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Before you go
Your trip to Tongeren.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Tongeren – Limburg Destination Hasselt and Tongeren about 20 km from Hasselt
How to get there
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Liège Airport (LGG) Grâce-Hollogne · 35 km
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Brussels Airport (BRU) Zaventem · 95 km
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Station Tongeren 1 km
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
From Hasselt, trains take about 20 minutes. IC 20 runs directly from Brussels to Tongeren via Hasselt, and other trains continue to Liège. The station is about a 10-minute walk from the Grote Markt. Liège airport is around 35 km away.
How many days
A full day is enough for the Gallo-Romeins Museum, the basilica with the Teseum, the beguinage and the Roman wall. Visitors who come on a Sunday for the antiques market should add the morning to this itinerary or spend the night in town.
When to go
All year round, because the museums are indoors. From May to September the long days make it easier to walk along the wall and around the beguinage. In August the city usually holds a Roman festival. On Sunday mornings there is usually an antiques market.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
No. The center is small and everything is within walking distance: from the station to the Grote Markt is about 10 minutes, and from the beguinage to the Roman wall about 15. The train from Hasselt takes care of the round trip.
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 Tongeren
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Morning
Gallo-Romeins Museum
Arrive early by train and go straight to the Gallo-Romeins Museum on Kielenstraat. The route starts with the Neanderthals and ends at the end of the Roman period. On Sundays, visit the antiques market first.
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Afternoon
Basilica and Teseum
Have lunch near the Grote Markt and greet the statue of Ambiorix. Enter the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwebasiliek and go down to the archaeological site of the Teseum; if you want, climb the tower.
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Late afternoon
Beguinage and Moerenpoort
Walk to the Sint-Catharinabegijnhof on the banks of the river Jeker, and pass by the Moerenpoort, the medieval gate beside it.
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Evening
Roman wall and dinner
On a clear day, follow Legioenenlaan to see the 2nd-century wall. Then return to the center for dinner or take the train to Hasselt.
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
Why is Tongeren the oldest city in Belgium?
Because it began as Atuatuca Tungrorum, the Roman capital of the region, and is the only Roman administrative capital within the country's borders. Sections of the 2nd-century wall and finds beneath the basilica demonstrate this origin.
Can you do a day trip from Hasselt?
Yes. The train takes about 20 minutes and Tongeren's center is walkable. A full day is sufficient for the main sights.
When is the antiques market?
It usually takes place on Sunday mornings, with hundreds of exhibitors spread across the Leopoldwal, the Veemarkt and the nearby streets. Arrive early, because the best items sell quickly.
Who was Ambiorix?
He was the leader of the Eburones, a people of the region who opposed Julius Caesar's legions in the 1st century BC. He became a national hero in the 19th century, and his statue has stood on the Grote Markt since 1866.
Did the city change its name?
In 2025 Tongeren merged with Borgloon and the municipality was renamed Tongeren-Borgloon. The town and the signs still retain the name Tongeren.