Situated in the valley of the Meuse in eastern Belgium, the city of Liège is a vibrant urban centre with a friendly atmosphere, thriving cultural scene and quirky vibe.
Although it has a rich industrial past and remains the primary economic and cultural centre of the area, it is also a surprisingly green city, with some very impressive building set in and amongst pleasant boulevards, riverbanks and picturesque hillsides.
First time visitors are sure to be impressed by an abundance of historic buildings, including the famous Saint-Paul Cathedral and the Coint Basilica, La Boverie and the Church of St. Bartholomew. The modern Gare de Liege-Guillemins train station is also a sight to behold.
As the third-largest city in Belgium, it is perhaps unsurprising that Liège is also a bustling metropolis boasting a thriving business community and some great job opportunities across a variety of sectors. Add in affordable living costs and it’s easy to see why Liège is a great place to live and work.
Location and transport
Known as the ‘Ardent City,’ Liege is nestled to the east of Belgium on the river Meuse at the foot of Ardennes. Its strategic position means Brussels is just 30 minutes away by train, while the borders with Germany, France and the Netherlands are also nearby.
Liège enjoys fantastic transport links, with Liège-Guillemins train station offering high-speed services to Brussels, Paris, Cologne and Amsterdam. Six miles to the west of the city is Liège Airport, which is today primarily a freight hub but also offers some passenger services to destinations including Alicante, Malaga, Gran Canaria and Tenerife. Brussels Airport is easily accessible and offers a much larger choice of flights to destinations around the world.
As expected for a major urban centre, Liège enjoys good road links to the rest of Belgium and into surrounding European countries. For travel local to home, there’s an extensive bus network that will take you around the city centre and through to outer neighbourhoods.
Living in Liège
Liège’s housing stock consists of everything from chic city-centre apartments to larger townhouses and family homes. Prices are relatively affordable, with rents for a City Centre apartment starting at around €600 per calendar month or €850 for a larger apartment in the outer suburbs. If you’re looking to buy, expect to pay around €2,300 per square meter for a City Centre apartment or as little as €1,600 outside of the centre.
In terms of neighbourhoods, you can take your pick from the bustling City Centre with its varied nightlife and regular festivals, through to relaxed districts offering lots of green open spaces and family-friendly parks.
Boulevards Frère-Orban, Rue du Mont St-Martin and Rue du Jardin Botanique are popular with expats, while Sart-Tilman and Cointe offer urban living close to the University. Outremeuse is a highly desirable urban island community sitting across the River Meuse, offering a vibrant atmosphere and strong cultural character.
Shopping, culture and nightlife
Liège has numerous bustling shopping areas offering everything from designer boutiques to everyday stores, including the popular Galeries Saint-Lambert, Belle-Ile and Médiacité shopping malls.
During the day, take a stroll around the Museum of Walloon Life or the Musée de la Boverie, then head to the Théâtre de Liège or Opéra Royal de Wallonie for world-class evening entertainment. The city is famous for its nightlife, with an array of bars, restaurants and music venues, along with many festivals (especially folk festivals) taking place throughout the year.
Work and Education
The city of Liège was once one of Europe’s most important industrial centres and particularly famous for its steel industry. Today, it offers impressive work opportunities across sectors including manufacturing, technology, services and tourism. Aviation plays an important role, including the manufacturing of parts for the Airbus A380.
As for education, the city is home to many great schools, along with the University of Liège, a large public university belonging to the Wallonie-Brussels Federation.
Why move to Liège?
In many ways, Liège is an unexpected delight, boasting impressive architecture, an abundance of green spaces and a friendly atmosphere mixed with a buzzing nightlife. If you’re thinking of moving there, you’ll be able to take advantage of the extensive work opportunities and good transport links.
If you find yourself relocating to
Liège and in need of storage during the move, do not hesitate to get in touch our friendly advisers are on hand to help.