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Major city · Belgium

Aalst

Give Aalst one day, not a night: 30 min by train from Ghent, 33 from Brussels, and the Grote Markt, belfry and carnival museum fill an afternoon.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Nov–Feb (grey and wet), except Carnival in Feb
Airports
BRU · CRL
Nights
0–1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Benelux ↗Dutch and Belgian police can ask anyone to show identification (in the Netherlands from age 14): carry the original passport or EU ID card — a photocopy is not accepted.
  • Benelux ↗Tap-in fares, Dutch and Belgian domestic tickets and Luxembourg's free transport all stop at the border: buy an international ticket for cross-border legs, or you will be fined on board.
  • Belgium ↗Belgium is in the EU and the Schengen area; the EU Entry/Exit System applies to non-EU visitors. Check the official EU and Belgian sources for your passport.
  • Belgium ↗Cities have different names in Dutch and French (Antwerpen/Anvers, Gent/Gand, Brugge/Bruges, Luik/Liège); check both on tickets and signs.
  • Belgium ↗Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent have low-emission zones; if you drive, check that the car is registered or allowed before entering.
  • Belgium ↗Belgian unions call national action days that stop trains, trams and flights; check SNCB and your airline two days before any travel day.

Aalst is a working East Flanders town of about 86,000 between Ghent and Brussels, best known for its UNESCO belfry and its three-day Carnival. The old centre is compact and walkable, the museums are free or cheap, and the train station sits in the middle of town. Most travellers see it as a half-day or day trip from Ghent or Brussels rather than a base.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Aalst, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee€2.50–4 (≈ US$3–5)
  • Sit-down mealMain course in a brasserie€16–26 (≈ US$19–35)
  • Street or quick mealLunch, soup or a sandwich€8–15 (≈ US$10–18)
  • Beerdraught in a café / bottle at a shop€3–5 (≈ US$4–6)€1.50–2.50 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Metro or bus rideCity bus ride (De Lijn)€2.50–3 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry ('t Gasthuys)Free
  • Budget bedHostel or budget single, a night, per person€30 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room€110 (≈ US$130)
  • High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room€180 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €45 (≈ US$55) · Mid €80 (≈ US$95) · High €150 (≈ US$180)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Grote Markt and the UNESCO belfryAalst Carnival (Oilsjt Carnaval)Town Museum 't Gasthuys and its Carnival MuseumSt Martin's Church and the Rubens painting
Airports
BRU Brussels Airport (Train to Brussels, then a direct train to Aalst; about 1 h 15 min door to door) · CRL Brussels South Charleroi (Bus or train to Brussels first, then onward to Aalst; allow 2 h+)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Aalst: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

6°C

1°C

19 rd

Feb

7°C

1°C

16 rd

Mar

11°C

3°C

17 rd

Apr

15°C

5°C

15 rd

May

19°C

9°C

15 rd

Jun

22°C

12°C

14 rd

Jul

24°C

14°C

14 rd

Aug

24°C

14°C

14 rd

Sep

20°C

11°C

15 rd

Oct

15°C

8°C

17 rd

Nov

10°C

4°C

18 rd

Dec

7°C

2°C

19 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is small enough to walk: Grote Markt to the station is about 10 minutes, and to the béguinage about 12. De Lijn buses cover the outer districts and neighbouring towns; local city buses are useful only if you sleep outside the ring. Trains from Aalst station run direct to Brussels and Ghent.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Ghentgo

Door to door: About 30 min by train

Direct train from Aalst station

The natural pairing: Aalst in the morning, Ghent for the afternoon and evening.

Brusselsgo

Door to door: About 33 min by train

Direct train from Aalst station

Grand-Place and the museums; easy return the same day.

Dendermonde

caution

Door to door: About 40–60 min

De Lijn bus or train via a change

Smaller centre; worth it only if you are already heading east.

Berlare

caution

Door to door: About 30–40 min

De Lijn bus from Aalst

Village and water-recreation area; check bus times before you go.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Around the Grote Markt

Steps from the belfry, restaurants and pubs; the obvious choice if you stay one night.

Near the railway station

Best for an early train out; about a 10-min walk to the market square.

Keizersplein

Quiet 19th-century mansion street with a tree-lined middle; 5 min from the Grote Markt.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
€45–70 (≈ US$55–85) excl. bed
Mid
€70–120 (≈ US$85–140) excl. bed
High
€120 (≈ US$140)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel double room1 × 1 night × €110€110
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €80€160
Train Ghent–Aalst, one way2 × €6 · check€12
Train Brussels–Aalst, one way2 × €7 · check€14
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €10€20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€32
Trip total≈ €174 per person per day, bed included€348≈ US$450

2026 estimate in euro; intercity train fares excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee€2.50–4 (≈ US$3–5)
Beer, draught in a café / bottle at a shop€3–5 (≈ US$4–6) / €1.50–2.50 (≈ US$2–3)
Lunch, soup or a sandwich€8–15 (≈ US$10–18)
Main course in a brasserie€16–26 (≈ US$19–35)
Museum entry ('t Gasthuys)Free
Belfry guided group tour€60 (≈ US$70) per group, up to 20 people
City bus ride (De Lijn)€2.50–3 (≈ US$3–4)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Aalst is a calm, ordinary Belgian town and feels safe by day and evening. The real risks are pickpockets around the Grote Markt during Carnival, wet cobbles, and cycling traffic on the ring roads.
  • Carnival weekend (the Sunday to Tuesday before Ash Wednesday) fills every hotel and pub: book months ahead or avoid it.
  • Many shops close on Sundays and public holidays; the centre can feel empty on a Sunday morning.
  • The belfry interior is visitable only on a booked guided group tour, not on a walk-in ticket.
  • Terlinden Castle itself is closed to the public; only the gardens are open.

Emergency numbers

Police
101
Fire and ambulance
112
Out-of-hours doctor
1733

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

AalstAalst

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Naar dit adres, alstublieftTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police101
  • Fire and ambulance112
  • Out-of-hours doctor1733

Embassy

No embassies in Aalst; most are in Brussels, about 35 min by train.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Train Aalst → Ghent: about €6 (≈ US$7), 30 min
  • Train Aalst → Brussels: about €7 (≈ US$9), 33 min
  • Taxi Grote Markt → station: €8–12 (≈ US$10–14)

Say or show

  • Hallo — Hello (HAH-loh)
  • Dank u — Thank you (dahnk oo)
  • Alstublieft — Please (AHL-stuh-bleeft)
  • Hoeveel kost het? — How much is it? (hoo-VAYL kost ut)
  • Kan ik met kaart betalen? — Can I pay by card? (kan ik met kart buh-TAH-lun)
  • Waar is het toilet? — Where is the toilet? (vahr is ut twah-LET)

Tourist office: Hopmarkt 51, +32 53 72 38 80; hours M–F 09:00–17:00, Sa 10:00–17:00, Su and holidays 13:00–17:00.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Aalst. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Nov–Feb (grey and wet), except Carnival in Feb · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for BRU and CRL: last train times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Grote Markt and belfry, Oude Vismarkt and the museum, béguinage, Keizersplein.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (belfry tours, 't Gasthuys, St Martin's) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Carnival and hostile-arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Belgium

Sources