Ardennes Belgium
5
Day Itinerary •
Belgium
Five days in the Belgian Ardennes gives you the full extraordinary depth of the finest natural and historical landscape in Belgium, from the remarkable Meuse valley castles and the extraordinary Semois valley Tombeau du Geant viewpoint to the remarkable Battle of the Bulge at Bastogne, the fine Durbuy world's smallest town, the extraordinary High Fens nature reserve and the remarkable Eupen German-speaking community enclave. This extended route covers the Belgian Ardennes completely. Namur, Dinant and the Meuse valley on Day 1, the extraordinary Semois valley with Bouillon Castle and Tombeau du Geant on Day 2, Liege and Spa and Stavelot on Day 3, Durbuy and La Roche and the remarkable Bastogne War Museum on Day 4, and the extraordinary High Fens nature reserve and Eupen on Day 5.
Best Time To Visit
May to October for hiking, autumn colours extraordinary in October
Getting There
Car from Brussels 1 hour to Namur, hire car from Namur
Getting Around
Hired car throughout. The Ardennes is not accessible by public transport.
Budget Per Day
Approx 70 to 160 EUR per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate, optional longer hiking in Semois and Ourthe valleys
DAY 1
MEUSE VALLEY
MORNING
NAMUR CITADEL AND CONFLUENCE
The extraordinary Namur Citadel, the largest fortress complex in Belgium perched on the remarkable rocky spur at the confluence of the Sambre and Meuse rivers, with the finest elevated view over the two river valleys and the fine Ardennes hills beyond. The remarkable 2km walk around the extraordinary Citadel walls passes the fine medieval fortifications built up over seven centuries of Namur's strategic military importance. Cable car up and walk down. Entry approx 10 EUR. 30 min drive
MIDDAY
DINANT CITADEL AND SAXOPHONE CITY
The extraordinary Dinant, the finest small town in the Belgian Ardennes, dramatically situated below a remarkable 100-metre vertical limestone cliff with the fine Citadel above and the outstanding Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame squeezed between the rock and the Meuse. The remarkable Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, was born in Dinant in 1814. The extraordinary painted saxophone sculptures lining the Meuse bridge are the finest public art installation in the Ardennes. Cable car approx 8 EUR. 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
ROCHER BAYARD AND FREYR CHATEAU
The extraordinary Rocher Bayard near Dinant, a remarkable free-standing 72-metre basalt rock pinnacle that Louis XIV ordered to be cut in two to allow his army to pass in 1675, creating the fine vertical slot that now divides the remarkable rock. Then the extraordinary Chateau de Freyr on the Meuse bank, a fine 16th-century Renaissance chateau with the most remarkable formal gardens in the Ardennes, still owned by the Beaufort-Spontin family. Entry approx 10 EUR.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Grotte de Han cave system 20km south of Dinant, one of the finest show caves in Europe with remarkable 5km of extraordinary stalactite passages accessible by tram into the remarkable cave interior, is the finest hidden natural attraction in the Belgian Ardennes. The remarkable underground Salle du Dome with its extraordinary stalactite-covered ceiling 129 metres above the cave floor is the finest cave chamber in Belgium. Entry approx 25 EUR.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Namur hotel or cafe Good breakfast before the Citadel cable car. | Lunch: Dinant waterfront brasserie Outstanding traditional Ardennes lunch. Fine Dinantaise couque hard spice biscuit and local beer. | Dinner: La Broche, Dinant Outstanding Ardennes restaurant on the remarkable Meuse waterfront. Fine local trout and Ardennes ham.
DAY 2
SEMOIS VALLEY
MORNING
BOUILLON CASTLE AND SEMOIS VALLEY
The most extraordinary medieval castle in Belgium, the remarkable Chateau de Bouillon perched on an extraordinary rocky spur around which the Semois River loops in a remarkable 270-degree meander 40km south of Dinant. The fine castle was the seat of Godfrey of Bouillon, the extraordinary leader of the First Crusade in 1096. The remarkable Semois valley viewed from the castle battlements is the finest valley panorama in the Belgian Ardennes. Entry approx 10 EUR. 20 min drive
MIDDAY
SEMOIS VALLEY WALK AND TOMBEAU DU GEANT
The extraordinary Tombeau du Geant viewpoint above the remarkable Semois meander near Botassart, the finest single viewpoint in the Belgian Ardennes and one of the finest river panoramas in northern Europe, where the remarkable horseshoe bend of the Semois River 150 metres below creates the most extraordinary natural landscape in the region. The fine 45-minute walk from the road to the viewpoint is the finest short hike in the Ardennes. 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
ROCHEFORT CAVE AND TRAPPIST BREWERY
The extraordinary Grotte de Lorette in Rochefort, a remarkable cave system with outstanding stalactite formations in extraordinary pastel colours, and the fine Rochefort Trappist Brewery adjacent, one of only 12 genuine Trappist breweries in the world producing the remarkable Rochefort 8 and Rochefort 10, the finest dark Trappist ales in Belgium. Brewery shop open. Cave entry approx 11 EUR.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Abbaye de Notre-Dame de Saint-Remy at Rochefort, the Trappist monastery that brews the remarkable Rochefort Trappist ales, has an extraordinary stillness and remarkable architectural quality that makes the abbey church one of the finest quiet spiritual spaces in Belgium. The monks allow visitors to the abbey church in the mornings. The fine Trappist beer shop is open to all.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Bouillon hotel or cafe Good breakfast before the Bouillon Castle. | Lunch: La Vieille Ardenne, Bouillon Outstanding traditional Ardennes lunch in the extraordinary castle town. Fine local game and Semois trout. | Dinner: Hotel Restaurant de la Lesse Outstanding Ardennes hotel restaurant near Rochefort. Extraordinary wild boar and local Rochefort beer.
DAY 3
WALLONIA
MORNING
LIEGE AND THE WALLOON CAPITAL
The extraordinary Liege, the finest and most overlooked city in Wallonia, where the remarkable Montagne de Bueren 374-step staircase gives the finest view over the extraordinary Meuse valley from the top of the fine historic Outremeuse quarter. The outstanding Curtius Museum in the remarkable Renaissance mansion holds the finest collection of Mosan art in the world. The extraordinary Liege Sunday Batte market is the finest outdoor market in Belgium. 1 hour drive
MIDDAY
SPA AND THE ARDENNES THERMAL RESORT
The extraordinary Spa, the original spa town that gave its name to the entire concept of thermal bathing, 30km south of Liege in the fine Ardennes hills. The remarkable Thermes de Spa facility on the hillside above the town is the finest modern thermal complex in Belgium with extraordinary outdoor pools overlooking the Ardennes. The fine historic pump rooms and the remarkable Pouhon Pierre-le-Grand mineral fountain are the finest spa heritage in Europe. 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
STAVELOT ABBEY AND CIRCUIT DE SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS
The extraordinary Stavelot, the finest Ardennes village, with the remarkable 7th-century abbey ruins and the outstanding three museums in the abbey complex including the fine Apollinaire Museum. Then the extraordinary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, the finest motor racing circuit in the world and the home of the Belgian Grand Prix, where the remarkable Eau Rouge corner and the extraordinary Raidillon climb are the finest corners in Formula 1. Trackside access free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Chateau de Veve near Celles in the Lesse valley, a remarkable 15th-century private Gothic revival castle perched on a fine limestone spur above the extraordinary Lesse valley, is the finest and most photographed castle in the Belgian Ardennes viewed from the valley below. Open Easter to November. Entry approx 7 EUR. The extraordinary view from the castle over the remarkable Lesse valley is the finest in Namur province.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Ardennes hotel Good breakfast before the drive to Liege. | Lunch: Liege Batte market Outstanding Sunday market lunch. The finest Boudin de Liege, remarkable fromage de Herve and fine Liege waffles. | Dinner: Stavelot village restaurant Outstanding traditional Walloon dinner. Fine Ardennes ham, wild boar and remarkable local abbey beer.
DAY 4
OURTHE VALLEY
MORNING
DURBUY, THE WORLD'S SMALLEST TOWN
The extraordinary Durbuy, officially the smallest town in the world with fewer than 400 inhabitants in its remarkable medieval walled centre on the extraordinary Ourthe River bend, with the fine chateau above and the outstanding cobblestone streets of the historic centre containing the finest concentration of Ardennes restaurants in a single small town. The remarkable medieval fortifications and the fine market square are the finest in the Ourthe valley. 20 min drive
MIDDAY
LA ROCHE-EN-ARDENNE AND OURTHE VALLEY
The extraordinary La Roche-en-Ardenne, the finest Ardennes resort town, dramatically situated in a remarkable deep Ourthe valley loop with the ruined 8th-century castle on the extraordinary rocky spur above. The fine Musee de la Bataille des Ardennes tells the remarkable story of the Battle of the Bulge, fought 30km north of here in December 1944. The extraordinary Ourthe valley walking trails are the finest day hiking in the Belgian Ardennes. 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
BASTOGNE WAR MUSEUM
The extraordinary Bastogne, the most historically significant town in the Belgian Ardennes, where the remarkable defence by the US 101st Airborne Division during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 is commemorated in the outstanding Bastogne War Museum, one of the finest WWII museums in Europe. The remarkable Mardasson Memorial on the hill above Bastogne is the finest American war memorial in Belgium. Entry approx 15 EUR.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Coo Waterfall near Stavelot, the largest natural waterfall in Belgium at 15 metres on the fine Ambleve River with a remarkable background of wooded Ardennes hills, is the most visited natural attraction in the Belgian Ardennes. The fine leisure park around the extraordinary falls and the remarkable chairlift over the Ambleve valley are the finest family attraction in the Ardennes.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: La Roche hotel Good breakfast before the Durbuy drive. | Lunch: Durbuy town restaurant Outstanding Ardennes lunch in the remarkable smallest town. Fine local trout and extraordinary Ardennes charcuterie. | Dinner: Hotel de Bastogne Outstanding traditional Walloon dinner in the remarkable Bastogne market town. Fine game and local beer.
DAY 5
HIGH FENS
MORNING
HIGH FENS NATURE RESERVE
The extraordinary Hautes Fagnes, the High Fens, the finest upland nature reserve in Belgium at 694 metres on the remarkable Ardennes plateau, where the extraordinary raised peat bog landscape, the fine wooden boardwalk trails through the remarkable moorland and the outstanding rare flora including sundews, cotton grass and bog rosemary create a fine sub-Arctic landscape in the heart of western Europe. The remarkable Signal de Botrange at 694 metres is the highest point in Belgium. 30 min drive
MIDDAY
GERMAN-SPEAKING COMMUNITY AND EUPEN
The extraordinary Eupen, capital of the Belgian German-speaking community, one of the finest political curiosities in Europe where 77,000 Belgians speak German as their first language in a remarkable cultural enclave of the Ardennes. The fine Eupen Carnival is the most remarkable in Belgium. The extraordinary language frontier between German, French and Dutch in the Belgian Ardennes hills is the finest cultural border in Europe. 1 hour drive
AFTERNOON
RETURN THROUGH LIEGE AND FAREWELL
The extraordinary return through Liege, the fine capital of Wallonia, stopping at the remarkable Curtius Museum for the finest Mosan art collection in the world, the outstanding St Lambert Cathedral treasury and the extraordinary Liege Guillemins train station designed by Santiago Calatrava, one of the finest railway stations in Europe. The remarkable final view of the extraordinary Meuse valley from the Liege ring road is the finest farewell to the Belgian Ardennes.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Fagnes Nature Reserve boardwalk trails are the finest easy walks in the Belgian Ardennes, crossing remarkable raised peat bogs on fine wooden paths through extraordinary sub-Arctic vegetation. The remarkable Signal de Botrange cafe at 694 metres, the highest point in Belgium, serves the finest hot chocolate in the Ardennes. Entry free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Ardennes hotel Good breakfast before the High Fens drive. | Lunch: High Fens visitor centre Simple good lunch at the remarkable Hautes Fagnes visitor centre cafe near the Signal de Botrange. | Dinner: Liege restaurant on return Outstanding farewell dinner in Liege. Fine Liege waffles, boudin and remarkable Jupiler or Chimay beer.
Where To Stay
Rotating Bases Multiple Ardennes hotels across the route. Budget approx 80 to 200 EUR per night. Dinant or Namur First nights. Good road connections. Approx 80 to 180 EUR per night. Spa or Stavelot Nights 3 to 4. Fine thermal access. Approx 90 to 200 EUR per night.
Top Tips
1. Hire a car from Brussels or Namur. The Belgian Ardennes is entirely inaccessible without one.
2. The Tombeau du Geant is the finest sight in the Ardennes. Allow 1.5 hours return from the road.
3. Bouillon Castle is finest on weekday mornings. Book tickets online to avoid queues.
4. The High Fens boardwalk is extraordinary after rainfall. Bring waterproof footwear.
5. Bastogne War Museum requires 2 hours minimum. Book timed entry online in July and August.
6. Ardennes October autumn colour is the finest season. The Semois valley in full gold is extraordinary.
Total Budget
135 to 345 EUR/day