The Ardennes
Explore wooded hills, river valleys and small towns across Belgium’s Ardennes, a region in southern Wallonia.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
The Ardennes are a hilly region in southern Belgium, within Wallonia and south and east of Namur and Liège. Forests, river valleys and scattered towns shape a trip here. Visitors come to walk wooded trails, spend time by the rivers and explore local towns and historic sites. The area is spread out, so choosing where to stay affects how much you can see in a short visit.
A car gives you more freedom to travel between rural areas and towns; public transport is a better fit if you plan around places served by rail and bus. Check connections for your chosen base before booking, since a train journey alone may not take you to the trail or riverside you want. Spring through fall is the main season for outdoor plans, but conditions change over the year. Allow several days to combine walks, river activities and town visits. For a shorter trip, pick one base and explore nearby sights rather than trying to cover the whole region.
The Ardennes in five
- Pick one rural base, not threeDistances are short on the map but slow on country roads. La Roche-en-Ardenne, Bouillon and Dinant each suit a base, while Liège and Namur work if you rely on trains for the edges.Namur
- Walk the Hautes Fagnes on the boardwalksThe Signal de Botrange, at 694 m, is listed as Belgium's highest point. Wooden boardwalks and marked trails lead through the peat landscape, so stay on them to protect the bog and your boots.Hautes Fagnes-Eifel nature park
- Book the Bastogne War Museum by time slotAdult tickets are listed at €28 and cover the museum, the Bois Jacques battlefield and the War Rooms for six months. The closest railway station is Libramont, so most visitors drive.Bastogne War Museum tickets
- Kayak the Lesse down to AnseremmeMany Lesse kayaking trips end at Anseremme, where the river meets the Meuse. Han-sur-Lesse is where the river goes underground through caves, so combine the two on one day if you can.Valleys of the Ardennes
- Rent the car for the Ardennes, not for the citiesBelgian trains reach Liège and Namur well, but small towns and trailheads need a car, a bike or a bus connection. Pick up in Namur or Liège on the day you leave the rail network.Renting a car abroad
Things to do in The Ardennes
See all attractions in The Ardennes
Need to know
- Airport
- Brussels Airport (BRU), then rail and road
- Getting there
- Brussels to Liège 58 min, to Namur 1h06, direct (SNCB averages)
- Getting around
- Car or bike for most loops; trains reach only some towns
- Best base
- La Roche-en-Ardenne, Bouillon or Dinant; Liège or Namur by rail
- Time needed
- 3 to 5 days
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, snow possible
- FebruaryCold, snow possible
- MarchCool, muddy trails
- AprilCool, spring
- MayMild, green
- JuneLong days
- JulyKayak season
- AugustWarm, busy
- SeptemberMild, autumn
- OctoberAutumn color
- NovemberCold, grey
- DecemberCold, lights
Right now in The Ardennes
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
6
- Feels like
- 3°
- Humidity
- 97%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 55%
The Ardennes
11:38 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today7°4°55%Monday: Drizzle. High 7°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 55%.
- Tue7°2°9%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 7°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Wed7°2°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 7°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu8°2°0%Thursday: Clear. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri9°0°4%Friday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sat7°0°8%Saturday: Drizzle. High 7°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sun6°1°10%Sunday: Drizzle. High 6°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 10%.
Updated 10:50 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- JulRock WerchterLeuven, a day trip
- JulLes Francofolies de SpaLiège, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Liège58 min from Brussels by direct trainA city base with museums and a Sunday market at the northern edge.Read the guide
- Namur1h06 from Brussels by direct trainA citadel park and a cable car, with rail links into the Meuse valley.Read the guide
- Luxembourgby car or trainCross the border to the Luxembourg Ardennes, with castles at Vianden and Clervaux.Read the guide
Before you go to The Ardennes
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for The Ardennes, checked
- Bastogne War Museum: adult ticket €28, valid for six months for the museum, Bois Jacques and War Rooms; museum parking €7.50 per vehicle.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around The Ardennes
A city base at the north edge of the Ardennes
Read the guideNamur travel guideThe Citadel park and the Meuse valley gateway
Read the guideLuxembourgThe Luxembourg Ardennes, with Vianden and Clervaux
Read the guideRenting a car abroadInsurance and excess for a rural base
Read the guideInternational driving permitWho needs one before collecting the car
Read the guideAll of BelgiumCombine the Ardennes with cities and the coast
Read the guideThe Ardennes FAQ
Do you need a car in the Ardennes?
For most of it, yes. Trains reach Liège, Namur and a few towns, but trailheads, caves and small villages need a car, a bike or a bus connection. Without a car, base in Namur or Liège and plan one valley at a time.
What is the best base for the Belgian Ardennes?
La Roche-en-Ardenne for the Ourthe valley and its feudal castle, Bouillon for the Semois and its castle, and Dinant for the Meuse. Pick one, since each is a long drive from the others after a day of walking.
When is the best time to visit the Ardennes?
May to September for walking and kayaking, and October for color. Winter brings snow some years, and the official tourism site lists skiing among the winter options. Spring can mean mud on trails and some seasonal sites on reduced hours.
Can you visit Bastogne as a day trip from Brussels?
It is possible by car but long. The Bastogne War Museum lists Libramont as the nearest railway station, with the rest by road or bus. Book your time slot first, and allow time for the Bois Jacques as well.
Ardennes or Liège and Namur: where should you stay?
Choose the Ardennes for a rural base, walking and kayaking. Choose Liège or Namur for museums, trains and evenings out, with the countryside as day trips. Many trips do two nights in a city and two in the hills.