Liege

Liege lies in the valley of the Meuse river near the Belgian borders with Holland and Germany. Mainly french speaking, it was the former industrial backbone of Wallonia and has a rich cultural and ecclesiastical heritage. The best places to stay in Liege are centrally located and ideal bases for exploring this fascinating city.

Liege was an independent ‘Prince Bishopric’ from 985 until 1794, and as such became a significant religious and artistic centre. There are many beautiful churches to visit - St. Martins dates from 682.

During more recent history, the city’s fortunes ebbed and flowed as a result of its strategic position. Once part of revolutionary France, then Dutch, it has been Belgian since 1830 and prospered through the steel industry. Liege suffered badly through the two world wars and its industrial base subsequently declined but there has been much recent regeneration. Liege is definitely a place on the up and well worth a visit.

WHAT NOT TO MISS

• The Palace of the Prince Bishops of Liege - a vast complex dating from the 16th century.
• Liege Cathedral, featuring both 16th century and modern stained glass windows and a white marble Christ by Del Cour
• The Church of Saint Jacques. This beautiful medieval church in a flamboyant gothic style has stunning statues by Jean del Cour and twenty nine 14th century misericords.
• There are many interesting museums including MAMAS (modern and contemporary art) and Grand Curtius (a museum of archaeology and decorative arts) which is housed in a 17th century mansion on the banks of the Meuse.
• The Montagne de Bueran staircase (374 steps) which connects the centre of town to the citadel - not one for the faint-hearted!
• The night life around ‘Le Carre’ and ‘Place du Marche’ - there are lots of bars where you can sample the famous Belgian beers and a wide range of good restaurants.
• La Batte market on Sunday is Belgium's oldest and biggest. You'll discover a wide range of produce from local fruits, vegetables and cheeses to books, plants, clothes and much more!

This city is a popular destination for weekenders, so if you' re planning a short break and want to guarantee a room in one of the best places to stay in Liege, do your homework and book well ahead. Alternatively come midweek, when the hotels may be a little quieter.

For an apartment

• If you think that you'd prefer self catering accommodation, we recommend you check out the wide selection with our online partner, Booking.com.

Travel information

• Liege sits at the crossroads of many main routes and its transport links are excellent. If you're flying in, you'll need to arrive in Brussels then take the train. If you prefer to travel by rail, Liege is served by fast trains from Paris, Brussels, Cologne and Amsterdam.
• Liege is a good year round destination. However the best weather is the summer months with average temperatures in the hgh teens celcius. Other good times (and busy times) to visit are during the Nuit des Coteaux (a festival when the city centre is transformed into a magical kingdom) in October or for the Christmas markets in December.
• If you wish to hire a car, we recommend you visit our partner, Rentalcars.

Still not sure?

• Browse our list of the best places to stay in Liege,
• expand your search to include our recommendations in nearby Spa, Wanze or Namur.,
• or contact a friendly guru for advice.

Weather

Monthly Weather in Liege