Liège, The City of Waffles!

My winter birthday in 2021 came during a partial lockdown in Belgium. Covid restrictions did not allow us to leave the country. At the time, restaurants closed for dining in, museums were open to reserved/timed tickets only, and we were still under a strict curfew. I had hoped to go on a weekend getaway for my birthday. All things considered, a quick trip was not a feasible or responsible option. Being an optimist, I decided to turn a bad situation into a good one by seeking out my favorite type of waffle in the city where it originated. Lucky for me, Liège is a fantastic city with plenty to offer. As a result, I visited to eat the delicious gaufres de Liège and fell in love with this beautiful and historic city. Here are my suggestions for what to do in Liège, Belgium.

Have You Heard of Liège?

Liège is Belgium’s third most populous city, following Brussels and Antwerp. This historic city lies in the Wallonia region of Belgium, an hour east of Brussels by car and train. French is the primary language spoken there. While in Liège you will also hear Flemish, English, and sometimes German. Liège sits along the River Meuse and was once an important river port city and an important city for industry. Liège is filled with beautiful architecture and rich history. This city offers visitors plenty of options for attractions and activities.

Waffle Facts

Gaufres de Liège are my favorite type of Belgian waffles! You simply have to try it! Consequently, I wanted to throw in a couple of fun facts about waffles.

• Liège waffles, or gaufres de Liège, are a type of Belgian waffle.
• Liège waffles are made out of yeast dough mixed with pearl sugar. The sugar caramelizes to create a delightfully soft crunch.
• Gaufres de Liège are sweet treats thanks to the pearl sugar mixture. Additional toppings are not necessary. The gaufres de Liège are plenty delicious on their own. 
• Gaufres de Liège are a popular snack! Both locals and tourists delight in these small waffles. Enjoy them while relaxing outside or taking a stroll around the city center.

Given these points, I really hope you consider trying the Gaufres de Liège! You could do what I did, and order one of each to compare the differences between a Liège waffle and Belgian waffle.

What To Do in Liège

• Visit Tchantchès Pilot Sculpture
  • In brief, this cartoon-like sculpture is hard to miss along the St-Lambert shops and bus stops. Tchantchès is a cute figurine of a pilot and his partner in an airplane. When you visit, notice the empty seat. I would have sat in it if the chair wasn’t so small… Yes, I know the chair was meant for children…. Sometimes I can’t help myself, especially when something is too cute to ignore. 

• Hôtel de Ville Liège
  • This beautiful city hall is impossible to overlook. The Hôtel de Ville was built in 1719. The exterior of the building is stunning. I would have loved to see the inside, but it was closed when we were here. 
• Liège Archeoforum
  • The Archeoforum is underneath Place Saint-Lambert. It is one of the largest urban archeological sites in Europe. Therefore, the museum provides a fascinating opportunity to explore the various layers of history. When I say “layers”, I really mean it. You will see how the church was built and rebuilt on top of itself several times. We spent an hour here, and because of Covid-Safety protocols, we had the site pretty much all to ourselves. 
  • If you are using the Belgium Museum Pass, then an iPad is provided for the audio and visual tour of the exhibits. The iPad tour was helpful. We would have missed a lot of amusing information without it. 
• Museum of Walloon Life
  • A well-presented museum about Wallonia’s history in an antique building. We spent about 2 hours here, including the special exhibit. The main displays did not have English translations, but the museum did provide a pamphlet with some information in English. We were also able to use our Translation Apps to read the displays. 
  • During our visit, the special exhibit was about motorcycles. My husband adored the collection of vintage bikes. 
• Cathédrale Saint-Paul de Liège
  • A stunningly beautiful cathedral in Liège. There is an interesting and unique mix of old and contemporary stained-glass windows. We heard the Tresor was worth a stop, but it was closed due to Covid restrictions while we were here. There is a small fee to visit the Tresor. 
  • The website points out some of the artifacts of interest with good explanations. 
    • Cathédrale Saint-Paul de Liège
• Le Palais des Princes-Évêques
  • This building is the former palace of the Prince-Bishops of Liège. Be that as it may, I don’t think you can visit the inside as it is an active court building. You can appreciate the architecture of the building from the exterior and stop in the courtyard.
• Place de la Cathédrale
  • A beautiful square with fantastic views. If you’re looking for a good spot for lunch, then it’s good spot to relax with a drink and snack. We bought sandwiches from a nearby cafe and sat outside here for lunch. 

• Montagne de Bueren
  • The well-known staircase to the best views of the city. The steep climb takes you to the top of a former citadel. In this case, the summit provides a memorial and panoramic views of the city.
  • I could not convince my fiancé to brave the January cold and rain to climb the 374 steps to the top. Liège was one of those places we said we would return to when the weather was more ideal, but time slipped away. 

If I Had More Time…

As always, there was so much more I wanted to see and do. We assumed we would be able to return to Liège. So we leisurely explored the places we managed to see. These are the other things I would have liked to see and do in Liège if we had more time.

More Things To Do in Liège

• La Boverie
  • The Museum of Fine Arts with collections from the 16th century to the present day. The museum displays artworks from assorted artists such as Monet, Magritte, Van Gogh, and Picasso. I read that people spend about 3 hours inside. 
  • La Boverie
• Collegiate Church Saint-Jacques
  • This church was founded in 1015! This gothic-style church is well-known for its stained-glass windows and the 16th-century organ. 
• Église Collégiale St-Barthélemy
  • We walked by this colorful church but didn’t get a chance to go inside. They close in the mid-afternoon between 12:30pm-1:30pm. It would have been cool to check out the Mosan art. 
  • Église Collégiale St-Barthélemy
• Le Grand Curtius Museum
  • The building was a historic mansion, now a museum in the heart of the city center. I’m mostly intrigued because the building is really beautiful. The museum displays a wide collection, including 
    • Weapons
    • Glass 
    • Religious & Mosan Art
    • Decorative Art 
    • Archeology 
• Liège-Guillemins
  • This very modern train station is definitely eye-catching. We never took the train to and from Brussels. Our visit came during the pandemic, so we drove to feel safer. Our neighbor traveled via train regularly before and after the pandemic. She mentioned the station is modern and interesting. 
• Musée d’Ansembourg
  • This magnificent 1755 mansion was closed for Covid during our visit, and it seems it’s still closed due to repair work. I would have loved to see the stucco ceilings and 17th-century architecture. The website says they are a small museum too. Check their website for reopening information. 
  • Musée d’Ansembourg
• Trinkhall Museum
  • A modern/contemporary art museum with collections created by artists with intellectual disabilities. The small museum is in a renovated building, which in itself is a work of art. There are also lots of positive reviews about the coffee shop on site. 

Where to Waffle

With lots to see and do in Liège, you will want to have a snack or two. In case you couldn’t tell, I took my birthday waffle very seriously. I listed my favorite two waffle spots in Liège. 

• Pollux
  • This tasty spot is off the Place de la Cathédrale. They serve freshly made waffles to order. Missing out on a Belgian waffle during a trip to Belgium would be quite disappointing. If you dislike waffles, Pollux also serves yummy sandwiches, ice creams, and frozen yogurt. 
  • They offer 3 types of waffles- chocolate, cinnamon, and vanilla. The foodie in me had to try all 3, and I enjoyed every bite. 
  • My helpful tip is to grab some sandwiches and waffles to eat across the street at Place de la Cathédrale. 

• Une Gaufrette Saperlipopette
  • Without a doubt, this is my favorite bakery in Liège! I tried the cinnamon and the vanilla gaufres de Liège. Both fulfilled my waffle dreams. 
  • The line is long but totally worth it. The line moves pretty quickly. While in the queue, look at the various other treats to buy. The cookies are so cute! 
  • Their customer service was inviting and warm, like their waffles. We purchased a selection of cookies to bring back with us, which was the best decision of the day. I enjoyed the cookies on my drive home and the next day with my morning coffee. 

What Else is There to Eat?

While planning my trip to Liège, I researched which local cuisine I should try. Of course, you have to get a gaufres de Liège. Besides the waffle, I also recommend getting boulettes a la liegeoise. These Liège meatballs are delicious! The meatballs come with gravy made with Belgian beer, apple syrup, and raisins. The savory sweet mix is tasty. The traditional dish is on menus throughout Belgium, but it is fun getting it in its city of origin.

Enjoy All the Things to Do in Liège!

Even though we were in the middle of a global pandemic, it was a very happy birthday for me! I thoroughly enjoyed my day trip to Liège and discovered there was a good deal of sights to see. The city was impressive, even in the winter! I would have loved to return for more visits, but life got too busy. As you can see, I have plenty on my wish list for my return.