Tourists are raving about a “hidden gem” European city break that’s perfect for a long weekend away.
Despite being just a short journey from Belgium‘s capital Brussels, many Brits have never even heard of Mechelen.
According to those in the know, the Belgian destination is packed full of things to see and do, with gorgeous architecture, cosmopolitan cafe culture and art galore.
Brits can hop on the Eurostar and get there in under three hours: two hours and 51 minutes to be precise.
Travel bloggers unite around the destination, which is in the Flanders region of Belgium, with many enthusing about trips there.
Man Vs Globe wrote: “Located just 30 minutes from both Brussels and Antwerp, it is easy to see why the picturesque city of Mechelen is erroneously missed by most visitors to Belgium.”
According to Emma’s Roadmap: “The small city of Mechelen, located in between the two largest cities of Belgium, Brussels, and Antwerp, can really be considered a (still) hidden gem.”
“As most of the tourists flock to either Bruges, Ghent, Brussels or Antwerp, everyone seems to overlook the smaller Mechelen.”
The travel blogger added: “Luckily this means that when the crowds are flocking to the tourist hubs of Bruges or Ghent, you can wander around Mechelen in peace, feeling like you are the only person to have stumbled across Flander’s underrated gem.
“It makes me wonder why, because Mechelen has it all: the cute cobblestone streets, medieval architecture, romantic canals running through the city… all the ingredients for a lovely city trip!”
TripAdvisor branded the small town a “hidden Flemish fem” full of charm.
The travel platform added: “Students of the world-renowned Carillon bell-ringing school provide an atmospheric soundtrack for sipping coffee at a sidewalk cafe in one of the town’s charming squares.”
Mechelen is perfect for those who like to explore by foot as: “Many pedestrian areas make this a delightful town to promenade about, admiring hundreds of listed buildings and monuments, many dating back to 16th century.”
Tripadvisor concluded by recommending that visitors see: “Highlights include Gothic and Baroque churches and the famed St Rumbold’s Tower.”
And users agreed that the cathedral is the city’s top visitor attraction.
One user said: “St Rumbold’s Cathedral is so impressive and a true feast for the eyes. We loved that there was a small art exhibition at the time to explore.
“We also decided to go up the tower – I would definitely recommend this as the views were incredible. The journey up was eased by a few stops to explore the history and artefacts of the cathedral which added interest to the experience.”