Durbuy & Dinant: The Prettiest Stops Between Brussels and Luxembourg

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We were lucky enough to have a private driver for the leg between Brussels and Luxembourg, which meant we could break up the drive with a couple of stops instead of powering straight through. If you’re planning the same route — with a driver or your own car — here are the two we chose, and my honest take on each.

Durbuy

Durbuy gets billed as one of the smallest towns around, and it’s cute and quaint in exactly the way you’d hope. That said, I’ll be straight with you: it’s very small, with just a handful of shops, and nothing that made me stop in my tracks. It’s a lovely leg-stretch and good for a photo or two, but I wouldn’t build a whole day around it.

Dinant

Dinant, on the other hand, was a highlight. The setting along the water is stunning, and there’s a real cluster of restaurants (plus a few shops), which makes it a perfect place to stop for lunch.

The saxophone bridge was such a fun surprise — Dinant is the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone, and the bridge is lined with colorful sax sculptures. Walking across it was genuinely beautiful and just really cool, and there are some great photography spots here if you like to capture your trips.

We also grabbed a gelato and wandered down along the river with it — honestly one of the best ways to cool off in the summer heat while soaking up the views. Little moments like that are what made Dinant so easy to love.

We also went up to the citadel. Here’s my honest opinion: unless you’re really into history, I’m not sure it’s worth the fee just for the view. The view is beautiful — but you can enjoy plenty of Dinant’s charm from the ground for free. Still, the town as a whole is absolutely worth the stop.

The takeaway

If you’ve got a driver or a car between Brussels and Luxembourg, skip the straight shot. Durbuy is a quick, charming pause, and Dinant is well worth a proper lunch stop and a wander.

Comfort tip: both towns involve some uneven, hilly walking, so easy shoes make this a lot more enjoyable — and a crossbody keeps your hands free for photos. I wore the Skechers GO Walk Flex slip-in sandals and carried the Baggallini Securtex Anti-Theft Daytripper Sling.

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Part of A Summer Grand Tour of Belgium, Luxembourg, Alsace & Switzerland.