Things to do and see in Leuven Belgium?

Leuven is one of the liveliest cities in Belgium because of its university, which attracts thousands of students during the academic year. The city is really beautiful and among all the things to see in Leuven, its architecture and the history hidden within its walls stand out. Are you planning a trip to Belgium? Then be sure to include Leuven in your itinerary and the sights we tell you about in this post.

What are the best places to see in Leuven Belgium?

The most characteristic feature of Leuven is the contrast between the seasons. During the school year the city is bustling with students attending the Catholic University of Leuven, one of the most prestigious in Europe. In spring and summer, on the other hand, the city becomes very quiet and it is the ideal time to discover its hidden secrets.

1. Great Beguinage

The Great Beguinage is a complex of 3 hectares and 100 houses located on the banks of the river Dijle where in the 13th century orphan girls and widowed women lived. Today it is used as a student residence and resembles a small town with its own gardens and squares. The Great Beguinage is considered a World Heritage Site as it is a really beautiful place that fills with flowers in spring. Access is free, and you can walk through the streets whenever you want.

2. The University Library

The University Library is one of Leuven’s most beautiful and historic buildings. After being razed to the ground by fire during World War I, it was rebuilt with American help in the Flemish style. You can visit the inside of the building from Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 19:00 and on weekends from 10:00 to 17:00. Entrance to the tower costs 7€ and includes an audio guide.

3. M-Museum

The M-Museum is one of the most striking sights to see in Leuven, as its building combines the best of classical and contemporary architecture. From its terrace the views are spectacular and inside the museum you can see works of painting and sculpture ranging from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The museum is open every day from 11:00h to 18:00h, except on Thursdays when it is open until 10:00h at night and on Wednesdays when it is closed. Tickets cost €12 and can also be purchased online in advance.

4. City Hall, the most spectacular thing to see in Leuven

In the middle of the Grote Markt (central square) we find the most spectacular building to see in Leuven, the town hall. The Gothic-style building dates back to the 15th century and took 30 years to build. A curious fact about the town hall is that it survived a fire that ravaged the city after the First World War, and later, during the Second World War, it narrowly escaped a bomb that grazed the façade. Fortunately, the building is still intact today and as well as admiring its spectacular façade you will also have the opportunity to visit the interior. Guided tours are organised every day at 3pm and admission is free. It can be booked online.

5. Stella Artois Brewery

The Stella Artois brand is one of the best known in Belgium, and the brewery is a must-see in Leuven for beer lovers. Here you will learn about the brewing process and how to drink it in the best way. And of course, you will be able to taste it. Visiting hours are from 9:00h to 19:00h every day and the entrance fee is 12€.

6. Sint-Pieterskerk, the non-cathedral of Leuven

This monumental Gothic building is a must-see in Leuven. The curious thing about its history is that although it may look like a cathedral because of its size, it is in fact an unfinished church. In the initial plans, the bell tower was supposed to be 170 metres high, but due to the instability of the ground it was shorter. The Church of St. Peter can be visited every day from 10:00h to 16:30h except Wednesdays.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to see around Leuven?

There are several charming villages to see around Leuven. These are short excursions that are perfectly suited to cycling or even walking. There you will find beautiful landscapes and buildings of historical interest.

1. Brussels

Brussels is one of the most touristic capitals of Europe for its cultural and historical richness. In the city you can visit numerous museums, including the Magritte museum, the museum of musical instruments and the museum of comics. In the historical area you should also visit the Grand Place, the Saint Hubert Galleries and look for the Manneken Pis. On the other hand, and in contrast to the city centre, the parliament buildings and the European Commission, which can also be visited, offer a different view of the city. If you are coming from Leuven, you can take the train, which takes 25 minutes. For Brussels, the car is the worst option, as car parks are more expensive.

2. Bertem, the nearest town to see in Leuven

Bertem is only 5km from Leuven and is a very picturesque little village where you can see a perfectly preserved 11th century church. There is not much else to the village apart from the church and its medieval houses, however, nearby are the Bertem forest and the Leefdaal plains, where you can go for a walk.

3. Tienen

Tienen is a village 8 km from Leuven that can be seen in a morning. The former is famous for the castle of Horst, built in the 13th century. It is a very beautiful place as the castle is completely surrounded by ponds around which you can stroll.

In Tienen it is best to stroll through the centre and visit the central square, the Church of Our Lady of the Lake, the Courthouse and the Town Hall. In the courthouse itself there is a museum (Het Toreke) dedicated to the history and art of the city.

What things to do in Leuven in 1 day?

Leuven is a small town that you can easily visit in a day. In fact, it’s a popular day trip from Brussels. Here’s a route you can follow to make sure you don’t miss anything in Leuven.

First you can start by visiting the Beguinage and the M-Museum. After that, it’s best to have an early lunch at the Oude Markt, the square with the best restaurants in the area, and then go on a guided tour of the Town Hall. Once in the centre you can also see St. Peter’s Church. To end the day, what better than to visit the brewery and find out more about the brewing process.

How to get to Leuven?

Leuven is a university city where hundreds of students travel every year, which means it is very well connected. The best way to get there is to fly to Brussels, where flights from major European cities arrive frequently, and from there, take a train.

The train from Brussels Airport takes 15 minutes to get to Leuven, and costs €6. Frequency is 1h on weekdays and 1.5h on weekends. If you are travelling from Brussels, you can take a train from Brussels Central Station for €5.5 to Leuven Belgium in 25 minutes. Departure time is 15 minutes.

Another option is to hire a car at the airport itself. This option makes more sense if you’re flying into Charleroi Airport, a secondary airport to Brussels and less well connected.

Best restaurants in Leuven

The two most famous products in Leuven, as in the rest of Belgium, are beer and chocolate. However, the city is characterised by a varied and delicious gastronomic offer. Looking for the perfect restaurant? Here are a few recommendations.

• Domus: Right in the centre of town is this rustic-looking restaurant with its own brewery. They have an extensive menu of hearty and delicious Belgian dishes, and the price of the meal ranges from €30 to €100.
• Tres simple /Tres Luxe: this is a simple, fairly inexpensive restaurant that also doubles as a cocktail bar at night. It’s located in Muntstraat and dinner costs around €20/40.
• T fonduehuisje: is a cheese-lover’s paradise, specialising in fondues but also serving a variety of other dishes. Prices range from €25 to €40.

Best accommodations in Leuven

Finding accommodation is not too complicated as the city is small and there are only two neighbourhoods close to the main sights to see in Leuven: the centre and the Beaterio neighbourhood.

• Hotel Mille Colonnese: This is a very comfortable little hotel located opposite the bus station and 15 minutes from the centre. It costs about 70€ per night, but includes a wonderful breakfast.
• Pentahotel Leuven: this is a 4-star hotel in the heart of Leuven, Belgium with all the amenities: fitness room, meeting room, restaurant and bar. Rooms cost around €150 per night.
• Hostal Blauwput: this is the cheapest option. From €30 a night, you can sleep in this clean and comfortable hostel that also has its own bar.

Travel tips to Leuven, Belgium

• The official currency of Belgium is the euro, so you won’t have to worry about exchanging currency.
• As European citizens we don’t need a visa to enter the country either, just your ID card or passport is enough.
• If you are travelling from a country with a different currency, we recommend that you exchange your currency in advance.
• The best time to travel to Leuven Belgium is from May to September, when temperatures are milder.
• Buy museum tickets in advance to avoid queues.
• There is no Roaming in Belgium, you can use the internet on your mobile phone without any problems
• The city is safe, but as with any tourist destination, it’s best to be careful with your belongings.
• Be covered for possible medical emergencies: travel insured.

Organize your trip to Leuven

Sign up or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers
• Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
• Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
• Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post)
• Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make any modifications you need, and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Leuven, Belgium.

If you have any doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.

Frequently asked questions when travelling to Leuven