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Back to Tournai

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Voykit pocket guide · Belgium

Tournai

Spend a half‑day in Tournai’s historic centre; add a quick train hop to Lille or Kortrijk if you have extra time.

Tournai’s compact old town fits a few key sights into a half‑day walk. Trains connect it to Lille (30 min) and Kortrijk (35 min) for easy day trips.

AalstAarschotAntwerpArlonAthAvelgemBastogneBerlareBeverenBincheBouillonBrugesCambron-CasteauCharleroiTournai50 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Belgium
Best months
Apr–Oct
Avoid
Nov–Mar (colder, fewer outdoor activities)
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 €45–70 excl. bed · Mid €70–120 excl. bed · High €120+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
SIM and data
Proximus, Orange Belgium and Telenet/BASE; prepaid SIMs need ID registration.
Emergency
Police 112 · Medical emergency 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

ItemPrice
Coffee€2–3
Beer (pub)€3–5
Meal at mid‑range restaurant€12–20
Museum entry (e.g., Fine Arts)€5–8

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

LIL · Lille Lesquin Airport
Nearest international airport, ~30 km (19 mi) north

Typical fares

Tournai → Lille train
about €12, 30 min (check)
TEC bus day ticket
≈ €5
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 historic centre is walkable; TEC bus line H4802 serves the main square. Trains run hourly to Brussels and Lille.

See and do

Known for

  • Cathedral of Our Lady (UNESCO)
  • Belfry (UNESCO)
  • Grand‑Place
  • Museum of Fine Arts

Day trips

WhereHowTime
LilleTrain from Tournai station, about 30 min, direct≈45 min round trip
KortrijkTrain, about 35 min, direct≈1 h
SpiennesTrain to nearby station, then bus, total ≈1 h≈2 h

Sleep

Youth Hostel
Budget dorm, close to train station
Hôtel d'Alcantara
Mid‑range, 25 rooms, some 4‑person rooms
Hôtel Cathédrale
Central location on Place Saint‑Pierre

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
Excuse me / SorryExcusez‑moi / Pardonexcusez‑moi
Thank youMercimerci
How much is it?Combien ça coûte ?combien ça coûte
Where is the train station?Où est la gare ?où est la gare

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

  • Pickpocketing and occasional street crime have risen since the late 2010s; keep valuables secure.
  • Check train schedules for weekend vs weekday frequency (hourly on weekends).

Generally safe in daytime; stay alert after dark, especially near train station.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Tournai yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Cathedral of Our Lady (UNESCO)
  • Belfry (UNESCO)
  • Grand‑Place
  • Museum of Fine Arts

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Tournai

À cette adresse, s’il vous plaît

To this address, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

US consulate in Brussels; other embassies in Brussels.

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/tournai). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.