Liege (Belgium) is the largest city in the province of the same name, located on the banks of the Meuse River. One of the industrial centers of the country, it is not considered a popular destination for tourists, but this is not reflected in its beauty and unusual atmosphere.
In Liege, history and modernity come together, and old cathedrals are often located near modern cultural centers. Its population is small – about 200 thousand people, so there are rarely traffic jams or huge queues in supermarkets.
The sights of Liege can be explored in a few days. Before you know where to go and what to see first, you need to figure out how to get to the city itself.
How to get to Liege
Air travel
The province has an international airport that accepts flights from most countries of Europe, America and Asia, but, unfortunately, Liege does not have regular air traffic to the SND states, so it is most convenient to fly from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus to Brussels.
To get from the airport to the city center (10 km), you can use public transport (in Liege it is only buses):
- #53. It is sent every 20-30 minutes;
- No. 57. Runs every two hours from 7 am to 5 pm daily.
The journey by car along the E42 highway takes about 15 minutes, and the approximate cost of a taxi on this route is 25-30 euros.
Road from Brussels
You can only get to Liege by train or bus from nearby countries, so most tourists come here from the Belgian capital.
The train connection between the cities is represented by many electric trains, which run every 30-60 minutes from Brussels Central station to Liège Guillemins. You can buy tickets both in the station building (at the terminal or ticket office), and online on the official website of the Belgian railway (www.belgianrail.be). There is no direct flight from Brussels Airport, but you will need to change at Leuven. The total travel time is from 53 minutes to 2 hours.
A one-way ticket costs around€19. Discounts are provided for students, young people under 26, children and pensioners.
Please note! Travel to the cities of Belgium is most profitable on weekends, when there is a discount system. So, the price of tickets for the Brussels-Liege train from 19: 00 on Friday to 19: 00 on Sunday is only 9-10€.
There is a daily Ouibus bus service between the cities, with ticket prices ranging from€4 to € 6. Discounts are available for schoolchildren, students and pensioners.
The most convenient way to get to Liege is by car, but the average rental price is 80€ / day. The shortest road is via the E40 route, but you can also take the E411 motorway by turning onto the E42. The cost of a taxi in Liege is at the same level as in most European countries-from 2 euros per km and from 5 euros per landing.
Weather features
Liege is a city with a moderately warm climate. The most suitable months for recreation here are June-August, when the air warms up to 22°C. The city gets colder in January and February, but the temperature almost never drops below -2 degrees Celsius.
In Liege, precipitation is frequent, with light but prolonged rain in spring and late autumn, and soft snow in winter. The highest amount of precipitation falls in autumn, as well as in June, July and December.
When to go to Liege? Prices
Among tourists, it is widely believed that there are few interesting sights in the city, so the influx of curious travelers is not observed here throughout the year. Holiday prices are always kept at about the same level, but in summer and during the Christmas holidays they can go up by 5-15%.
Accommodation
The minimum price for accommodation in Liège is 25€/night (including breakfast) per person in the only hostel in the city – Liège Youth Hostel. Those who want to stay in a three-star hotel will have to pay from 70€ per room, and the most expensive five-star hotels located in the city center will cost about 170-250€ / day.
Local cuisine: what to try and how much it costs
In Liege, as in other cities in Belgium, the most popular products are waffles, chocolate and cheeses. Be sure to try the following traditional desserts::
- Bouquets – pancakes with cocoa, fruit or raisins;
- Lacquemants – waffles with chocolate and caramel.
What else to try when I’m in Belgium, find out in this article.
Prices for lunch in cafes and restaurants in Liege start from 15 euros for a three-course business lunch.
- In a mid-level restaurant, you will have to pay about€60 for lunch for two.
- A fast food snack with a glass of soft drink will cost€ 8 per person.
- A cup of cappuccino costs an average of 2.5€, 0.5 local beer-3.75€.
Getting around the city
Liege has a lot of pedestrian roads and little public transport, so the most convenient ways to get around are walking and cycling (rental services are available in all quarters, the price per day is about 15€). The cost of a single trip on buses running within the city limits – from 2.5€.
Attractions in Liege (Belgium)
Montagne de Bueren
Active (and not so active) travelers first of all go to this unusual place, located near the city hospital. The 374-step staircase, planted with plants, is not only a great exercise machine for your feet, but also a really beautiful attraction.
Tourists who have mastered such a climb become owners of the most beautiful photos of Liege, because it is from this point that a panoramic view of the whole city opens from the Coteaux de la Citadelle observation deck. Small shops with inexpensive souvenirs are located at the foot of the mountain.
Namur, Belgium-what is interesting about the administrative center
Central Railway Station (Gare Central)
Liege Central Station is a real masterpiece of architecture. This is a business card of the city, the photo on the background of which is a must have for everyone who has visited here. Innovative technologies and the ingenious idea of the author Santiago Calatrava made it possible to create a “floating” building without walls and ceiling, with open platforms and natural light during daylight hours.
If you also want to enjoy the beauty and aesthetics of this attraction, pay attention to the weather conditions – a large number of people will not be able to hide from the rain or snow here.
There are also many cafes and souvenir shops in the station building.
Cathedral de Liege
This cathedral is considered the most beautiful in the whole city. It is located in the central district of Liege and is a historical monument from the 13th century. All tourists can enter the church for free at any time of the day, except on Sundays, when people come for lunch prayers. Do not forget to take advantage of the opportunity to take photos inside and capture unusual sculptures and outstanding beauty of stained glass windows.
Sculpture of Lucifer. Liege is popular not only for its beautiful buildings, but also for its unusual sculptures. One of them depicts a fallen angel and is located in the main city cathedral. Artist Guillaume Gifs spent more than 10 years turning ordinary marble into this work of art, for which he is still thanked by the residents of the city today.
Inside there is also a treasure trove, which can be visited for a fee of 6 euros (5-for students and pensioners). It features a carefully designed set design in more than ten themed halls spread over two floors. You can view the exhibition from Tuesday to Saturday from 10: 00 to 17: 00, on Sunday from 13: 00 to 17: 00.
La Boverie Museum
The Museum of Belgian and Foreign Painting and Photography is the main art center of Liege. Here you can not only see the works of medieval masters, but also visit exhibitions of contemporary artists. Temporary exhibitions are often held here. Around the building with galleries there is a small green park with benches and fountains.
- This pleasant location can be found at Parc de la Boverie 3.
- Opening hours: Tue-Sun from 10: 00 to 18: 00.
- Admission fee: 5€, for seniors-3€. On the first Sunday of each month, admission is free for everyone.
- Website: https://en.laboverie.com.
Market Square (La Place du Marche)
The market square of Liege, a wide boulevard with many cafes and restaurants – a place where you can feel like an ordinary Belgian. Here, locals and tourists constantly relax, who came to see the fountain of the Perron, the symbol of independence of Liege, and take photos against the background of the city hall.
If you want to try delicious Belgian waffles or enjoy other desserts, be sure to stop by one of the many pastry shops located on the square.
St-Jacques Church
Anyone who makes it to Liege should visit the Church of St. James – one of the few architectural monuments that combines several cultural styles. Built in the 11th century, it still retains its beauty and is a repository of famous works of religious art. In the architecture, you can see elements of the Romanesque era and the Renaissance. The ceiling is decorated with impressive frescoes.
Despite the fact that the temple is not the main one in the city, locals and travelers strongly recommend seeing it first.
- Where to find: Place Saint-Jacques 8, Liege, Belgium.
- For tourists, the church is open daily from 10 am to noon.
Pont de Fragnee Bridge
The Bridge of Angels of Liege, built in the early 20th century, is located at the confluence of two rivers. On both sides it is decorated with unusual golden figures, and with the onset of evening, the attraction begins to play with all the colors of the rainbow.
Souvenirs
From Belgium, most often they bring delicious delicacies – wine, chocolate or cheese. But the list of interesting gifts that can be brought from Belgium is not limited to this:
- Buy small replicas of the sights of Liege-figurines, keychains or magnets.
- Belgium has a large selection of high-quality porcelain or ceramic products.
- Beer and tinctures are an excellent substitute for standard wine.
Liege (Belgium) is a city worthy of your attention. Have a good holiday!
