Tourists May Want To Avoid Exploring This Beautiful, Bustling Belgian City After Dark

Millions of tourists visit Belgium yearly, many of whom throng to popular cities like Brussels and Bruges. However, people who prefer destinations with fewer crowds often go to a city like Liège instead. Considered one of the liveliest cities in Belgium, Liège is a laid-back and lesser known destination located in Wallonia, a French-speaking region along the Meuse River. And it's easy to reach for travelers flying into Brussels Airport — with just about an hour's journey by train.

Here, you'll find Gothic churches, and one of the country's most famous staircases — the Montagne de Bueren, which contains 374 steps that give you a panoramic view of the city. You may also drift through La Boverie museum as an art lover, or gain an unadulterated feel of the local culture through its festivals or markets such as Marché de la Batte (the largest and most famous market in Liège. Also, the Carré district brims with bars, clubs, and cafés, day and night.

Certainly, both daytime and nighttime bear a promise of excitement for tourists in Liège. But night activities may require caution security-wise. Moving around this city after dark can be quite dangerous, because there's been a growing rate of robberies, assaults, vandalism, and illegal drug activity in recent times, especially with the problem of unemployment bedeviling the city. In fact, the city's crime index currently stands at 60.20, while its safety index is just 39.80 (according to Numbeo). A more specific analysis pegs the safety level when walking alone during the day at 62.57, whereas the figure is only 28.03 for solo walking at night.

For context, the current crime rate of Liège is surprisingly much higher than that of Belgium as a whole, which has 49.62 and 50.38 crime and safety indexes respectively. Now, not just travelers, but even locals admit the crime situation in Liège is worsening. In an r/belgium thread bluntly titled "Liège is getting worse," one Redditor, Adelaiderevived, who noted that they were born in Liège, confirmed that "it's not a safe city and its really depressing sometimes."

In the same light, the creator of the thread — whose partner is Belgian — also noted: "We couldn't go down most of the streets because junkies were eying up our handbags. Basically was told by Belgians to absolutely avoid liege city center at night for safety."

Even visitors who go to Liège for business purposes are not left out of the conversation. In a Tripadvisor review with the heading "Be a Little More Careful in the Evening," one traveler (twodotlow) noted that they went to Liège on business, only for them to realize the unexpected: "Some of our colleagues have been mugged and some beaten after dark walking back to the hotel." All of these simply go to show why tourists need to be careful when visiting this less-touristy Belgian destination.

The security concerns surrounding Liège don't necessarily make it unworthy of visits. You can still savor its scintillating art, culture, and cuisine without compromising your peace of mind. The best way to feel safer when you travel to Liège? Simply consider the city as a place best enjoyed during the day, but best avoided during the night — and you'd be good to go.

If for any reason, you have to head out in the evening, make sure you're never alone, and be careful of long conversations with strangers. Also, avoid walking long distances when it's getting dark; instead, use taxis — and always keep valuable items away from plain sight. In case you choose to experience the Carré district's lively nightlife (though it's safer not to), do so with caution, and make sure to pick reputable bars. Generally, it's wise to avoid dim alleyways or backstreets. Needless to say, well-lit areas are your best bet. Since French is the language here, learning a bit of French can also be a security-conscious move.

Regarding accommodations, there's a wide range of options depending on what you want and your budget. But if you'd like to be closer to restaurants, attractions, and public transport, the best would be the ones around well-trafficked areas like Saint-Lambert or Guillemins Station (which is the main train hub connecting the city directly to places like Brussels, Cologne, and Paris). Some highly-rated hotels on TripAdvisor such as Hotel de la Couronne and Lafarques can be as low as $80 or as much as $300.