Wallonia
Wallonia is Belgium’s French-speaking southern region, known for the forested Ardennes, cities along the Meuse and Sambre rivers, and local food such as Liège waffles.
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Wallonia is the French-speaking southern region of Belgium. Namur is its capital, while Charleroi is its most populous city. Most major cities and about two-thirds of the population lie along the east-west Sambre and Meuse valley, once the center of Belgium’s coal and steel industries. South and southeast of the valley, the Ardennes is a forested highland with caves and small gorges. Bastogne, Dinant, Durbuy and Spa are popular bases for exploring it.
In the valley, visit cities such as Liège and see Mosan Romanesque art, including the baptismal font by Renier de Huy at St. Bartholomew’s Church in Liège. Regional specialties include Liège waffles, Ardennes ham and Dinant’s flamiche, a cheese tart best eaten straight from the oven. SNCB trains connect places across Wallonia, and TEC runs buses and trams. A car can help you reach smaller Ardennes destinations, though the region’s roads are part of Belgium’s wider motorway network. Choose your bases around the places you want to visit: the valley’s cities and the Ardennes are distinct parts of the region.
Wallonia in five
- Use SNCB for intercity trainsSNCB runs Wallonia’s rail network. Check its journey planner for connections between cities before choosing a base.
- Check TEC for local busesTEC runs buses and trams across Wallonia. Charleroi is the region’s only city with a metro system, the Charleroi Pre-metro.
- Choose your airport by destinationBrussels South Charleroi Airport is a major low-cost airport. Liège Airport mainly handles freight, with some tourist-oriented charter flights.
- Learn the local number wordsBelgian French uses septante for 70 and nonante for 90. German is also an official language in the East Cantons.
- Try the Liège waffle in LiègeThe rich, dense, sweet, chewy waffle is sold in shops and vending machines across Belgium.
Neighborhoods
The Ardennes
- Price band: $$
Liège
- Price band: $$
Namur
- Price band: $$
Things to do in Wallonia
See all attractions in Wallonia
Need to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry
- Schengen entry rules depend on your passport
- Emergency
- 112 fire and ambulance; 101 police
- Tipping
- Not expected
- Time
- UTC+1, UTC+2 during daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, damp
- FebruaryCold, quiet
- MarchEarly spring
- AprilSpring days
- MayMild, longer days
- JuneSummer festivals
- JulySummer break
- AugustWarm, busy
- SeptemberWalloon feast
- OctoberAutumn color
- NovemberCool, damp
- DecemberChristmas season
Right now in Wallonia
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
7
- Feels like
- 5°
- Humidity
- 96%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 38%
Wallonia
10:57 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today9°5°38%Monday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 38%.
- Tue8°1°12%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Wed9°1°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 9°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°1°0%Thursday: Clear. High 9°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri10°0°2%Friday: Clear. High 10°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sat9°1°8%Saturday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sun9°4°8%Sunday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 8%.
Updated 10:17 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Coming up
Every year
- JulTomorrowlandAntwerp, a day trip
- JulRock WerchterLeuven, a day trip
- JulLes Francofolies de SpaLiège, a day trip
- AugFlower Carpet of BrusselsBrussels, a day trip
Day trips by train
- The Ardennesdepends on your starting pointHead south for forested highlands, caves and small gorges.Read the guide
- Liègedepends on your starting pointVisit the Meuse valley city and St Bartholomew’s Church, home to a Romanesque baptismal font by Renier de Huy.Read the guide
- Namurdepends on your starting pointExplore Wallonia’s capital in the Sambre and Meuse valley.Read the guide
Before you go to Wallonia
Rules for Wallonia, checked
- Check Belgium’s short-stay visa rules for your passport with the Belgian Immigration Office before travelling.Source
- Carry a passport or national identity card; Belgium is part of the Schengen Area.
- French is the main language in Wallonia; German is also official in the East Cantons.
Plan around Wallonia
Wallonia FAQ
What is Wallonia known for?
Wallonia is Belgium’s French-speaking southern region. Visitors come for the forested Ardennes, cities along the Sambre and Meuse valleys, and local food such as Liège waffles and Dinant flamiche.
What is the capital of Wallonia?
Namur is the capital of Wallonia. Charleroi is the region’s most populous city.
What language is spoken in Wallonia?
French is the region’s official and most-used language. German is also official in the East Cantons, and regional languages include Walloon, Picard and Lorrain.
How do you get around Wallonia?
SNCB runs the region’s rail network, and TEC operates its buses and trams. Charleroi has the only metro system in Wallonia, the Charleroi Pre-metro.
Which airport should I use for Wallonia?
Brussels South Charleroi Airport is a major low-cost airport and an alternative to Brussels Airport. Liège Airport mainly handles freight and also has some tourist-oriented charter flights.
Where are the Ardennes in Wallonia?
The Ardennes lie in the south and southeast of Wallonia. The forested highland has caves and small gorges; popular destinations include Bastogne, Dinant, Durbuy and Spa.