24 hours in Mechelen Belgium: Stay in a Church

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Mechelen, Belgium

We spent 24 hours in Mechelen, Belgium. It was one of our first adventures outside of Paris as expats. We immediately fell in love with its history and charm. It was such a different world from anywhere in the States and so much quieter than our current Paris. We were only there for one day and one night, but I wanted to add this location to the blog because I think the smaller towns can offer more memorable experiences.

Where to Stay With Only 24 hours in Mechelen Belgium:

An unforgettable stay for us was staying in a former church converted into a hotel. This hotel is in the heart of the town. It’s called the Friar Minor Church, Martin’s Patershof. The hotel is about a ten minute walk from the train station, but the walk is nice and scenic, so it’s worth it.

Don’t forget your travel insurance! We recommend World Nomads. Make sure to have coverage that includes medical expenses, trip cancellations, and coverage for your belongings from theft or damage. If needed, you may also want to include car rental insurance as well.

Market, Town Square, and Brewery Tour

After checking into the hotel, walk into the town square to see the market. If it’s Saturday morning, there will be all types of foods available, but truth be told… we just came for the beer and waffles! Now that we have been to Belgium a few times, we know to look for the hot, freshly made waffles.

After viewing the Saturday market, grab a cup of coffee in the town square to people watch! I think its one of the most charming squares that I’ve seen in Europe. Then you can climb Saint Rumbold’s Cathedral Tower. It is quite the climb, over 500 steps, but it has a very rewarding view of the town once you reach the top. Saint Rumbold’s Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Later in the afternoon, make sure to schedule a brewery tour at Het Anker. They also have a hotel located at the brewery so that could be a fun option as well if the church is fully booked.

We hope to visit Mechelen again, so hopefully I’ll be able to add more to this post on our next visit. Sante!

Thanks for stopping by. If you are looking for another Belgian town to visit…You may be interested in reading my Antwerp, Belgium blog post or my Wallonia, Belgium blogpost.

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