🛶 Can you paddle today?
Infokayak from the Walloon authorities shows every morning, per stretch, whether the river is open.
Walloon authorities (SPW)

Citadel, Meuse, kayaking on the Lesse: worked out from London, with 2026 prices.
Photo above: DimiTalen · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons · all photo credits
Home › Destinations › Dinant

A church spire like an onion in front of a bare rock face, the citadel above and the Meuse at your feet: Dinant is one of the most photogenic towns in Belgium. From London it is about 5 hours' driving via the Channel Tunnel, plus the 35-minute crossing, and we have already done the research for your day out or weekend.
By Arjan Zuur · figures checked on 21 October 2026, prices 22 October 2026, route from London 24 October 2026 · About us
Climb up to the citadel, taste a Leffe in a former monastery, stroll through the gardens of Freÿr and then paddle down the Lesse to Anseremme. Everything is within ten minutes' drive.
Note: the cable car to the citadel is closed for a major renovation. You walk up or drive to the upper entrance, where parking is free.
Four things best checked just before you set off. All buttons lead to the official source.
Infokayak from the Walloon authorities shows every morning, per stretch, whether the river is open.
Walloon authorities (SPW)
Until the end of January 2027, forests may be closed on hunting days. The notices at the forest entrance are binding.
ChasseOnWeb
The cable car to the citadel is closed for renovation. Take the steps or park for free at the upper entrance.
official website
The Freÿr castle and gardens are open until 15 November 2026; after that only for groups on request.
official website
📌 Overview

Dinant is a town on the Meuse with a citadel, the Maison Leffe and kayak trips on the Lesse.
| Distance from London | ± 394 km via LeShuttle / ± 406 km via ferry (fastest route) |
|---|---|
| Driving time | ± 5 h 09 min + crossing (LeShuttle 35 min; without breaks/traffic) |
| Fuel return | ± €103–107 (fill up BE–UK, via LeShuttle) |
| Tolls & vignette | None in 2026 (Belgian vignette planned from 1 May 2027; check current rules) |
| Low-emission zone on the route | London ULEZ at the start (none in Wallonia in 2026; Brussels R0 ring outside the LEZ) |
| Ideal for | Citadel, Meuse, kayaking on the Lesse |

From London you cross the Channel by Eurotunnel LeShuttle (Folkestone–Calais) or by ferry (Dover–Calais), then drive via Dunkirk, Lille and Tournai to Dinant. Rather fly? Take a flight from London to Brussels and hire a car at Brussels Airport. All figures run to the centre of Dinant.
| Start | Distance (one way) | Driving time | Crossing | Fuel return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London via LeShuttle (Folkestone–Calais) | ± 394 km | ± 5 h 09 min | 35 min + check-in from 1 h before | ± €103 (fill up in Belgium) to ± €107 (fill up in the UK, ≈ £89) |
| London via ferry (Dover–Calais) | ± 406 km | ± 5 h 13 min | ± 1 h 30–1 h 40 + check-in from 60 min before | ± €106 (fill up in Belgium) to ± €110 (fill up in the UK, ≈ £92) |
| Fly London–Brussels + hire car | ± 102 km from Brussels Airport | ± 1 h 12 min | flight LHR–BRU ± 1 h 10 | ± €26 (hire car, Belgian price) |
| Destination | Dinant (centre), from London St Pancras |
|---|---|
| Recommended route | UK: A13 → A102 → A2 → M2 → A229 → M20 to the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone (or A2/M2 to Dover for the ferry); from Calais: A16 → N225 → A25 → A27 → E42 → E429 → N98 → N90 → N928 → N92, via Dunkirk, Lille and Tournai |
| Channel crossing | LeShuttle: 35 min platform to platform, arrive at least 1 h before departure. (LeShuttle) Ferry Dover–Calais: ± 1 h 30 (P&O) to 1 h 40 (DFDS), arrive at least 60 min before. (P&O Ferries) (DFDS) Fares vary by date and time: check current fares with the operator. |
| Flying instead | Brussels Airlines flies London Heathrow–Brussels direct in ± 1 h 10. (brusselsairlines.com) From Brussels Airport it is ± 102 km (± 1 h 12 min) to Dinant by hire car (A201 → R0 → E411 → N97 → N94). Check current schedules and fares. |
| Tolls & vignette | UK: if you take the Blackwall Tunnel (A102), a car pays £4.20 per crossing (£1.55 off-peak with Auto Pay), 06:00–22:00. (TfL) France: the A16 (Calais–Dunkirk–Belgian border), A25 and A27 are toll-free. (Ulys: A16) (A25) (A27) Belgium 2026: no tolls and no vignette for cars. A digital road vignette is planned from 1 May 2027; check the current rules before you travel. (wallonie.be) |
| Fuel return | via LeShuttle ± €103–107, via ferry ± €106–110 (fill up in Belgium or in the UK) 6.5 l/100 km petrol (assumption): via LeShuttle 788 km return = 51.2 litres, via ferry 811 km = 52.7 litres. BE €2.002/l (FOD Economie, official Belgian maximum price petrol 95 RON E10, valid from 24.10.2026); UK 174.57 p/l = €2.085/l (UK DESNZ weekly road fuel prices, unleaded (ULSP) average pump price, week commencing 19.10.2026; ECB euro reference rate 23.10.2026: €1 = £0.83728). |
| Low-emission zones | London: the ULEZ covers all London boroughs (£12.50 a day for non-compliant vehicles); starting in central London, also check the Congestion Charge. (TfL ULEZ) (TfL Congestion Charge) Belgium: the Brussels ring (R0) is not part of the Brussels LEZ; foreign vehicles must register before entering the zone itself. (lez.brussels) Wallonia has no general LEZ in 2026. (wallonie.be) |
Route: OSRM/OpenStreetMap (fastest route), calculated on 24 October 2026 from London St Pancras, without breaks, traffic or the Channel crossing. Fuel: 6.5 l/100 km (assumption), petrol: BE €2.002/l (FOD Economie, official Belgian maximum price petrol 95 RON E10, valid from 24.10.2026) to UK 174.57 p/l = €2.085/l (UK DESNZ weekly road fuel prices, unleaded (ULSP) average pump price, week commencing 19.10.2026; ECB euro reference rate 23.10.2026: €1 = £0.83728). Channel crossing: LeShuttle 35 min (leshuttle.com), ferry Dover–Calais ± 1 h 30 to 1 h 40 (P&O Ferries, DFDS); fares not included, check current fares. More: Guide: cost of a weekend in the Ardennes 2026
We use the fastest route and 6.5 litres per 100 km, including the UK leg to the Channel. That way you see straight away what filling up in Belgium saves. The Channel crossing itself is not included.
| Scenario (petrol, return) | Litres | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Via LeShuttle: fill up entirely in the UK | 51.2 l | ± €107 |
| Via LeShuttle: fill up entirely in Belgium | 51.2 l | ± €103 |
| Via ferry: fill up entirely in the UK | 52.7 l | ± €110 |
| Via ferry: fill up entirely in Belgium | 52.7 l | ± €106 |
| Per 1 l/100 km more or less | ± 7.9–8.1 l | ± €16–17 |
If you travel after 1 May 2027, you will probably need a digital vignette (check current rules). The rates for a car with Euro 4 or newer:
| Validity | Price (Euro 4+) |
|---|---|
| 1 day | € 9 |
| 10 days | € 12 |
| 1 month | € 19 |
| 2 months | € 30 |
| 1 year | € 100 |
Source: wallonie.be (updated 11 September 2026); Flanders gives the rates subject to final approval.
On the reference date petrol in Belgium is ± €0.08 per litre cheaper than in the UK: Belgian maximum price against the UK average pump price.
FOD Economie, official Belgian maximum price petrol 95 RON E10, valid from 24.10.2026; UK DESNZ weekly road fuel prices, unleaded (ULSP) average pump price, week commencing 19.10.2026; ECB euro reference rate 23.10.2026: €1 = £0.83728
For now you drive toll-free in Belgium. A Belgian digital road vignette is planned from 1 May 2027, including for foreign cars; check current rules.
Until the end of January 2027, forests may be closed on hunting days. Check ChasseOnWeb beforehand; the notices at the forest entrance are binding.
Whether you can paddle depends on the water level. Infokayak from the Walloon authorities shows the status per stretch every morning.
Staying a few days? The closest is Han-sur-Lesse, about 32 minutes from centre to centre.
| To | Driving time | Distance from London (via LeShuttle) |
|---|---|---|
| Han-sur-Lesse | ± 32 min | ± 431 km |
| Durbuy | ± 46 min | ± 433 km |
| La Roche-en-Ardenne | ± 54 min | ± 442 km |
| Bouillon | ± 63 min | ± 481 km |
| Aywaille | ± 71 min | ± 440 km |
| Spa | ± 91 min | ± 455 km |
| Malmedy | ± 99 min | ± 467 km |
OSRM Table service (OpenStreetMap), centre to centre, retrieved 22 October 2026, without breaks. All destinations compared: destinations overview.

The four places are close together: from the citadel to Freÿr is about 7 minutes' drive.

Location: Dinant Type: citadel
The citadel above the Meuse, with an augmented reality guide (HistoPad) with every ticket. The cable car is closed for renovation; park for free at the upper entrance.

Location: Dinant Type: rock needle
A rock needle about forty metres high on the right bank of the Meuse, between Dinant and Anseremme. It is part of the legend of the four sons of Aymon and their horse Bayard.

Location: Hastière Type: castle · gardens
Castle with French gardens on the Meuse, open from 4 April to 15 November.

Location: Anseremme Type: village · kayak
This is where the Lesse flows into the Meuse, and where the Dinant Evasion kayak trips from Houyet and Gendron end.
In total ± 23.9 km and ± 31 minutes' driving, without breaks. OSRM Table service (OpenStreetMap), retrieved 22 October 2026 00:18.
Days out

From the citadel to a kayak trip on the Lesse: we looked up the 2026 rates for you.

Location: Dinant Type: citadel
Visit to the citadel with the HistoPad, an augmented reality guide.
Cable car closed for renovation. Free car park at the upper entrance.

Location: Dinant Type: museum
Interactive exhibition about Leffe in a former monastery, with a tasting and a small gift.
7 days a week 11 am–7 pm.
Booking in advance recommended. Groups of 15 or more must book. Children under 12 free (according to the Explore Meuse tourist office)

Location: Hastière Type: castle · gardens
Castle with French gardens on the Meuse.
4 Apr – 15 Nov 2026 Thu–Sun and public holidays 11 am–5 pm; 1 July – 31 Aug Tue–Sun; last entry 4.15 pm.

Location: Lesse Type: kayak
A 21 km trip (about 5 hours) on the Lesse, past a castle and weirs; also a half trip Gendron → Anseremme (12 km).
Depending on water level and navigation conditions.
All buttons lead to the attraction's official website. If partner links are added later, you will recognise them by the label “Ad · affiliate link”.
| Day out | Adults | Child | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dinant citadel | € 15 | € 13 (4–12) | citadellededinant.be |
| Maison Leffe | € 17,50 | free (under 12) | leffe.com |
| Freÿr castle and gardens | € 12 | free up to 12 | freyr.be |
| Kayak on the Lesse (Dinant Evasion) | € 31–44 | € 2.50 discount | dinant-evasion.be |
Prices from the attractions' official websites, retrieved 22 October 2026. Where no price could be found, it says “see official website”.
Only the Lesse from the weir in Anseremme to the Meuse falls under Annex 1A. The trips from Houyet and Gendron are upstream; Infokayak shows which times apply there. You can check every morning on Infokayak whether you can paddle today.
With too little or too much water the river is closed. The limits per gauging station:
| Gauging station | Minimum (m³/s) | Maximum (m³/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Lesse – Gendron | 1,5 | 52 |
Source: AGW 19 March 2009. More in our outdoor guide.
Two of you driving there and doing the three days out below: this is what it costs, excluding accommodation and food (those are further down and in our cost guide).
| Item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel return from London via LeShuttle (fill up in Belgium) | € 103 | route calculation above |
| Dinant citadel (2 adults) | € 30 | citadellededinant.be |
| Maison Leffe (2 adults) | € 35 | leffe.com |
| Freÿr castle and gardens (2 adults) | € 24 | freyr.be |
| Total excluding accommodation and food | ± € 192 | Total |
Adult prices from the official websites (retrieved 22 October 2026) and the Belgian maximum price for petrol 95.
🧒 Travelling with kids? Also see the days out with kids around Dinant, with prices from the official websites and a filter by type of outing.

Three real addresses with wellness or plenty of space, chosen on the basis of what the properties themselves state on their official website. We have not (yet) stayed there ourselves. You can see prices and availability for your dates with the property.

Location: Dinant Type: hotel
The hotel in the former monastery that also houses the Maison Leffe. With a view over the Meuse valley.
Ad · affiliate link

Location: Dinant Type: cottage for 2
Cottage for two with a view of the town. With a private jacuzzi on the terrace and an infrared sauna.
Allée de Montorgueil 91. Weekend Fri–Sun (2 nights) € 700, Sat–Mon € 630; public holidays and Valentine's Day € 350 per night.

Location: Dinant Type: group gîte
Up to 33 people, 7 rooms, all on the ground floor. Sauna and wood-fired hot tub.
A 4 ha park and a 600 m² terrace. Next to the Dinant Evasion activities.
Ad · affiliate link
💛 If you book through our Booking.com links, we receive a small commission. You pay nothing extra, and it helps us keep this research free. You can recognise these links by the label “Ad · affiliate link”. More in our disclaimer.
Want to know more? In our holiday homes with wellness guide we compare private cottages and holiday parks.

Dinant tastes of a Leffe by the Meuse and a hard couque of honey, baked in a wooden mould.
For Dinant we did not find a current menu with prices online. So below are the averages for Belgium as a whole and the price trend from Statbel.
Eating out and accommodation in Belgium became about 5% more expensive over the past year, while food stayed the same (Statbel):
| Statbel index (2025 = 100) | Sept 2025 | Sept 2026 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and accommodation services | 100,80 | 105,91 | +5,1% |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 99,63 | 99,63 | 0,0% |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 100,42 | 99,45 | −1,0% |
Source: Statbel, consumer price index, retrieved 21 October 2026.
What do the basics cost? There is no official price list per shop; these are the averages for the whole of Belgium as reported by visitors to Numbeo:
| Average in Belgium | Price |
|---|---|
| Inexpensive meal (cheap restaurant) | € 20,00 |
| Three-course meal for two (mid-range, without drinks) | € 80,00 |
| Draught beer (0.5 l) | € 5,00 |
| Cappuccino | € 3,72 |
| Milk (1 l) | € 1,14 |
| White bread (± 450 g) | € 2,03 |
| 12 eggs | € 3,63 |
Source: Numbeo, Cost of Living Belgium, updated 21 October 2026. Averages from user reports, not official statistics.
A hard biscuit made of wheat flour, honey and sugar; the Jacobs family at Rue Grande 147 has been baking it since 1860. There is a tasting room, and guided tours for groups. The bakers' tip: do not bite into it, let it melt in your mouth.
In autumn, game is on many menus, and there is hunting in the forests. The hunting season in Wallonia runs until the end of January 2027. Check ChasseOnWeb beforehand.
If you rent a holiday home, ask whether the extra costs are included, fixed per night or charged by meter; those are the three forms Gîtes de Wallonie mentions.

Everything you need to know about rules and costs, in one place and with sources.
| Topic | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tolls and vignette | No tolls and no vignette for cars in Belgium in 2026. From 1 May 2027 a Belgian digital road vignette (subject to final approval; check current rules). The French A16 from Calais to the Belgian border is toll-free. | Vlaanderen.be |
| Low-emission zone | London: ULEZ in all boroughs, check your vehicle. The Brussels ring (R0) is not part of the Brussels LEZ. Wallonia has no general LEZ in 2026. | TfL · lez.brussels · wallonie.be |
| Kayaking on the Lesse | Only the Lesse from the weir in Anseremme to the Meuse falls under Annex 1A. The trips from Houyet and Gendron are upstream; Infokayak shows which times apply there (Gendron gauging station: 1.5 to 52 m³/s). | AGW 19 March 2009 |
| Hunting | The hunting season runs until the end of January 2027. Forests may be closed on hunting days; only the notices at the forest entrance are legally binding. | environnement.wallonie.be |
| Citadel | The cable car is closed for a major renovation; the citadel itself is open at the normal times. Free parking via the upper entrance. | citadellededinant.be |
All amounts on this page together, with sources. Prices can change, so check again just before you leave.
| Topic | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel return London–Dinant via LeShuttle (petrol, 6.5 l/100 km) | ± €103 (fill up BE) to ± €107 (fill up UK) | FOD Economie · DESNZ · ECB |
| Fuel return London–Dinant via ferry (petrol, 6.5 l/100 km) | ± €106 (fill up BE) to ± €110 (fill up UK) | FOD Economie · DESNZ · ECB |
| Tolls and vignette 2026 | € 0 | Vlaanderen.be |
| Road vignette from 1 May 2027 (Euro 4+) | 1 day € 9 · 10 days € 12 · 1 month € 19 · 1 year € 100 | wallonie.be |
| Dinant citadel | Adults € 15 · children 4–12 € 13 · 3-in-1 with boat trip € 25 / € 20 | citadellededinant.be |
| Maison Leffe | € 17.50 (€ 16.50 visit + € 1 municipal tax) | leffe.com |
| Freÿr castle and gardens | Adults € 12 · seniors, young people, students € 10 · children up to 12 with an adult free | freyr.be |
| Kayak on the Lesse (Dinant Evasion) | Two-person Classic € 33.50 per person with shuttle · single € 44 · canoe for 3 € 31 per person (2026) | dinant-evasion.be |
| La Merveilleuse | Price: see official website | leffe.com |
| Luna (El Clandestino) | Sun–Thu € 280 · Fri/Sat € 350 per night for 2 | elclandestino.be |
| Gîte de la Tour | Price: see official website | gitedelatour.be |
| Citadel 3-in-1 (citadel + boat trip Dinant–Anseremme) | € 25 adults · € 20 children | citadellededinant.be |
Looking for mountain and nature holidays with castle ruins and endless forests, but want to cut the cost of eating out and accommodation even further? Have a look at the Affordable nature & mountains guide on Oost-Europa Reizen (in Dutch).
FAQ
With the fastest route ± 394 km one way from London St Pancras via LeShuttle and ± 406 km via the Dover–Calais ferry (OSRM/OpenStreetMap, 24 October 2026).
± 5 h 09 min of driving via LeShuttle (plus the 35-minute crossing and check-in), without breaks and traffic.
Return via LeShuttle ± €103 if you fill up in Belgium and ± €107 in the UK; via the ferry ± €106 to ± €110 (petrol, 6.5 l/100 km, prices of 19 and 24 October 2026; Channel crossing not included).
Not in 2026. A Belgian digital road vignette is planned from 1 May 2027 (day vignette € 9, 10 days € 12 for Euro 4+); check current rules before you travel.
Han-sur-Lesse, about 32 minutes' drive from centre to centre (OSRM).
Not in Belgium: the Brussels ring (R0) is not part of the Brussels LEZ and Wallonia has no general LEZ in 2026. In London the ULEZ applies, so check your vehicle with TfL before you set off.
No, it is closed for a major renovation; take the steps or drive to the upper entrance with free parking.
€ 17.50 per adult, including a tasting, a small gift and € 1 municipal tax (leffe.com).
Adults € 12; seniors, young people, students € 10; children up to 12 with an adult free (4 Apr – 15 Nov 2026 Thu–Sun and public holidays 11 am–5 pm; 1 July – 31 Aug Tue–Sun; last entry 4.15 pm). Source: official website, retrieved 22 October 2026.
Two-person Classic € 33.50 pp (with shuttle) or € 31 (without); single Super Confort € 44; canoe for 3 € 31 pp (at least 1 child under 12); children under 12 with shuttle: € 2.50 discount (depending on water level and navigation conditions). Source: official website, retrieved 22 October 2026.
All prices and rules on this page come from the official websites below, with the date we retrieved them. Prices can change in the meantime; check again just before you leave.