Travel information
Travel information
1. Arriving in Leuven
If you arrive in Belgium by plane, you will travel via Brussels Airport. From the lowest level of the airport, you may access the Belgian Rail system.From the airport there are two direct trains each hour, which take you to the centre of Leuven in about 15 minutes. You can also buy your train ticket on-line beforehand if you want on their website. Taxis from the airport are available to take you directly to your hotel. The cost will be approximately around 50 euros.
If you arrive in Belgium by Thalys or the Eurostar, you will travel via Brussels South (Brussel Zuid/Bruxelles Midi). From Brussels South, there are at least six trains an hour which take you to the centre of Leuven. The journey takes about 30 minutes. Most trains to Leuven (though with a variable number of stops depending on the train) run in the direction of Tongeren/Tongres, Eupen, Welkenraedt, Landen, Genk and Luik/Liège Guillemins. Please note that Louvain-la-neuve is NOT the same place as Leuven/Louvain. For further details at the rail stations you can consult the yellow posters in the railway station or visit Belgian Rail for timetables. If you arrive in Belgium by train from the Netherlands or from Germany, you should visit the websites for Dutch Railways (NS) or German Railways (DB).
A substantial review of the various methods of transport possible in Leuven, as well as detailed directions on how to arrive in Leuven, can be found on the university’s website.
If you are walking from the train station to the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, the most direct route is to exit the train station toward Leuven Centrum and proceed directly down the main shopping street in town, Bondgenotenlaan. When you reach the Fochplein (currently under construction), you can walk on the right side of the street and continue straight until you reach the Grote Markt, site of both the medieval Stadhuis (Townhall) and Sint-Pieterskerk (Saint Peter's Church). Once there, you can walk directly up Naamsestraat (situated to the right of the Stadhuis) until you reach Sint-Michielskerk (on your left). Take a left turn onto Sint-Michielsstraat and the Faculty is located almost immediately on your righthand side.
If you are traveling from a country where citizens are currently required to obtain an entrance visa to Belgium (here is a list of those nationals), please consult a Belgian embassy in your home country for more information on the visa application procedures. Please be sure to allow an adequate amount of time for the visa application to be processed and returned to you.
2. Staying in Leuven
New Damshire
Schapenstraat 1 (Pater Damiaanplein)
3000 Leuven
Tel : +32 16 745 245
Fax : +32 16 745 246
reservations@hotelnewdamshire.be
Etap Hotel
Martelarenlaan 10
3010 Leuven
Tel: +32 16 479 880
Fax: +32 16 479 881
Mercure Leuven Center
Alfons Smetplein 7
3000 Leuven
Tel: +32 16/317600
Fax: +32 16/317601
mercureleuven@alliance-hospitality.com
Hotel Ibis Leuven Centrum
Brusselsestraat 52
3000 Leuven
Tel. : + 32 16 29 31 11
Fax : + 32 16 23 87 92
H1457-re@accor.com
The Louvain Institute for Ireland in Europe
Janseniusstraat 1
3000 Leuven
Tel : +32 16 31 04 30
Fax : +32 16 31 04 31
Reception@leuveninstitute.eu
Abdij Keizersberg
Mechelsestraat 202
3000 Leuven
tel + 32.16.31.00.60
fax + 32.16.31.00.66
abdij.keizersberg@monasteria.org
The Leuven Hostel 'De Blauwput'
Martelarenlaan 11A
3000 Leuven
Tel. + 32.16.63.90.62
Fax + 32.16.63.90.64
leuven@vjh.be
Theaterhotel Leuven
Bondgenotenlaan 20
3000 Leuven
Tel/Fax + 32.16.22.28.19
theaterhotel@chello.be
Other Leuven hotels can be found online at Leuven Hotels or at Trip Advisor.
3. Tourist information
Further information on Leuven can be found on the city's tourism website.
General information on visiting Belgium can be found on the Belgian Travel Network, Visit Belgium, Wikitravel, and Lonely Planet among other sites.
A >guide to eating out in Leuven has recently been prepared for your information. Smakelijk!
