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.
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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 best things to do in Brussels, and The Best Instagram Spots in Bruges
Locations in this post:
- Dinant Citadel (La Citadelle de Dinant)/Entrance and Ticket Booth
- Notre-Dame Collegiate Church
- The Adolphe Sax Museum and Monument
- The Charles de Gaulle Bridge
- Maison Leffe
- Rocher Bayard
- Patisserie Jacobs
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