Tips for Leuven mini-bus and coach tourism

Useful tips for Leuven bus groups with ‘what to see’ and ‘what to do’ items and  ‘bus- friendly’ or must see tourist sites in Leuven. Check our list of attractions before planning your bus tour with a stop or departure in Leuven. Let us know if your favourite attraction or ‘bus-stop’ is not there and you think we should add it to our list of Leuven highlights.

If you would like to rent a bus for a tour in Leuven, the following sights are recommended

Town hall

A particularly attractive building built in the gothic style is the town hall of Leuven, located on the Grote Markt. This colossal building has three storeys. In just the façade are 236 images processed, this is what the town hall gives the exterior a beautiful view. To draw a comparison to Rome, the building also has the nickname of the Pantheon, however, only the one of Louvain.

The Small and Great Beguinage

There will undoubtedly travel groups with a religious character. For this target group Leuven has to offer something. In Leuven there are two beguinages. A Begijnhof is a kind of neighbourhood that women who give their lives to God have founded. Between Mechelsestraat and Sluisstraat is one of the hidden yards. It is the Klein Begijnhof, consisting of a main and two very small streets. Do you see a succession of charming streets, gardens and squares, then you are at the Groot Begijnhof. The houses here which are built in an old fashioned style sandstone. You have the feeling that you are in a separate town, inside a big city. The location of the Groot Begijnhof is south of downtown, at the Schapenstraat, near the Naamsepoort.

Leuven University

Do you have a bunch of high school students in the bus, that soon have to make a choice for their study? For these students, Leuven has plenty to offer. Leuven has the largest university in Belgium, the Catholic University. Obviously Leuven boasts several universities therefore there may be spoken of a real student city. KU (Catholic University) exists for almost 6 centuries. It is the largest Dutch spoken university and a large number of students present there are from Netherlands. The university is so great that he has been given the title of largest university in the Low Countries. Why is Leuven different form other university cities? It is the lack of a campus. The university buildings are located in multiple locations throughout the city.

Castle Arenberg - Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Castle Arenberg - Katholieke Universiteit Leuven credit: Jim Trodel CC BY-SA 2.0

Leuven University Libraries

For the real intellectuals in your group, we go one step further. As said, the city of Leuven has major universities. Besides that, Leuven also offers a number of fine university libraries. At the Monseigneur Ladeuzeplein is a listed building located, which has a huge collection of books of more than three million volumes. This can truly be called the finest library of Louvain . The property was built in a Flemish Renaissance style.

Botanical garden

Consists your party of interested in herbs, either witches, shamans and sorcerers? The oldest gardens with various spices are also in Leuven. The first herb garden which was built in Leuven, was built by the Leuven University. The garden was laid out for her medical students around 1738. It will come as no surprise that many of the herbs that were planted here, were medicinal plants. At a later stage, the gardens were changed by  using ornamental plants to more botanical gardens. The oldest botanical herb of Belgium is located on the Heilige Geeststraat on Kapucijnvoer 30.

Kruidentuin

Kruidentuin credit: Luc Slosse CC BY 2.0

St Peter"s church

This church is one of the most famous churches of Leuven and certainly the oldest. In the 15th century, this Roman Catholic church was built. The church is characterized particularly by its unfinished towers. Due to the many fires and the various collapses, the church had to be rebuilt each time again. Despite this, the church possesses many beautiful pieces. The church is located on the Grote Markt.

sint-pieterskerk in winter

sint-pieterskerk in winter credit: mararie CC BY-SA 2.0

M-Museum

In the Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 28, within walking distance of the town hall, is located one of the major attractions for culture lovers, namely the M-Museum. What makes this museum so special is that old and new art are herein combined prefectly. It is like an old museum with a new look. Given the fact that in this museum many works of art from many different periods are to behold, such as photography, art sculpture, painting and architecture are on display, the museum is very diverse.

The Norbertine Park Abbey

Another attraction for the religious coach traveller! Besides for example the beguinages and St. Peter"s Church there are four abbeys, which together ensure that Leuven has a rich religious background. Therefore you can not leave Leuven before you visited any of these abbeys visited. These are abbeys, Abbey Park, St. Gertrude"s Abbey, the Abbey Keizersberg and finally the Abbey Vlierbeek. On the Geldenaakse baan you will find the Abbey of Park at, with an area of 42 ha. With this size it is one of the largest and certainly best preserved abbey complexes of the lowlands. Tombs of many familiar characters are in the cemetery.

Park Abbey, Leuven, Belgique

Park Abbey, Leuven, Belgique credit: Amanda N Sherrington CC BY 2.0

City tours in Leuven

You can rent a bus for tours in the city Leuven or in Flamish Brabant Province. For sightseeing in the center of Leuven, we recommend you to walk. There are enough walking tours that guides you along these points of interest. There are also several types of hikes available, each with a different theme often. We recommend that you have approximately 3 weeks before your visit to capture. The walks are varied: the University Walk, a walk where you can really discover Leuven, a walk along the green spots, a walk along the new architecture, AuthentHip and a walk along the various statues. Do you prefer to give your walk a culinary twist we recommend the snack-Step walk or hike with the Leuven beer stories.

Leuven city hall and thousand little lights

Leuven city hall and thousand little lights credit: Johan DK CC BY-ND 2.0

About Leuven

Flower carpet in Leuven

Flower carpet in Leuven credit: Peter Köves CC BY 2.0

Bike Tours

Do you want besides downtown Leuven also visit places further in the surrounding, then the bike might be a better option. In this area there are plenty of solutions and there is a bike tour for the sporty tourist. With a bike you can move faster and reach a larger area. The surroundings of the city of Leuven lies entirely within the possibilities. Leuven is a wonderful bike friendly city to drive through. You can ask for the tour at the desk of Tourism Leuven. They are located to the Professor of Overstraetenplein1, located next to the train station of Leuven.

Beer tourism

As stated above, Leuven is very suitable for cyclists. Leuven is also definitely known as beer town of Belgium. What"s more fun to combine these 2 items, so you will come to a beer tour by bicycle. Natur-Natur, located in the Mechelsestraat, is a company that is specialized in this tour and they even added typical old folk games. The tour starts of course by bicycle, on which you can discover Leuven. Obviously there are several stops during the tour, why else is it called beer tour. For example the famous brewery Stella Artois will be visited, and many famous pubs. While drinking a delicious Leuven pint, you can play the old folk games.

When in Leuven...

When in Leuven... credit: Edgar Jiménez CC BY-SA 2.0

Kickbike canoe trip

Are you part of a group that does not shy away from the real challenge, then the kick-bike canoe trip is for you. The aforementioned organization Natur Natur offers you this kind of trip. On a kick bike, a sort step, you start in the center of Leuven. On the kickbike you continue to Heverlee, where the kickbike is exchanged for a canoe for sailing to Leuven. Sitting in the canoe you sail between the old city walls through which the real atmosphere of the former life in Leuven is tasted. The entire trip take about 3 hours and it is recommended that you request the driver of the coach to wait for you with a dry towel and a sandwich.

Martelarenplein Leuven

Martelarenplein Leuven credit: FaceMePLS CC BY 2.0

Transport Services in Flemish Brabant

You can plan group travel in Flemish Brabant with our online quote request system and plot your entire route. For example, you can plot the entire route of the tour we describe above. Travel in Flemish Brabant province has never been easier: start today!

Leuven

Leuven is one of the most important cities of the province and is also the capital. Leuven is a vibrant city and has in the area of nature and culture also a lot to offer. Do you know Oxford? Sometimes these two cities were compared. This is due to the antiquity of the city, but certainly both cities have a Burgundian touch. This beautiful city is actually one of contradictions. Playfulness, traditional versus modern, old versus new. All this makes Leuven a pretty unique city among other European cities.

Leuven, view to a street de Grote Markt

Leuven, view to a street de Grote Markt credit: Michielverbeek CC BY-SA 3.0

Hageland

Because of the many possibilities of making a walk through the area they call it also walking country. The literal meaning of Hage"s "land overgrown with dense underground". Hageland is a remarkable area for tourists. It is an open area and has a rich history. Hageland is situated to the east of the provincial capital of Leuven. It is characterized by the many hills and is an area located between the cities Aarschot, Leuven, Tienen and Diest.

Chapel, hageland

Chapel, hageland credit: LHOON CC BY-SA 2.0

Sugar Museum

A real "must see" for the sweet tooth among us is the sugar museum. In Tienen is the most famous sugar refinery of the country located. Everything about this" sweet city’ can be found in this museum.

The Green Belt

The name betrays it already, this province has a green natural region. Forests, gardens, parks and beautiful parts of nature connects the charming villages around the capital Brussels. Relaxation and tranquility, you can find it a lot over here. In this area there are also the three subregions Pajottenland Brabant coulters and Dijeland. These three regions provide a wide tourist offer with lots of nature, culture, wellness, technology, regional products and hospitality experience.

 Restaurants

When after a nice walk or other activity, you feel you are really hungry, we have the following tip. In Wilsele (Leuven) is the Restaurant Topinamboer. This cozy living room restaurant serves dinner from Friday to Monday from French cuisine with a modern twist. Are you a lover of Italian cuisine we recommend Villa Gotha Ternat on. Here you can go from Tuesday to Sunday and there is a wide choice of delicious pizzas and pastas.

De Heeren van Liedekercke

De Heeren van Liedekercke credit: Bernt Rostad CC BY 2.0

Congress Travel and Tourism

The Congress Office of Flemish Brabant and Leuven is "Leuven Meeting". What they emphasize is the meeting and congress tourism. If you are looking for a perfect space for your event, they can certainly help you. The Congress Office is situated, in the center of Leuven at the old market.

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More about Leuven

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