Leuven Travel Guide, Belgium

Leuven, located in the Flemish regions of Belgium, can best be described as a stereotypical European university town. Leuven is home to the oldest Catholic university in Europe, and students make up more than one third of its population. Naturally, the best time to visit Leuven is during the academic year when the streets, cafes and clubs are filled with people, but summer is also a good time, especially if you want to focus on the cultural side of the city. Leuven’s old town is perfectly preserved, and by all accounts, it is one of the most beautiful historic centers in Belgium. The city’s architecture is simply amazing, so one of the best activities that you can do in Leuven is to simply take a walk on its streets. This Leuven Travel Guide will help you plan your holiday in this wonderful city.

Leuven Travel Guide - Transport

Leven is located at about 30 kilometers from Brussels International Airport, the largest and busiest airport in the country. The airport has connections to every continent on the planet, so finding a suitable flight (although not always a direct one) is not difficult. It takes about 20 minutes to arrive to Leuven from the airport by car or bus, and about a quarter of an hour by train. There is a bus station and a train station at the airport, but you can also take a taxi if you want. If you’re on a budget, you will probably find more affordable flights that land at Brussels’s South Charleroi Airport, but the distance to Leuven is almost double, so the transport will probably cost more too. If you’re already in Belgium, the best way to get to Leuven is by train. It takes about an hour and half to travel from Liege, Ghent, Bruges or Mons to Leuven.

Leuven Travel Guide - Accommodation

Leuven is cheaper than Brussels, or other large Belgian cities, but it is by no means cheap by European standards. However, you can rest assured that you’ll get good value for money no matter where you find accommodation.

Hotel La Royale is quite affordable compared to other hotels in the city, and it offers very cozy rooms close to the train station. Holiday Inn Leuven is another cheap choice, with the advantage of being close to the old city centre.

Theatre Hotel is rather more exclusive then the first two. The rooms are large, tastefully decorated and infused with a small-hotel charm. Breakfast is delicious and included in the price, and it is served in the hotel’s Sango Art Gallery.