In the valley of the river Meuse and very close to the borders with Germany and the Netherlands, you’ll find the quiet town of Liège. One of the often overlooked cities of Wallonia in Belgium, there is much to see in Liège. Its collegiate churches of different styles are home to art of immense value. And the charm of the influence of different cultures is palpable in every corner of the city. Discover what things to do in Liège, Belgium.
What things to do in Liège, Belgium?
1. The Liège-Guillemins Station
When you arrive by train from Brussels or elsewhere in Belgium, you’ll come across the first of many sights to see in Liège. It’s the spectacular Liège-Guillemins station.
This station is an architectural masterpiece designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava, author of major works in various parts of the world.
The detailing of its glass and unique shapes caused a stir at the time. Today it is one of the main sights to see in Liège.
2. Place Saint-Lambert: a place to see in Liège Belgium
If there is one place where all the life of Liège is concentrated, it is the Place Saint-Lambert. This has been one of the most important squares in the city. Although it no longer has some of the elements it once had, it is still something to see in Liège.
Once upon a time, this square was the site of Saint-Lambert Cathedral, a Gothic cathedral emblematic of the city of Liège, which was overthrown during the French Revolution.
Yet today you can still find some of its remains in the city’s museums. You’ll also find a museum focusing on the excavations that are still being carried out in the area today.
3. La Collegiata Saint-Barthélemy
Recognized as one of the oldest and most important religious buildings in the city of Liège, the Saint-Barthélemy Collegiate Church is a must-see in Liège.
Its façade mixes medieval style with the influence of many other artistic currents, which invaded the cultural imaginary, coming from different parts of the country, as well as from Germany and France, among others.
But not only its external design is noteworthy, but also the baptismal font, which was made at the beginning of the 12th century and is such a detailed work that it deserves a separate mention.
This font has different scenes depicting baptismal events, as well as a series of details that make it a reason to visit the Collegiate Church in itself. To see it, you’ll have to pay 2€, but it’s well worth it.
4. St Paul’s Cathedral
With the absence of the prominent Gothic cathedral of Saint-Lambert, today’s must-see cathedral in Liège is the great Cathedral of Saint Paul.
This former collegiate church was elevated to the status of a cathedral after the dismantling of the previous cathedral mentioned above. Thanks to this, another Gothic temple of vital historical and cultural importance to see in Liège was also built.
Inside the complex is a bust of Saint Lambert, a figure of a martyr who has great relevance to the history of the city, as you will have seen from the name of the square of the same name which is the historic centre.
5. Grand Curtius
Archaeology lovers will have the time of their lives in the Grand Curtius, a Renaissance-style building that serves as the home of the museum of archaeology and decorative arts of the city of Liège.
Jean Curtius was an important figure in the city who commissioned this building, which looks like an impressive mansion and still bears his surname to this day.
You’ll be able to enter from 10am to 6pm, although we recommend that if you’re going to visit, get your tickets in advance through their website.
6. La Boverie
Among the natural sites to enjoy on your trip to Liège is the Boverie, an island that lies between the Meuse River and the Dérivation.
The beautiful park was created during the 19th century and is today one of the main green spots that the city of Liège has to offer.
Beloved by locals and tourists alike, as a place to enjoy a pleasant stroll among the trees and orchards that make up the space. This enclave is also home to the Palais des Beaux-Arts, and all over the Boverie there is a love of painting and other art forms.
7. The Palace of the Prince-Bishops
In one of the most central areas of Liège, we find the Prince-Bishops’ Palace. Now the Palais de Justice and a very important monument.
It was built in the mid-16th century. And its baroque style makes it an awe-inspiring monument to see on your trip to Liège. As it is used as a courthouse, you can unfortunately only enter the interior courtyard. Luckily, access is free of charge.
A curious fact is that another palace once stood on this very spot, but it was destroyed due to various historical events that struck this place.
8. The mountain of Bueren
And to put the finishing touch to our list of things to do in Liège, get ready to climb the famous Bueren mountain by its staircase.
The 374 steps are a fantastic form of exercise, but not only that. They will take you to one of the highest points in the city of Liège and therefore a perfect place from which to admire the panoramic view of the city.
Though the walk is tough, it’s definitely one of the best sights and therefore a must-see in Liège. Still, if you don’t feel like walking, the best thing to do is to take a taxi to the highest point.
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 in Liège in 1 day?
So that you don’t miss out on any of the must-see things to do in the city of Liège, we’ve put together this short list of some of the highlights:
- The Liège-Guillemins Station
- Place Saint-Lambert
- Saint-Paul’s Cathedral
- Mountain of Bueren
- The Palace of the Prince-Bishops
What to see around Liège
Antwerp
Antwerp is a metropolis on the banks of the river Scheldt. Here, historical heritage intermingled with the modern and avant-garde is one of the city’s hallmarks.
This is the most populous city in all of Belgium. And the passage of time has made it one of the most important cities in the world.
Antwerp has monuments such as the Cathedral of Our Lady, an impressive UNESCO-listed cathedral. Get lost in the Diamond Quarter, where there are more jewellers’ shops combined than anywhere else in the world.
Read more about what to see and do in Antwerp in our post
Where to eat in Liège, Belgium?
Something you’ll definitely have to try if you’ve got a sweet tooth are the delicious waffles prepared in the streets of Liège. Sipping a piping hot coffee with these sweet treats is a great experience to add to your list of things to do in Liège.
In the same vein, but with a style more focused on lunches, we find Messieurs. It’s a place where you can enjoy delicious French-style sandwiches and snacks.
Where to sleep in Liege, Belgium?
There are many options at various price points for deciding on your accommodation in the city of Liège. And that is why we have prepared a short list:
- Red & Breakfast: As the name suggests, this bed&breakfast hotel is a fantastic choice for accommodation in Liège. Great location and great amenities at a price of €50 per night.
- Pentahotel Liege: This hotel is excellence in accommodation. It boasts facilities with an amazing restaurant and bar, as well as a fully equipped gym. The price is around €80 per night.
- Van Der Valk Sélys Liège Hotel & Spa: The facilities are a marvel, and the spa even more so, but the classic-style décor with a modern twist makes it unbeatable. The price per night is usually around €90.
How to get to Liege?
From many of Spain’s major cities, there are flights to Liège, although they usually have at least one stopover along the way. Flights cost between 350-500 €, in months such as May.
Another highly recommended option is to fly to Brussels, from where you can take the train to Liège. The train journey takes no more than 30 minutes and prices are around €17.
To give you an idea, flying from Madrid, you’d get to Brussels in 2.5 hours
There is also the option of hiring one of the tours, which are organized from Brussels and in which you will spend the day in Antwerp doing various activities.
Tips about a trip to Liège
- The official currency of Belgium is the euro, so you won’t have to worry about exchanging currency.
- If you’re a European citizen, you don’t need a visa to enter the country; 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 visit Liège is from May to September, when temperatures are milder.
- 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.
How can I organize what to see in Liège?
Register 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.
- Organize 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 to make, and you’re 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 Liège, Belgium.
If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Liège
We recommend May, June, July, August, September to visit Liège. However, there are also many tourists. A good option is early spring, when there are more daylight hours and not so many tourists.
In Liège, the official language is Dutch, but it is in the French-speaking part of the country, so French is very common. English is also spoken in most tourist sites.
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