Tournai

Day 1: Old town orientation and first tastes Settle into Tournai’s compact UNESCO-listed centre, where everything is within a pleasant stroll. Today eases you into local rituals and the classic flavours Tournaisiens prize.

• Morning: Start on the Grand-Place at Maison Legrand (Grand-Place 4) for coffee and Palets de Dame. Take your time at the counter, point to what you want (don’t touch the display), and ask “Quelle est votre spécialité ?” for guidance; note many artisanal shops close on Mondays and around lunch.
• Midday: Explore the Cathedral and Belfry nearby; climb the Belfry for sweeping views. In warmer months, Legrand’s fruit tarts (strawberry, raspberry) make a light lunch-dessert; in winter, look out for early hints of Bûche de Noël designs in the window.
• Afternoon: Walk five minutes to Chocolaterie Pilate (Rue de l’Hôpital Notre-Dame 3) for a hand-picked ballotin of pralines (budget €7–10 per 100g). Say “surtout du noir” if you prefer dark; include a classic ganache and a praliné to taste the difference, then stroll the River Scheldt quays.
• Evening: Dine near the river and finish with a slice of Gâteau Clovis back at Legrand’s tea room or a cosy café. Tip: pralines are typically enjoyed after coffee at the end of a meal—bring a small selection back to your accommodation for a proper Belgian finish.

Day 2: Legends, artisans, and hidden sweets Today connects the city’s royal past to its confections, from bee legends to coal-black candies. You’ll meet guardian artisans and compare traditional sweets with modern flavours.

• Morning: Head to Pâtisserie Quenoy (Place Crombez 2, near the station), a fifth-generation house. Try Ballons Noirs (the black, pyramidal hard candies made in copper pans since 1834) and Abeilles Childéric; settle into the tearoom with Mariage Frères tea or local Cinq Clochers coffee.
• Midday: Visit the Museum of Archaeology to contextualise Childeric’s golden bees (which inspired local bee-shaped treats). Grab a simple lunch nearby, then pace yourself—most shops reopen after a short lunch break (roughly 12:30–14:00).
• Afternoon: Slip into Confiserie Masure (Rue de la Cordonnerie 10) for old-style sweets: cuberdons, nougat, marzipan. Continue to Daskalidès (Rue de la Tête d’Or 11) for a Manon Café and, season permitting, limited-edition flavours like yuzu or Szechuan pepper; ask about single-origin cocoa if you’re curious.
• Evening: Sunset amble along the Scheldt and back through the Grand-Place. In cooler months, pair a few dark ganaches with a robust coffee; in summer, switch to lighter, fruit-led pralines or a seasonal tart for a refreshing close.

Day 3: Sunday rituals and take-home treats Embrace local rhythms: easy mornings, family pastries, and thoughtful gifts. If you can plan this day for Sunday, you’ll see the city at its sweetest and most authentic.

• Morning: Join the Sunday queue at a top pâtisserie like Maison Legrand (doors often open in the morning only). Pick up pastries and, if you didn’t yesterday, a whole Gâteau Clovis to share; otherwise, compare Palets de Dame from a neighbourhood bakery marked “Fabrication Maison.”
• Midday: Picnic on a bench facing the Cathedral or settle into a tea room; many independents take a Monday closure and a midday pause, so shop earlier. December visitors should browse the Marché de Noël in the Halle aux Draps for waffles, croustillons, and seasonal chocolates; around Easter, look for ornate chocolate eggs and bells.
• Afternoon: Build your gift haul: a 250g ballotin from Pilate or Daskalidès, plus a decorative tin of Desobry biscuits made in Tournai (ideal for travel). Packing tip: keep chocolates cool and out of sun; in hotter months, ask for insulation and carry them, don’t check them—hard candies like Ballons Noirs travel best.
• Evening: Create a mini dégustation: taste a sequence of dark ganache, praliné, manon, then a Ballon Noir, noticing how sweetness and texture shift course by course. Stroll past the illuminated Belfry and Cathedral to end—an unhurried, very Belgian way to say au revoir.

By Air

• Brussels Airport (BRU): ~95 km. Train via Brussels-Midi to Tournai in about 1 h 30–1 h 50; by car ~1 h 10 via E429/A8.
• Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL): ~100 km. Bus to Charleroi-Sud then train (usually via Mons or Ath) in about 1 h 45–2 h 15; by car ~1 h 10–1 h 20 via E42.
• Lille Airport (LIL – Lesquin, France): ~35 km. Shuttle/bus to Lille-Flandres then train to Tournai (total ~45–60 min); by car ~30–40 min via A27/E42.

By Train

• Main station: Tournai (SNCB/NMBS), ~15 minutes’ walk to the historic centre.
• Brussels: Direct InterCity services to/from Brussels-Midi typically 1 h 05–1 h 25 (some trains continue to Central/North).
• Lille-Flandres (France): ~25–35 min; cross-border services operated by SNCB/SNCF TER.
• Kortrijk: ~20–30 min; frequent regional/IC services.
• Ghent: ~1 h 10–1 h 30 (usually via Kortrijk).
• Mons: ~45–60 min (often with a change at Ath or Saint-Ghislain).
• Antwerp: ~1 h 55–2 h 20 via Brussels.
• Tickets and timetables: SNCB app/website; for Lille, check both SNCB and SNCF TER.

By Bus

• Regional buses (TEC Hainaut) link Tournai with nearby towns and villages; main hub at the railway station. Useful for local connections; services can be limited in the evening and on Sundays.

By Car

• From Brussels: ~1 h via E429/A8.
• From Lille: ~30–40 min via A27/E42.
• From Ghent: ~55–70 min via E17 then connections to E42.
• From Mons: ~35–45 min via E42.
• Parking: Paid on-street and multi-storey options near the centre; the historic core is pedestrian-friendly, so consider central car parks and walk.