Mechelen sits on the main rail line between Brussels and Antwerp. Direct intercity trains take about 15 minutes from Brussels-Central and 12 minutes from Antwerp-Centraal — every few minutes during the day. Brussels Airport is 25 minutes by direct train, which makes Mechelen an unusually easy base for a Belgium trip without a car.
The main station is Mechelen at the south edge of the centre; a second station, Mechelen-Nekkerspoel, sits on the east side and is sometimes more convenient for the Kazerne Dossin. Both are a 10-15 minute walk to the Grote Markt.