Planning days in Ardennes
 

Trying to wrap up planning for our upcoming trip this April. We will spend a few days in Bruges before renting a car and heading down to our base in Dinant. We would like to make an early start and visit Hallerbos Forest if blooming. Then Kasteel van Beersel and Villers Abbey before reaching Dinant, if time allows. The next days are what I am struggling with. We have one full day to explore and then we will have around a half day the next day before we drop our rental car in Brussels.

We like castles. We also like small, picturesque towns and thought driving in the area is supposed to be relatively scenic so that might be very nice. We also like learning the history of an area, so we thought the Open Air Museum could be interesting. We only speak English so not sure if that will affect the enjoyment of Bokrijk or not.

Option 1 - Day 1: Visit Chateau Bouillon and Chateau Sedan, return to Dinant
Option 1 - Day 2: Visit La Roche-en-Ardenne and Durbuy, return car in Brussels

Option 2 - Day 1: Visit Chateau Bouillon, La Roche-en-Ardenne, Durbuy, return to Dinant
Option 2 - Day 2: Visit Bokrijk Open Air Museum, return car in Brussels

Thoughts on either option? Do you have another suggestion entirely? Your advice is much appreciated!

I would love to hear how your trip went! We are going for a night this Feb. Wondering what you think is not to miss.

Hi rivermama!

We had a great trip. Not sure when you are going, but if it is April and the forest is blooming I'd absolutely recommend going to Hallerbos. It was very lovely. We also enjoyed Villers Abbey and Kasteel van Beersel. If you try to do all three things in the same day, I'd start very early as we felt a little rushed at Villers Abbey.

Dinant was not our favorite; if we had it to do over again I think I would have rather stayed in Durbuy. I've seen pictures of it and it looks very charming.

We visited Chateau Bouillon as well and it made for a very interesting visit. Great castle if you like castles.

Not sure if you wanted input on anything else that we visited in Belgium? When are you going?

Hi candj83, thanks for your reply!
We will be in Bruges on Jan 31st and will spend a few days there for the beer festival. I wish the forest was blooming then, the pictures look beautiful.
I think I'll nix Dinant since you are not the first to say it may not be worth it. We plan to hit Chimay and Orvel breweries/monastery on the way to spending a night out that way. We have considered spending the night in Luxembourg just to say we did, and then hitting a few spots on the way back to Bruges. Chateau Bouillon is on the list as well. So little time! so much to see! Any other helpful hints you have or places not to miss would be great.