Planning to visit Waterloo battlefield, and need the perfect one or two-day itinerary? Ready to stand on the ground where an empire fell and history turned on a single battle? After spending 3 days in every corner of the battlefield, I’ve done all the ground work for you, curating a trip to visit Waterloo battlefield that combines the most educational and moving experiences, plus recommendations to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Get ready to explore museums, climb the iconic Lion’s Mound, learn the dramatic stories behind picturesque farmsteads like Hougoumont Farm, and sip a Waterloo beer in the very spot that turned the tide of the battle in the Allies’ favor.
Whether you’ve studied or taught the Napoleonic Wars, or just want to walk in the footsteps of Napoleon, Wellington, and Blücher, this will be a trip to remember.
☀️ Day 1: The Heart of the Waterloo Battlefield
Rte du Lion 1815, 1420 Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium
You will definitely want to start at the ‘Domaine de la Bataille de Waterloo‘, the core battlefield complex that delivers the full memorial experience. You’ll walk down to the entrance of the beautiful underground complex to start your day.
They have really done a fantastic job putting together a thoughtful experience that covers all aspects of the battle – military strategy, personal stories, historical significance, and on-site battle location experiences.
📍TIP: Buy the ‘1815 Pass‘ at the ticket desk in the museum. It covers one admission to the museum, Panorama, Lion’s Mound, Hougoumont Farm, and your later stops at the Wellington Museum and Napoleon’s HQ. It’s €30 per ticket, and this is your best value ticket.
Morning at the Waterloo Battlefield Museum Complex
Begin inside the modern Memorial Museum, which opens with the massive diorama of 10,000 tiny soldiers and continues into exhibits featuring uniforms, maps, weapons, artifacts, media presentations, and even the skeletal remains of a Prussian soldier discovered in 2022. It’s a visceral introduction to what Waterloo cost.
Climb the Iconic Lion’s Mound
Next—ascend the iconic Lion’s Mound, a towering hill offering sweeping views of the battlefield. It’s 226 steps up to the top where the iron lion sits, but you will be rewarded with an eagle’s eye view of the battlefield and surrounding countryside and historic landmarks.
(Referenced in my battlefield museum article)
Visit Waterloo Panorama Rotunda
Just steps away is the rotunda with the Dumoulin Panorama – a 110-meter long 360° painting designed to immerse you in the French cavalry charges. Dim lights and sculpted figures block the lower canvas edge, making you feel like you’re on the field. Spend a good 10 minutes here and see what high tech immersive media was like more than 100 years ago.
👉 See my full deep‑dive post on the Waterloo Battlefield Museum Complex for photos, visitor information, and what not to miss! Waterloo Battlefield Museum Guide: Exploring the Lion’s Mound and the Legacy of Napoleon
Lunch at Brasserie Wellington
Stop for lunch at Brasserie Wellington with its terrace view of the battlefield. It is conveniently located right on site next to the parking area and the museum.
Local beer, hearty portions, friendly staff, and reflection time made this a memorable break for us. Thumbs up on the chicken caesar salad, and the spaghetti bolognese!
Afternoon at Hougoumont Farm
After lunch, walk or drive the 1.5 km to Hougoumont Farm where some of the fiercest fighting of the battlefield occurred. You will still be on the main battlefield complex so follow the signage.
Be sure to visit the chapel, the infamous well, and the barn with a very informative multimedia film. You will absolutely not forget this experience.
We sat and had a Waterloo beer in the courtyard after our visit just to let it all soak in. This, to me, was the most emotionally powerful stop of our Waterloo Battlefield tour.
👉 Read my full post on Hougoumont Farm for more details, photos, and tips for visiting: Visiting Hougoumont Farm: The Most Powerful Stop on the Waterloo Battlefield
Optional: Walk the Battlefield
If you have time, follow all or part of the Chemin du Goumont trail, which crosses the open fields and showcases placements of La Haye Sainte and the French artillery. It’s a 3km walk, but gives you scale and emotional context.
This is particularly well suited for those who enjoy the tactics and strategy of military campaigns. BUT, you have to remember that so much earth was displaced to build the Lion’s Mound that even Wellington lamented that his battlefield was no longer accurate.
Dinner at CUTS Meat & Fire Steakhouse
Chau. de Louvain 414, 1380 Lasne, Belgium (8 minutes by car from the battlefield)
After the day of history, treat yourself to dinner at CUTS Steakhouse. I made a reservation here for Father’s Day for my husband as something special and we were not disappointed!
They serve expertly prepared cuts of beef, sides, and cocktails. The inside was charming and cozy but it was such a beautiful day we ended up dining al fresco on the deck.
The service was fantastic and we both fully enjoyed our meals. Our only regret? We didn’t get the bone marrow appetizer. When it showed up at our neighbors table we were jealous!
📍TIP: Reservations highly recommended, especially on weekends.
☀️ Day 2: Command Centers, Monuments & Reflection
After Day One, you should have a pretty good understanding of the battle, and the drama of how it all played out. Today, it’s all about the personalities, and stories. The headquarters of the two commanders – Napoleon, and Wellington – really make the history come alive in a very personal way.
Morning: Napoleon’s Last Headquarters
Chau. de Bruxelles 66, 1472 Genappe, Belgium
Head to Le Caillou Farm, Napoleon’s final command base before the battle. It’s about 4km from the Lion’s mound.
It’s quieter, more intimate—filled with personal relics like his drinking mug, camping blanket, and diamond ring. There’s even a locket with a lock of his hair, and the small prototype of the famous Wounded Eagle statue you’ll see at your next stop.
You’ll also see the very table where Napoleon and his officers drew up the final battle plans!
For all the visitor information, photos, and more details, read my post: Inside Napoleon’s Last Headquarters: Visiting the Caillou Farm in Waterloo
On the Road: The Wounded Eagle & Memorials
Drive south along the Chaussée de Charleroi (Nationale 5) after you leave the battlefield site and keep your eye out for roadside memorials like the memorial Les Belges, and the Wounded Eagle statue – a poignant stop between Le Caillou and Waterloo. There are several, and it’s worth pulling over to take a closer view or pay respects.
La Haye Sainte Farm (from the outside)
This privately‑owned farmhouse is also visible from the N5 just a little south of the battlefield, and looks much the same as in 1815. It played a similar role to Hougoumont, with Prussian soldiers this time holding off French infantry long enough for the Allies to reinforce. You can’t go inside, but it’s worth a respectful drive‑by.
Lunch and Museum at Le Ferme de Mont‑St‑Jean (Brewery)
Chau. de Charleroi 591, 1410 Waterloo, Belgium
Visit Mont‑St‑Jean Farm, now home to the brewery that makes Waterloo beer, and a small museum about the Waterloo field hospital which was located here.
We missed the museum by minutes on our visit, and the hours posted on Google were incorrect. So if the museum is on your list, be sure to solidify opening hours before you go. The restored buildings, restaurant, and beer garden were a restful and grounded stop that gave us a chance to really take in the surroundings of this third historical barn. Great play area for kids too!
Afternoon: Wellington Museum & Église St. Joseph
Chau. de Bruxelles 147, 1410 Waterloo, Belgium
Wrap up with a visit to the Wellington Museum in the town of Waterloo, the actual HQ where victory was written by the Duke of Wellington as his friend and aide-de-camp Peter Gordon lay dying in the next room.
It brings the day full circle and you can compare the two headquarters and their commanders.
The battle of Waterloo gets its name from where Wellington signed the papers, not from the area where the battle was actually fought!
Just like Napoleon’s HQ, the Wellington museum has many personal effects of Wellington – his cloak, dishes, glasses, and yes also a lock of hair.
Don’t Miss This: Cross the street to Église St. Joseph, where you’ll find dozens of marble memorial plaques lining the walls on either side of the entrance to the church. There’s also a major memorial in the entry with a white marble bust of Wellington.
👉 I include lots of photos, more details, and visitor information in my post: The Wellington Museum in Waterloo: The Duke’s Headquarters Before Battle
Dinner: The Sucrerie at Van der Valk Hotel
Finish at The Sucrerie, a former sugar mill turned hotel restaurant. It’s a striking setting with great food. I’ll spotlight its controversial past (bone‑refined sugar history) in an upcoming post.
(Link: hotel affiliate booking page)
🏨 Where to Stay When You Visit Waterloo Battlefield
The charming Van der Valk Hotel Waterloo is ideal if you want battlefield proximity, a historical building, comfortable amenities, and/or a pet-friendly stay. We chose this as home base to visit Waterloo battlefield and really enjoyed our stay here.
We took daily advantage of the amazing breakfast (which had an outstanding buffet and eggs to order), their outdoor bar area with music and fun pub-style appetizers, and dinner at the on-site restaurant Le Sucrerie.
The parking is free and on site, and the sense of history was palpable.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reserve your room at the Van Der Valk Waterloo Hotel – Rated 8.4 (Very good) with over 1200 reviews on Booking.com! We think you’ll love it!
✅ Practical Tips to Visit Waterloo Battlefield
🎟️ Buy the 1815 Pass—covers most major attractions and valid for a year. If you know you only have one day, then just get the ticket that covers the main Waterloo battlefield complex. This will be one very full day, but doable.
👟 Wear good walking shoes, and bring hat, and sunglasses if it’s summer. The battlefield sites are largely outdoors. If it’s raining one day, try mixing it up to hit the indoor museums on that day.
💧 Bring a refillable water bottle.
🚗 Getting there: Car is best, but trains from Brussels to Braine‑l’Alleud are possible.
📅 Best Time to Visit Waterloo Battlefield: Visit mid‑June for anniversary reenactments, or early August for annual military events.
🏆 Best Waterloo Battlefield Tours from Brussels
No car? No problem! Try one of these highly-rated day tours from Brussels that will take you to all the must-see locations, and include hotel pick ups! This is a great stress-free way to visit Waterloo battlefield and not miss anything.
⏳ One Day Only?
If you only have one day to visit Waterloo battlefield, follow Day One of the itinerary. Buy the Battlefield Museum ticket alone and you will still get access to the museum, Lion’s Mound, Panorama, and Hougoumont Farm without the two HQ visits which are off-site.
🔔 Be sure to bookmark this post for planning your unforgettable visit to Waterloo battlefield, and all the incredible places that changed the face of European history.
Related Content You May Enjoy
- Inside Napoleon’s Last Headquarters: Visiting the Caillou Farm in Waterloo
- The Wellington Museum in Waterloo: The Duke’s Headquarters Before Battle
- Waterloo Battlefield Museum Guide: Exploring the Lion’s Mound and the Legacy of Napoleon
- Visiting Hougoumont Farm: The Most Powerful Stop on the Waterloo Battlefield
- Napoleon’s Tomb in Paris: Why It’s Bigger, Wilder & Grander Than You Think