Wallonia · Belgium
Where to stay in Charleroi
Charleroi is a city in Wallonia, Belgium, home to about 204,000 people. This guide covers 1 hotel in Charleroi, with about 165 rooms between them.
- Places to stay in this guide
- 1
- Best months
- May and September
- Nearest airport
- CRL5 km · Brussels South Charleroi Airport
- Currency
- EUReuro
- Time zone
- Europe/Brussels
- Language
- Dutch, French, German
About
About Charleroi
Charleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. It is the largest city in both Hainaut and Wallonia.
While there are remains of human settlements dating back to prehistoric times across Charleroi, it is actually a rather new city. It was only created in 1666 when the Spanish, who then controlled the Low Countries, started building a fortress there. It is the then King of Spain, Charles II, that the name of the town alludes to. This is why the inhabitants of the town are often called Carolos.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Charleroi
See
The centre of Charleroi is relatively compact and walkable, encompassed within a ringroad known as the Petite Ceinture de Charleroi. Because Charleroi is located on a slight hill, the northern part of the centre is known as Ville Haute ("upper town"), and the southern part as Ville Basse ("lower town"). The hexagonal Place Charles II marks the very centre of the city, featuring the uniquely eclectic Saint-Christophe church, which has seen additions from just about every architectural style since it was built in 1667, and the elegant town hall (Hôtel de ville) built in 1936 in an eclectic style mixing Art Deco with classicism.
- Musée des Beaux-Arts
- Musée des chasseurs à pied
- BPS22
- Museum of Photography
- Site du bois du Cazier à Marcinelle
- Musée du verre
- Charleroi Expo
- ULB Scientific Cultural Centre
Do
- Cinéma Le Parc
- Terril des Piges
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Places to stay in Charleroi
1 place to stay from the chains this guide covers, each linked to its own website.
| Place to stay | Rooms |
|---|---|
| Hotel Charleroi Airport hotel | 165 |
Schematic: the city centre in orange, each place to stay as a dot, distance rings in kilometres.
Where to stay
Which part of Charleroi to stay in
Given the short distances to other Belgian cities, most people staying overnight are likely to be passengers at "Brussels South" airport. There are no hotels at the airport terminal, and reaching those nearby is difficult without a car. However, several hotels offer shuttles to the airport.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
More hotels in Charleroi
1 hotel within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| auberge du Roy d'Espagne (Genappe) | 21.9 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Charleroi
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Charleroi are May and September. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 24 °C; December is the wettest, with about 102 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Charleroi: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL), about 5.2 km from the city centre in a straight line; Brussels Airport (BRU, 54 km) and Liège Airport (LGG, 75 km) are also within reach.
Getting around
Charleroi's centre as well as the immediate surroundings can be easily explored on foot. Public transportation in Charleroi is provided by TEC, which is a regional operator responsible for public transit in all of Wallonia. In Charleroi, they operate a light-rail Metro system and bus lines. TEC is an acronym for Transport en commun which means public transportation.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
CRL · Brussels South Charleroi Airport
BRU · Brussels Airport
LGG · Liège Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Charleroi
Drink
There are no water fountains in Charleroi, however the train station has a bottle refill station in the small passage connecting the main hall with the platforms.
Stay safe
Despite its reputation, Charleroi's crime rate is not exceptionally high. In fact it is marginally lower than in other Belgian cities like Brussels, Liège, or Leuven. Nevertheless, it is better to avoid going alone or in small groups at night in some neighbourhoods outside the city centre. Couillet, Marchienne-au-Pont, and Marcinelle are the most frequently mentioned areas to avoid. It is also advised not to wander around the railway station at night, unless you're in a group and know where you're going.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Charleroi: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Charleroi?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Charleroi are May and September. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 24 °C; December is the wettest, with about 102 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Charleroi?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL), about 5.2 km from the city centre in a straight line; Brussels Airport (BRU, 54 km) and Liège Airport (LGG, 75 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Charleroi?
euro (EUR).
Nearby
Destinations near Charleroi
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.