Before you go

Your trip to Durbuy.

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

Durbuy – Luxemburgo Destination Ardennes

How to get there

Barvaux Barvaux-sur-Ourthe · 4 km

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

By car, Durbuy is about an hour and a half from Brussels and less than an hour from Liège. By train, the nearest station is Barvaux, on the line linking Liège to Marloie; from there it's about 4 km, covered by taxi, local bus or on foot along the Ourthe. Check before buying.

How many days

Half a day is enough for the old centre, the Parc des Topiaires and the Halle aux Blés. A full day includes the Rocher de la Falize and a walk along the riverbanks. With two days you have time for the Wéris dolmens and to go down the Ourthe by kayak.

When to go

In spring and summer, from May to September, the boxwood in the Parc des Topiaires is green and clipped and kayaks go down the Ourthe. July, August and weekends fill the narrow streets. Autumn colours the surrounding slopes. In winter activity falls and the days are short and damp.

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

Do you need a car?

It's very helpful. The centre is explored on foot, but Barvaux station is 4 km away and the Wéris dolmens, about 10 km away, don't have frequent transport. There are car parks at the town entrance, because the cobbled lanes in the centre are not made for cars.

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 Durbuy

Morning
Parc des Topiaires
Start at the Parc des Topiaires on the left bank of the Ourthe, and look among the boxwood figures for the elephant, the crocodiles and the vegetal Manneken Pis.
Afternoon
Old centre and Halle aux Blés
Cross the bridge, enter the cobbled lanes and visit the Halle aux Blés, which houses the town's history and art museum. Stop by the church Saint-Nicolas.
Late afternoon
Rocher de la Falize
Climb the path that skirts the Rocher de la Falize and observe the limestone layers folded in an arch, with the castle d'Ursel just below.
Evening
Dinner among stone walls
Dine at one of the restaurants on the Place aux Foires or in the town's lanes, which are lit and quiet after the tour groups leave.

2 days in Durbuy

Day 1

Morning
Topiary by the Ourthe
Visit the Parc des Topiaires early, before the groups arrive, and go up to the terrace to see the castle on the other side of the river.
Afternoon
Cobbled streets and Halle aux Blés
Walk through the old centre, enter the Halle aux Blés and follow the 2.5 km geobalade that runs along the old river arm.
Late afternoon
Anticlinal da Falize
Circle the Rocher de la Falize and finish at the small pond with a fountain, at the foot of the rock.
Evening
Illuminated center
Dine in the old centre and take a walk over the bridge across the Ourthe to see the castle lit up.

Day 2

Morning
Wéris dolmens
Drive to Wéris and visit the Maison des Mégalithes in the village centre before seeing the Wéris I dolmen by the roadside.
Afternoon
Menhirs and the village of Wéris
Continue to the Oppagne dolmen and the region's menhirs and have lunch in the village, which is part of the Plus Beaux Villages de Wallonie list.
Late afternoon
Kayaking on the Ourthe
In season, from April to September, do the short kayak stretch between Durbuy and Bomal, with a return by the company's bus.
Evening
Barvaux-sur-Ourthe
Eat in Barvaux, where the station is, if you plan to travel by train the next day.

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

Is Durbuy really the smallest city in the world?

That's the nickname the town uses. Durbuy was granted city status in 1331 and has a small old centre, but the whole municipality has more than 11,000 inhabitants. By official Belgian criteria, the smallest city in the country is Mesen, in Flandres.

What language is spoken in Durbuy?

French, as in all of Valônia. Because it receives many Dutch and Flemish visitors, menus and attraction signs also often appear in Dutch and frequently in English.

Can you enter Durbuy's castle?

No. The castle belongs to the d'Ursel family, who still live there, and it is not open to visitors. It is clearly visible from the Parc des Topiaires, from the bridge over the Ourthe and from the path that circles the Rocher de la Falize.

Is Durbuy a good base for exploring the Ardennes?

It's convenient for the northern part: Wéris is about 10 km away, La Roche-en-Ardenne about half an hour by car and Liège less than an hour. For Bouillon, further south, the trip takes more than an hour and a half, and it's worth staying overnight there.

Back to Durbuy