Liège is one of the biggest urban centers in Belgium's Wallonia region. A central intellectual hub in the medieval era and later associated with mining and industrialization, gritty-but-glorious Liège has since been reborn as a youthful, countercultural hub, thanks partly to its large student population. Liège is the place to eat eclectically, drink affordable Belgian beers, and party late into the night in the city’s Carré district. But there are more things to do in Liège, like touring museums and markets, going for riverside walks, and—best of all—sampling the famous waffles.
The busiest time to visit Liège is on August 15th, when its major festival—Outremeuse—hosts events ranging from folkloric processions to dances and puppet shows. Summer is an excellent time to stroll along the River Meuse, explore the city's parks and gardens, and grab a seat at an outdoor café in the Place Saint-Lambert. And if you’re interested in cycling, visit in late April for Liège-Bastogne-Liège: it’s the oldest of the five Monuments, or classic cycle races.
Liège Airport connects the Belgian city to international destinations, as does its central train station. Liège-Guillemins, strikingly designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, is served by a range of inter-city services that connect to hubs like Brussels and Paris. There are other stations in central Liège, including Liège-Saint-Lambert and Liège-Carré. Much of Liège's historic center is walkable and can also be explored by bus, bike, and even by a seasonal river shuttle.
In Liège, they don't drink gin or even genever: they drink peket, a spirit also flavored with juniper. While classic peket is often aged in oak barrels, there are also several flavored varieties. Head to local Liège favorites like La Maison du Peket to sample. And before leaving town, be sure to try other Liège classics, like boulets à la Liégeoise (meatballs) and boûkète (buckwheat flour pancakes).
