Things to do in Mechelen

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View of the city of Malines (Mechelen) from height of bird's flight, Belgium
View of the city of Malines (Mechelen) from height of bird's flight, Belgium
Church Interior HDR Begijnhofkerk Mechelen
Dominating the horizon of Mechelen with its 98 metres, the 15th century Sint-Romboutstoren has a funny story. In the 1600s, a drunk local thought the tower was on fire. He alarmed the whole city and the people pulled up lots and lots of buckets of water, up all 538 steps, to extinguish the flames... Until it suddenly disappeared. It was a misty day, and when the moon slipped through the haze, the people realized there never really was a fire.. They were actually trying to extinguish the moon. That is why the people of Mechelen are still called the Moon Extinguishers today! (Or Maneblussers in Dutch)
Panoramic view from the Lamot building. I had never been there before, but I knew the view from the roof had to be great! Gotta love my hometown!
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Most popular activities in Mechelen

Tours & day trips

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Tootbus Brussels Discovery Hop-on Hop-off bus tour

Tootbus Brussels Discovery Hop-on Hop-off bus tour

Activity duration is 1 day
8.0 out of 10 with 8 reviews
Free cancellation available
Price is $34 per adult
Tootbus Brussels Discovery Hop-on Hop-off bus tourOpens in new tab

Private & custom tours

See all 17 activities
Follow your tailor-made day trip in Mechelen via your mobile phone (by bicy...

Follow your tailor-made day trip in Mechelen via your mobile phone (by bicy...

Activity duration is 12 hours
Free cancellation available
Price is $4 per traveler*
Follow your tailor-made day trip in Mechelen via your mobile phone (by bicy...Opens in new tab

Food, drink & nightlife

See all 4 activities
Antwerp: City Brewery De Koninck Interactive Tour

Antwerp: City Brewery De Koninck Interactive Tour

10.0 out of 10 with 1 review
Free cancellation available
Price is $19 per adult
Antwerp: City Brewery De Koninck Interactive TourOpens in new tab

Attractions

See all 4 activities
LEGO® Discovery Centre Brussels Admission Ticket

LEGO® Discovery Centre Brussels Admission Ticket

Activity duration is 2 hours
Free cancellation available
Price is $27 per adult
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Recommended things to do in Mechelen

Number of things to do
44
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia
Follow your tailor-made day trip in Mechelen via your mobile phone (by bicy...: $4
Top 5 things to do
Under $25
With kids

What to do in Mechelen

 

Looking for sports, concerts, or theater events in Mechelen? Search event tickets to see what's happening today, or to plan what to do this weekend!

 

 

Discover the most popular places to visit in Mechelen

Antwerp Market Square showing a city, street scenes and heritage architecture

Antwerp Market Square

4.5/5(267 reviews)

Spend an hour or two people watching beneath 16th-century buildings in Antwerp’s cultural heart.

Antwerp Market Square
"China Light" in the Antwerp Zoo. A Chinese love story depicted with light-artworks. #TroveOnTuesday #Colorful #Culture

Antwerp Zoo

4/5(43 reviews)

Why not meet the animals who live at Antwerp Zoo during your trip to Antwerp? While you're in the area, find time to visit its shops.

Antwerp Zoo
Museum Aan de Stroom featuring a city, a bay or harbor and a marina

Museum Aan de Stroom

4.5/5(23 reviews)

Learn about Antwerp’s history and culture at this stunningly designed museum, perched next to the seafront and offering 360-degree views of the city.

Museum Aan de Stroom
The mainstage all lit up.

De Schorre Provincial Park

You can take time to visit De Schorre Provincial Park during your travels to Boom. While you're in the area, find time to visit its shops.

De Schorre Provincial Park
The Zoo is the best place for nature photographer to see animals in real, analyse the movements of the animals and to test the gear before to see them in the real environment. More pictures in Instagram @thierryroyls_nature

Planckendael Zoo

Why not visit the native and exotic animals who live at Planckendael Zoo during your trip to Muizen? Discover the area's live music and cathedral.

Planckendael Zoo
Cathedral of Our Lady featuring a church or cathedral, a city and night scenes

Cathedral of Our Lady

4.5/5(316 reviews)

The tallest church in Belgium is a stunning example of Gothic architecture and houses a number of European masterpieces.

Cathedral of Our Lady
Probably the most beautiful example of a renaissance building in Flanders: The Antwerp cityhall.

Antwerp City Hall

4.5/5(62 reviews)

Antwerp City Hall is just one of the places to see in Antwerp, so why not enjoy the other things to explore during your travels? While you're in the area, find time to visit its shops.

Antwerp City Hall

Tomorrowland

4/5(43 reviews)

Tomorrowland is just one of the places to see in Boom, so why not enjoy the other things to explore during your travels? Add the area's stunning cathedral or shops to your travel plans.

Tomorrowland

Sportpaleis

4/5(3 reviews)

You can enjoy the entertainment at Sportpaleis during your trip to Antwerp. Check out the shops and top-notch restaurants in this romantic area.

Sportpaleis

 

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Popular day trips from Mechelen

A (hidden) Art Nouveau gem. In 1841 the Ursuline nuns started a school for young girls (from rich families) in Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Waver. Pretty soon after its establishment, the Ursuline Institute gained international fame. Around the turn of the century almost a quarter of the students in this renowned boarding school were of foreign origin. In 1900 the institute built a beautiful winter garden in Art Nouveau. The architect is (still) unknown. The winter garden served as a reception room for the visitors of the hundreds of girls living in the boarding school. https://visit.mechelen.be/en/wintertuin Art Nouveau (or Jugendstil) is an art movement that was popular in various places in Europe between 1890 and 1914, mainly as a reaction to form-blurring impressionism. The movement experienced a short but intense flowering period, which mainly expanded during the Belle Epoque. #Architecture #LocalSecrets #Trovember

Sint-Katelijne-Waver

Promise of yet another beautiful day along the river Dijle!

Bonheiden

Cathedral of Our Lady featuring a city, a church or cathedral and heritage architecture

Antwerp

This quiet little fisher spot is an amazing piece of serenity, ideal to stay and relax but also to go fishing or photography, at the evening you will meet some joggers, walkers and little rabbits if you’re lucky. More pictures on Instagram @thierryroyls_nature

Zemst

Promise of yet another beautiful day along the river Dijle!

Rijmenam

Nice view on the fields from one of the entries of the Boortmeerbeekse bos, many birds to spot there. More pictures on Instagram @thierryroyls

Boortmeerbeek

Sunrise aerial view of Luxor as seen from a hot air balloon

Kapelle-op-den-Bos

#Concentratiekamp #Breendonk #ww2 #concentrationcamp

Willebroek

Frequently asked questions

Is Mechelen worth visiting?
Whether you want to enjoy the cultural attractions and local charm or try unique foods and venture into nature, there are plenty of things to do in Mechelen.
How do I spend a day in Mechelen?
Start your day with a visit to Planckendael Zoo and Lamot Conference and Heritage Centre. Then, tour other areas of Mechelen for local restaurants and a little retail therapy.
What is the top tourist attraction in Mechelen?
You can't go home without visiting Planckendael Zoo, rated the top tourist attraction in Mechelen.
Is three days enough to stay in Mechelen?
Three days will give you time to check out the leading city sights, including Planckendael Zoo, Lamot Conference and Heritage Centre and Kazerne Dossin. The average stay in Mechelen is two days. If you feel the urge to extend your escape, Brussels isn't far away.
Is Mechelen a walkable city?
That depends on what you'd like to see and do in Mechelen. Several sights, such as Planckendael Zoo and Lamot Conference and Heritage Centre, are reachable on foot. If you're up for a stroll around some of Mechelen's neighborhoods, Muizen is 2 miles away from downtown, while Otterbeek is 1 mile away from the city center and also within walking distance.
What are some activities to do in Mechelen with kids?
Deciding what to do in Mechelen with kids has never been so simple. Whether you're traveling with toddlers or teenagers, there's no shortage of family-friendly tours and attractions to keep everyone entertained here.

What to do in Mechelen for adults?
There are lots of things to do in Mechelen, with experiences for adults of all ages. Round off your day with a visit to De Molenberg Distillery or De Mijlpaal.
Are there free things to do in Mechelen?
In Mechelen, St. Rumbold's Cathedral is a top spot for anyone wishing to tour the city without reaching for their wallet. Also, check out the green spaces and other neighborhoods, and ask a local tour guide for tips. It's a top way to discover the best free things to do in Mechelen.

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