Welcome to Leuven, a picturesque city in the heart of Belgium, an ideal destination for an exciting city break with your friends, family or individually, all year round. Thanks to its rich and varied offering in heritage, art, culture, science, beer, gastronomy and shopping, this town is an invite to stroll and discover. Moreover, it’s very easily accessible and everything lies within walking or biking distance.
The moment you walk out the Leuven Railway Station, you can already feel the radiation of a hip & urban vibe in an historical setting, guaranteed to draw you into its vibrancy. 157 nationalities from all walks of life call it home and are the beating heart of this 21st century-old university town.
Have an unforgettable stay at this city that really radiates old-world grandeur with its cobbled streets, beautiful churches, the Gothic Town Hall, the University Library, the Great Beguinage and Park Abbey. And its soul? It never grows old! You can feel that dynamic ambience, all around Leuven.
You are in the land of chocolate, beer and gastronomy so don’t forget to drop by one of the many cozy cafés and charming restaurants, you can find one around every corner. Home to the legendary and world famous Brewery Stella Artois, Leuven has an incredibly rich brewery history (goes back to 1366!). It’s without a doubt the capital of beer. Experience the local breweries in action and enjoy a wonderful beer after your tour.
Much to see and do! You can take a break in Belgium’s oldest botanical garden or in one of the green gems in the center and outskirts of Leuven. And staying overnight means you can experience a whole lot more and don’t need to hurry. See you soon in Leuven!
By plane
Brussels International Airport (Zaventem) – BRU – Belgium: This is Belgium’s main airport, located only 20 minutes from Leuven city centre. There is a direct rail connection from the airport’s own train station (“Brussels National Airport”) to Leuven and takes only 15 minutes (€9.30). The train station is located underneath the airport and is accessible through lifts and escalators in the arrivals hall.
Brussels South Airport (Charleroi) – CRL – Belgium: Leuven is a 1.5-hour train ride from Brussels South Charleroi Airport. The airport shuttle bus linking Leuven and Brussels South Charleroi Airport takes approximately one hour (€16.00). Another bus shuttle links Brussels South Charleroi Airport to the Charleroi train station, connecting the airport to the vast train network.
By train
From Leuven, it takes half an hour to reach Brussels South (Brussel Zuid/Bruxelles Midi) train station. From there, you can catch high-speed rail connections to Paris, London, Amsterdam and many other European destinations. The Leuven train station is directly connected to the city centre via the Bondgenotenlaan, one of Leuven’s main streets. The walk from the station to the city centre is approximately 10 minutes.
By car
Leuven can be reached via the Brussels Ring and the E40 and E314 motorways. The historical center of Leuven is traffic-free. The rest of the city center is subdivided into 5 districts. In each district a loop directs traffic from the ring road to a city center parking garage and back to the ring road. We advise you to park your car in one of the more advantageous ring road car parks. Public transport buses drive regularly from the car parks to either the city center or the train station.