Leuven
Explore Leuven’s Gothic Town Hall, university landmarks, UNESCO-listed sites and beer culture in a compact Belgian city about 25 km east of Brussels.
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Leuven is a Dutch-speaking city in Flemish Brabant, Belgium, about 25 km east of Brussels. It has been a university city since 1425, and KU Leuven has three campuses in the city. The pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly centre is easy to explore on foot. Start at the Brabantian Gothic Town Hall, then visit the Great Beguinage and Saint Peter’s Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that holds Dirk Bouts’ painting of the Last Supper. The University Library and the 23-metre Totem statue stand on Ladeuzeplein.
A day trip from Brussels gives you time for the central landmarks; an overnight stay leaves room for museums and sites beyond the centre. The Oude Markt is the focus of Leuven’s social scene, and the city has a strong beer culture. Trains and buses connect Leuven with the region, and buses 91 and 616 connect it with Brussels Airport. With only a few car parks in the city, arriving by train or bus is a practical choice. Visit Park Abbey or the Château of Arenberg if you have extra time.
Leuven in five
- Plan around the closed town hallThe Gothic town hall cannot be entered until 2029, and scaffolding is listed to surround it until summer 2027. The Grote Markt is still worth a visit, but expect a construction banner over the facade.Visit Leuven: Town Hall
- Buy the ILUVLeuven Ticket for three stopsIt costs €19 and bundles a guided walk (daily at 14:00 in English), the University Library and tower, and M Leuven or Park Abbey. Park Abbey is listed as closed until 26 October 2026.ILUVLeuven Ticket
- Walk the Great Beguinage for freeThe 13th-century beguinage is a UNESCO site, listed in 1998 with 12 other Flemish beguinages. It is a university residence, so keep voices low and stay on the public lanes.Great Beguinage
- Keep Wednesday for something other than M LeuvenM Leuven, the art museum with a roof terrace, is closed on Wednesdays. Put the University Library tower or the beguinage on that day and the museum on any other.
- Add Leuven to a Brussels stayA half day covers the square, the beguinage and the library tower. An overnight lets you see the squares after the day visitors leave.Brussels travel guide
Things to do in Leuven
See all attractions in Leuven
Need to know
- Airport
- Brussels Airport (BRU), then a train; check the SNCB planner
- Getting there
- Direct train from Brussels, about 25 min on average (SNCB)
- Getting around
- On foot; the center is compact
- Best base
- Near the Grote Markt for evenings, near the station for trains
- Time needed
- 1 day; an overnight for the evening squares
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low2°Cold, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh8°Low3°Cold, indoorsFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, indoors
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh11°Low4°Cool, showersMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, showers
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh14°Low6°Mild, springAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, spring
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Mild, terracesMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, terraces
- JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Long daysJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Warm, festivalsJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, festivals
- AugustPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°Warm, long daysAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, long days
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Students returnSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Students return
- OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Cool, rainOctoberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, rain
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Cold, greyNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, grey
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh7°Low3°Christmas lightsDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas lights
Average daily high and low in Leuven, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Jul Rock Werchter
Right now in Leuven
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
7
- Feels like
- 5°
- Humidity
- 94%
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 98%
Leuven
11:39 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today11°5°98%Monday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Tue9°4°6%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Wed9°2°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu10°2°0%Thursday: Clear. High 10°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri9°0°3%Friday: Clear. High 9°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sat7°-1°9%Saturday: Fog. High 7°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Sun9°4°10%Sunday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 10%.
Updated 11:22 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Coming up
Every year
- JulTomorrowlandAntwerp, a day trip
- JulGhent FestivitiesGhent, a day trip
- JulRock WerchterLeuven
- JulLes Francofolies de SpaLiège, a day trip
- AugFlower Carpet of BrusselsBrussels, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Brusselsabout 25 min on direct trainsThe capital's museums and Grand Place, easy to combine with a Leuven morning.Read the guide
- Antwerpby trainA larger port city with the cathedral and the MAS roof.Read the guide
- Ghentby trainAnother student city, with a castle and guild quays on the water.Read the guide
Before you go to Leuven
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Leuven, checked
- Town Hall: closed to visitors until and including 2029 for renovation; scaffolding around it until summer 2027.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- ILUVLeuven Ticket €19, with Park Abbey closed until 26 October 2026. M Leuven is closed on Wednesdays. The Great Beguinage is free to visit.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Leuven
The nearest big base, with frequent direct trains
Read the guideAntwerp travel guideRubens, the MAS roof and the station
Read the guideGhent travel guideGuild quays and a castle, another student city
Read the guideBuying Belgian train ticketsA short hop to Brussels needs a single ticket from the operator
Read the guideLiège travel guideA Meuse city further east, with a Calatrava station and a Sunday market
Read the guideAll of BelgiumCities, coast and the Ardennes in one plan
Read the guideLeuven FAQ
Is Leuven worth visiting?
Yes, for a half day to a night, if you like a lived-in university town more than a museum city. The beguinage, the library tower and the Grote Markt are compact, and the center is best explored on foot.
Can you visit the Leuven town hall?
Not at present. Visit Leuven lists the building as closed to visitors until and including 2029 for renovation, with scaffolding until summer 2027. You can still walk the square and see the carved facade through the works.
How far is Leuven from Brussels by train?
SNCB lists an average journey of 25 minutes on direct trains, with 99 trains a day. Use the official planner for exact times, since the duration varies with the station and the time of day.
Is the ILUVLeuven Ticket worth it?
It suits a first visit: €19 covers the guided walk, the University Library and tower, and M Leuven or Park Abbey. Skip it if you only want the beguinage and the squares, which cost nothing.
Is Leuven better than Ghent for a day trip?
Leuven is closer to Brussels and quieter, with a student feel and fewer headline sights. Ghent has a castle and a larger old center, so it fits a fuller day. Pick Leuven when you have half a day.