How to reach Leuven
So you have arrived in Brussels airport. Hopefully you have collected your baggage and have come to the main arrival hall.
Leuven is around 25 km from Brussels.
You have two options to go to Leuven, taxi or bus. Taxi is quite expensive (70 Euro or more) and is not recommended unless you have too much baggage.
The train is an excellent option. It will take you to Leuven in 15 minutes flat at a cost of less than 10 Euro. To catch the train to Leuven, follow the directions in the airport containing the train symbol, which will take you to the '-1 Level', which is where you get the train.
At the ticket counter, ask for a train to Leuven.
Should be less than 10 Euro. In the TV display, you should be able to see the train with destination 'Leuven'. Find the platform number (there are only 4 platforms, also called "spoor") and get on the train.
An important point: there is another place called "Leuven la Neuve". DO NOT get on this train; be sure the destination is "Leuven".
There is an English version of the Belgian Railways' website (called NMBS or SNCB):
http://www.b-rail.be/main/E/index.php,
where you can find the train timings between Brussels National Airport (also called "Nationaal Luchthaven") and Leuven. Hopefully 15 minutes later you are in Leuven train station.
How to go after reaching Leuven
Come out of the station. You will find yourself in front of a big square with a tall pillar (obelisk) in front.
Now, you can either catch a bus, or take a taxi, depending on considerations such as how much luggage you have, how tired you are, where you want to go, etc. etc. Taking a taxi: You will find taxis just outside the station. Taxi drivers usually understand/speak English and are usually helpful and polite, and you need not be too worried about being cheated. Taxi fare will vary depending on where you want to go, but is usually not more than 15 Euro. This is the easiest option; you just have to give the driver the address, and he will take you there. Feel free to use taxis wherever necessary; but ask for a bill (called "recu") from the driver. You can claim all these expenses later if you are received a scholarship letter about return travel fare available. Usually IMEC PhD Students and K.U.L post-doc, pre-doc and doctoral students will have this opportunity. Taking a bus: The bus stand is immediately to the right; around 20 meters further. The bus company is called De Lijn (pronounced "De Line"). From here you can take a bus to wherever you want. The website is called and contains useful information such as bus routes, stops and timings; but at this point of time there is no English version, so may be difficult for newcomers to browse. In my experience the most commonly used buses are number 2 and numbers 7,8, or 9 (inside Leuven 7, 8 and 9 have follow the same route. The routes become different only outside Leuven). The bus fare, at the time of writing this article, is 1.50 Euro. It is a fixed, flat rate.
If you have to go to IMEC or Heverlee or Arenberg, then take bus nr '2' which says "Heverlee Campus". And relax, the last stop, where everyone gets off, is IMEC. There is also another bus 616, which will stop near IMEC.
Calling to India/Belgium during your travel
In case, you need to call during your travel - telephones will be available everywhere on airports, but you might need to buy a telephone card. There will be coin operated phones also but will work only with local currencies. There are also card operated phones in many places. There are some good quality international calling cards available with competitive rates for India (eg. sada, Pay Peanuts, One touch etc.).
So you have arrived in Brussels airport. Hopefully you have collected your baggage and have come to the main arrival hall.
Leuven is around 25 km from Brussels.
You have two options to go to Leuven, taxi or bus. Taxi is quite expensive (70 Euro or more) and is not recommended unless you have too much baggage.
The train is an excellent option. It will take you to Leuven in 15 minutes flat at a cost of less than 10 Euro. To catch the train to Leuven, follow the directions in the airport containing the train symbol, which will take you to the '-1 Level', which is where you get the train.
At the ticket counter, ask for a train to Leuven.
Should be less than 10 Euro. In the TV display, you should be able to see the train with destination 'Leuven'. Find the platform number (there are only 4 platforms, also called "spoor") and get on the train.
An important point: there is another place called "Leuven la Neuve". DO NOT get on this train; be sure the destination is "Leuven".
There is an English version of the Belgian Railways' website (called NMBS or SNCB):
http://www.b-rail.be/main/E/index.php,
where you can find the train timings between Brussels National Airport (also called "Nationaal Luchthaven") and Leuven. Hopefully 15 minutes later you are in Leuven train station.
How to go after reaching Leuven
Come out of the station. You will find yourself in front of a big square with a tall pillar (obelisk) in front.
Now, you can either catch a bus, or take a taxi, depending on considerations such as how much luggage you have, how tired you are, where you want to go, etc. etc. Taking a taxi: You will find taxis just outside the station. Taxi drivers usually understand/speak English and are usually helpful and polite, and you need not be too worried about being cheated. Taxi fare will vary depending on where you want to go, but is usually not more than 15 Euro. This is the easiest option; you just have to give the driver the address, and he will take you there. Feel free to use taxis wherever necessary; but ask for a bill (called "recu") from the driver. You can claim all these expenses later if you are received a scholarship letter about return travel fare available. Usually IMEC PhD Students and K.U.L post-doc, pre-doc and doctoral students will have this opportunity. Taking a bus: The bus stand is immediately to the right; around 20 meters further. The bus company is called De Lijn (pronounced "De Line"). From here you can take a bus to wherever you want. The website is called and contains useful information such as bus routes, stops and timings; but at this point of time there is no English version, so may be difficult for newcomers to browse. In my experience the most commonly used buses are number 2 and numbers 7,8, or 9 (inside Leuven 7, 8 and 9 have follow the same route. The routes become different only outside Leuven). The bus fare, at the time of writing this article, is 1.50 Euro. It is a fixed, flat rate.
If you have to go to IMEC or Heverlee or Arenberg, then take bus nr '2' which says "Heverlee Campus". And relax, the last stop, where everyone gets off, is IMEC. There is also another bus 616, which will stop near IMEC.
Calling to India/Belgium during your travel
In case, you need to call during your travel - telephones will be available everywhere on airports, but you might need to buy a telephone card. There will be coin operated phones also but will work only with local currencies. There are also card operated phones in many places. There are some good quality international calling cards available with competitive rates for India (eg. sada, Pay Peanuts, One touch etc.).
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