Dinant is one of Belgium’s most picturesque towns and an easy day trip from Namur or Brussels.
Pastel-hued buildings line the River Meuse beneath a craggy cliff, gathered around the onion-domed Notre Dame Church, while a clifftop citadel looks down over it all. Home to Leffe beer and famous as the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, this lovely town in French-speaking Wallonia has something for every traveller.
Here’s what to do during a day in Dinant.
Is One Day in Dinant Enough?
You can hit the highlights of Dinant in half a day. I spent three hours here, filling in time before checking into my guesthouse in Namur. The town is compact and easy to walk around, without a huge number of must-see sights.
My one caveat is that you should factor in queueing time if you plan to take the cable car to Dinant Citadel. When I visited on a busy Sunday afternoon, the queue snaked back to the bridge.
I started my day trip by walking over the Charles de Gaulle Bridge to the Citadel and Notre Dame Church before exploring the town and riverside promenade. I finished with a cool beer in the garden at Maison Leffe.
Don’t Miss These Things to Do in Dinant
Check out the saxophone sculptures on the Charles de Gaulle Bridge
There has been a bridge at this point in the River Meuse since Roman times, but this one dates from 1953. It is dedicated to Charles de Gaulle, who was wounded nearby in 1914, and there’s a life-sized statue of him close by.
Pont Charles de Gaulle is lined with massive saxophone sculptures, a nod to Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone.
He was born in Dinant and the town has several saxophone-themed attractions, including more of these colourful saxophone sculptures and the Adolphe Sax House (Maison Adolphe Sax), a small interactive museum dedicated to his life and inventions.
Visit Dinant Citadel (Citadelle de Dinant)
Rebuilt several times over the centuries, Dutch occupiers constructed today’s citadel between 1818 and 1821. It saw heavy fighting in both world wars and there’s a memorial to those who lost their lives here.
Dinant Citadel is now home to a museum exhibiting military bits and bobs with a focus on the WWI battles.
The entrance is next to the Notre Dame Church. You can either climb 408 steps to the clifftop or take the cable car. There’s a lovely café at the top if you are feeling peckish.
For more information, including opening hours and ticket prices, visit the official website.
2026 UPDATE: The cable car is closed for major renovation until Spring 2027 at the earliest. At the time of updating this guide (July 2026), the only way to reach the citadel is on foot or by car.
Explore the Collegiate Church of Notre Dame
At the base of the citadel lies the Collegiate Church of Notre Dame. This Gothic church, with its distinctive onion-shaped dome, replaces a 10th-century Romanesque church which collapsed in the 13th century.
The interior is plain, but I loved the gilded altarpiece, the carved pulpit and the stained-glass windows, including the Ladon Window, one of the largest in Europe.
Stroll around the town and along the river promenade
It might seem a little lame, , but wandering the few streets behind the River Meuse is one of the best ways to spend time in Dinant. It won’t take long, but look out for the war memorial and town hall, and the saxophone-shaped water clock, as you go.
The promenade along the River Meuse is ideal for a slow walk, with cafes and restaurants where you can watch the boats pass over a coffee or a meal. For a different view of the town, take a 45-minute river cruise.
A combination ticket covering the citadel, cable car and river cruise can save you money.
Go beer tasting at Maison Leffe
I confess this was my favourite thing to do in Dinant.
Housed in a former abbey, Maison Leffe is a museum dedicated to the famous Leffe beer. The setting is magnificent: the Gothic ribbed ceilings, choir stalls and stained glass have all been preserved.
Touchscreens guide you through the history of the beer and food pairings (my favourite part), in your language of choice, and there’s a quiz at the end to see how much you’ve learnt.
I finished with a glass of Ruby Leffe in the garden overlooking the town, and left with a free Leffe glass. Cheers!
Getting There
Frequent rail services connect Dinant and Namur, 30 minutes apart by train. If you are visiting Dinant as a day trip from Brussels, you are looking at a journey time of 1 hour 50 minutes with a change of train at Namur.
Dinant train station is a 5-minute walk from Pont Charles de Gaulle.
Where to next?
I hope this helps you make the most of a day in Dinant, with time to spare to visit Namur too. If you can’t decide between the two, my Dinant or Namur guide covers how to see both in a day.
For more of Belgium, take a look at my 7-day Belgium itinerary and guide to travelling solo in Belgium. In Brussels, don’t miss my 24-hour itinerary, or day trips to Mechelen, Tournai and Ostend. Further north, I’ve written about what to do in Ghent, where to stay, whether the Ghent City Card is worth buying, and the best chocolate shops in Bruges. I’ve also covered a day in Leuven and its botanical garden, plus whether it’s worth visiting Hasselt, including Japanse Tuin and the Jenever Museum
Happy travels!
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.