How to Spend One Day in Leuven, Belgium
Looking to visit a slightly lesser-travelled Belgian destination for a day trip from Brussels or Antwerp? Here’s how to spend one day in the medieval university city of Leuven!
When it comes to Belgium, there are a few places that immediately spring to mind. Brussels and Bruges, and even Antwerp, are all places I’m relatively familiar with and have visited myself, albeit just for short amounts of time. And not far from Brussels, you’ll find the smaller city of Leuven – a university city in Flanders, northern Belgium.
This charming medieval city has a lively current of modern activity, and is absolutely one of my favourite underrated cities in Belgium. From brewery tours (and tastings) to interesting history and quaint, pedestrianised streets, the laidback feeling here makes it easy to explore at your own pace, whatever that may be.
Leuven Essentials
Getting there: Leuven is just 30mins drive or a 20 minute train journey from Brussels
Top activities: Leuven Town Hall, University Library Tower, Grand Beguinage, Botanical Garden.
Top tours: Guided historical walking tour, Stella Artois brewery tour.
Where to stay: City Hostel (€), Hotel Industrie (€€), Hotel Professor (€€€)
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*This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I’ll earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you). Leuven’s tourist board provided me with travel, accommodation, selected meals and an iLUVLeuven Card for this trip*
How long should I spend in Leuven?
It’s very easy to spend one day in Leuven and hit the key highlights, which makes it a great day trip from Brussels, Antwerp or Bruges. If you can, I’d recommend staying the night to enjoy dinner and beers in the city!
However, there’s also enough to do to keep you occupied for two-three days if you take the city at a slower pace.
One Day in Leuven Itinerary
Leuven is a very walkable city, and the main sights can easily be taken in on foot in a day. The best place to start is in the centre, with a self-guided morning tour of the key highlights.
Grote Markt Square
The best place to start your day in Leuven! Leuven’s central square is a hive of activity, surrounded by Gothic style buildings. Since the 14th century, it’s been at the heart of the city’s goings on. It’s used for events and community activities throughout the year, and the guildhall buildings are home to restaurants, bars and shops.
Leuven Town Hall
The incredibly eye-catching building is a centrepiece for Leuven and is considered one of the most striking town halls in the world. It was built between 1439 and 1463, and has been well-maintained throughout the years.
The ornate 15th century gothic architecture features towering spires and 236 individual sculptures.
Opening Hours: Guided tours (in English) at 4pm Mon-Sat, and at 12noon on Sundays.
Admission Fee: €4 for guided tour and booklet
Saint Peter’s Church
This 15th century church is a beautiful example of late gothic architecture. Inside, you can also visit the M-Treasury of Saint Peter, where you’ll see the painting ‘The Last Supper’ by Dieric Bouts.
Opening Hours: 10am-4.30pm (closed Wednesdays)
Admission Fee: Free (€3 for M-Treasury visit)
University Library & Tower
One recommendation I received for my day in Leuven was to visit the University Library. The library has endured two fires in its lifetime, yet still stands today thanks to extensive renovation, with support from institutions all over the world.
If, like me, you’re a big fan of sprawling city views, the climb to the top will be worth it, as the 360 degree viewing platform allows you to see Leuven and the surrounding countryside laid out before you. And the library itself also has an interesting audio tour, taking in both the history of renovation and the art collections on display within the building.
There’s also an interesting exhibit a couple of floors up, all about how books can sustain damage and what the library does to restore and preserve them. Worth a look if you’re a fellow bookworm.
Opening Hours: Daily, 10am-5pm
Admission Fee: €8, includes audio guide and tower access
M-Museum Leuven
Leuven’s major art museum, hosting collections old and new, inspired by the versatility of the city. The M-Museum holds around 46,000 works including paintings and sculptures, from the late Gothic period through to the 19th century.
Opening Hours: Daily, 11am-6pm (closed Wednesdays, open until 6pm Thursdays)
Admission Fee: €12
Budget Travel Tip: If you’re visiting multiple cities in Belgium, check out the Museum Pass, which allows access to 200+ museums in Belgium for €59 – valid for one year
Botanical Garden Kruidtuin
The Leuven Botanical Garden Kruidtuin is the oldest botanical garden in the country and home to countless species of flower and plant life. Photographers will love the brightly coloured flowers, and regular exhibitions often take place on site.
Benches and grassy spaces can be found all around the garden, and its a great place to relax with a book, soaking up the atmosphere.
Opening Hours: 8am-8pm (Jun-Sept), 8am-5pm (Oct-May) – opens at 9am Sundays.
Admission Fee: Free
Lunch – Grand Café and Restaurant
At the De Hoorn brewery, the original birthplace of Stella Artois, you’ll find the Grand Cafe and restaurant. The restaurant itself is only open for lunch and dinner at certain times, but it’s definitely worth scheduling in a visit. I tried a Flemish style beef stew with chips from the specials menu, and it was delicious. It was around the €12 mark – great for a reasonably priced, enjoyable local meal.
Opening Hours: Tue-Fri 12-2pm & 6-10pm (restaurant), 11am-11pm (cafe).
More lunch restaurants in Leuven:
De Werf (£-££) – student-y café for affordable bites
Life Bar (£-££) – healthy and vegan breakfasts and lunch
Bar Leuv (£-££) – sleek and modern café serving topped Belgian waffles
Grand Beguinage
The Groot Begijnhof (Grand Beguinage) is a definite must-see in Leuven! The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the perfect place to stroll charming quiet streets lined by historic buildings.
A beguinage is a small community for unmarried women – like nuns, but without the formal religious vows. Leuven’s Grand Beguinage originated around the 13th century and is made up of almost 100 houses. A river runs through it, and there are also grassy spots where I found locals and visitors relaxing in the sun.
Feeling like a small, rural town in the centre of a city, the Grand Beguinage has an almost fairytale-like quality. With limited other people around, at times I walked streets completely alone, which felt like I had the place to myself.
You can also take the tour ‘in the footsteps of a Leuven beguine’ (€6), following a local beguine telling stories of both her own daily life and that of beguines through history.
Opening Hours: Always open
Entry: Free
Beer in Leuven
What would a Leuven city guide be without beer, of course?!
During an afternoon in Leuven, you could take a tour of the Stella Artois Brewery (Saturdays & Sundays, 3pm, €8.50).
Leuven’s Oude Markt is the place to go to taste an impressive variety of Belgian beers (hopefully in the sunshine…). The vibrant market square is home to over 40 bars, with expansive outside seating during the summer months.
Read more: A beer-lover’s guide to Leuven
Hof ten Dormaal Brewery
Just outside the city, I visited the Hof ten Dormaal brewery (open Saturdays 2-6 pm, free entry), to taste some of the amazing flavours on offer.
The brewery is a family affair, run by André Janssens and his sons. They grow their own hops and barley, making the operation a fully circular production process. Their tasting room tells the story of their beer, and allows visitors to try their taste innovations in a casual, laid-back setting.
Other nearby breweries that offer tours and tastings include Brewery De Vlier and Brewery De Kroon.
Shopping in Leuven
There are plenty of shopping opportunities in Leuven, from big-name stores to boutiques. In particular, there’s a fantastic sustainable scene of independent and vintage stores.
During my trip, I managed to find a HUGE secondhand clothing and bric-a-brac market taking place along the harbour near De Hoorn Brewery. I’m not sure how often it’s on, but it’s worth a wander this way if you’re about at the weekend, as prices were pretty amazing!
Where to eat in Leuven
Leuven has a thriving foodie scene, with international influences alongside traditional Belgian cuisine. From fine-dining to charming cafes, there’s a restaurant in Leuven for every budget and taste!
Zarza
On my first night, I enjoyed a five-course tasting menu with paired drinks at Leuven’s Zarza restaurant. Courses ranged from spicy tomato and watermelon gazpacho to pigeon and chicken dishes, and everything was fresh, well-cooked and inventively flavoured and presented. Set menus are available from €85.
More restaurants in Leuven
Otomat (€€-€€€) – Belgian-style pizza with inventive toppings
Het Strand (€€-€€€) – international comfort food with a sustainable ethos
Nirvana Kitchen (€€€) – modern Indian Thali restaurant
Leuven Travel Guide
- Language: Dutch, with English also spoken widely
- Currency: Euro. Most places accept card payment, and ATMs are easy to come by.
- Weather: Similar mild weather to the UK, with a fair amount of rain year-round.
- Time Zone: GMT+2
- Emergency number: 112
How to get to Leuven
If you’re flying into Belgium, Brussels is the nearest airport, and Leuven is just over 20 minutes away by train.
For my trip, we took the Eurostar to Brussels – actually my first ever time on the Eurostar, and I was so impressed by how fast, easy and comfortable it is. Prices start at £51 one way to Brussels, but if you pick up an ‘Any Belgian station’ fare, your train journey to Leuven will be included too.
Where to stay in Leuven
If you’re spending just one day in Leuven, staying over will help you make the most of your time!
I spent two nights cosied up at the Park Inn Hotel, which is seriously conveniently located right beside Leuven train station. It was a short, 10-15 min stroll to the city centre area. My room was spacious, and of a great standard to provide a base for a weekend of exploring. Breakfast was included in my stay, and it was a brilliant spread.
More hotels in Leuven:
City Hostel (€) – independent hostel in central Leuven
Hotel Industrie (€€) – also close to the station
Hotel Professor (€€€) – located right in Leuven’s historical centre
Getting around Leuven
Leuven is such a small city, the real best way to get around is on foot. There are buses and taxis, but unless you’re going from one end of the city to the other, they aren’t particularly necessary.
Another enjoyable way to cover more ground in the city is by bike. And bikes are MAJORLY popular in Leuven, as I found out when I almost got in the way of quite a lot of them. With bike lanes on major roads and lots of car-free streets, you can rent a bike and pedal around to your heart’s content.
iLUVLeuven Card
For €17, you can pick up an iLUVLeuven Ticket, which includes entry to University Library, a Town Hall guided tour, and either M Museum or Park Abbey.
If you’re planning on doing multiple attractions, it’s definitely worth picking one up as the individual price of all four comes to €24, so you’ll save €7. Get yours from the tourist info office or online.
Tours in Leuven
If you’re interested in having someone show you the way a little, there are plenty of guided walks and bike tours on offer too.
Self guided more your thing? You can download a selection of themed walks, pick up the physical booklets from the tourist information office for €2 each, or download the Leuven Walks app for iOS and Android.
Summary: Is Leuven worth visiting?
Absolutely – Leuven is a small city with a lot of character! Beer, books and history are firmly on the agenda, with plenty to do and see in one or two days. It’s the perfect addition to a road trip in Belgium, or as a day trip from other Belgian cities.
it seems to be a charming town:)
Most definitely, charming is a perfect word!
I loved exploring the Grand Beguinage and the Botanical Garden when I travelled to Leuven. I also enjoy my tour around the Town Hall, especillay my excursion into to the rooftop to see the sculptures.
Another Belgium Town I enjoyed visiting was Mechelen. It is different to Leuven but it also has some interesting places to visit.
Ooh, I’ll look up Mechelen – always love discovering new places! Thankyou!
After my visit I wrote a short article ( about things to see and do in Mechelen). It might help you decide if it is somewhere you might like to visit.
https://cherryelsewhere.wordpress.com/2014/10/28/mechelen/
I’ve never heard of Leuven before but it looks so fun and interesting! That Town Hall is AMAZING and I love the look of the second hand market too! Sounds like it would make for the perfect weekend trip destination – beautiful architecture, shopping and ALL the beer (and hopefully sun too!) x
Laura // Middle of Adventure
I really like the look of Leuven and lots to see and do! The Town Hall is incredible! Very good value on the Eurostar. I must go and visit, think we’d enjoy wandering around the city. Thanks for linking to #citytripping