Things to do in Leuven
Explore top experiences
Top 10 attractions in Leuven
Atomium
The Atomium stands on the Heysel Plateau in the Laeken district on the northern outskirts of Brussels. This landmark was built for the 1958 Brussels World's Fair and designed by engineer André Waterkeyn, embodying the era's optimistic vision of scientific progress. It represents an iron crystal's unit cell magnified 165 billion times: nine spheres, each about 18 m in diameter, symbolize the nine iron atoms in the cell, connected by steel tubes to form a giant cubic lattice. The top sphere rises approximately 102 m above the ground. Originally clad in aluminum, the spheres were refurbished with stainless steel shells during renovations from 2004 to 2006, now gleaming silver in sunlight. Initially designed as a temporary pavilion with a six-month lifespan, its popularity led to its preservation, making it one of Brussels' and Belgium's most recognizable symbols today. Visitors can take a high-speed elevator in the central tube, reaching the observation deck in the top sphere in about 20 seconds. On clear days, the skyline of Brussels, the National Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Koekelberg, and the Mini-Europe park below are clearly visible. Moving between spheres via escalators in the inclined tubes, guests can explore the ground sphere's permanent exhibition on the 1958 World's Fair, rotating art and design displays in other open spheres, and workshop spheres hosting activities for children. Due to safety concerns, the three outer upper spheres lack vertical support and are closed to visitors, meaning not all nine spheres are accessible. The top sphere also houses a panoramic restaurant, offering dining with views from about 100 m above ground. At night, LED strips along the meridians illuminate the spheres in alternating patterns, resembling electrons orbiting a nucleus, adding a unique steel silhouette to Brussels' nightscape.Brussels · 25.5 km from Leuven
Grand-Place of Brussels
Grand-Place of Brussels is the urban heart of Brussels and was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1998. The square is rectangular, approx. 100 m long and nearly 70 m wide, and is paved with granite. Most of the surrounding buildings were built in the late 17th century and still preserve their original appearance, bringing together a variety of architectural styles including Gothic, Baroque, and Louis XIV. One of the striking buildings on the square is the Brussels Town Hall, a typical Gothic building that reached its current scale after multiple expansions and renovations. The top of its spire is decorated with a sculpture of Saint Michael slaying a demon. The building with spires opposite the Town Hall is known as the "King's House" and now houses the Brussels City Museum. The gilded bronze statue of Everard 't Serclaes in a corner of the square is also worth noting; it commemorates the Brussels folk hero Everard 't Serclaes and depicts the scene of his death. Other buildings surrounding the square mostly belonged to historical guilds, and the facade of each guild building is decorated with sculptures of figures revered by the guild or symbolic animals. During the day, you can savor the beauty of the architecture. After nightfall, when the lights come on, the murals and carvings on the buildings shine brilliantly under the illumination, making it a great place for night photography.Brussels · 24.9 km from Leuven
Manneken Pis
Manneken Pis is one of the symbols of Brussels. This bronze statue stands in a niche on a street corner in the old town, depicting a little boy with his hands on his hips, urinating into a basin. Its history dates back to the mid-15th century, and it was redesigned and cast by sculptor Duquesnoy in 1619. The statue currently standing in the original spot is a later replica, while the original is preserved in the City Museum near the Grand Place. It is only about 0.5m tall, much smaller than many tourists imagine, yet it is considered a symbol of Brussels along with the Atomium and the Grand Place, and is packed year-round with tourists holding cameras.Brussels · 25.1 km from Leuven
Choco-Story Brussels
This chocolate museum is a private museum established in 1998. Founded by Belgian chocolate artist Gabrielle Draps. Various chocolate-making processes can be seen in the museum. Still very interesting. And you can also learn about all the knowledge of cocoa and chocolate, such as the planting process of cocoa beans, the production process of chocolate, and the ability to taste chocolate, which is very interesting.Brussels · 25.1 km from Leuven
Comics Art Museum
The world-renowned comics museum, in addition to introducing the history of comics in Belgium, there are also well-known comics characters such as Tintin and the Smurfs. Numerous exhibits combine comic art with ArtNouveau (Art Nouveau).Brussels · 24.3 km from Leuven
Botanical Garden
Leuven · 922m from downtown
Oude Markt - De Langste Toog ter Wereld
Leuven · 343m from downtown
Brussels Town Hall
Among the many buildings on the Grand Place in Brussels, the most striking is the City Hall, this Gothic building is the landmark of Brussels. Historical background The building was built in two phases, the larger left half was built in 1402, and when the right half was built in 1455, the tower and the 96-meter-high minaret were built under the auspices of Philipele Bon. There is a 5-meter-high weather vane at the top of the tower, which is the statue of Saint Michel, the patron saint of Brussels. Legend has it that the lord of Brussels was saved by Saint Michel, who awarded Saint Michel the title of Patronus of Brussels. The corridors of the city hall are covered with murals. Among the many portraits are the monarchs of Belgium, the kings of Spain, the Netherlands, France and other countries who once ruled Brussels, as well as Napoleon.Brussels · 25 km from Leuven
Provinciedomein Kessel-Lo
Leuven · 2.6 km from downtown
Groot Begijnhof Leuven
Leuven · 811m from downtown
Experiences you can't miss in Leuven
Featured Food & drink in Leuven
View all Food & drink
Free cancellation
Book now for today
FromQAR 50.58
FromQAR 29.70
Book now for today
FromQAR 29.70
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
FromQAR 435.85
Book now for today
FromQAR 29.70
FromQAR 29.70
Featured Day tours in Leuven
View all Day tours
4.7/5
· 3k reviews· 78 bookedFree cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
23 consecutive positive reviews
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromQAR 124.66QAR 131.23
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromQAR 278.75QAR 293.43
4.9/5
· 8 reviews· 122 bookedFree cancellation
125 travelers saved
FromQAR 239.99
4.7/5
· 190 reviewsFree cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
94.2% of travelers recommend
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromQAR 69.69QAR 73.36
4.0/5
· 5 reviews· 46 bookedBook now for tomorrow
98 travelers saved
FromQAR 397.63
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
FromQAR 281.20
Featured Cultural experiences in Leuven
View all Cultural experiences
Free cancellation
Book now for today
20% off
Limited-time sale
FromQAR 26.05QAR 32.57
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
Book now for today
FromQAR 28.53
FromQAR 27.91
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
FromQAR 40.76
FromQAR 27.91
Featured Outdoor experiences in Leuven
View all Outdoor experiences
4.7/5
· 157 reviewsFree cancellation
Book now for today
66 consecutive positive reviews
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromQAR 145.18QAR 152.83
4.8/5
· 55 reviewsFree cancellation
Book now for today
96.4% of travelers recommend
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromQAR 38.52QAR 40.55
4.9/5
· 44 reviewsFree cancellation
44 consecutive positive reviews
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromQAR 46.26QAR 48.7
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromQAR 46.26QAR 48.7
More things to do
Free things to do in Leuven
What travelers say about Leuven
Anonymous userJuly 26, 2026
4.0
My feedback regarding today’s visit to the aquarium:The lobby was poorly ventilated, and the area was overcrowded with long queues of visitors. The space should be properly ventilated to ensure a more comfortable experience for everyone.
Atomium
AnaTravels94March 15, 2025
5.0
The place is gorgeous! we were there after Christmas and it matches with the Christmas tree so perfectly! Visit and just enjoy the view!
Grand-Place of Brussels
Njohns13September 8, 2023
4.0
you cannot take a trip to Belgium without visiting their cheeky little statues!
Manneken Pis
SydbJuly 19, 2025
5.0
A must for chocolate lovers! The self-guided tour reveals cocoa's rich history while live chocolatiers craft pralines before your eyes. Generous tastings of chocolate make it extra sweet along the tour. Compact but packed with interactive exhibits - perfect for families.
Choco-Story Brussels
乐伢子March 27, 2026
5.0
A fantastic exhibition! I saw Tintin, the Smurfs, and Porco Rosso. There were also many manuscripts by the artists, introductions to Chinese ink painting, and their works. The second and third floors really impressed me with the incredible imagination of foreigners. Even the restroom signs were filled with cartoons—so cute! 😍 The exhibition also featured a sculpture of Sanmao, a gift from the Chinese Embassy in Belgium.
Comics Art Museum
huaihuaiOctober 25, 2023
5.0
City Hall has such an intricate medieval designs and architectures. I was simply blown away and in awe!
Brussels Town Hall
wzshyOctober 31, 2019
5.0
Quiet, ancient buildings, unique style, but I don't understand their historical stories, lacking a lot of flavor
Groot Begijnhof Leuven
