This 4-day Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands itinerary by train connects six cities across three countries: Charleroi, Namur, Dinant, Liège, Aachen and Maastricht. We travelled without a rental car, using trains, buses and walking to explore historic old towns, riverside scenery, distinctive architecture and local food.
The route is manageable with some planning, but the pace is active and transport disruptions can affect connections. Here is our real itinerary, including where we stayed, what we visited, selected prices and practical tips for travelling across the borders.
Table of Contents
- The Itinerary at a Glance
- Before You Go: Train Travel and Tickets
- Day 1: Charleroi to Namur
- Day 2: Namur, Dinant and Liège
- Day 3: Aachen and Maastricht
- Day 4: Liège and Charleroi
- Accommodation, Transport and Selected Prices
- Summary: Is This Itinerary Worth It?
The Itinerary at a Glance
This route works well for travellers who want to explore several European cities without hiring a car. Liège is a useful base for the cross-border day trip, while overnight stays near railway stations make frequent changes of location easier.
This 4-day itinerary through Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands combines historic city centres, striking architecture and scenic riverside views with local food and convenient public transport connections. Highlights include exploring the Citadel of Dinant and its picturesque riverside setting, discovering Namur’s hilltop fortress, visiting the historic old town of Aachen, wandering through Maastricht’s charming squares and churches, and admiring the striking architecture of Liège-Guillemins railway station. With six cities across three countries, this short European trip offers a varied sightseeing experience without the need to rent a car.
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Day 1Friday, 9 October
- Bus: Charleroi Airport → Charleroi-Central18–20 min
- Train: Charleroi-Central → Namur30–60 min
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Day 2Saturday, 10 October
- Train: Namur → Dinant30 min
- Train: Dinant → Namur30 min
- Train: Namur → Liège-Guillemins45–50 min
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Day 3Sunday, 11 October
- Train: Liège-Guillemins → Aachen1 h–1 h 15
- Train: Aachen → Maastricht (direct)~1 h
- Bus: Maastricht → Liège40–60 min
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Day 4Monday, 12 October
- Train: Liège-Guillemins → Charleroi-Central~1 h 20
- On foot: Walking loop around the city centreon foot
- Bus: Charleroi-Central → Charleroi Airport18–20 min
Before You Go: Train Travel and Tickets
Getting from Charleroi Airport to Namur
We arrived at Charleroi Airport on Friday evening. The TEC A1 bus connects the airport with Charleroi-Central station, where you can continue by train towards Namur.
The bus journey takes roughly 18 to 20 minutes in normal conditions, and the ticket cost us €6 per person. The airport’s official access page lists four A1 buses per hour, but during our visit the service felt closer to two per hour. Locals we spoke to attributed this to strikes and disruption, although we did not independently verify the cause.
We ran from the bus towards the train and managed to make our connection. That was our experience, not a connection I would recommend relying on when planning a tight itinerary.
Practical tip
- Check both the airport bus and train schedules shortly before travelling. Allow extra time between services, particularly when strikes or other disruptions are possible.
Train Journey Times Across Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands
The following figures give a practical overview of the route we used. Journey times and frequencies can vary according to the service, date and engineering works.
| Journey | Approximate journey time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Charleroi Airport → Charleroi-Central | 18 to 20 minutes | TEC A1 airport bus |
| Charleroi-Central → Namur | About 30 to 60 minutes | Train |
| Namur → Dinant | About 30 minutes | Train |
| Namur → Liège | About 45 to 50 minutes | Faster train services |
| Liège → Aachen | About 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes | Via Verviers and Welkenraedt |
| Aachen → Maastricht | About 50 to 60 minutes | Direct train services normally run hourly |
| Maastricht → Liège | About 40 to 60 minutes | We used a replacement bus during railway works |
| Liège → Charleroi-Central | About 1 hour 20 minutes | Train |
| Charleroi-Central → Charleroi Airport | About 18 to 20 minutes | TEC A1 airport bus |
Train+ and the Euregioticket: Which Tickets Are Worth Checking?
Two ticket options are worth checking when travelling around Belgium and across the nearby borders.
Train+ is a discount product, not a train ticket in itself. We each paid €6 for a one-month subscription. It provides discounts on eligible journeys, including 40% off eligible off-peak weekday journeys and an additional discount on weekends and public holidays. Other conditions and fare caps apply, so check the official terms before travelling.
Train+ details on the SNCB website
The Euregioticket covers eligible regional public transport in the Meuse-Rhine Euregio, including connections around Liège, Maastricht and Aachen. We paid €23.50 for two adults for one weekend day. The weekend ticket allows up to two adults and three children under 12, subject to its conditions.
Not every long-distance train or service is covered, so check that your intended connections are eligible.
Euregioticket details on the SNCB website
Practical tip
- If you plan several Belgian rail journeys and a cross-border day trip, compare individual fares with Train+ and the Euregioticket before buying. The best option depends on your route and the specific services you use.
Day 1: Charleroi to Namur
From Charleroi Airport to Namur
Our first evening was mainly about reaching the overnight stop. After taking the A1 bus to Charleroi-Central, we caught a train to Namur and checked into B&B HOTEL Namur, close to the station.
The location was convenient for an itinerary built around trains. We could leave our main luggage at the hotel rather than carry it between cities, which made the following day’s sightseeing easier.
We paid approximately €96 for two people, including breakfast.
There was little time for sightseeing that evening, so we kept the plan simple and prepared for an early start in Dinant.
Day 2: Namur, Dinant and Liège
Morning in Dinant: A Citadel Above the Meuse
We took a morning train from Namur to Dinant, a journey of roughly 30 minutes. The railway runs beside the Meuse for part of the route. On our journey, sitting on the right-hand side from Namur gave us particularly good views of the river and surrounding landscape.
Dinant is compact enough to explore on foot, with several of its best-known sights close together.
Our main stops were:
- Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame, with its distinctive profile beneath the rock face.
- Charles de Gaulle Bridge, decorated with colourful saxophone sculptures.
- Dinant Citadel, overlooking the town and river.
- House of Mr Sax, a small, free attraction dedicated to Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone.
The citadel was the main paid attraction on our visit. We paid €30 for two adults, or €15 per person. Its elevated position provides views over the town and surrounding valley.
We also visited Maison Leffe, an interactive exhibition covering the history and production of the beer. The visit included tasting and a complimentary Leffe glass. We paid €35 for two adults, equivalent to €17.50 per person.
It is a more specialised stop than the town’s main architectural sights, but it is worth considering if you are interested in Belgian beer.
For a local sweet, we stopped at Boulangerie Kempinaire for tarte au riz, a Belgian rice tart. It cost €2.50. We had been looking for something savoury, but by the afternoon the available options were mostly sweet.
Afternoon and Evening in Namur
We returned to Namur in the afternoon and explored the city before continuing to Liège later that evening.
Namur’s main sights include Namur Citadel, Saint-Aubin Cathedral and the oversized turtle sculpture Searching for Utopia by Jan Fabre. The city also has a cable car, the Téléphérique, which offers views over the meeting point of the Meuse and Sambre rivers.
The citadel grounds include public areas that can be visited without paying, while selected visitor experiences are ticketed. Check the details for the specific sections you want to visit.
We had wraps at Chez Sothy, paying €16.90 for two. The portions were generous, and the service was particularly friendly.
Later, we bought two waffles at Pop Up for €5.50. We chose one with ice cream and another with strawberries.
We finished the day with ramen, which cost approximately €15 per person, plus around 10% in tip, before taking a late train to Liège. We arrived at roughly 22:00.
That made for a full day. If you prefer slower travel or want more time in Namur, consider spending an additional night there rather than moving on late in the evening.
Overnight in Liège
We stayed at Hotel de la Couronne Liège, directly beside Liège-Guillemins station. Two nights for two people, including breakfast, cost approximately €176.
The location was especially useful for the next day’s cross-border trip. As with our first hotel, staying by the station meant we could travel with daypacks while leaving our main luggage behind.
Day 3: Aachen and Maastricht by Train
Morning in Aachen, Germany
We left Liège by train and travelled towards Aachen, changing at Verviers and Welkenraedt. The journey took approximately one hour to one hour and fifteen minutes.
We had around three and a half hours in Aachen. That was enough to explore parts of the old town and see the city’s main architectural landmarks, but not enough to cover every attraction in detail.
Our walk included:
- Aachen Cathedral, admired from the exterior.
- Markt and Rathaus, the historic market square and town hall.
- Ponttor, one of the city’s surviving medieval gates.
- Elisenbrunnen, associated with Aachen’s historic thermal springs.
- Elisengarten, where archaeological displays help explain the area’s Roman history.
We also came across a Sunday antiques market at Friedrich-Wilhelm-Platz. For something local to eat, look out for Aachener Printen, the city’s traditional spiced biscuits.
Photography note
- We have not included interior photographs of Aachen Cathedral. The cathedral has specific rules for photography, and commercial or media photography requires written permission. Check the current rules directly with the cathedral before planning to publish interior images.
Afternoon in Maastricht, the Netherlands
From Aachen, we continued by direct train to Maastricht, a journey of around 50 to 60 minutes under normal conditions.
We spent approximately five hours there, exploring the old town and its main squares and churches.
Our walk included Vrijthof, one of Maastricht’s best-known squares, and Sint-Janskerk, recognisable by its red tower. Admission to the tower cost €8 for two people.
We missed the neighbouring Basilica of Saint Servatius because we underestimated the time needed. Last admission can be earlier than the building’s final closing time, so check the current schedule if you want to visit both churches.
Where to Eat in Maastricht
We had dinner at Saigon Cuisine, where the bill came to €33 for two. Later, we bought two waffles at Pinky for €7.
We also stopped at Friedt for an XXL portion of fries costing €8.70. The portion was large enough for us to share.
These were practical food stops during a day with a lot of walking and travel. As with the rest of the trip, opening hours and menus can change, so check them before making a specific place the centrepiece of your plan.
Returning to Liège During Railway Works
Our return journey was the least straightforward part of the itinerary. Railway works meant that trains between Liège-Guillemins and Maastricht were replaced by buses on weekends during the period covering our visit.
We returned by bus and remember the ride taking roughly 35 minutes. Treat that as our experience rather than a guaranteed journey time: replacement services may use different stops, and traffic can affect the journey.
The key lesson is to check the SNCB journey planner for the exact date rather than assuming the normal direct train will operate.
Day 4: Liège and Charleroi
A Morning in Liège: Liège-Guillemins and La Boverie Park
We spent Monday exploring Liège, starting with Liège-Guillemins station itself. Its sweeping contemporary roof is one of the city’s most distinctive architectural features and a natural stop for architecture and photography enthusiasts.
We also visited La Boverie Park, a quieter green space for a walk away from the station and city streets.
For a coffee and pastries, we visited Une Gaufrette Saperlipopette. The bill for two came to €13.40. We also bought takeaway Liège waffles for €11. The staff gave us a small choux pastry each, which was a welcome extra.
A Short Stop in Charleroi
We took a train from Liège to Charleroi-Central, a journey of approximately one hour and twenty minutes, and spent around an hour and forty minutes walking around the centre before heading to the airport.
Our short route included Passage de la Bourse, Place Charles II, Saint Christopher’s Basilica, and the City Hall and belfry.
Charleroi was a convenient final stop, but it was not a major highlight of the trip for us. With limited time before the flight, a short walk through the centre was enough.
We then took the TEC A1 bus from Charleroi-Central to the airport. The ticket cost €6 per person.
Accommodation, Transport and Selected Prices
The amounts below are the prices we paid or recorded during our October 2026 trip. They are a snapshot of our visit, not a guarantee of current prices.
Accommodation: Where We Stayed
| Hotel | Location | Price for two people |
|---|---|---|
| B&B HOTEL Namur | Near Namur station, one night with breakfast | Approx. €96 |
| Hotel de la Couronne Liège | Beside Liège-Guillemins station, two nights with breakfast | Approx. €176 |
Why stay near the station? For this type of itinerary, accommodation close to the railway station made a practical difference. We could leave our main luggage at the hotel and explore with daypacks, saving time when moving between cities.
Selected Transport Costs
| Journey or ticket | Price paid | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TEC A1 airport bus | €6 per person, one way | Charleroi Airport and Charleroi-Central |
| Charleroi-Central → Namur | €4.40 per person | Train |
| Namur → Dinant | €2.60 per person, one way | Train |
| Namur → Liège | €4.80 per person | Train |
| Liège → Charleroi-Central | €10.80 per person | Train |
| Train+ | €6 per person | One-month discount product |
| Euregioticket | €23.50 for two adults | Weekend ticket, subject to service and route conditions |
Selected Attraction Prices
| Attraction | Price we paid or recorded | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Citadel of Dinant | €15 per person | Standard adult admission |
| Maison Leffe | €17.50 per person | Interactive exhibition, tasting and complimentary glass |
| Sint-Janskerk tower, Maastricht | €8 for two people | Tower admission |
Selected Food and Drink Prices
| Food or drink | Price we paid | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tarte au riz, Dinant | €2.50 | Local rice tart |
| Chez Sothy, Namur | €16.90 for two | Two wraps |
| Pop Up, Namur | €5.50 for two | Two waffles |
| Ramen, Namur | Approx. €15 per person | Plus around 10% tip |
| Saigon Cuisine, Maastricht | €33 for two | Dinner |
| Pinky, Maastricht | €7 for two | Two waffles |
| Friedt, Maastricht | €8.70 | XXL portion of fries, large enough to share |
| Une Gaufrette Saperlipopette, Liège | €13.40 for two | Coffee and pastries |
| Liège waffles | €11 | Takeaway |
Summary: Is This Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands Itinerary Worth It?
This Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands itinerary by train worked well for travellers who enjoy historic architecture, compact old towns, riverside landscapes and travelling without a car. The most useful decisions were staying close to the railway stations, leaving our main luggage at the hotels and planning the cross-border day around Aachen and Maastricht.
The main trade-off was time. Saturday was particularly full, while Aachen and Maastricht on the same day required us to prioritise. The return from Maastricht also showed why checking transport disruptions is essential, even on a relatively short regional route.
The itinerary is most suitable if you are comfortable with frequent changes of location and a fairly active pace. For a slower trip, add a night in Namur or spend more time in Liège rather than trying to cover every stop.
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