Things to Do in Waterloo

Waterloo sits about 18 kilometers south of Brussels, and while the town itself is fairly modest, it carries enormous historical weight as the site where Napoleon met his final defeat in 1815. The battlefield has been preserved and transformed into a compelling historical destination, complete with museums, monuments, and guided tours that bring the famous battle to life. What makes Waterloo particularly interesting is how it balances its role as a significant European historical site with being a quiet Belgian town - you'll find excellent restaurants and cafes alongside the memorial sites, and the surrounding Walloon countryside is genuinely beautiful. The area tends to attract serious history buffs, but the storytelling is engaging enough that you don't need to be a military history expert to appreciate what happened here.

Waterloo has developed a solid restaurant scene that goes well beyond typical tourist fare. You'll find several excellent Belgian restaurants serving regional Walloon specialties alongside classic dishes like carbonnade flamande and waterzooi. The area around the battlefield has cafes and brasseries that cater to visitors, but venture into Waterloo's town center for more authentic local dining. Several restaurants specifically play up the Napoleonic theme, which can be either charming or cheesy depending on your perspective. The nearby countryside also offers some outstanding farm-to-table restaurants if you have a car and want to explore beyond the immediate battlefield area. Belgian beer selection is generally excellent throughout the area, as you'd expect.

Late spring through early fall offers the best weather for walking the battlefield, with May through September being particularly pleasant. The sites are open year-round, but winter visits can be quite cold and muddy, especially if you plan to walk extensively across the actual battlefield. Summer brings the most crowds, particularly during July and August when European school groups are common. June and September tend to offer a good balance of decent weather and manageable crowds. The anniversary weekend in mid-June features special reenactments and events, which can be spectacular if you're interested in living history, though accommodations book up well in advance. Weather can be unpredictable even in summer, so bring layers and waterproof gear regardless of the season.