Mechelen

Day 1: First impressions and the Burgundian heart

Settle into Mechelen’s compact historic core, where everything is walkable and the skyline is ruled by St. Rumbold’s Tower. Today blends headline sights with gentle riverside wandering to get your bearings without rushing.

• Morning: Start on the Grote Markt for a 360° of guildhouses, the belfry and City Hall; pop into the Schepenhuis (tourist info) for a map and tips. Visit St. Rumbold’s Cathedral, then climb the tower to the Skywalk for panoramas (reserve a slot; 538 steps; best clarity on summer mornings).
• Midday: Coffee on the Schoenmarkt, then amble the IJzerenleen to admire patrician façades. Lunch at the Vleeshalle food hall or a terrace on the square; if it’s Saturday, browse the weekly market spread across the centre (go early for produce).
• Afternoon: Explore the Renaissance Museum Hof van Busleyden (allow 90 mins), then follow the Dijlepad floating walkway to Haverwerf for the photogenic trio of houses; best shot from the bridge opposite. From April–October, consider a short boat tour for a waterside perspective.
• Evening: Drift to the Vismarkt for dinner by the river; it’s liveliest from Thursday to Saturday. Sample a Gouden Carolus or Maneblusser; on summer Monday evenings, pause anywhere in the centre to listen to the carillon drift from the tower.

Day 2: Courts, memory and living heritage

Trace Mechelen’s golden age under Margaret of Austria, then reckon with its 20th‑century history. Balance the morning’s grandeur with quiet reflection and end the day in a brewery where tradition still bubbles.

• Morning: Walk the Burgundian quarter: view the Hof van Savoye (Court of Justice) and, on weekdays, step into the Renaissance garden and throne room (keep voices low; it’s a working courthouse). Continue to St. John’s Church to see Rubens’ Adoration of the Magi (check service times; modest dress).
• Midday: Visit Kazerne Dossin memorial and museum (2–3 hours; last entry times vary; emotionally intense—plan a calm coffee after). If time allows, detour to the Basilica of Our Lady of Hanswijk to see Faydherbe’s domed Baroque gem.
• Afternoon: Unwind in the Predikheren library, a superb adaptive‑reuse of a Dominican monastery—find a reading nook in the former nave. Take a riverside break at Lamot; if you skipped yesterday’s boat tour, fit it in now (weather dependent).
• Evening: Dine at Het Anker brewery’s brasserie; try Gouden Carolus Classic with a Flemish stew. Consider a guided brewery tour or beer‑and‑chocolate pairing (book ahead; many museums close on Mondays, but the brewery often doesn’t—always check hours).

Day 3: Beguinages, backstreets and neighbourhood life

Slow the pace and slip into Mechelen’s quieter corners: cloistered lanes, a lone city gate, and baroque splendour on a lived‑in square. Today is about atmosphere and the small details locals love.

• Morning: Wander the Large Beguinage (Groot Begijnhof) and its church in near‑silence—weekday mornings are most tranquil—then the smaller, older beguinage nearby. Pause for coffee on a side‑street terrace and watch the city wake up.
• Midday: Walk out to the Brusselpoort, the last medieval city gate, then loop via the Botanical Garden for a picnic in fair weather. Rainy‑day Plan B: lunch back at Vleeshalle or book a tapestry tour at Royal Manufacturers De Wit (limited times; reserve).
• Afternoon: Cross to the Veemarkt for the imposing St. Peter and St. Paul (former Jesuit) church. Return to Haverwerf for its façades in softer light, then browse Onze‑Lieve‑Vrouwestraat or the Bruul for a few final finds.
• Evening: Toast your trip in a classic brown café—ask for a local recommendation if you like fruity, bitter, or malty beers. For a relaxed farewell, graze at Vleeshalle or book a riverside table; in December, swap this for the atmospheric Christmas market on the Grote Markt, and in late August look out for Maanrock concerts.

Notes and practical tips woven through the days:

• Reserve the tower climb in advance on weekends/holidays; wear sturdy shoes for cobbles and steps.
• Many museums close on Mondays; check hours and consider a Mechelen City Pass if visiting multiple paid sites.
• Churches are active places of worship: keep voices low, shoulders covered, and flash off.
• Accessibility: the historic core is flat but cobbled; the tower is stairs‑only. Modern sites like Kazerne Dossin and Predikheren have good access.

By Air

• Brussels Airport (BRU): ~18 km. Direct SNCB/NMBS trains to Mechelen in about 11–20 minutes (several per hour). By car/taxi: ~25–35 minutes. Note: an airport rail supplement applies.
• Antwerp International Airport (ANR): ~22 km. Bus to Antwerp-Berchem then train to Mechelen; total 45–60 minutes. By car/taxi: ~30–40 minutes.
• Brussels South Charleroi (CRL): ~80 km. Shuttle bus to Brussels-Midi (55–70 minutes) then train to Mechelen (20–30 minutes); total ~1h30–2h. By car: ~1h10–1h30.
• Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) (for long-haul options): trains via Antwerp or Brussels; typically ~1h45–2h30 to Mechelen.

By Train

• Main stations: Mechelen (principal hub, ~10–15 minutes’ walk to the Grote Markt) and Mechelen-Nekkerspoel (handy for the northeast of the centre).
• Frequency: very frequent InterCity services on the Brussels–Antwerp axis stopping at Mechelen (up to every 10–15 minutes at peaks).
• Typical direct times:
  • Brussels (Central/Nord/Midi): ~20–30 minutes
  • Antwerp-Central: ~20 minutes
  • Brussels Airport: ~11–20 minutes
  • Leuven: ~25–35 minutes
• With a change:
  • Ghent: ~55–70 minutes
  • Bruges: ~1h30–1h50
• Tickets: buy via SNCB/NMBS app, machines, or ticket offices.

By Car

• On the E19 motorway between Brussels and Antwerp.
  • Exits: 9 (Mechelen-Noord) and 10 (Mechelen-Zuid).
  • Approximate driving times: Brussels centre ~30–40 minutes; Antwerp centre ~25–35 minutes (traffic-dependent).
• Parking: use signed car parks such as Lamot, Kathedraal, Grote Markt, Tinel, or edge-of-centre options (e.g., Keerdok) and walk/shuttle in.
• The historic core is largely pedestrianised with many one-way streets; follow the signed P-route for car parks.