Before you go

Your trip to Mechelen.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Mechelen – Antuérpia Destination Antuérpia and Mechelen about 26 km from Antuérpia

How to get there

  • Mechelen 2 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Mechelen is on the line between Brussels and Antwerp. Trains take about 20 minutes from Brussels and 15–20 minutes from Antwerp, with several departures per hour. From Brussels Airport there is a direct train in about 15 minutes. From Mechelen station to the Grote Markt is roughly a 15-minute walk.

How many days

A full day is enough to climb the tower, see the Grote Markt, the Hof van Busleyden and the Begijnhof. With Kazerne Dossin, which takes a few hours, it’s worth staying overnight or splitting the visit over two days. Many people make Mechelen a day trip from Brussels or Antwerp.

When to go

Between May and September the days are long, the terraces on the Grote Markt fill up and there are usually carillon concerts in summer. From November to February it is cold and rainy, but museums operate normally. For the tower climb, choose a clear day.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

No. Trains link Mechelen with Brussels, Antwerp and the airport in a few minutes, and the historic centre is explored on foot. There are city buses between the station and the centre.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Mechelen
  1. Morning
    Tower of Sint-Rombout

    Walk out of the station to the Grote Markt and climb the 538 steps of the cathedral tower to the Skywalk. Afterwards, see the interior of the church.

  2. Afternoon
    Grote Markt and Hof van Busleyden

    Have lunch near the Grote Markt, look at the Stadhuis and the Schepenhuis, and visit the Hof van Busleyden to learn about Burgundian Mechelen.

  3. Late afternoon
    Groot Begijnhof

    Walk through the quiet streets of the Groot Begijnhof and pass the baroque church of Saint Alexius and Saint Catherine.

  4. Evening
    Dinner in the centre and train back

    Dine near the Grote Markt or on the streets by the river Dijle and return by train to Brussels or Antwerp.

2 days in Mechelen

Day 1

  1. Morning
    Cathedral and tower climb

    Start with the Sint-Rombout tower in the morning, then tour the interior of the cathedral.

  2. Afternoon
    Hof van Busleyden

    Spend the afternoon at the museum on the Burgundian period and in the palace’s inner garden.

  3. Late afternoon
    Grote Markt and pedestrian streets

    Return to the Grote Markt and walk along the Bruul and the IJzerenleen, the centre’s shopping streets.

  4. Evening
    Illuminated facades

    Have dinner in the centre and see the square and tower illuminated at night.

Day 2

  1. Morning
    Kazerne Dossin

    Set aside the morning for the museum and memorial about the Holocaust in Belgium, without rushing.

  2. Afternoon
    Groot Begijnhof and Het Anker

    Walk to the Groot Begijnhof and visit the Het Anker brewery on the edge of the complex.

  3. Late afternoon
    Toy museum

    Before the train, visit the Speelgoedmuseum, which operates in the station building itself.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

Are Mechelen and Malines the same city?

Yes. Mechelen is the Flemish name, used on signs and at stations. Malines is the French name.

Is it worth making a day trip to Mechelen?

Yes. The city is about 20 minutes by train from Brussels and Antwerp, and the centre can be explored on foot in a day.

What language is spoken in Mechelen?

Flemish. In museums, restaurants and at the tourist office English is usually well understood.

Can you get to Mechelen directly from the airport?

Yes. There is a direct train from Brussels Airport to Mechelen station, with a journey of about 15 minutes.

What is Mechelen's connection to Charles V?

The future emperor Charles V spent his childhood in Mechelen at the court of his aunt, Margaret of Austria. The Gouden Carolus beer, brewed in the city, is named after him.

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