Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
(http://www.kuleuven.be/), the oldest catholic university still in existence in the world founded in 1425.
Green
Meerdaalwoud
Make a walk or have a bike ride in Meerdaalwoud or Heverleebos, the green lungs of the city in the suburbs Heverlee and Oud-Heverlee easily reachable by bike or bus 15 minutes. Many good walking paths. Some parts of the forest are still untouched. A good starting point are the "Zoete Waters" - a series of small lakes in Oud-Heverlee. Take bus line 337 at the Train Station and ask the driver to tell you when you've reached your destination.
Kruidtuin
Visit the Kruidtuin (http://www.leuven.be/vrij...) or botanical garden on the Kapucijnenvoer, a side-street of the Brusselsestraat. The garden was founded in 1738 and is the oldest in Belgium.
Take a boat trip down the Vaart, the Leuven-Mechelen channel. Step aboard in the small port in Northern Leuven, 500m from the railway station.
picnic
Have a picnic in the Sint-Donatuspark in the city centre, 50m from the Ladeuzeplein.
Culture and landmarks
Kruidtuin
Visit the historical Kruidtuin Botanical Garden, at Kapucijnenvoer.
Museum M
You can go to the new city Museum M with a combination of modern art and work from the past centuries. Close to the Ladeuzeplein, in the Vanderkelenstraat. Artworks can also be seen in the St. Peter's Church and City Hall.
Groot Begijnhof
Visit the Groot Begijnhof Grand Beguinage, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Easily reachable by bus or on foot.
30CC
Leuven has a cultural organization called 30CC (http://www.30cc.be) that organizes all kinds of cultural activities around the year, for example in the City Theater on the Bondgenotenlaan. Less frequent during Summer.
historic centre
Visit the historic centre, the University buildings and the St. Peters Church on the Grand Place. Information and guided tours can be found at the Tourist Information Desk.
City Tour Bus
A City Tour Bus leaves for sightseeing around the city from the Fochplein, situated right next to the Grand Place and City Hall.
Summer events
Beleuvenissen
Visit the summer events Beleuvenissen Every Friday in July, Hapje Tapje First Sunday of August and Leuven Kermis Leuven Carnival September. The last weekend of July or the first weekend of August, M museum hosts a festival in cooperation with the cultural centre and Het Depot. Beleuvenissen is a musical and cultural festival on the squares in the city centre. Hapje Tapje is the one day in the year all bars and restaurants put stalls outside to promote their goods. Leuven Kermis is a carnival situated on the Ladeuzeplein and the Hooverplein just next to it.
Jaarmarkt
Visit the Jaarmarkt Year Market the first Monday of September: The entire city centre is transformed into one big market. Cattle is also sold in the streets surrounding the Sint-Jacobsplein, 500m from the Grote Markt, which is quite the spectacle. Schools in Leuven are closed for this occasion, so expect a lot of visitors.
Beleuvenissen is a musical and cultural festival on the squares in the city centre.
Hapje Tapje is the one day in the year all bars and restaurants put stalls outside to promote their goods.
Leuven Kermis is a carnival situated on the Ladeuzeplein and the Hooverplein just next to it.
Other
Sports
Can be practiced in the city sports centre (http://www.sportoase.be), with a swimming pool including small subtropic part with slides, sauna, steambaths and jacuzzi, fitness centre, squash courts and more.
Cheer on the Leuven teams: Oud-Heverlee Leuven Football Club Bears Leuven Basketball Club Leuven Chiefs Icehockey Team Leuven Lions American football team
Oud-Heverlee Leuven Football Club (http://www.ohl.be)
Bears Leuven Basketball Club (http://www.leuvenbears.be/)
Leuven Chiefs Icehockey Team (http://www.ihcl.be)
Leuven Lions American football team (http://www.leuvenlions.be/)
beer factory
Visit Inbev's main Belgian beer factory Vaartstraat 94, ph 0032 (016 247 111, fax 0032 016 247 497), which produces such famous names as Stella Artois, Vieux Temps and Leffe Radieuse.
Markets
Christmas market
Visit the Christmas market (http://www.leuvensekerstm...) and shop for Christmas gifts, taste local specialties and drink a glass of Glühwein or brandy. Annually in December 2010: 10-19 December on the Ladeuze- and Hooverplein.
market
Visit the market every Friday on the Ladeuze- and Hooverplein, flea market every Saturday in the vicinity of the Grote Markt Mechelsestraat, and flower market in the pedestrian-only part of the Brusselsestraat the street leading away from the Grote Markt, every Saturday as well.