17+ Best Things to do in Namur, Belgium

This post is also available in: French

Looking for the best things to do in Namur, Belgium? From epic views at the top of the citadel and historic town squares to quirky art and boat rides, there’s truly something to do in Namur for everyone.

Namur is a small city standing at the confluence of rivers Meuse and Sambre is the capital of Wallonia in South Belgium. On my recent visit to Belgium, I decided to spend a day exploring this beautiful city with the imposing citadel.

Its compact size makes it very easy to explore on foot and I was able to take off many of the best things to do in Namur in just one day, though there’s plenty to do if you decide to extend your stay a bit!

Namur Belgium FAQs

The Best Things to do in Namur, Belgium

Explore the  Citadel

The Citadel dominates the sky of Namur, standing between the rivers Meuse and Sambre. Built during the Roman era the citadel has been rebuilt several times since then and is considered one of the best-preserved fortresses in Europe. The climb can be steep but the breathtaking views of the valley, rivers and city will compensate you. On the citadel, there is the Terra Nova Visitor Centre where you can discover the urban and military history of Namur.

During the tourist season, April till October there are a number of tours also available.

• The Medieval Tour where you will learn about life in the Citadel during the Middle Ages.
• A tour of the Underground Galleries.
• Guided tour of the grounds with a tourist train.

Another interesting site is the Guy Delforge Perfumery, a unique centre in Nothern Europe that shows visitors how perfume is produced in the cellars of the citadel.

For more information visit: www.namurtourisme.be

Take a Ride on the Cable Car

Want the epic views from the Namur citadel without the hike? The city also has a cable car, that runs from the city centre to the citadel. It’s closed during the winter, so I didn’t get to try it out but it runs daily from March to October, from 10am or 1030am until 5pm.

The Namur cable car costs 7.5 euro round trip or 5 euro one way, as of April 2023.

Walk along the waterfront

Although I visited Namur during winter, I really enjoyed a walk on the banks of river Meuse, with the picturesque houses and the citadel on the back. During the summer the river comes alive where you can board on a cruise or take part in other water activities like stand up paddling or even renting a licence-free boat.

Visit Place d’Armes

Place d’ Armes is a square in the centre of Namur with impressive buildings like the Palais des Congres that used to be the old stock exchange and now is used as a convention centre.

Photograph the Famous Statues

One particularly quirky thing about Namur is the statues throughout the city. At the side of Place d’Armes, you will see the statue of the famous snail, the unofficial symbol of the city and Françwès and Djoseph, two figures created by the painter and cartoonist Jean Legrand, which represent the tranquil philosophy of the people of Namur.

See the Belfry of Namur

Another important site at the square is the Belfry, declared as a UNESCO Heritage Site along with other Belfries across Belgium and France. This happens to be the only UNESCO site in Namur, so it’s worth strolling by at the very least.

The Belfry was built in 1388 as a tower and part of the city wall and originally known as “Tour de Saint-Jacques”. It become the Belfry of Namur in 1745. Unlike other belfries in Belgium, you cannot enter this one.

Explore the Old Town

The narrow streets of the old town with the colourful houses from the 17th and 18th century are perfect for a leisurely stroll. Along the way,  you will also find many shops, cafes and restaurants. You will also see the baroque Church of Saint Loup and the Saint Aubain Cathedral built in late baroque style. Namur boasts a couple of interesting museums like the Felicien Rops museum that houses works of the homonym artist, the Archaeological museum with a collection of prehistoric and Gallo-Roman antiquities and the Provincial Museum of Ancient Art from the Namur region.

Visit the Church of Saint-Loup

Also known as Saint-Ignace Jesuit Church, Church of Saint-Loup is dedicated to Saint Ignatius. It was built between 1621 and 1645 and is considered one of the most beautiful baroque buildings not just in Namur but in all of Belgium.

It’s free to enter the church during visiting hours on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday but even outside visiting hours, you can peek inside through the glass windows.

Take a Stroll Down Rue de Fer

One of the main streets in Old Town, Rue de Fer is the place to go if you want to get some shopping done while in Namur. You can find everything from Zara to high end local shops along the street. And, pro tip: You can find public toilets at the City Hall on Rue de Fer.

Enjoy the Gastronomy of the region

There are many local delicacies to enjoy in Namur. The area is famous for the Wepion strawberries (there is also a strawberry museum), the snails that are known as the “Petits-Gris de Namur”, and the “Blanche de Namur” the local white beer. During 2017 the tourism office of Namur organises guided gastronomical walks, some Saturdays and Sundays between May and October where you will discover the regional specialties.

Enjoy local beer

While sampling the local food, go ahead and sample the local beer too!

There are not currently any breweries in the city of Namur but you can find beer from breweries from the Namur province in local bars. Keep an eye out for Trappist Rochefort, famous for being brewed by the monks at Abbaye Notre Dame de St.Remy.

Find the Small, Old Men

Why is finding small, old men on the list of best things to do in Namur? Let me explain…

Spanish artist Isaac Cordal created 45 statues of miniature businessmen, about 15cm tall, and scattered them throughout the city. It was his way of making visitors think about beaucracy and politics, as the men are elderly businessmen holding briefcases, looking at their phones, etc.

Searching for them can be a fun way to explore the city, starting in the garden of City Hall. You can find a map to follow at the bottom of this page.

Visit the Many Museums

One of the best things to do in Namur if you’re on a budget? Visit the museums!

As you might expect, the city is filled with little museums on a wide variety of subjects. And the best part? Most of them are free to enter – and those that aren’t tend to cost just a few euro!

Here are a few to consider checking out:

• Musée Africain (African Museum) – €4
• Commando Museum – FREE
• Strawberry Museum (Musée de la Fraise) – €5
• Museum of Archeology – FREE
• IT Museum – €8
• Diocesan Museum – €3

Go On An Art Walk

In addition to the quirky statues, Namur also has a lot of pretty cool street art. In fact, the tourism board has released a street art walking tour that you can follow, if edgy murals are more of interest than tiny statues of old men.

And the best part, it’s free!

Take A River Boat Tour

Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to do this as I was visiting in winter but one of the best things to do in Namur is to join a boat tour along the Meuse River.

Unlike other tours, there’s no need to book in advance here. You can just go to the dock in Old Town and join the next one going out. The most common cruises are about 50 minutes and you’ll get stunning views of the Citadel and the city.

Rent a Kayak

Another way to get out on the water is to rent a kayak or paddleboard from Les Capitaineries in Port de Jambes. Like the river boat tour above, this is a seasonal activity that runs from spring to fall.

Take a Day Trip to Dinant

If you have more than a day to spend in Namur, you may want to consider taking the 30 minute train ride to Dinant. It’s actually one of the more popular places to visit in Belgium, as the second largest town in the region of Condroz and an important tourist center of the Ardennes.

Located along the Meuse River, Dinant is lush and green and it really comes alive on the weekends, when you’ll find lots of boats along the shore banks. Be sure to check out the citadel and wander the Place Rein Astrid before heading back to Namur.

Where to stay in Namur

During my visit in Namur, I stayed at The Hotel Les Tanneurs de Namur, a 4-star hotel situated in the old town, minutes away on foot from the central station, the river, the citadel and the historical centre.  The hotel is actually 11 old houses connected, that give a certain charm and style to the premises. I had a spacious room with a comfortable double bed, a seating area and a big bathroom with a corner bathtub. Other room amenities included a writing desk, a fully stocked mini-bar, a TV, air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi. The breakfast buffet was served on the ground floor and had a variety of cooked and fresh products.

Even if you don’t stay at the hotel a visit to its restaurant, Le Grill des Tanneurs is a must (reservations are required). The restaurant serves charcoal-grilled dishes, fish and salads. We had one of our best meals there and totally recommend it.

Hotel Les Tanneurs de Namur, Rue des Tanneries, 13 5000 Namur Belgium, Tel: 0032 81 24 00 24

http://www.tanneurs.com/en/

Other Places to Stay in Namur:

• BED Namur
• La Bergerie de Lives

How to Get To Namur

Namur can easily be reached from other cities in Belgium, like Ghent and Brussels.

To get to Namur from Brussels, you can take the train for approximately €10 one way. The train runs 2-3 times an hour and it takes about an hour to get there.

To get to Namur from Ghent, it will take you about 2 hours and €20 each way, with several busses running per day.

When Is The Best Time to Visit Namur?

Namur can be visited year-round but keep in mind that snow is likely in the winter. For the best weather, consider planning your trip between May and September when the weather is warm or mild. Namur doesn’t get as crowded as other European destinations, so there’s not as much overcrowding during the summer months (yet).

As you can see from the photos, I visited during the winter and had a pleasant trip. There was no snow but some activities, like the boat ride and cable car, were unavailable, so that’s something to keep in mind as well.

If you are planning a trip to Belgium, you should definitely include the charming city of Namur on your itinerary.

Have you been to Namur? Did you like it?

I was a guest of Visit Namur, but as always opinions are my own.

Sharing is caring!