← Leuven Marathon·1 night

Mechelen: A Cathedral Tower and Quiet Canals After Leuven

A small city halfway between Brussels and Antwerp with a very tall cathedral tower, a calm riverside and little crowding.

Duration1 night
TransitSNCB train from Leuven to Mechelen, about 15 to 20 minutes
DepartsLeuven station

After the Leuven Marathon: Mechelen

The Route: Leuven → Mechelen → Brussels Airport Logistics: SNCB train, about 15 to 20 minutes. Mechelen station is about 10 minutes' walk from the Grote Markt. Marathon Month: April Duration: 1 night

Leuven ──(15-20 min, SNCB)──> Mechelen
                                  │
Brussels Airport (BRU) <──(about 15 min, SNCB)──┘

Saint Rumbold's Tower in Mechelen is 97 metres tall and was meant to be taller. The builders reached the plateau of the tower in the early sixteenth century, ran out of money, and left it blunt. It still dominates the city, and its carillon is one of the most famous in the world. A night in Mechelen is a calm way to spend the evening after a marathon.

Buy a ticket in the SNCB app or at the station, and check the planner.

April in Mechelen: highs of 12°C to 14°C, with showers. The bells ring on schedule, so check the carillon concerts if you want to hear them.

Night One: Mechelen

The Grote Markt is flat and cobbled, with the cathedral and town hall on one side. Climbing the tower involves 538 steps, which you should skip for now. From the ground it is just as dominant, and the cathedral interior is free to enter.

The Dyle river runs through the city, and a flat path follows it for a gentle 2 kilometre walk. The Kazerne Dossin, a museum on the Holocaust and human rights, stands on the edge of the centre. Entry is around €10 and prices vary, so use the figure as a guide only. Check the current opening days.

Martin's Patershof is a hotel in a former church and convent, close to the centre. A few smaller hotels and guesthouses are also available. Confirm lifts and breakfast times when you book.

Dinner is easy around the Vismarkt, where cafés serve Belgian dishes such as stew and mussels. Book ahead on weekends.

Mechelen's Zoutwerf quarter has quiet lanes and a canal view, a good place for a short walk at dusk.

Getting to Brussels Airport (BRU)

Mechelen to the airport takes about 15 minutes by train. Check the SNCB planner. The airport station is below the terminal, with lifts.