A Weekend Trip: 5 Best Things To Do in Mechelen
After having visited Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp, and even Ghent – I was on the hunt for an underrated Belgian city that was quieter and lesser known for my next trip to the country, and I happily stumbled across Mechelen.
Street view of Mechelen, Belgium; October 2025
Mechelen, with under 90,000 people inhabiting the city, is a smaller place to visit in Belgium known for the commanding Saint Rumbold's Cathedral and narrow, charming shopping streets.
If you’ve already visited the major cities in Belgium and are looking for an underrated place in Belgium to visit – Mechelen may be worth a shot, but bear in mind that the city is very small and is best for a weekend trip.
Is Mechelen Worth Visiting?
I would say Mechelen is worth visiting, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to see it again or put it first on my list of Belgian cities to see – I would definitely visit other cities in Belgium like Bruges or Ghent before making your way to Mechelen. It’s not that Mechelen is bad, it’s just that it’s much smaller and less catered to tourists than the other cities – which could leaving you feel a little “lacking” in Belgian culture unless you’ve deeply explored the rest of the country already like I have.
Grote Markt in Mechelen, Belgium; October 2025
How Many Days Should I Spend in Mechelen?
Mechelen is so tiny, you only need one full day to see it and honestly – you could even explore Mechelen as a day trip from Brussels if you wanted to, given it’s roughly only 30 minutes away by train.
What Language Do They Speak in Mechelen?
I was hoping my near fluent French would come in handy in Mechelen, and while it did for grocery store labels or food packaging – it was next to useless when being out and about as they primarily speak Dutch in Mechelen. You’ll hear both French and Dutch on trains or within the train station, but in stores or at tourist attractions – they speak in Dutch.
Wandering around Mechelen, Belgium; October 2025
Is Mechelen Safe For Tourists?
Yes, Mechelen is absolutely safe for tourists – as it’s very family friendly. That being said, I would just ensure to practice typical safety precautions while in less touristic areas and while at the train station. This is because there are little to no tourists in Mechelen, and if you don’t look like you know where you’re going or what you’re doing – it could cause trouble, such as being a target for pit pocketing.
5 Best Things to Do in Mechelen
1. Climb Up to Saint Rumbalds Tower & Skywalk
I would say if you only have time for one main tourist attraction while in Mechelen – climbing up to the top of Saint Rumbland’s Tower is a must.
View of Saint Rumbland’s Tower in Mechelen, Belgium; October 2025
How Many Steps Is It To the Top of Saint Rumbland’s Tower?
It’s a whopping 538 steps to climb all the way to the top of Saint Rumbland’s Tower in Mechelen – so be sure to wear comfortable sneakers or even athletic wear if you plan on making it all the way up to the Skywalk!
Truthfully, in all of my years of climbing up European towers and castles – I don’t think I’ve ever climbed up one this high. It’s very doable, especially if you’re in shape – but this one might be a pass for people with sensitive knees or who can’t handle high levels of physical activity. There is no elevator at all in Saint Rumbland’s Tower.
How Much Does It Cost To Go Up Saint Rumbland’s Tower?
It costs €8 for an adult ticket to go up the tower, but you can get a discount of €6 per person if you go up the tower in a group of 10 people. Children only cost €3, and teacher’s or people with a European Disability Card can also be entitled to a discounted price of € 6.
View from Saint Rumbland’s Tower in Mechelen, Belgium; October 2025
Is It Worth Climbing to the Top of Saint Rumbald’s Tower in Mechelen?
Yes, you absolutely need to climb up to the top of Saint Rumbland’s Tower during your visit to Mechelen! The views are stunning, and you’ll also get to learn about the tower’s history, formation, and even see how the bells toll. Just keep in mind, St. Rumbland’s Tower is not for those who have a chronic fear of heights – I had to demonstrate extreme bravery just to get these photos!
View from Saint Rumbland’s Tower in Mechelen, Belgium; October 2025
2. Explore Grote Markt
One of the most charming areas of Mechelen is its main square, which is better known as Grote Markt – which has commanding views of St. Rumbland’s Tower with a massive open square lined by outdoor terraces and restaurants.
Grote Markt in Mechelen, Belgium; October 2025
This is definitely the place to be in Mechelen if you want to people watch, write in a journal, or sit down to enjoy fries, a waffle, or an ice cream cone depending on the time of year you visit Mechelen.
3. Snap a Picture of Stadswould
Although I felt it was prettier from the top of St. Rumbland’s Tower, it’s worth taking a walk past the main square and shopping streets to see a more up-close view of Stadswould.
View of Stadswould in Mechelen, Belgium; October 2025
Can I Go Inside Stadswould in Mechelen?
It didn’t appear that I was able to go inside or buy a ticket to learn more about the castle, but regardless – if you enjoy photography, you’ll be plenty entertained by the castle’s existence alone.
4. Discover Chocolate at Neuhaus
For me, a trip to Belgium is never complete without french fries or chocolate – and being vegan, it can sometimes be challenging to find the best of each in their vegan forms.
Rest assured, after several trips to Belgium between Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp, and Bruges – I have finally found the best chocolatier in Belgium.
People eating outside in Mechelen, Belgium; October 2025
Is Neuhaus Chocolate Good?
Neuhaus chocolate is better than good, it’s out of this world. I had a friend gift me their vegan chocolate box and I couldn’t believe what my taste buds were experiencing. Yes, it’s extremely expensive – but if you want to taste incredible Belgian chocolate, this is the real deal and will be well worth the money spent.
5. Shop Down Ijzernleen Street
My ultimate favorite part of Mechelen, being a sucker for cute and cozy shopping streets, was wandering down Ijzernleen Street and even doing a bit of shopping myself.
Ijzernleen Street in Mechelen, Belgium; October 2025
Adorned with several cafés, chocolate shops, home goods stores, clothing stores, and outdoor restaurants – this main strip of shopping is without a doubt the nicest part of Mechelen.
Ultimately, this is where I spent the most time in the city and I can easily call Ijzernleen Street my favorite part of Mechelen – encapsulating the best of what European cities have to offer with charming outdoor places to eat and shopping all in between cobblestone streets and classic Belgian architecture.
Ijzernleen Street in Mechelen, Belgium; October 2025
🏰🇧🇪 FAQ for Mechelen, Belgium 🇧🇪
| 🚆 How do I get to Mechelen? | You can fly into Brussels first and then take an inter-city train to Mechelen — the ride takes around 30–40 minutes, depending on whether the train stops at the airport or not. |
| 🗼 What is the cost to climb the St. Rumbold’s Tower (Skywalk)? | For adults: €8. For children and young adults (4–26 years): €3. Seniors/teachers: approx. €6. |
| 💸 Is Mechelen cheaper than other Belgian tourist cities? | Yes, ultimately it’s much cheaper than other tourist-heavy Belgian cities like Bruges and Antwerp. I found typical “tourist” cuisine like fries and waffles to be a fraction of the price. That being said, national chain stores like chocolatiers are still pricey and the public transport (bus) costs €3 per single ride. |
| 🚶 Is Mechelen small and walkable? | Yes — the city is extremely small and very walkable. You can walk from the centre to the train station in roughly 20 minutes. |
| 🗣️ Do people in Mechelen speak English? | People will often speak to you assuming you know Dutch, since it’s not a major tourist city. But if you switch to English — I found most people spoke English, especially at the tower and at chocolatiers. |
Want to see more of my trip to Mechelen in action? Watch my travel vlog to Mechelen below!
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Last updated: October 19, 2025