Brussels ↔ Aachen
Charlemagne's cathedral, a meeting at RWTH, the CHIO or the thermal baths: Aachen is two hours from Brussels, with a driver and a fixed price known in advance.
Aachen with a private driver
Charlemagne was so fond of the hot springs of Aachen that he built his palace there, and it was there that he was buried. What remains of that complex is the octagonal chapel, the heart of today's cathedral and one of the very first sites inscribed by UNESCO. For almost six centuries, German kings were crowned here before moving on to the banquet in the Coronation Hall of the town hall, on the other side of the Katschhof. About two hours by road on the E40, via Liège and then the Herve plateau, separate Brussels from these two monuments: time enough to devote a whole day to the cathedral, its treasury and the cobbled streets of the old centre.
Aachen also lives very much in the present, and at a brisk pace. RWTH, one of Germany's leading technical universities, trains tens of thousands of engineers and researchers, a large share of them from abroad; institutes, laboratories and technology companies cluster around its campuses. For a project meeting, a thesis defence or an industrial site visit, your transfer takes you straight to the address of your appointment, with no detour via the station. After the working session, the Carolus Thermen, fed by the thermal springs that made the city's name, offer a welcome stop before the journey home.
Every summer, the CHIO takes over the Soers stadium, north of the city, for around ten days of show jumping, dressage, driving, eventing and vaulting, watched by spectators from many countries. On the days of the main competitions, the surrounding roads fill up quickly: it is best to leave early and agree a precise pick-up point with your driver, away from the main exits. At the end of the year, the city changes character again: during Advent, the stalls of its Christmas market crowd together at the foot of the cathedral and the town hall.
- A heritage day taking in the cathedral, the treasury, the town hall and the Katschhof, with pick-up at the time you choose.
- Meetings at RWTH or with an industrial company in the region, with the option of back-to-back company visits on quotation.
- Journeys to the Soers during the CHIO, with a meeting point agreed in advance, away from the crowds at the exits.
- An evening drive back to Belgium after a session at the Carolus Thermen or dinner near the Markt.
- Transfers from Maastricht Aachen Airport or Brussels Airport for researchers and partners arriving by air.
Brussels – Aachen: your questions
Do you need an environmental sticker to drive into Aachen?+
Central Aachen is a designated low-emission zone (Umweltzone), where vehicles must display the green German emissions sticker. The rule applies to the vehicle, not to its occupants: as a passenger, you have no formalities to complete and no document to show. It would only concern you if you came one day at the wheel of your own car, in which case the sticker should be ordered in advance.
Can we attend the CHIO on a single day from Brussels?+
Yes. As the drive takes little more than two hours without traffic, an early start lets you reach the Soers before the first competitions and leave once the last one of the day has finished. Tickets are available from the organiser. To attend on several days, choose between daily return trips and a driver booked for your entire stay in Aachen, priced on quotation according to your programme.
Researchers are flying in for a project at RWTH: how do we get them there?+
The nearest airport is Maastricht Aachen Airport, in Beek in the Netherlands, but many international flights arrive at Brussels Airport. Whichever the airport, the driver monitors the landing time, waits for your guests at the exit from baggage reclaim, holding a sign with their names, and takes them to their hotel or straight to the institute. A single request is enough to arrange the arrival of several people on different flights.
Can the Aachen Christmas market be combined with other towns?+
Yes: our Christmas markets day trip combines Aachen and Monschau in a single day, with variations taking in Cologne or Lille. If Aachen is all you want to see, a return trip is enough: the market is concentrated in the old centre, which is easily explored on foot. Saturdays in Advent are often the busiest; leaving early gives you time to wander before the afternoon crowds.
A ride to Aachen?
Book online, by phone or on WhatsApp — fixed price confirmed before departure.