In this guide
💡 The Short Version: No train goes to the battlefield, which is in Braine-l’Alleud, not the town of Waterloo. Take TEC bus W or 365 from Brussels-Midi, about 60 minutes to the stops for the Lion’s Mound, or a train to Braine-l’Alleud and bus W for 10 to 15 minutes. One ticket covers the whole estate, from €25.50 (1 November to 31 March) or €29 (April to the end of October, in school holidays, on public holidays and at weekends). The Lion’s Mound is 226 steps and not wheelchair accessible. There is no group tour to book: GetYourGuide lists only private tours from Brussels. Bus service can be limited on some days, so plan your return before you leave.
Getting there
No train to the site · TEC bus W or 365 from Brussels-Midi, about 60 minutes · or train and bus W
The estate (the Waterloo Battlefield Estate, or Domaine de la bataille de Waterloo 1815) is at Route du Lion 1815, Braine-l’Alleud. The town of Waterloo is a separate stop, with the tourist office and the Wellington Museum.
| Way | Details |
|---|---|
| Bus W | From Brussels-Midi (Avenue Fonsny) towards Braine-l’Alleud station. Stop Braine-l’Alleud, Route de Nivelles for the Lion’s Mound, about 60 minutes. Stop Waterloo, Église for the tourist office and the Wellington Museum, about 50 minutes |
| Bus 365 | From Brussels-Midi (Avenue Fonsny) towards Charleroi (Jumet). Stop Waterloo, Monument Gordon for the battlefield, about 60 minutes. Stop Genappe, Dernier QG for Napoleon’s Last Headquarters, about 65 minutes |
| Train and bus W | Train to Braine-l’Alleud station. From the station-side exit by platform 4, bus W takes 10 to 15 minutes to the Lion’s Mound, or you walk about 30 minutes |
| Train to Waterloo | Waterloo station is 1 km from the town centre and the tourist office, about 15 minutes on foot. It is not the stop for the battlefield |
| Taxi (indicative) | Waterloo to the estate €15 to €25; the estate to Braine-l’Alleud station €15 to €20 |
| Car | Free parking at the estate |
Waterloo Tourisme warns that bus service may be limited on certain days, so plan your return in advance. TEC sells “Next” tickets for short trips, in the app, at vending machines, on board or at points of sale. A train ticket bought on board carries a €9 supplement. The SNCB journey planner gives the train fare for your day, and rail strikes in Belgium can be announced at short notice, so check the day before.
Tours
GetYourGuide has no group tour and no entry ticket for Waterloo from Brussels. The guided tours it lists are private, such as the Napoleon’s Last Battle private tourad, 4 hours, rated 3.9 from 6 reviews. The estate’s own ticket is the way to go in.
Tickets and prices
One ticket for the whole estate · €25.50 from November to March · €29 from April to the end of October
The estate’s ticket page sells one ticket for the Memorial 1815, the Panorama, the Lion’s Mound, Hougoumont Farm and the mapping show. From April to the end of October it also includes seasonal activities and the 1815 Shuttle, in school holidays, on public holidays and at weekends.
| Ticket | November to March | April to the end of October |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | €25.50 | €29 |
| Student or 60+ | €23.50 | €27 |
| Child, 10 to 17 | €15.25 | €17 |
| Child, 0 to 9 | Free | Free |
The price is for the whole estate with the mapping show; skipping the show takes €5 off. The Pass 1815 is €30 for an adult (€27 student or 60+, €16.50 child 10 to 17) and adds the Wellington Museum in Waterloo and Napoleon’s Last Headquarters in Genappe.
What to see
Go in this order: the Memorial 1815, the Panorama, the Lion’s Mound, then Hougoumont Farm. Skip the mapping show to save €5 if you want the museum and the view only. From April to the end of October, on weekends, public holidays and in school holidays, the 1815 Shuttle links the Memorial and Hougoumont Farm.
Memorial 1815
An exhibition of period objects, uniforms, animated maps and multimedia, including a 4D film. It is the museum building inside the estate.
The Panorama
A circular painting 110 m long and 12 m high, in a building of 1912, and one of the last complete panoramas the public can still enter, in the estate’s words.
The Panorama rotunda, seen from the Lion’s Mound. Photo: Werneuchen, Wikimedia Commons.
The Lion’s Mound
226 steps · not wheelchair accessible
A monument 40 m high, built in 1826 at the request of King William I, with a lion at the top. After the climb there is a view over the battlefield and an orientation table that shows the army positions.
The Lion’s Mound across the battlefield fields. Photo: Myrabella, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Hougoumont Farm
A farm the estate calls the last authentic remnant of the battle. It has a museum of four exhibition rooms, an immersive sound-and-light show and a tea room.
Hougoumont Farm, with the south gate at right. Photo: Alta Falisa, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hours
The estate is open every day of the year.
| Memorial 1815 | Hougoumont Farm | |
|---|---|---|
| April to June | 10:00 to 18:30 | 11:00 to 18:00 |
| July and August | 09:30 to 19:00 | 11:00 to 18:30 |
| September and October | 10:00 to 18:30 | 11:00 to 18:00 |
| November to March | 10:00 to 17:30 | 11:00 to 17:00; weekdays, outdoor areas only |
| 24 and 31 December | 10:00 to 16:30 | 11:00 to 16:00 |
The thing that ruins a visit is the bus home: service can be limited on some days, so check the return before you go out.
Before you go
- Beyond the estate: the Wellington Museum and the tourist office (Chaussée de Bruxelles 218, open daily 10:00 to 17:00) are in the town of Waterloo, and the Pass 1815 covers both museums.
- Which to take: the bus from Brussels-Midi for a straight run; the train and bus W if you would rather change than sit for an hour.
Day trips from Brussels compares every trip, and Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp are the trips with group tours. Public transport in Brussels covers the way to Brussels-Midi, and hotels near Brussels-Midi put you beside the bus stop. What to book before you go to Brussels lists the closed days in the capital.
Common questions
How do I get from Brussels to the Waterloo battlefield?
By TEC bus from Brussels-Midi (Avenue Fonsny): line W to the stop Braine-l'Alleud, Route de Nivelles, or line 365 to the stop Waterloo, Monument Gordon, each about 60 minutes. Or take a train to Braine-l'Alleud station and bus W for 10 to 15 minutes.
Is there a train to the Waterloo battlefield?
No. The battlefield estate is at Route du Lion 1815 in Braine-l'Alleud. Waterloo station is about 1 km from the town centre, and for the Lion's Mound you go to Braine-l'Alleud station, then walk about 30 minutes or take bus W.
How much does the Waterloo battlefield cost?
One ticket covers the whole estate: the Memorial 1815, the Panorama, the Lion's Mound, Hougoumont Farm and the mapping show. An adult pays €25.50 from November to March and €29 from April to the end of October (school holidays, public holidays and weekends). The Pass 1815, which adds the Wellington Museum and Napoleon's Last Headquarters, is €30.
How many steps is the Lion's Mound?
226 steps to the top of a 40-metre mound, with a view over the battlefield and an orientation table. It is not accessible to wheelchairs.
Is the Waterloo battlefield open in winter?
Yes, every day of the year. The Memorial is open 10:00 to 17:30 from November to March, and until 16:30 on 24 and 31 December. At Hougoumont Farm only the outdoor areas are open on weekdays from November to March.
Can I book a Waterloo tour from Brussels?
GetYourGuide lists only private tours from Brussels, with no group tour or day ticket. The estate sells its own ticket online.
