at each other and then quickly down to their purse to find any loose change they might have.

I still recommend the tour, they take you to places you can’t otherwise get to in the Citadel and give you a full history. Just make sure to bring some extra change !

WWI Exhibit At The Dinant Citadel

There’s a very well done interactive WWI Museum about one of the worst months in history for Dinant. It was a nice highlight a catastrophic event that’ I’d never heard about before.

It revolves around August 1914 when German troops invaded Belgium. It was interesting to learn about how they used the Dinant Citadel again even though it hadn’t been used in years.

Enjoy A River Cruise Along The Meuse

When you buy a ticket for the Dinant Citadel, you have the option to buy a combined ticket for the river cruise as well. This will take you along the Meuse river to see the city from a different viewpoint along the water.

We didn’t go on the river cruise, but in retrospect, we had nothing to do in the afternoon so we really should have. So I recommend going even if you only have one day in Dinant.

Admire Collegiale Notre Dame In Dinant

The Collegiale Notre Dame (or the Notre Dame de Dinant) is the magnificent church in the famous view. It’s a 13th-century church that replaced a 10th-century church that burned down. The north door is the only remaining part of the 10th-century church.

I believe you can go inside, but it was locked when we were visiting Dinant Belgium.

Go To The Grotte de Dinant la Merveilleuse

Just on the other side of the river Meuse there are two more things to do in Dinant that you may want to do: The Grotte and Maison Leffe.

Being underground in a confined space only slightly freaks me out so we opted against it and went to Maison Leffe instead. But, it’s a good alternative to Maison Leffe if you’re travelling as a family.

Visit Maison Leffe & Enjoy Century Old Beer

Maison Leffe is a museum house in a repurposed monastery because Leffe beer was first brewed by monks in Dinant Belgium.

They don’t make the beer here anymore but it’s now a museum. The museum is very well done, but there’s one major flaw…

The museum has several interactive videos that are a good idea in theory. The issue is that only one group can watch it at a time, and you have to go in chronological order. That means you have to wait for one group to finish before you can continue, and the videos aren’t short either.

It wasn’t the biggest issue when we visited during low season, but I’d be concerned for peak season.

Easily Rate & Compare Each Beer

Rate each new beer you try from a brewery to find your favourite one with my digital and printable beer flight scorecard . See it on Etsy.

When you eventually get to watch a video, they’re very well made. They explain the history of Leffe, the beer-making process, and their advertising avenues.

The ticket price is very reasonable too; it gives you access to the museum, a gift (either an extra bottle of beer or a Leffe glass), and beer tasting.

The tasting is a either three small tasters or one bottle of beer. The tasters are what they’re offering on tap, so you don’t get to choose. If you’re two people, and don’t mind sharing, you can get the three tasters and a different bottle so you get to try four beers instead! 

There’s also nice outdoor patio you can take your drinks to if it’s nice out.

The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Belgian Beer

Where (& What) To Eat In Dinant Belgium

For a coffee or tea break, Cafe Solbrun is a must! It’s an adorable tea house with a view along the Meuse river. 

I’d also suggest bringing a lunch if you can, we had some problems finding a place to eat for dinner, so I’d imagine it might be the same for lunch. Restaurants were either closed or too expensive (and with bad reviews). 

We ended up leaving before dinner because we couldn’t find anything reasonable.

Must-Try The Croque De Dinant

Dinant is also known for a local delicacy: a croque de dinant. But don’t try to eat this cookie as you would any other. The Croque de Dinant is made with 2 ingredients: honey and water. The result is an extremely hard (but delicious) cookie. It’s so hard that has the potential to break your teeth if you try to bite into it.

The trick to eating this delicacy is to break off a piece, suck on it, and only then try to chew it. We also tried to dunk it in tea, but that didn’t work too well for some reason. The only full-proof method was to suck on it.

To distract you from the pain you go through to eat it, they make them in really fun shape like a horse, roosters, dog…etc! You can find them in most bakeries around the city, we found it at Couques V.Collard 1774.

Need A Place To Stay? Dinant Belgium Hotels Recommendations

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Dinant I found these places for every type of vacation and budget. These hotels offer free cancellation for worry-free booking!

A Deux Patenier de Dinant is a two bedroom apartment that can sleep four people. This makes it perfect for long term stay, if you’re travelling with your family, or just want to experience local living in Dinant. The location could not be better either, just off the main street around the corner from the church. Check availability and room rates .

If you’re looking for an apartment that’s a bit more budget-friendly, Autrefois chez Lina, might be for you. It’s a vacation home just outside the tourist area of Dinant so it offers more of a quieter stay. See availability and room rates .

If you’re interested in the perfect weekend getaway hotel in Dinant you have to stay at La Merveilleuse by Infiniti Resorts. It’s close to Maison Leffe and the Grotto in Dinant, just across the River Meuse. breakfast is included and you can even book a room with a city view or sauna! See availability and room rates .

Or, find more accommodation options by clicking here .

My Belgium Day Trip Essentials

Related Posts: Explore Belgium!

• The Complete Guide to Belgium
• Travel Guide: Namur
• Travel Guide: Dinant Vs. Namur
• Travel Guide: Leuven
• Travel Guide: Ghent
• Travel Guide: Bruges

Click Image To Share Or Save For Later

Last update on 2024-04-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Saturday 15th of February 2020

Oh my goodness what a gorgeous place! Thank you for sharing. Your photos are absolutely gorgeous as well. Adding to my bucket list.

Thanks so much! Oh yay so happy to hear that!

You're kidding! I didn't know that the creator of the saxophone was born in Dinant. I also played the saxophone through primary school and high school. What an awesome fact. And what a colourful, beautiful town Dinant looks like!

That's awesome! I always wanted to learn how to play!

Friday 14th of February 2020

I played the saxophone when I was in High School so, I have always wanted to visit this town. Plus, it is just too pretty. This is my kind of place!

That's so cool, you definitely have to pay Dinant a visit then! I always wanted to learn to play the sax :)