You want to visit the university city of Leuven in Belgium?
We’ll show you the best attractions, hidden gems, and tips for one day in Leuven.
* contains affiliate links
Contents
Best Of Leuven At A Glance:
What to see: City Hall, Beguinage, University library
What to do: Street Art tour, guided city tour
What to try: Geuze Boon Beer
Where to stay: Pentahotel (stylish, central, and sustainability certified)
Is Leuven Worth Visiting?
Yes! Leuven is a real hidden gem. The small city is easily accessible from Brussels Airport by train in just 15 minutes. All the attractions are within walking distance from the train station.
Thus, you can explore Leuven very well in one day.
When planning a city trip to Belgium, most people visit the capital Brussels or Bruges and Ghent.
For us, Bruges and Ghent are the most beautiful cities in the Flanders region and in Belgium. However, we were surprised and impressed by the city of Leuven.
We arrived by train from Ghent in the afternoon and stayed at the Penta Hotel in the center of Leuven.
We spent 24 hours in the city and want to introduce you to the best attractions, tips, restaurants, and cafes:
Best Things To Do In Leuven In One Day
You can easily explore the inner city center of Leuven on foot.
Below you’ll find the most important attractions and activities.
We’ve also included a map for your self-guided tour so you can follow the route.
During our day trip to Leuven, we took a 2 1/2-hour guided tour with beer sommelier Laura through Bierolade.
The combined tour took us to the attractions and we also tasted various beers and chocolate in authentic locations.
1. City Hall Of Leuven At Grote Markt
The City Hall, the Stadhuis van Leuven, is one of the most fascinating buildings in Belgium.
It’s also one of the most famous city halls in the world.
The facade with its towers and light gray color reminds me a bit of Neuschwanstein Castle near Füssen in Germany.
Construction of the Gothic building began in the 15th century. It took thirty years to build the structure.
The 235 figures placed on the facade, however, have only been there since the end of the 19th century.
Currently, the City Hall is closed. After the restoration is completed, it should be open to the public from 2029.
We were in Leuven in early December. The Christmas market was set up in front of the City Hall, and the facade is particularly beautifully lit in the evening.
⭐️ Download our travel planning checklist and become a VIP insider. We share exclusive travel deals, travel guides, and travel inspiration.
2. St. Peter’s Church At Grote Markt
Right next to the City Hall is St. Peter’s Church. The church dates from the 15th century and is built in the late Gothic style.
The towers could not be completed due to the unstable ground.
Since 1999, the church, including the bell tower, has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
Inside the church is “The Last Supper” by Dieric Bout, an artist who belongs to the Flemish Primitives.
If you’re interested in this type of painting, you should definitely also check out the Ghent Altarpiece by the van Eyck brothers in Ghent and the museum in Sint-Jaanshospital in Bruges.
⭐️ Tip: The church can be visited for free. Additionally, you can explore the church digitally with a Holo Lens or a tablet.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time for this special experience.
3. Great Beguinage (Groot Begijnhof)
Beguinages exist not only in Leuven but also in Bruges and Ghent.
However, the Beguinage in Leuven is not only the oldest and largest in Belgium but also worldwide.
It has existed since the 13th century. At peak times, about 350 beguines lived here.
Here you’ll find alleys, squares, gardens, and parks. The houses are built from traditional reddish sandstone.
In 1998, the Great Beguinage became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A walk through the Great Beguinage is possible free of charge.
Today, some of the houses are occupied by students, visiting professors, and staff, as the area was acquired by the University of Leuven, the oldest Catholic university in Europe.
The Beguinage is an oasis of tranquility in Leuven and a beautiful photo spot.
4. KU Leuven University With University Library
In Leuven, the KU University building with its tower and the University Library is one of the most significant attractions.
Whitney Warren, an American architect, built the university building in the Flemish Renaissance style. He is also the builder of the famous Central Station in New York.
You can visit the university building for free, but you have to pay an entrance fee for the reading room. This also includes access to the tower and a photo exhibition about various epochs.
5. Oude Markt
The Oude Markt is also known as the longest bar in Europe.
There are more than 30 bars here. The Oude Markt is especially popular among students for partying.
6. Hidden Gem: Botanical Garden
The oldest Botanical Garden in Belgium is our hidden gem, especially if you experience Leuven in the rain like we did.
Luckily, it only rained for a few hours. But in that case, a visit to the Kruidtuin (Herb Garden) is a good alternative to escape the rain in the houses.
The Botanical Garden has existed since the mid-18th century. Like so much in the university city of Leuven, it was also built by the university.
You can visit the Botanical Garden for free.
Highlights here are the tropical house with huge plants and a small pond with turtles.
7. Hidden Gem: Small Beguinage
The Small Beguinage, like the Great Beguinage, also dates from the 13th century.
However, the district here consists of only one street and two dead ends.
Since 2000, this area has been restored and sold to private individuals. About 30 houses have remained in the Flemish style.
It’s worth walking through here. Especially because of the interesting name plates on the doors, which have a connection to Christianity.
8. Hidden Gem: Pope College
Our guide Laura took us to her favorite place in the city. It’s freely accessible, but hardly any tourist strays into the courtyard of Pope College or Pauscollege.
The building with the courtyard is named after Pope Adrian VI.
He studied in Leuven and was a professor there before becoming Pope. He wanted this to be a college for poor theology students.
In 1786, Emperor Joseph II had the building completed. Today, students live here.
9. Sint-Donatuspark
In Leuven’s city park, there’s a remnant of the former ring wall and a tower made of iron sandstone and sandstone.
In summer, this is a popular place for picnics.
10. Street Art in Leuven
A special highlight is a Street Art Tour through Leuven. At the hotel, we discovered a map with a route to the best street art works and murals.
The walk takes about 1 1/2 hours and leads mostly through the old town, but also through residential areas.
For us, this walk was one of the highlights.
You can get the map at your hotel or at the tourist information. Alternatively, you can also download a Street Art App from Leuven Tourism.
11. Stella Artois Brewery
The Stella Artois brewery belongs to AB InBev, the world’s largest brewing group, and is still based in Leuven.
The brewery can be visited as part of an interactive tour. The Stella Artois brewery is located near the train station.
Restaurants, Cafes, and Bars in Leuven
During our Leuven trip, we tried the following restaurants, bars, and cafes and can recommend the following:
Map Self-Guided Walking Tour in Leuven
Where To Stay In Leuven?
The city center of Leuven is very compact. You can stay around the train station and be at the City Hall in 10 minutes on foot.
You can also stay even more centrally. We stayed at the Pentahotel in Leuven, a 3-minute walk from the City Hall.
Tips For Getting To Leuven
Leuven is located east of Brussels and is easily accessible by train.
If you arrive in Belgium by plane like we did, you’ll land at Brussels Airport. From here, direct trains will take you to Leuven in about 15 minutes.
From Ghent, it’s about 1 hour by train, and to Bruges about 1 1/2 hours.
Final Thoughts About Our One Day In Leuven Itinerary
If you’re planning a city trip to Belgium, you should definitely include a trip to Leuven. Since the city center with its attractions is very compact and less crowded than other cities, you’ll surely have a nice time here, just like we did.
You can easily combine a trip to Leuven with Ghent and Bruges. Read more about it here:
Bruges Travel Tips
Bruges In One Day: Best Things To Do
Bruges Hidden Gems
Bruges In Winter: Unique Things You Can Do In The Cold Season
Ghent In One Day: Tips And Hidden Gems
Ghent Things To Do
If you found this article helpful for your travel planning and you’d like to show your appreciation, please consider sharing the article link or buying me a coffee. ☕️
About the Author
Christina Leutner is a travel expert and author from Austria. She writes about European destinations, especially Austria and Germany. She loves road trips, city trips, luxury travel, and outdoor adventures.
Christina has been sharing her travel experiences on CitySeaCountry for over 10 years.
* This article contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you purchase using one of the links, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you.
zuletzt aktualisiert am April 10, 2025