Popular 20 Tourist Places to Visit and Things to Do in Leuven, Belgium

June 30, 2023 Mustafa Natalwala 1601 Views

Leuven is the capital city of the Flemish Brabant province in Belgium. It is the largest university city in the country. Many of the historical places to visit in Leuven have been converted into facilities for universities.

The city is home to several educational institutions including the largest and oldest university in Belgium. Owing to the large population of students, you can enjoy a lot of fun things to do in Leuven alongside historical sightseeing. You can enjoy happening dining, outdoor activities, beer culture, and nightlife when you visit Leuven.

The city hosts quite a lot of events at its public square, especially during the summer. These are Leuven tourist attractions in their own right. However, the majority of Leuven sightseeing revolves around exploring the rich history and marvelous architecture.

The places to see in Leuven exhibit a variety of architectural styles including Baroque, Gothic, Renaissance, Romanesque, and more. The Saint Peter’s Church, Town Hall, and University Library are must-sees in Leuven for those who admire the ornate architecture.

The things to see in Leuven include historical buildings, chateaus, monasteries, churches, and more. It is also home to a UNESCO-listed historical quarter dating back to the 1200s. You will see several such living quarters among Leuven attractions.

These were occupied by monks, priests, and nuns at different points in time. Later, during WWI these Leuven sights were occupied by soldiers. And today, some of these are occupied by students. While others have been converted into tourist attractions in Leuven to house museums and art collections.

If you have time, you should also venture out of the city to explore the nearby towns. These places to visit near Leuven are home to classic chateaus that make you feel transported to the Middle Ages. You can cover a couple of these towns in a single trip. We have mentioned our picks in the section below.

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Table of Contents

Top 20 Tourist Places to Visit in Leuven, Belgium

1. Fonske Statue (Fons Sapientiae)

The full name of this statue is Fons Sapietiae which is a Latin phrase meaning the Source of Wisdom. It was designed by Jef Claerhout and was installed in 1975.

It is one of the most popular things to see in Leuven, Belgium. Some people consider it a caricature of a drinking student, while others say that it represents how educating oneself is like pouring wisdom into one’s head. You should take a few minutes to click a picture with this statue when you visit Leuven, Belgium.

2. Leuven Town Hall (Stadhuis van Leuven)

Built-in 1469, this building is renowned for its marvelous architecture. It is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Leuven, Belgium.

The building is known for its Brabantine Late Gothic style of architecture and lace-like detailed carving. As you explore the interior of this Leuven tourist attraction, you will witness an opulent scene featuring ceiling art, statues, paintings, classic decor, and more. You will need about an hour from Leuven Travel to explore this structure and its interiors.

3. Hortus Botanicus Lovaniensis (Kruidtuin)

This garden dates back to 1738 and is the oldest botanical garden in Belgium. It was established to cultivate herbs, but it now houses a variety of rare plants.

This Leuven attraction also hosts a variety of events, including contemporary art exhibitions. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this garden.

4. Groot Begijnhof

This restored historical quarter is one of the most interesting places to see in Leuven, Belgium. It is spread over 3 hectares and has 100 houses and 300 apartments.

The quarters date back to the early 13th century and is full of amazing historical findings which include documents dating back to 1232. You will need about an hour from Leuven sightseeing to tour this area.

5. Church of St. John the Baptist (Sint Jan de Doperkerk)

This basilica is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and dates back to 1421. It is renowned for its Gothic architecture. But, it also has Romanesque elements. It is one of the most beautiful Leuven sights from the outside.

Inside, it features 17th-century Baroque-style design and decor. The interiors include several historical artifacts including a 1692 organ, 90 tombstones of priests, a painting of Christ on the Cross by Jozef Verhaghen, and a painting of The Holy Family by Jan Cossiers. You will need about 30 to 45 minutes to tour this church.

6. Kessel-Lo Provincial Domain Park

This park is one of the best places to visit near Leuven for families. It sits in the town of Kessel-Lo, which sits on the outskirts of the city.

The park has several fun things to do in Leuven, Belgium for children including adventure playgrounds, a petting zoo, a swimming pool, lakes, paddle boat rides, and more.

The town also has several attractions of its own including the 12th-century Benedictine Abbey and several historical buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries. You will need a 2 to 3 hours trip from Leuven sightseeing to explore this town.

7. Ladeuze Square (Ladeuzeplein)

This public square is considered the historic heart of the city. This is the largest public square in the city and is a great place for people to watch and admire historical buildings.

It is also known for the Bug on a Needle modern art installation by Jan Fabre. This is a must-see in Leuven. You should take a few minutes to admire this place and the history around it.

8. Arenberg Castle (Kasteel van Arenberg)

The Arenberg Castle dates back to the 12th century and used to serve the lords of Heverlee. It is one of the most important historic things to see in Leuven.

The castle has a longstanding history with nobility and was even occupied by German and Austrians during WW I. Today, the historic households of the Faculty of Engineering of the University.

But you can still tour several parts of the building to marvel at its history and architecture. You will need about an hour from Leuven travel to tour this place.

9. Horst Castle (Château de Horst)

Also known as the Castle of Rhode-Saint-Pierre, this chateau dates back to the 1100s. It is one of the most magnificent places to visit near Leuven owing to its medieval design, surrounding polygon moat, and greenish-colored claystone.

As you tour this castle, you feel transported to medieval Europe. You will enter through a drawbridge, and see how the noblemen lived during Middle Ages and the Renaissance. This makes it one of the most fascinating Leuven tourist attractions. You will need 2 hours to tour this castle.

10. Saint Peter’s Church & Treasury (Sint-Pieterskerk)

This 15th-century church is renowned for its beautiful architecture exhibiting Brabantine Gothic style. It is one of the most renowned Leuven attractions, not only for its facade but also for the treasures within the building.

The church houses an incredible collection of historical and religious artifacts as well as artworks. The most famous among these are the triptychs created by Dirk Bouts. You need an hour to explore this church.

11. Park Abbey (Abdij van Park)

This monastery was founded in 1129 by Gottfried the Bearded to establish a community. However, the majority of the building you see today date to the 16th and 18th centuries.

You will see several historical Leuven sights in this complex including the grand gateway, windmill, former abbot’s palace, chapter house, library building, and the monastery church.

The architecture and decor of these buildings will tell you about the era they hail from. You will see styles from 12th, 13th, 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. It takes about 2 hours from Leuven travel to explore this place entirely.

12. Grote Markt

This is the central square of the city and is associated with the top things to do in Leuven, Belgium. It is also known as Grand Place and the Great Market. The square hosts several events including markets, flower carpets, music events, food markets, and more.

The square is surrounded by some of the most popular places to visit in Leuven. These include Old University, Saint Peter Church, Oude Market, Guidhalls, and more.

It is the ideal spot to begin Leuven sightseeing. You can easily spend a few minutes clicking pictures of historical buildings around you. Although, this place is best enjoyed when it is live with an event.

13. M Leuven Art Museum

This art museum is home to a collection of more than 46,000 artworks. It is a must-see in Leuven, Belgium for those who admire classical, modern, and contemporary art.

The museum is adorned with artworks created between the 15th and 19th centuries. The collection includes paintings, sculptures, and art installations.

You will see creations of artists such as Jan Rombouts the Elder, Josse van Der Baren, Constantine Meunier, Dirk Bouts, Rogier van der Weyden, and many others. You will need about an hour to explore this museum when you visit Leuven, Belgium.

14. University Library and Bell Tower (Universitätsbibliothek und Bibliotheksturm)

The university library is a beautiful Renaissance building and is one of the most magnificent places to visit in Leuven, Belgium. The original building was destroyed by German troops during WWII.

The structure you see today is an exact replica of the original building. One of the most recognizable features of the building is the belfry tower.

You can climb up the tower and enjoy an incredible view of the city. It is one of the best spots for Leuven sightseeing. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore the university and the tower.

15. Leuven Oude Markt

This lively public square hosts a market during the day and night. It is one of the best tourist attractions in Leuven, Belgium for shopping, dining, and nightlife.

The market has cafes, restaurants, bars, music clubs, street performances, and more. You should take a few minutes from Leuven travel to enjoy it here.

16. Sint-Donatus Park

This urban park is designed with English landscaping and is the top spot for some of the best things to do in Leuven, Belgium.

While people come here for the gardens, picnic spots, and playgrounds. It is also home to parts of the old town wall and fortification tower. You can come here to take a relaxing break and continue historical sightseeing at the same time.

17. Stella Artois Brewery

This is one of the oldest breweries in the world and one of the most fun places to see in Leuven if you enjoy beers. You can see how their well-known beers are made and you can even taste delicious variants during the hour-long tour.

18. Keizersberg Abbey (Abdij van Keizersberg)

Also known as the Mont Cesar Abbey, this Benedictine monastery was developed by Mardsous Monk. The history of this structure dates back to 1187.

It has a long-standing history of attacks, destruction, and reconstruction. It is one of the interesting places to visit in Leuven for its history and architecture.

The current version was built in 1782. But, it contains parts of the historical structures. You will need 30 to 45 minutes from Leuven Travel to explore this place.

19. Heverlee Woods

This little corner of nature sits just outside the city and is popular for fun things to do in Leuven, Belgium such as hiking, camping, mountain biking, and more.

The park is spread over 2,000 hectares. Aside from the forested area, it also has picnic spots and cafes. You can easily spend an hour or so exploring nature at these woods when you visit Leuven in Belgium.

20. Château de Rixensart

This red-brick chateau was built between 1631 and 1682. It is one of the best historical places to visit near Leuven, Belgium. The chateau is known for its architecture, but more for its collection.

It is home to several interesting artifacts including Gobelin tapestries, weapons collection of Monge received during Napoleon’s Egypt campaign, historical furniture, paintings, and more. You will need at least 2 to 3 hours from Leuven sightseeing to explore this entire place.

If you are looking for more places to see in Leuven, check out the sections below. We have compiled an exhaustive list of attractions and activities to enjoy in and around the city.

Things to do in Leuven, Belgium

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Leuven, Belgium

Groot Begijnhof
Leuven Town Hall
Park Abbey
Saint Peter’s Church
Arenberg Castle
M Leuven Art Museum
Vlierbeek Abbey
St. Michael’s Church
Saint Quentin’s Church
Klein Begijnhof
Museum of Zoology
De Romaanse Poort
Saint Geertruikerk
Scouts en Gidsen Museum
Saint Jan de Doperkerk
University Hall
Saint Lambert’s Chapel
Centre for Religious Art and Culture
Castle Van Horst
Donjon Ter Heyden
Kasteel van Neerijse
Kasteel van Leefdaal
Meer van Rotselaar
Damiaan Museum
Kortenberg Abbey
Kasteel van der Vorst
Kasteel van Huldenberg
Thema Art Gallery
Botermolen Museum
Kasteel van Kwabeek
Kasteel van Rivieren
Kasteel Het Rood
Theresia Chapel
Kasteel de Maurissens
Spaans Kwartier

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Leuven, Belgium

Heverleebos Forest
Egenhovenbos State Park
Koeheide Nature Preserve
Meerdaalwoud Forest
Doode Bemde Nature Park
Wijngaardberg Nature Preserve
Vijvers van Oud Heverlee
Bertembos Forest
Streek GR Dijleland
River Dimer
De Rotte Gaten Nature Preserve
Natuurgebied Koebos Nature Preserve
Haachts Broek Nature Preserve
Troostembergbos Nature Preserve
Molenbeekvallei Nature Preserve
Beninksberg Mountain Peak
Silsombos Nature Preserve
Zegbroek Wandeling Hiking Area
Broekelkei
River Dyle
Snoekengracht
Het Kloesebos National Forest
De Hagelandse Vallei
Meer van Keerbergen
Vorsdonkbos Turfputten Nature Preserve
Eikelberg Nature Preserve
Kruisheide Nature Preserve
Lindenbos National Forest

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Leuven, Belgium

Kruidtuin
Kessel-Lo Park
De Bruul Park
Sluis Park
Dijlepark
Belle Vue Park
Parc Michotte
Park Heuvelhof
Open Tuinen Park
Zoet Water Park
Speelbos t Vossenhol
Arboretum Wespelaar
WIldemanspark
Park Relst
North West Walls
Arboretum Heverleebos
Ruelens Park
Alexianen Park
Blauwputplein Park
Maria Park

Shopping in Leuven, Belgium

Leuven Oude Markt
The Grand Market Area
The Bondgenotenlaan
The Diestsestraat
Brusselsestraat Street

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Leuven, Belgium

Hiking
Camping
Cycling

Sightseeing in Leuven, Belgium

Grote Markt
Monseigneur Ladeuzeplein
Fonske Statue
De Kotmadam Sculpture
Jan Fabre’s Beetle Totem

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Leuven, Belgium

Domus
Zarza
De Nachtuil
Baracca
De Werf
EED
De Valck
Bar Louis
Inari
Dewerf
Thai House
D’Artagnan
Kalypta
Fragma
Burger Folie
Noordoever
Etna Trattoria
Optimist

Where to Stay in Leuven?

Here we have listed Top Rated Hotels in Leuven. You can check the below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Leuven.

Luxurious Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Leuven

How to Reach Leuven, Belgium?

By Air

The closest airport to visit Leuven is the Brussels International Airport, located about 25 km from the city. This airport receives direct flights from several cities in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. You can fly in directly from cities like Athens, Dublin, Casablanca, Riga, Tallinn, Johannesburg, Mauritius, Montreal, Toronto, Madrid, Malta, Belgrade, Tokyo, Istanbul, Vienna, London, Abu Dhabi, and many more.

Then you can take a bus or a train from Brussels to reach Leuven. There is a direct train connecting to Leuven from the airport itself. You can also get rental cars and intercity cab services from Brussels for the journey. But, public transport is a lot cheaper.

By Road

You can get direct trains from several places in Belgium for Leuven travel. Some of the major connecting cities include Brussels, Ghent, Bruges, Flemish Coast, Antwerp, Ostend, Liege, and so on. There are also direct bus lines to many of the cities to and from Leuven.

If you are planning to reach Leuven by road, you should head for routes E40, E314, N2, N3, N25, N19, or N26. All these routes pass through the city. The easiest way to find a road route to visit Leuven is to look for the intersection of E40 and E314. That’s the exact location of this university city.

By Water

There are no direct water routes for Leuven travel.

Image Reference

Fonske Statue (Fons Sapientiae) – Pedro / Flickr
Leuven Town Hall (Stadhuis van Leuven) – Frank Barning / Pexels
Hortus Botanicus Lovaniensis – Jungle Rebel / Flickr
Groot Begijnhof – Wentao Jiang / Wikimedia Commons
Church of St. John the Baptist (Sint Jan de Doperkerk) – GFreihalter / Wikimedia Commons
Kessel-Lo Provincial Domain Park – ~boonie / Flickr
Ladeuze Square (Ladeuzeplein) – FaceMePLS / Flickr
Arenberg Castle (Kasteel van Arenberg) – Peter Janssens / Wikimedia Commons
Château de Horst – Tom Haegemans / Wikimedia Commons
Saint Peter’s Church & Treasury (Sint-Pieterskerk) – Filip Maljković / Flickr
Park Abbey (Abdij van Park) – FrDr / Wikimedia Commmons
Grote Markt – Dariusz Sieczkowski / Flickr
M Leuven Art Museum – Daderot / Wikimedia Commons
University Library and Bell Tower (Universitätsbibliothek und Bibliotheksturm) – Beth / Flickr
Leuven Oude Markt – Wentao Jiang / Wikimedia Commons
Sint-Donatus Park – Lyn Dafis / Flickr
Stella Artois Brewery – Steven Fruitsmaak / Wikimedia Commons
Keizersberg Abbey (Abdij van Keizersberg) – Helmut Schütz / Wikimedia Commons
Heverlee Woods – Kristof Verslype / Flickr
Château de Rixensart – EmDee / Wikimedia Commons