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

by Things to Do, Belgium33 comments

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 km2 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

Things to Do in Dinant

» Walk or Cruise Down the River Meuse

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

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

Pont Charles de Gaulle Bridge View from Citadelle de Dinant
(View of Pont Charles de Gaulle Bridge from 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

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

Adolphe 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

Leffe Dinant

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

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

Castle Freyr

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!

Dinant Caves
Autumn Hike

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!

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 worldhowever, 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.

– – –

» 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.

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

Book an AirBnB
Booking.com

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!

• • •

Things to Do in Dinant, Belgium

Overall

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?

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About Me

About Aileen : Sidebar

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!

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CURRENTLY BASED IN: The Philippines

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33 Comments

  1. Hewa

    Hello Aileen I read about yours biography it interesting me I wish you best and success in yours life . Are you leaving in Dinant now?

    Reply
    • Aileen

      Thank you Hewa! At the moment I’m living somewhere in Antwerp :)

      Reply
  2. Marta

    I love this part of Belgium! I lived in Brussels for a couple of years and we used to love to go explore the Ardennes. I’ve actually missed Dinant but you really made want to go back there and discover more – mid August definitely sounds like the most fun time to go :-)

    Reply
    • Aileen

      Aw, that’s too bad. But at least you have something to look forward to and put on your itinerary the next time you stop by Belgium ;)

      Reply
  3. Majesta Zea

    Saxaphone cookies! So cute!

    Reply
    • Aileen

      They really are! But beware, these kinds of cookies are actually very hard haha! They’re the hardest in Europe!

      Reply
  4. Goblinette

    Dinant is truly a magnificent city. After spending time in Brussels, it is good to see some hills again. I was not as impressed with the state of roads in Belgium. If I knew about the mini Versailles before, my time in the area would be spent differently.

    Reply
    • Aileen

      True that! The south really is more hilly and I know what you mean about the roads in Belgium — that’s why there’s a running joke that you’ll instantly know if you’re out of Belgium since the roads are better haha!

      Reply
  5. Craig

    Some amazing pictures. I can’t say it is a place I have ever heard of before reading this article. That bathtub regatta looks a fun day out too :)

    Reply

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