Come Study in Leuven, BE

Leuven is perhaps the most underrated city in Europe. It doesn't get nearly the press of London, Paris, or nearby Brussels, but the architecture and cultural setting here are top-notch.

Leuven might be most famous for the beer that is brewed here, and it is definitely worth it to investigate this product firsthand! Famous labels Dumas and Stella Artois are both brewed here--Dumas is more of a dark, heavy draft, and Stella is like Europe's answer to Budweiser (popular but great-tasting). They are served at almost all the cafés in town, but for the ultimate experience, visit the main breweries.

The architecture in Leuven is beyond comparison. Start in Grote Market in the center of the city. Here you will find the phenomenal Het Stadhuis, with its beautifully carved artifices. It is hard to believe that it was constructed in 1447. It is so intricate, it looks like a laser carved this the designs and statues on the outside of this building!

Another example of the fabulous architecture here is the St Pieterskirk Church, also located toward the center of the city. Its monstrous proportions contrast with its intricate detail.

Leuven is known amongst scholars for its university. People here are generally very bright, and the culture and surroundings cater to that. Libraries, bookstores, and other scholarly haunts abound!

Shopping in Leuven is also something that will entertain visitors. There are the typical European clothing stores, like Zara and H&M, as well as some merchants, like Blokker, that sell everyday items, but none like those you would ever find in the States. The Oude Market (near the center of town) is the main shopping district.

Quick Tips:

Cheap hotels like the Hotel La Royale exist near the outer ring of town. Do not expect luxury at these establishments, but they are good if you're on a shoestring budget.

Go to Leuven.com for a list of popular tourist events and attractions.

A free, yet very nice, place to visit is the Sport Park, which lies on the outside of the southern part of the "ring" around town. Here you can find people participating in all sorts of games in a lush park setting with beautiful grounds and statues.

Best Way To Get Around:

Leuven is not very large - it is about a 2-mile walk across the widest part of the center from the main "ring" around the city. This is probably the best way to get around, since cabs are not all that plentiful and the streets are very confusing if you were to try to drive them.

There is a train station here connecting with other destinations, such as Antwerp and Rotterdam. For more international options, you should head to the larger train station in Brussels, where you can catch "rapid" service to other European cities.

I stayed at Hotel La Royale in Leuven quite by accident - my original hotel had been booked with delegates and they had to get rid of everyone else to avoid security risks. Unfortunately, I was not told of this ahead of time, and all of Leuven's other hotels were booked for the evenings I needed to stay in another hotel, all, that is, of course, but the Hotel La Royale.

Hotel La Royale is located on the edge of town, across from the Stella Artois brewery. It has a good location on a nice picturesque square near the train station. However, Hotel La Royale has no parking, so patrons are expected to fend for themselves in the town of Leuven.

These accommodations are definitely good for those on a budget—I think my room was 35€/night. However, do not expect any luxuries here. Most of the rooms don't even have a private bath. Make sure you request one if you so desire. The rooms are typical of budget accommodations, with cheap-looking decor and furniture. You could hear the people next door as if they were right in the room with you! It is definitely not good if you have noisy neighbors like I did.

The Hotel La Royale features a complimentary breakfast every morning of tea, biscuits, and juices. The room service provided by the restaurant on the first floor is okay. Make sure you try the hot cocoa with Sambuca if you're there during the colder months.

All in all, people who are looking for a nice hotel should not stay at Hotel La Royale. But if you're a student or someone on a shoestring budget, it might be a good option for you.

The Begijnhof Congreshotel is situated on the outer ring of Leuven, but is right in the heart of all the history. The 13th-century Groot Begijnhof (an abbey) is right next door and visitors can enjoy looking at the historic architecture at their leisure.

Amenities at the Begijnhof include Internet-ready rooms, a fitness center, sauna, a lovely garden, and glorious accommodations. This hotel was very nice with rooms that were above standard for this area of the country. Rooms were always clean and the staff made sure to attend to any problem with the upmost courtesy and professionalism.

The outside of the Begjnhof is surrounded by a beautiful garden and river. It's almost like you're staying in your own little palace! The rooms might be a little more expensive here than other area hotels, but it is well worth it for the service and quality of the rooms.

Parking in a secured lot is included with your room, as is a very nice complimentary breakfast that offers a generous spread of morning delicacies. The centrum of Leuven is less than a mile walking distance from here so it is very conveniently located as well.

I highly recommend the Begijnhof Congreshotel for your future stay whether it be for business or pleasure in Leuven, BE.

I would have never expected to find the best Italian food that I had ever eaten in my life in Belgium of all places. Having grown up in an Italian family and having eaten in the Italian neighborhoods of New York City, I had thought that was as good as it gets. However, I was wrong. La Casa Italiana serves traditional Italian dishes with some hints of the Flemish culture as well. A delicious mussels dish was served with a rich tomato- and garlic-infused broth. This was an excellent version of this Leuven-classic!

I enjoyed a handmade pasta dish with marinara sauce. The marinara was just perfect—I do not know how they got it to be that bright red color or so full of flavor. It was perhaps the best version of spaghetti sauce that I have ever tasted!

Beverages served at this restaurant include the traditional Belgian beer and a very good wine list with a wide selection of Italian favorites, like Chianti.

The service at this restaurant left something to be desired. Waiters were curt with our table and not attentive at all. Still, this seems to be the standard service for this area of Europe, so it wasn't worth complaining about overall. Tipping is not expected, so patrons should not feel like they have to give anything extra anyways. Still, the food, even with lackluster service, is worth the trip to this restaurant.

Shopping in Leuven, Belgium, is a very underrated adventure to have when in this European city. Many excellent boutiques and name-brand retailers have outposts here. Though you won't find much in the way of deals, you will find unique items and gifts that you won't see anywhere in the United States. There are many nice clothing retailers in Leuven. The store Etam has finely crafted lingerie and underwear that is so detailed, you'll be tempted to buy everything in the store. The embroidery and edging is fabulous, and it is not priced too expensively, so you can bring some home with you without breaking the bank.

H&M, the discount designer-knockoff outlet, has a store in downtown Leuven. You can find anything here that you've seen walking down the runway in previous seasons. Stella McCartney and Karl Lagerfeld have both designed low-priced lines for this chain.

Zara is an excellent European clothing chain with mid-priced clothes that also has a store in downtown Leuven. I bought an excellent purple velvet blazer here on my last visit, and I didn't see anything like it stateside for the next 3 years!

Belgium would not be Belgium without the beer and chocolate, and many retailers and shops have these items as their main products. Godiva has a store here that has the best chocolate I've ever tasted (for some reason, Belgium Godiva chocolate tastes different from other Godiva locations). I bought many cute Stella Artois-themed gifts you can't find anywhere else at the beer's gift store outpost. These souvenirs made excellent gifts for both beer and chocolate lovers back home.

Downtown Leuven is also home to one of my favorite variety stores, Blokker. Here you can find many interesting things to decorate your home or as unusual gifts for friends back home. I purchased some very well-designed candlestick holders here that I have not seen anywhere else. Blokker has tons of knickknacks that are great for giving your home a bit of European flare.

The stores in Leuven only stay open till 6pm on weekdays and Saturdays. Do not plan your trip for a Sunday, when everything is closed; otherwise, you'll miss out on the fun.