A university city with historic roots

Whatever you are looking for in a city, can be found in Leuven. A university city with a small-town feel, but completely in pace with a rapidly changing society. Leuven is situated right in the center of Belgium. Its easy accessibility is an advantage. But there are many more good reasons to visit the "Jewel of the River Dyle". You will soon find out: this city will never let you go.

Lonely Planet describes the city as "Lively Leuven (Louvain in French) is an ancient capital, a prominent brewing centre and Flanders’ oldest university town. In term time, and even during the holidays, some 25,000 students give the city an upbeat, creative air. The picturesque core is small enough that you can easily see the sights in a short day trip, but characterful pubs and good-value dining could keep you here for weeks."

Below you will find all the info you need for your stay in Leuven:

• Sightseeing
• Shopping
• Restaurants
• Print shops
• Travel to Leuven
• Accommodation
• Taxis
• Weather

So what should you definitely visit during your stay in Leuven? Here is the top 10 according to Leuven Tourism:

1. Town hall, Leuven's pride and joy
2. Park Abbey, one of Belgium’s best-kept abbeys
3. M-Museum Leuven, ancient and contemporary art in an impressive building
4. Dieric Bouts in Saint Peter's Church, cathedral with ‘The Last Supper’
5. Brewery Stella Artois, take a interactive tour on Saturday
6. Vaartkom, the most innovative neighbourhood
7. Great Beguinage, medieval alleys and courtyards take you back in time
8. University library & tower, Includes the history of the building and a panoramic view of the city
9. Botanical Garden, Belgium’s oldest botanical garden
10. Oude Markt, 'The longest bar in Europe'

You can find the top 10 on the map below. For more tips on sights check out Tripadvisor or Yelp.

Leuven is among the most important shopping cities in Flanders. The center offers a wide range of options for everyone.

• Fashion, a selection from (inter)national bloggers
• Second hand & eco fashion, a selection from (inter)national bloggers
• Souvenirs & gifts, a selection from (inter)national bloggers
• Markets, weekly and special markets
• Shopping streets, from trinket shops to major chain stores
• Sunday shopping, every first Sunday of the month

The main airport of Belgium is located in Zaventem and is called Brussels airport.

At Brussels Airport, you can catch the train at
level -1. There are several direct trains to Leuven every hour. The ride takes about 15 minutes.

You can find out more about train traffic in Belgium and buy tickets on the Belgian Rail website.

There are numerous parking lots in Leuven, both outside the city and inside the city center. More info about them and pricing can be found on the Leuven city website.

For more detailed info on the different modes of transportation check out the Visit Leuven 'Mobility' website.

Taxi service in Leuven

The Leuven city center is quite small but if you're in need of a taxi you can try the following options:

• Leuven Taxi - Taxi Axi: +32 (0)471 80 70 70
• Taxi Leuven - Taxi Gerard: +32 (0)16 25 09 99
• Taxi Jenny: +32 (0)16 26 10 10

Accommodation

The Visit Leuven website has an extensive list and map of hotels, hostels and B&B's in the city. You can find the link on their website.

You can also check out the Airbnb listings for Leuven.

Weather

In general Leuven, and Belgium for that matter, has a mild climate. You can find the current weather situation on the meteo.be website.