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🇧🇪Mons
Explore Mons with your family: a UNESCO belfry, Gothic churches, interactive museums, and Belgian food that kids actually love, all in one walkable city.
Your family guide
Mons with kids: UNESCO belfry, Gothic churches and Belgian treats
“The Grand Place opens onto a medieval maze where every corner reveals a Gothic spire or hidden courtyard, and kids genuinely lose track of time exploring.”
— San & Jo
Mons is one of those rare places that feels like stepping into a living history book. Tucked in the Hainaut province of Wallonia, this compact Belgian city blends Gothic architecture, Baroque landmarks, and a genuinely warm local atmosphere into something your whole family will remember. The streets are pedestrian-friendly, the squares are buzzing, and the culture is absolutely everywhere you look.
What makes Mons so great for families is how easy it is to explore. The historic centre is walkable, the museums are genuinely engaging for curious kids, and the Grand Place gives you a natural home base where little ones can run around while you sip a coffee. From climbing Belgium's only Baroque belfry to rubbing a lucky monkey statue for good luck, there is no shortage of moments that will make your kids' eyes go wide.
Mons has been drawing visitors since Roman times, and it earned the title of European Capital of Culture in 2015. That cultural energy still runs through the city today. Whether you are here for a day trip or a longer stay, Mons rewards families who love discovering something new around every corner.
Hainaut, WalloniaRegion
FrenchLanguage
Euro (€)Currency
Best things to do
Best things to do in Mons
Grand Place and the Lucky Monkey
Mons' main square is one of Belgium's most beautiful, lined with cafés and anchored by the Gothic Town Hall built between 1458 and 1477. At its entrance sits the famous Monkey statue. Locals and visitors rub it for good luck, and kids absolutely love this tradition. Grab a spot at one of the café terraces and let the square's energy wash over you.
Rub the monkey's head, not its hand, for the best luck according to locals
1-2 hours
Climb the UNESCO Belfry
At 87 metres tall, the Mons Belfry is Belgium's only Baroque belfry and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. You can reach the top by climbing the steps or taking the panoramic lift, and the views over the city are fantastic. The surrounding Parc du Château is a lovely spot for kids to stretch their legs afterwards.
Take the lift up and walk down the steps for the best of both worlds
1-2 hours
Collégiale Sainte-Waudru
This Brabantine Gothic masterpiece took two centuries to build, from the 15th to the 17th century. Inside you will find alabaster statues, stunning stained-glass windows, and a treasury of religious artefacts. The Golden Carriage kept here is the centrepiece of the famous Ducasse de Mons festival. Even kids who are not usually drawn to churches tend to be impressed by the scale of this one.
Look out for the Golden Carriage inside, the star of the annual Ducasse festival
45-60 minutes
Mons Memorial Museum
This highly rated museum covers WWI and WWII through the lens of local life in Mons. The exhibits are interactive, the displays are thoughtfully designed, and everything is labelled in English. It is one of the more accessible war museums for families, making difficult history feel tangible and meaningful without being overwhelming for younger visitors.
English labels throughout make this one of the most accessible museums in the region
1.5-2 hours
The Mundaneum: the Paper Google
Before the internet, two Belgian visionaries tried to catalogue all human knowledge on index cards. The result was the Mundaneum, now a fascinating archive museum in Mons. Kids with a curious streak will love the idea of a pre-digital Google, and the exhibits do a great job of making the history of information feel genuinely exciting.
Ask about the family-friendly guided tours available on weekends
1-1.5 hours
CAP Fine Arts Museum
Mons' contemporary art museum hosts rotating temporary exhibitions featuring major international artists, including works by Rodin. The building itself is worth seeing, and the exhibitions change regularly so there is always something new. A great option if your family enjoys art in a more modern, accessible setting.
Check the current exhibition before you visit as the programme changes throughout the year
1-2 hours
Terrils: the industrial hills around Mons
The slag heaps left over from the region's coal-mining past have transformed into distinctive green hills and recreational areas around Mons. These terrils offer walking trails with panoramic views and a fascinating piece of industrial heritage. A great half-day addition if you have a second day and want to get outside the city centre.
The views from the top of the terrils are surprisingly beautiful and very different from the city below
2-3 hours
Our verdict
How Mons scores for families
Kids
The Lucky Monkey, the belfry lift, interactive museums, and pedestrian-friendly streets make Mons genuinely enjoyable for children. It is not a theme-park kind of city, but curious kids thrive here.
Culture
Mons punches well above its weight. A UNESCO belfry, a Gothic collegiate church, war museums, contemporary art, and a fascinating archive museum all in one compact city centre.
Food
Local specialities like côte de porc à l'berdouille and sweet pagnon borain give Mons a distinct food identity. The Grand Place cafés are family-friendly and the city has solid options across all budgets.
Nature
The city centre itself is more urban than natural, but the Parc du Château and the terrils on the outskirts offer good outdoor options for families who want fresh air alongside culture.
Budget
Mons is noticeably more affordable than Brussels or Bruges. Several museums have modest entry fees and the city rewards walkers who want to explore without spending much.
Planning your visit
How long should you stay in Mons?
3
3 hours
Quick visit
Grand Place, the Lucky Monkey, and a walk up to the Belfry. A solid taste of Mons without rushing.
sweet spot
1
1 day
Sweet spot
Explore the Grand Place, Belfry, Collégiale Sainte-Waudru, and one or two museums at a relaxed family pace. Finish with dinner in the old town.
2
2 days
Deep dive
Add the Maison Van Gogh, the terrils, and a longer wander through the neighbourhoods beyond the main sights. Great if your family loves going deeper.
Fun facts
Things to know about Mons
The monkey that grants wishes
The small iron Monkey statue on the Town Hall has been granting good luck to visitors for centuries. The tradition says you must rub its head with your left hand while making a wish. Generations of Mons residents have kept this ritual alive, and the monkey's head is noticeably shinier than the rest of its body from all those hopeful hands.
The world's first internet, on paper
In the early 1900s, two Belgian thinkers named Paul Otlet and Henri La Fontaine tried to index every piece of knowledge in the world using millions of index cards. They called it the Mundaneum. Historians now call it the spiritual ancestor of the internet, built decades before computers existed. The whole archive ended up in Mons.
A dragon parade through the city streets
Every year during the Ducasse de Mons festival, a giant dragon called the Lumeçon is paraded through the streets and Saint George fights it in a dramatic re-enactment on the Grand Place. It is one of Belgium's most theatrical festivals and has been recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Taste Mons
What to eat in Mons with your family
Côte de porc à l'berdouille
Must tryL'Envers
This is the dish Mons is most proud of: a pork chop cooked in a sharp, tangy sauce of white wine, mustard, shallots, and gherkins. It is hearty, flavourful, and deeply local. Most traditional restaurants in Mons serve their own version.
Pagnon borain
Kids love itLocal bakeries around Grand Place
A thick, pillowy sugar tart made from leavened bread dough and brown sugar. It is sweet, soft, and deeply comforting. You will find it in bakeries across the city and kids tend to love it immediately.
Râtons Car d'Or
Local favouriteRe Belge
Oven-browned pancakes filled with ham, white sauce, and a hint of nutmeg. They are a local Mons speciality that sits somewhere between a pancake and a gratin. Comforting and filling, they make a great lunch option for the whole family.
El cayau montois
Safe choiceChocolatiers in the city centre
A homemade chocolate-hazelnut ganache cake layered with shortbread and meringue, decorated with a little monkey motif as a nod to the city's famous Guardhouse Monkey. It is the kind of dessert that makes a great edible souvenir to bring home.
Pavé montois
Local favouriteRe Belge
A mild, creamy cow's milk cheese made locally in the Mons region. If your family enjoys cheese boards, this is the one to order. It pairs beautifully with local bread and makes a great introduction to the flavours of Wallonia.
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