Leuven walking tour & city guide
A historic university town with a lacework town hall.
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Leuven is home to the oldest Catholic university in the world still in existence, founded in 1425, and around 50,000 students give the town a lively, youthful feel. It is also the hometown of Stella Artois and one of the best places in Belgium to sit on a café terrace.
The Town Hall and the Grote Markt
Leuven's Gothic Town Hall, finished in 1469, is covered in stone lacework and more than 230 statues of local figures, saints and nobles. It faces Saint Peter's Church, which holds medieval paintings by Dieric Bouts.
A few steps away, the Oude Markt is a square lined entirely with cafés and bars, often called the longest bar in Europe, and it fills with students on warm evenings.
The university and the Begijnhof
The University Library on Ladeuzeplein, rebuilt with American help after it was burned in both World Wars, has a tower you can climb for a view over the city. The Great Begijnhof, a UNESCO-listed village of brick houses and cobbled lanes along a small river, now houses students and visiting academics.
Leuven is 25 minutes by train from Brussels and makes an easy day trip.
Top sights in Leuven
- 1
Town Hall
A Gothic masterpiece covered in statues.
- 2
Oude Markt
A square lined with cafés and bars.
- 3
University Library
A rebuilt library with a climbable tower.
- 4
Great Begijnhof
A UNESCO-listed medieval village inside the city.
- 5
Saint Peter's Church
Gothic church with paintings by Dieric Bouts.
Food markets & where to eat in Leuven
Oude Markt
The 'longest bar in Europe', with terraces all around.
Muntstraat
A narrow street of restaurants near the Grote Markt.
Ladeuzeplein market
A Friday market in front of the library.
Food to try in Leuven
Local beer
Leuven is home to Stella Artois and many craft breweries.
Belgian fries
From a frietkot, a local fries stand.
Speculoos
Spiced caramel biscuits served with coffee.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Leuven
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in LeuvenCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Leuven.
- eSIM for BelgiumStay online from the moment you land.
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