After a long year of restrictions, we are ready to enjoy a great summer at home. We’re encouraged to be outdoors as much as possible, to avoid crowds and keep ourselves so it’s lucky that Oudenaarde has plenty of outdoors activities to keep you occupied. Whether you love hiking or cycling, walking or dining al fresco, there is something for everyone here. We are expecting a busy summer so book your stay in Leopold Hotel Oudenaarde soon to avoid disappointment. Read our guide to the best outdoor activities in Oudenaarde.
Cycling & Biking Tours in Oudenaarde
Cycling has always been one of the top outdoor activities in much of Belgium and Oudenaarde is no exception. As the most central town to Ronde van Slandered (the Tour of Flanders), the most important race in Belgium, cycling holidays have always been popular among both locals and visitors. The town is also home to Centre Ronde van Vlaanderen, a museum located in the main town square dedicated entirely to the race and its place in Belgian cycling history.
If you’re planning a biking trip to Oudenaarde, test your stamina by taking one of the three colour-coded Tour of Flanders routes, all three of which pass through the city. The routes are 78km, 103km, and 114km in length. If you want an easier or more leisurely ride, try one or more of the 18 signposted routes ranging from 30 to 50km. Mountain bikers will love the Flemish Ardennes trail network with over 220km of challenging mountain bike routes.
Water Sports in Oudenaarde
As a mostly landlocked city, it might surprise you to find out that you can enjoy all sorts of exciting water sport activities in the outdoor park at the Donkvijvers on the edge of the city. The exciting 40-hectare recreation park is run by The Outsider and has ‘Seven Summits’, or 7 types of activities, all available at different levels of experience and difficulty. The Cable Park is a favourite for adventure lovers with activities like knee boarding, water skiing or wakeboarding available to everyone, even complete beginners. After a long day of climbing, trailing, swimming, crawling, kayaking and much more, you can relax with a drink in the Lakehouse Beach Bar or their lovely rooftop terrace.
Walking and Hiking in Oudenaarde
The best outdoor activities in Oudenaarde, free for all to enjoy and a great way to strengthen muscles are walking and hiking. In total there are about 174 hikes for you to discover within the region, ranging from challenging to leisurely. The region around the Scheldt Valley is a hikers paradise and following some carefully planned routes from Oudenaarde means you will see the best beauty spots and historically significant features of the region. You can also enjoy walking tours inside the city with a guide to give you the history of the area. Tourism Oudenaarde will provide you with maps for the best walking routes in and around the city.
Dining & Drinking Outdoors in Oudenaarde
While everyone loves spending time in the great outdoors, we don’t all enjoy adventure sports. Oudenaarde has adapted to government guidelines and many of our bars, pubs, restaurants and cafes now have outdoor seating areas to you can enjoy a drink and a bite to eat al fresco. We may be biased but one of the best outdoor dining space in the city has to be the terrace of Leopold Oudenaarde. Our quiet, stylish courtyard has comfortable furniture, optional cover from parasols and plenty of space for your party to enjoy a meal in comfort and safety. Our menus have a little of everything from midday snacks to evening meals, freshly prepared by our team of chefs. You can enjoy beer and light bite in our outdoor terrace before enjoying our stylish restaurant for a delicious dinner.
Plan your trip to Leopold Oudenaarde today making sure to stay outdoors as much as possible. We have special offers and packages including breakfast and dinner available exclusively when you book directly using our website. We look forward to welcoming you back to enjoy an outdoor summer in Oudenaarde.
