What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Namur, Belgium.
Photo: labwebmaster / Pixabay
Namur is a Belgian city of about 115,330 people, built where the Meuse meets another river below a hilltop citadel. Most visitors come for the Citadel of Namur, the cable car up from Grognon, and the Old Town squares, Place d'Armes and Place du Marché aux Légumes. You can also walk the Meuse riverside or take a boat trip. The best months to go are June, July, August and September.
Plan at least a full day. The Citadel takes half a day, the Old Town 2–3 hours, and the Félicien Rops Museum or TreM.a 1–2 hours each. Stay overnight to add museums and a boat trip.
Citadel hill, above the confluence
One of the largest fortresses in Europe, on a rocky spur above the meeting point of the Sambre and Meuse rivers. You can walk the ramparts and park for free and take a guided tour of the underground tunnels. The views over the old town and the rivers are the main reason most people climb up.
Grognon to Citadel
A cable car that links the riverside at the confluence with the top of the Citadel. It saves a steep walk and gives good views of the rivers and rooftops on the way. A practical way up if you plan to walk back down through the park.
Old Town
A compact centre of narrow streets, small squares and brick and stone houses, easy to explore on foot. The squares are lined with cafés and terraces. It is the best area for a slow walk, a meal and some shopping.
Old Town
A large Baroque-era cathedral with a pale stone interior and a green dome that stands out on the skyline. Entry to the church is simple and quick. Worth a stop on any walk through the centre.
Old Town
A former Jesuit church known as one of the richest Baroque interiors in Belgium, with dark marble and a carved sandstone ceiling. It is small, so a short visit is enough. Go for the interior rather than the outside.
Old Town
A museum about the Namur-born artist Félicien Rops, known for his provocative etchings and drawings. Some works are erotic or dark in theme, so it may not suit younger children. A good choice if you like 19th-century art.
Old Town
A museum of medieval and Renaissance art from the Namur region, housed in an old town mansion. Its highlight is the Treasure of Oignies, a collection of finely worked gold and silver pieces by the goldsmith Hugo d'Oignies. Small and quiet, and good for a rainy hour.
Old Town
A round stone tower that was once part of the town walls and later served as the belfry. It is listed as UNESCO World Heritage as part of the Belfries of Belgium and France. You see it from the outside, so it fits easily into a walk.
Confluence and Jambes
Paths run along the Meuse, and a pedestrian bridge, L'Enjambée, links the Citadel side with Jambes on the other bank. In the warmer months, small river shuttles and tour boats run on the water. A calm way to see the city from below the Citadel.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5°C / 1°C | 15 days (85 mm) | 3.4 h/day | 0.9/10 |
| February | 8°C / 2°C | 13 days (72 mm) | 5.3 h/day | 1.7/10 |
| March | 10°C / 3°C | 14 days (80 mm) | 6.8 h/day | 3.1/10 |
| April | 14°C / 5°C | 12 days (50 mm) | 9.5 h/day | 5.4/10 |
| May | 18°C / 8°C | 12 days (70 mm) | 10.7 h/day | 7.3/10 |
| Best month: June | 22°C / 13°C | 11 days (75 mm) | 11.0 h/day | 7.7/10 |
| Best month: July | 23°C / 14°C | 11 days (69 mm) | 11.3 h/day | 7.8/10 |
| Best month: August | 23°C / 14°C | 13 days (73 mm) | 10.3 h/day | 7.5/10 |
| Best month: September | 20°C / 12°C | 12 days (68 mm) | 8.9 h/day | 7.7/10 |
| October | 15°C / 9°C | 13 days (71 mm) | 5.8 h/day | 5.4/10 |
| November | 10°C / 5°C | 13 days (69 mm) | 4.4 h/day | 2.3/10 |
| December | 7°C / 3°C | 15 days (82 mm) | 3.0 h/day | 0.8/10 |
Avoid. Highs of 5.4°C, lows near 0.7°C and rain on about 15 days. Only 3.4 hours of sun a day. Cold, grey and wet.
Avoid. Highs reach 7.8°C, with rain on 13.3 days and 5.3 hours of sun. It is still cold and damp for walking around the city.
Avoid, though it is getting better. Highs of 10.4°C, but rain falls on 14.2 days and there are only 6.8 hours of sun.
OK. Highs of 13.6°C and the lowest rainfall of the year, at 50 mm over 11.8 days. Pack a warm layer for lows of 4.5°C.
Good. Highs of 17.6°C and 10.7 hours of sun. Rain still falls on 12.4 days, so bring a light jacket.
Best. Highs of 21.5°C, 11 hours of sun and rain on 11.3 days. A fine time to explore on foot.
Best, with the top score of 7.8. Highs of 22.8°C, the fewest rain days at 10.9 and the most sun, at 11.3 hours.
Best. The warmest month, with highs of 23.1°C. Rain comes on 12.6 days, a little more often than in July.
Best. Highs of 19.6°C, rain on 11.6 days and 8.9 hours of sun. Mild weather for sightseeing.
OK. Highs drop to 15°C and rain falls on 13 days. Sun falls to 5.8 hours, so plan for shorter, greyer days.
Avoid. Highs of 9.7°C, rain on 13.4 days and just 4.4 hours of sun. Wet, grey and chilly.
Avoid, with the lowest score of the year at 0.8. Highs of 7.2°C, rain on 14.9 days and only 3 hours of sun.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Belgium →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, food and bars, no car
The compact historic core between the Sambre and the station has cobbled lanes, squares with café terraces and most sights within walking distance. It is the easiest base for a short first visit. Drawback: bars around the squares can be noisy late at night, especially at weekends, and parking is difficult.
Good for rail travellers, short stays, day trips
This area around Namur station is practical rather than charming, with shops and direct trains to Brussels and other Belgian cities. You can walk into the old town in a few minutes. Drawback: it has more traffic and less character than the historic streets.
Good for families, quiet, drivers
Jambes sits across the Meuse from the centre. It is mainly residential, with riverside walks and easier parking than the old town. Drawback: you need to cross the bridge to reach most sights and nightlife, which adds walking time.
Good for couples, walkers, views
Staying on or near the hill of the Citadel gives you green space, footpaths and wide views over the rivers and the town. It feels calm in the evening once day visitors leave. Drawback: the streets are steep, so walking back up from the centre is tiring without a car or the cable car.
Good for quiet, riverside, cyclists
La Plante runs along the Meuse just south of the centre, below the Citadel. It is a residential strip with a river path that suits walking and cycling. Drawback: there are few restaurants or shops, and the old town is a longer walk.
Good for longer stays, local feel, budget-conscious
Salzinnes is a residential district on the far side of the Sambre, west of the centre. It has local shops and a quieter, everyday atmosphere. Drawback: it has few sights of its own, so you will walk or take a bus into the old town most days.
A small, hard, crunchy biscuit flavoured with almond. It is the city's best-known sweet. Buy a bag from a local bakery or sweet shop to eat with coffee or take home.
A herbal liqueur made in Namur. Locals drink a small glass after a meal. You will find it in bars and shops in the old town.
A Walloon juniper spirit, similar to gin, often sold in fruit flavours. It is drunk in small shots in old-town bars, especially on festival days.
A craft beer brewed in Namur. Many bars and cafés in the city serve it on tap, so it is an easy way to try a local beer.
A dry-cured, lightly smoked ham from the Ardennes region south of Namur. It is served in thin slices as a starter, on bread or with a local beer.
Yes, August is one of the best months to visit Namur. Its score is 7.5, and it is the warmest month, with highs of 23.1°C and lows of 14.3°C. You get about 10.3 hours of sun a day. It is a little wetter than July, though, with 12.6 rain days against 10.9.
The best time to visit Namur is June to September. July scores highest at 7.8, with highs of 22.8°C, 11.3 hours of sun a day and the fewest rain days, at 10.9. June and September both score 7.7. May is also good, at 7.3, with highs of 17.6°C.
Winter is not a good time for Namur. We suggest avoiding November to March. December scores 0.8 and January 0.9. In January, highs reach only 5.4°C and lows fall to 0.7°C. There are 14.9 rain days and just 3.4 hours of sun a day. December has only 3 hours of sun a day.
Expect some rain in Namur in every month. Rain days range from 10.9 in July to 14.9 in January and December. January is the wettest month, with 85 mm. April is the driest, with 50 mm. Pack a rain jacket whenever you go.
A full day covers Namur's main sights. The Citadel takes half a day. The cable car up to it takes 30 minutes–1 hour, and the Old Town takes 2–3 hours. If you also want the Félicien Rops Museum, TreM.a and a Meuse boat trip, plan to stay longer. Each of these takes 1–2 hours.
Enter to search · Esc to close