ibis Dinant Centre
Why we like it: Three-star hotel on the banks of the Meuse, a few minutes' walk from the centre, with a terrace over the river, a bar open at all hours and air conditioning.
Duration1 night
From BrusselsTrain via Namur or car · 1 h 30
Kayak12 km · from €31
Budget€170–260 pp
SeasonApril – October
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Designed to leave Brussels on Saturday morning, sleep one night beside the Lesse and kayak down the river on Sunday, from April to October. It can be done by train, but by car you save time with the citadel and the kayak shuttle.
Saturday
- 108:30Train or car to Dinant
About an hour and a half, via Namur or on the E411.
- 210:30The citadel
With the combined ticket that includes the cruise. The cable car is closed: go up the stairs or by car along the top.
- 312:30Lunch at La Broche
A market menu at €33 on the Rue Grande; open on Saturday.
- 414:30Collegiate church, bridge and Sax's house
All free, beside the river.
- 515:30Cruise on the Meuse
Forty-five minutes to Anseremme, passing the Bayard rock.
- 618:00Night at the Aquatel
At Anseremme, beside the Lesse and the end of the kayak run.
Sunday
- 109:30Kayak on the Lesse
Train or shuttle to Gendron and a 12 km descent with Dinant Evasion, beneath the Walzin castle. Hot showers on arrival.
- 213:00Picnic and return
Along the bank of the Meuse to Dinant and train to Brussels.
Dinant in a day from Brussels forces you to choose between the town and the river. With one night you don't need to: on Saturday you see the citadel, the collegiate church and the Meuse by boat; on Sunday you kayak down the Lesse in the morning, with the river still calm, and return to Brussels in the afternoon. It is the easiest nature getaway from the capital.
What does it cost?
| What | How much | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Citadel | €15 | €13 for ages 4 to 12 |
| Citadel with cruise | €25 | €20 children |
| Double kayak Gendron–Anseremme | €31–33.50 | With or without shuttle |
| Hotel Aquatel, breakfast | €14 | €10 under-12s |
Where to stay?
The Hôtel Aquatel, run by Dinant Evasion, at Anseremme, has doubles with a balcony and family rooms for five, admits small dogs and is next to the kayak base. If you prefer the centre, the ibis Dinant Centre, beside the Meuse, with a terrace over the river.
Where to eat?
La Broche, on the Rue Grande, Friday to Monday at lunchtime. On the kayak, a picnic: they give you a bucket for the food and the rubbish.
Map
The stops, in order
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Plan the trip
Dinant, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Dinant
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
The same break, your way
The plan stays the same. What changes is where you sleep, how you get there and how much you spend.
Flight to Charleroi or Brussels and train to Dinant
Dinant is closer to Charleroi than to Brussels: if you fly with a low-cost airline to Charleroi (CRL), with direct flights from several Spanish cities, you are less than an hour away by car. From Brussels-Zaventem (BRU) you get there by train via Namur, in a little over an hour and a half from the centre. For the kayak and the castles of the Lesse, a hire car helps.
- Getting thereCharleroi (CRL): hire car at…
- Getting aroundOn foot around the centre…
- Where to sleepibis Dinant Centre, beside the…
- ServicesDinant station
Getting there
- Charleroi (CRL): hire car at the airport, or bus to Charleroi station and train via Namur
- Brussels-Zaventem (BRU): train to Namur and change for Dinant
Getting around
- On foot around the centre and the Meuse bank
- Train to Gendron-Celles for the kayak
- Car for the citadel from above and the castles
Where to sleep
- ibis Dinant Centre, beside the river
- Hôtel Aquatel, at Anseremme, next to the kayak
Services
- Dinant station
- Citadel car park
Dinant by train, on foot and by kayak
Dinant can be done without a car: the train reaches the centre, the kayak has a station next to the start and the finish, and the Meuse bank can be walked. The only thing that costs effort is going up to the citadel while the cable car is closed: staircase.
90–160 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepibis Dinant Centre, ten minutes…
- Getting aroundTrain via Namur from Brussels
- Where to eatLa Broche, Friday to Monday…
- ServicesDinant station
Where to sleep
- ibis Dinant Centre, ten minutes from the station
- Hôtel Aquatel, next to Anseremme station
Getting around
- Train via Namur from Brussels
- Train to Gendron-Celles for the kayak
- On foot to the Bayard Rock and Anseremme
Where to eat
- La Broche, Friday to Monday at lunchtime
Services
- Dinant station
Dinant and the Lesse valley by car
By car, Dinant is an hour and a half from Brussels on the E411 and less than an hour from Charleroi, and lets you go up to the citadel from above, leave the car at Anseremme for the kayak and look in on the castles of the valley.
100–170 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepHôtel Aquatel, a large free…
- DrivingE411 from Brussels, Dinant exit
- Where to eatLa Broche, on the Rue…
- ServicesFree citadel car park
Where to sleep
- Hôtel Aquatel, a large free car park
- ibis Dinant Centre, with a public car park next door
Driving
- E411 from Brussels, Dinant exit
- Plateau road to the upper entrance of the citadel
Where to eat
- La Broche, on the Rue Grande
Services
- Free citadel car park
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights1
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're flyingwithout a carif you're driving
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Hôtel Aquatel
Why we like it: The Dinant Evasion hotel beside the Lesse, at Anseremme: doubles with balcony, family rooms for five and an 18-bed room, at the end of the kayak route.
Services for this trip
Where to eat
Where to eat in Dinant
La Broche
What to order: the lunchtime menu of starter, main and coffee at €33, or the seasonal gourmand menu
Open Monday lunchtime and Friday to Sunday · closed Monday evening, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Le Confessionnal
What to order: a dish from the board, which changes with what the chef finds from local producers
Monday and Tuesday at lunchtime; Thursday and Friday at lunchtime and in the evening · closed Wednesday and weekends
Tips
Worth knowing first
Local tip
Book the kayak when you book the hotel: in summer the morning slots sell out.
We'd skip it
Going from November to March with the idea of paddling: there is no kayaking or cruises.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does the weekend in Dinant cost?
With train, hotel, citadel, cruise, kayak and meals, between €170 and €260 per person.
Can children go kayaking?
From age 5, depending on the water level, with a life jacket.
Do you need a car?
No: the train reaches Dinant, Gendron and Anseremme. By car you save time.