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Voykit pocket guide · Belgium
Chimay
Half a day to a full day: visit the Grand Place, the castle and the abbey shop for Trappist beer and cheese. Not a base — drive or take the bus from Couvin.
Chimay is a small town in southern Hainaut, near the French border, known worldwide for the Trappist beer and cheese made by the monks of Scourmont Abbey. The town itself has a pleasant Grand Place, a castle and a handful of cafés. Most visitors come for a half-day or a single day: see the abbey shop, taste the beer and cheese, and walk the old centre. The nearest train station is in Couvin, about 20 minutes away by bus, so a car is the easiest way to reach it.
- Country
- Belgium
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (short days, some places close early)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards work widely; a few cafés, market stalls and toilets still want coins.
- Daily spend
- Budget €40–60 excl. bed · Mid €60–100 excl. bed · High €100+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Proximus, Orange Belgium and Telenet/BASE; prepaid SIMs need ID registration.
- Emergency
- Police 101 · Fire and ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Same as France; UK and US plugs need adapters.
- Tipping
- Café: Round up.; Restaurant: Service included; add 5–10% for good service if you like.; Taxi: Round up.
- Water
- Tap water is safe, though many Belgians drink bottled; restaurants rarely serve free tap water.
- Toilets
- Often paid (€0.50–1) in stations and some cafés; carry coins.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €2.50–3.50 |
| Chimay beer (bottle in a café) | €3–5 |
| Chimay cheese (200 g) | €6–9 |
| Sandwich or light lunch | €8–12 |
| Bus 60/1 single | €3 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CRL · Brussels South Charleroi
- About 1 h 15 min drive; no direct public transport
- BRU · Brussels Airport
- About 1 h 45 min drive via E42
Typical fares
- Bus 60/1 Couvin → Chimay
- about €3, about 20 min (check)
- Taxi Couvin → Chimay
- €25–35
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town centre is walkable. Bus 60/1 connects Couvin station to Chimay about 10 times a day (check the TEC schedule). A car is the most practical option for visiting the abbey and surrounding villages.
See and do
Known for
- Trappist Chimay beer
- Chimay cheese
- Scourmont Abbey
- Château de Chimay
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Couvin | Bus 60/1, about 20 min | 30 min |
| Thuin | Car via N53, about 30 min | 40 min |
| Mons | Car via N53 and E42, about 50 min | 1 h |
| Charleroi | Car via N5, about 45 min | 1 h |
Sleep
- Town centre (Grand Place area)
- Walking distance to the castle and cafés; limited options.
- Couvin
- More accommodation choices and the nearest train station; bus 60/1 to Chimay.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbohn-zhoor |
| Thank you | Mercimair-see |
| One Chimay beer, please | Une Chimay, s'il vous plaîtoon shee-may, seel voo pleh |
| Where is the abbey shop? | Où est la boutique de l'abbaye ?oo eh la boo-teek de la-bay-ee |
| How much is it? | C'est combien ?say kom-byen |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; one cheek kiss among friends (three in some places); avoid: Overfamiliarity with strangers
- Language: English or the local language; avoid: French in Flanders, or Dutch in Wallonia, as a default
- Punctuality: Be on time; avoid: Late arrivals for dinner reservations
- Conversation: Food, beer, football and cycling; avoid: Flemish-Walloon politics unless invited
Scams and watch-outs
- The abbey itself is not open to the public; the shop and tasting room are at the abbey entrance.
- Bus 60/1 runs less frequently on Sundays and public holidays.
- Many restaurants and shops close on Mondays and in the low season.
Chimay is a quiet, safe town. Standard precautions apply: lock your car and keep valuables out of sight.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Chimay yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Trappist Chimay beer
- Chimay cheese
- Scourmont Abbey
- Château de Chimay
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Ville de Chimay official website: www.ville-de-chimay.be
- Wikivoyage: Chimay, revision 4199733 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4199733
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/chimay). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.