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Antwerp (Antwerpen/Anvers in Dutch/French) is Belgium’s second city, biggest port and capital of cool. It has long been a powerful magnet for everyone from fashion moguls and club queens to art lovers and diamond dealers. In the mid-16th century it was one of Europe’s most important cities and home to baroque superstar painter Pieter Paul Rubens – as many a museum will regularly remind you. Despite many historical travails thereafter, and severe WWII bombing, Antwerp retains an intriguing medieval heart with plenty of café-filled cobbled lanes, a riverside fortress and a truly impressive cathedral. Today, however, Antwerp’s top drawcards are its vibrant fashion and entertainment scene, along with its startling architectural and cultural contrasts.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Museum Plantin-Moretus

The medieval building and 1622 courtyard garden alone would be worth a visit, but it's the world's oldest printing press, priceless manuscripts and…

This delightfully indulgent 1611 mansion was built as a home and studio for celebrated painter Pieter Paul Rubens. It was rescued from ruins in 1937 and…

Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal

Belgium’s finest Gothic cathedral was 169 years in the making (1352–1521). Wherever you wander in Antwerp, its gracious, 123m-high spire has a habit of…

Museum Mayer van den Bergh

Styled as a 16th-century town house, this superb place was actually constructed in 1904 as one of the first museums in the world built around a single…

Snijder-Rockoxhuis

Combining the impressive 17th-century houses of artist Frans Snijders and of Antwerp lawyer, mayor and Rubens-patron Nicolaas Rockox, this recently…

Grote Markt

As is the case with every great Flemish city, Antwerp’s medieval heart is a classic Grote Markt (market square). Here the triangular, pedestrianised space…

In a monumental neoclassical building topped with winged charioteer statues, KMSKA holds a world-class collection of artistic masterpieces. However, the…

Opened in 2011, MAS is a 10-storey complex that redefines the idea of a museum-gallery. Floors are designed around big-idea themes using a barrage of…

Latest stories from Antwerp

Festivals & Events

Dec 13, 2019 • 1 min read

Winter in Antwerp is designed to capture the magic of the season. The addition of a fairytale forest this year hopes to enhance visitors' sense of wonder.

Jun 1, 2018 • 4 min read

Jun 1, 2018 • 5 min read

Aug 30, 2017 • 5 min read

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Ultimate Travel Guide to Antwerp

Antwerp is Belgium’s second largest city. It’s a major port and is the centre of life and culture in the Flanders region.

The city is well known for its contrasting mix of old and new, being one of the most historic destinations in Belgium, and also being one of the most modern metropolises in the country.

16th-century buildings stand in the shadow of skyscrapers, creating an eclectic fusion that represents much of the character of Flanders today.

With great transport links, Antwerp makes for an excellent hub to explore northern Belgium and to even branch off into neighbouring Holland, and there are plenty of exciting day trips to be made from the city.

This ultimate travel guide to Antwerp will show you all the most beautiful places in Antwerp, what to expect when visiting, where to stay in Antwerp and things to do in Antwerp which will help you in planning a trip to Antwerp.

It’s a great city to visit, and to inspire your visit to Flanders, here’s our ultimate guide to Antwerp.

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Table of Contents

How to get to Antwerp  

Antwerp is found in northern Belgium, on the border with the Netherlands. The city is located on the River Scheldt, which flows into the North Sea and which gave rise to the importance of Antwerp’s harbour over the centuries.

It’s one of the largest ports in Europe, but these days, you’re more likely to be arriving overland, or by air, rather than on the water.

Antwerp’s small airport is located on the outskirts of the city, but only offers flights to a few European destinations, such as London, due to the fact that Brussels Airport is just 45 minutes away to the south.

There are regular buses to the centre of Antwerp, and regular trains direct from Brussels Airport to Antwerp Central Station.

In fact, Antwerp Central Station is used enough by travellers flying into other airports that it has an airport code, allowing you to book tickets on the rail line as part of your flight ticket, and allowing for seamless transfers.

There are direct trains from Amsterdam Schipol Airport, which is one and a half hours away, and even further afield to Paris.

There are great rail connections, and bus connections too, across the rest of Belgium and to most of Western Europe as well.

What to expect in Antwerp

As the largest city in Flanders, Antwerp is the centre of the Flemish community in Belgium. For travellers, that means that the primary language spoken by residents is the Flemish dialect of Dutch.

Belgium is a multilingual country though and you’ll find that many locals also speak French and that these days, the majority of the population also speak English to a high level.

As part of the European Union, Belgium adopted the Euro as their currency, and you’ll find that there are plenty of money changers and ATMs around Antwerp where you can get hold of cash. You’ll also find that credit and debit cards are accepted everywhere.

How to get around Antwerp

Antwerp is a large city, with a population reaching to well over 500,000, and there are countless different districts and suburbs within the metropolitan area.

Many of the best attractions are found within the historic city centre, between the river and Antwerp central station, but many are also found further south, in Antwerp Zuid.

It’s very safe to walk through Antwerp, however, for longer journeys, you may want to make use of the local public transport.

There are buses and trams which run set routes across the city, and which offer great fares. If you are using lots of public transport, you can purchase multiple tickets to use at your leisure.

If you are also visiting lots of different tourist attractions though, then you may want to consider purchasing an Antwerp City Card.

For a one-off cost, the card includes entrance to many museums and attractions, as well as giving you unlimited access to public transport. The cards can be valid for a period of 24, 48 or 72 hours, depending on the length of your stay.

The best time to visit Antwerp

Antwerp is very much a city break destination, and for that reason, you can really visit any time of the year.

The busiest times of the year are generally the summer season, between June, July and August, or the winter season, over the Christmas holidays.

Summer brings great weather to Antwerp, with long days and lots of sunshine, and the city comes alive, with parks overflowing with people and bars and restaurants spilling out onto the streets.

Winter, but in particular, the festive period, sees the Christmas markets opening up for business and people travel to Antwerp specifically to shop, eat and drink over the holidays.

It’s a wonderful time of the year to be in the city, but just remember to wrap up warm.

The shoulder seasons – spring and autumn – can be quieter times to explore the city, and you’ll find there are fewer tourists around.

The weather can be unpredictable, however, and at times dreary, but considering many of Antwerp’s best attractions are found inside, this may not be too much of an issue.

Things to do in Antwerp 

Grote markt.

Any Antwerp travel guide will tell you to start your tour through the city at the Grote Markt, or the market square. This is the centre of the historic Old Town, and it’s a marvellous place to get acquainted with Antwerp.

At the Grote Markt, you can find many of the most iconic buildings in the city, including the grand city hall which dates back to the 16th century.

Some of the coolest restaurants in Antwerp are found around the square, as are some of the best cafes and bars too.

Peter Paul Rubens’ House

Peter Paul Rubens is one of the most influential Flemish artists to have ever lived. He was prominent during the 16th century and operated from a studio in the city of Antwerp.

The house where he lived is now a museum, combining both history and art to give visitors an insight into local culture.

Mode Museum

The MoMu, or Mode Museum, is an intriguing museum that focuses on the fashion scene in Antwerp.

The city has a huge legacy when it comes to contemporary fashion, with many famous local designers such as Dries van Noten propelling Belgian fashion onto the international scene in the past few decades. You can learn all about it at the Mode Museum.

Red Star Line Museum  

Antwerp has one of the largest ports on the continent, and during the era of transatlantic passenger ships, the city was a major embarkation point for European emigrants heading to the United States.

One of the most iconic passenger liners in operation from the port was the Red Star Line, which transported several million people across the Atlantic in search of new lives in the USA. 

The Red Star Line Museum is a moving tribute to the ships and the people that travelled from Antwerp, across the Atlantic, from the 1870s until the early 1930s. It’s an insight into emigration, and why so many people left Europe for the Americas.

Cathedral of our Lady

The Cathedral of our Lady is the most iconic church in Antwerp and is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list as part of the extensive Belfries of Belgium and France submission, which protects 56 churches across the two countries.

Construction of the medieval church began far back in the 14th century, although there had been a place of worship in the same location for hundreds of years prior to this too.

The interior is beautiful to see, and the spires stretch to over one hundred metres in height, ensuring that the cathedral has long been a permanent fixture on the Antwerp skyline.

The MAS Museum, or Museum aan de Strom, is one of the newest, and largest museums in the city.

The distinctive building is found looking over the water, and its aim is to promote the history and culture of the city of Antwerp. The museum focuses on the harbour and the connection of the people to the oceans.

Plantin-Moretus Museum

The Plantin-Moretus Museum takes visitors on a journey through the world of print and through the historic printing presses pioneered in Antwerp by locals Plantin and Moretus in the 16th century.

This UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the most intriguing museums in the city, and you’ll leave with a newfound appreciation for the power of the printed word.

What to eat in Antwerp

Any Antwerp food guide will advise you to try the local Flemish dishes when you are in the city, and you should begin your culinary journey by enjoying a hearty Flemish stew, complete with slow-cooked meat and vegetables.

Many of the best restaurants in Antwerp Old Town will serve up great traditional dishes, and as well as the stew you should indulge in a plate of mussels, garnished with the ubiquitous Belgian fries and mayo, and finished off with a bowl of Flemish mousse for dessert.

Where to stay in Antwerp

Antwerp, as a modern city and popular tourist destination, has a wide range of accommodation for travellers.

Many of the most upmarket establishments are found in the Old Town, and there are some lovely boutique hotel options on offer amongst the historic streets.

One of the best boutique options is the Hotel de Witte Lelie , which dates back to the 17th century.

The centre tends to be pricier, however, and if you are looking for budget hotels or for hostels or Airbnb, then the area outside of the Old Town, towards the central station, has some great value accommodation.

Tours to do in  Antwerp

Hop on hop off tour bus.

Buying a ticket for the Antwerp Hop On Hop Off Tour Bus can be a great way to see the city, particularly if you are pressed for time, and are only on a short getaway.

The tour bus has designated stops at the most popular and important tourist attractions in Antwerp, allowing you to easily travel between all the highlights without getting lost, and while being provided with intriguing information about the city and its history.

There are few things more European than cycling through the city, and Antwerp is perfectly composed for a bike tour. This is a great way to experience the city, while at the same time enjoying the crisp Flanders air and getting a bit of exercise.

You’ll be cycling through the streets of Antwerp, led by a local guide , and stopping off at points of interest both well known and off the beaten track.

Belgium is well known for its excellent beers, and if you are into your brews then why not join a beer tour when you are visiting Antwerp? Learn about the city’s long history as you walk from one location to the next, sampling some of Antwerp’s best beer at each stop.

Beer walks in Antwerp are part drinking and part storytelling, and you’ll learn from the local guides about the city’s relationship with beer, the future for beer and the history of beer. It’s a unique way to see the city and enjoy a few beverages at the same time.

Day trips from Antwerp

Belgium is a small country, and you’re never too far away from other major cities when you stay in Antwerp. The capital, Brussels , is less than one hour away on the train and makes for a great day trip.

Visit the royal palaces, explore the European Parliament, wander through marvellous art galleries and enjoy some great tasting beer and food.

The historic, medieval streets of Ghent are also just an hour away by train from Antwerp and offer you the chance to explore one of the most historic cities in Belgium.

Quite simply, Ghent is stunning. This is historic European architecture at its best, in a supreme riverside location. There are castles, cathedrals, spires and towers, and the city really is straight out of a fairy tale.

Mechelen is a small city that sees few tourists in comparison to Belgium’s other major tourist destinations, but this under visited location boasts one of the finest cathedrals in the country.

Just a twenty-minute train ride from Antwerp, and you can spend the day exploring historic sights and, like everywhere in Belgium, trying the local beers!

Recommend tours in Antwerp

• 3-Hour Private Highlights with Non-Classic Stories Tour in Antwerp
• 3-Hour Antwerp Bike Tour
• Private Beer Tasting Tour with a Local in Antwerp
• 1 Hour Antwerp Citytour Hop On Hop Off
• Walking Tour: Historic Antwerp
• Legends of Antwerp – Private Tour
• 3-Hour Private Tour with Highlights in Antwerp
• 2 Hour Segway City Tours Antwerp Belgium

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Sam, a seasoned traveler across four continents and 49 countries, is a leading authority in travel planning. Her website, Travelling King, offers tailored itineraries and expert guides for seamless trips. Sam's expertise in luxury travel, fast travel, and destination guides keeps her at the forefront of the travel community.

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• 1 Understand
• 2.1 By plane
• 2.2 By train
• 2.5 By bicycle
• 3.1 By public transportation
• 3.2 By taxi
• 3.4 By bicycle
• 3.5 By kick scooter
• 3.6 On foot
• 3.7 By horse tram
• 4.1.1 Museums and galleries
• 4.1.2 Churches
• 4.1.3 Animal interest
• 4.1.4 Other buildings of note
• 4.2 South of Antwerp
• 5.1 Tours and cruises
• 8.2 Mid-range
• 8.3 Splurge
• 10.1.1 Hotels
• 10.1.2 Other accommodation options
• 10.2.1 Chain hotels
• 10.2.2 Independent and boutique hotels
• 10.3 Splurge
• 12 Stay safe
• 13.1 Belgium
• 13.2 Netherlands
• 13.3 France

Antwerp [dead link] ( Dutch : Antwerpen , French : Anvers ) is the capital of the eponymous province in the region of Flanders in Belgium . At a population of just over half a million people (2018), it is the second largest city in Belgium (after Brussels ), and it has a major European port. Due to its long and culturally rich history, the city of Antwerp houses many interesting historical buildings from different historical periods, and many interesting museums. Antwerp is also known as the global diamond trade hub - more than 70% of all diamonds are traded in Antwerp.

Antwerp has grown to become a trendy city, attracting many Flemish and foreign artists, writers, intellectuals, and actors. This is reflected in the city's many trendy bars and shops. Antwerp is a city with many faces. While it may not be as historically preserved as Bruges or Ghent , it is a very dynamic city, offering a perfect mix of history and present-day modern life. The friendliness of the people of Antwerp and their innate penchant for good food and good living, combined with their low stress lifestyle, makes it a desirable and relaxing place to visit.

Understand [ edit ]

The origins of the name of Antwerp comes from aan de werpe , which is Dutch for "at the throw", referring to where the river throws its sand. The name also has a funny anecdote saying it comes from Hand werpen , which translated is "throwing hands". In the city flag, the castle "het Steen" and the hand of Antwerp are shown.

In the 16th century, Antwerp was one of the most important financial centres of the world, where traders from all over Europe and Asia sold and bought their goods. After the siege of Antwerp in 1585 by the Spanish, this role as a financial centre was taken over by Amsterdam. Nevertheless, since the 19th century and especially the 20th century, Antwerp has made a serious economic comeback.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ].

• Hourly direct trains link Antwerpen Centraal station with this airport in 25 minutes (45 minutes on weekends and public holidays). Single adult tickets are €11.30.
• There is also a direct bus between Brussels Airport and Antwerp which costs €10 and has two stops in Antwerp at Hotel Crowne Plaza and in the city centre, at Franklin Rooseveltplaats at platform B5. A schedule can be found here
• There is a regular intercity train Amsterdam - Brussels that connects Schiphol Airport directly with Antwerpen Centraal station in approximately 1 hr 50 min. You can buy tickets with credit card at the automatic ticket booths in the Schiphol arrival hall. Payment with cash is also possible at the counter. Or you can book through Belgian Railways (SNCB/NMBS) [dead link] or NS International . A single ticket costs about €25.
• A second option is the bright red high-speed Eurostar train Amsterdam - Paris, which stops at Schiphol and Antwerpen Centraal station, in about half the time it takes the regular train, but at double the price. Contrary to regular trains, reservations on Eurostar are required. Best reserve your seat a week or so beforehand, since buying a ticket on the spot will turn out to be even more expensive. The Eurostar journey from Schiphol to Antwerpen Centraal can also be booked as a part of a SkyTeam flight (IATA code for Antwerpen Centraal is ZWE  IATA ), usually costing less than when booking the flight and the Eurostar ride separately.
• KLM also maintains a direct shuttle bus connection between Antwerpen Centraal and Schiphol Airport, which can be booked as a KLM flight segment under the code KL320/KL321. The bus takes 2½ hr to get between Antwerp and Schiphol, but there is usually no difference in price between flight tickets using the bus and the Eurostar, so book carefully.

By train [ edit ]

Belgium has an extensive rail network, and for intercity travel within Belgium, trains are always the best option. Tickets can be bought on the website of the Belgian railways and at the ticket counters in most stations. There are good train connections to and from Brussels Airport and Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. To plan your trip, you can consult the website of NMBS (SNCB) [dead link] for national and international travels. If you cross multiple borders, it is often possible to book your entire trip at once through Deutsche Bahn .

Antwerp-Central is a major stop on the Paris-Amsterdam high-speed line. International trains from France and the Netherlands stop in Antwerp-Central station only, and not in Antwerp-Berchem anymore. The same train services that call at Schiphol Airport also call at Amsterdam Centraal and Rotterdam Centraal. Tickets for train journeys originating from the Netherlands are bookable through Belgian Railways (NMBS/SNCB) [dead link] , Eurostar , or NS International but remember that some tickets (especially Eurostar tickets) are valid only on specific trains. Passengers coming from the UK via Eurostar can transfer at Brussel-Zuid to any regular NMBS-operated train bound for Antwerp provided that at the time of booking, Antwerp was selected as the final destination. Through Brussel-Zuid railway station, there are also high-speed connections to other destinations in France with TGV, or destinations in Germany with ICE. If you have a mobile device, the SNCB (Belgian Railways) App (in English) is useful and also shows you how to get to the station.

By bus [ edit ]

Several bus operators offer long-distance connections to Antwerp:

By car [ edit ]

The overall city centre of Antwerp is a low-emission zone and foreign vehicles require registration which should generally be made before entering and can exceptionally be made up to one day after the first move into the city. You will need your registration details and potentially car documents; depending on the age of the car you will need exception permits which are €35 per day (valid until 06:00 next morning). For more information see the information by the relevant authorities here [dead link] . Driving into the (video surveilled) LEZ without registration is subject to fine ranging from €150 to €350.

Many streets in the centre are narrow and driving there is slow and rather uncomfortable anyway. The Ring road around Antwerp is often congested. Works at the Oosterweellink are in progress since 2021, some exits are closed till 2030.

By bicycle [ edit ]

• From Brussels : exit Brussels towards the north via the Havenlaan and the Willebroek Canal bike route, up to the tall iron Buda Bridge. Cross the canal and continue on the other side through the town of Vilvoorde, until you reach the river Zenne. The F1 cycle superhighway (Fietssnelweg) continues towards Mechelen along the Zenne. Past Mechelen, the F1 runs along the Antwerp-Brussels railway and terminates at Antwerp-Central Station. Total distance from Brussels to Antwerp is around 50 km.
• From Ghent : the F4 cycle superhighway (55 km) starts at Gent-Dampoort railway station. The first part runs on ordinary roads, but once in the countryside outside of Ghent, it runs on a dedicated bike lane along the Antwerp-Ghent railway. It passes through Lokeren and Sint-Niklaas , the capital of the Waasland (the region between Antwerp and Ghent). For the time being, the F4 terminates at Zwijndrecht railway station, 4 km short of Antwerp. From there, follow the street and path towards the Blancefloerlaan, which has good bike lanes and leads straight to the St.-Anna Pedestrian Tunnel on the Antwerp Left Bank - with its quaint historic wooden escalators - through which you can cycle underneath the river Schelde into central Antwerp.
• From the seaside : the nearest town on the Belgian coast is Knokke-Heist (100 km), although some towns on the Dutch coast (Cadzand at 90 km and Breskens at 75 km) are even closer to Antwerp. Anyway, the shortest, most scenic and most comfortable bike route to Antwerp passes partly through the Netherlands (Zeelandic Flanders). From Knokke, a fabulous bicycle path runs around the Zwin nature reserve at the NL border, continuing along the Dutch seaside via Cadzand towards Breskens. The bike path runs right on top of the dunes, with great views over the beach and sea on your one side and the polders on your other. Past Breskens, the bike lane leaves the North Sea and continues along the Westerschelde, which is over 5 km wide at this point. Once you reach the industries around the port of Terneuzen, following the river becomes impossible, so you have to turn inland and continue to and through Terneuzen. From Terneuzen, follow ordinary roads with good Dutch bike lanes to Hulst. From Hulst, take the former railway bike path (F411 cycle superhighway) to Sint-Niklaas . From Sint-Niklaas, follow the F4 to Antwerp as described above.
• From NL/Holland : from wherever you are in Holland (e.g. Amsterdam, Rotterdam), first make your way south to the border town of Roosendaal. Continue for another 10 km south to the Belgian border town of Essen. From there, the F14 cycle superhighway gets you to Antwerp in no time, running along the old Antwerp-Amsterdam railway. It terminates at Luchtbal, from where you can complete the last few kilometres into central Antwerp on ordinary roads. From more eastern parts of the Netherlands, it will be shorter to travel via Tilburg (NL), starting point of the 'Bels Lijntje' - a 30-km disused railway bike trail through the curious Belgian exclave Baarle-Hertog - to Turnhout (B), from where you can follow the F15 cycle superhighway along the canal to Antwerp.
• From Germany : the nearest German city is Aachen (143 km), right next to the border tripoint of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. From Aachen, cross into the Netherlands at Vaals and continue to Maastricht. Cross Maastricht towards the west and cross into Belgium at Lanaken, where you reach the Albert Canal. From this point, a cycle superhighway runs along the Albert Canal all the way to Antwerp, through the Belgian Limburg and the Kempen (the region east of Antwerp). It is numbered as the F72 until Hasselt, then as the F5 Hasselt-Antwerpen.
• From Luxemburg : follow the award-winning Vennbahn bike path, one of the longest bicycle trails on disused railway tracks in Europe (125 km). Starting in northern Luxemburg, it leads through East Belgium, the German-speaking and highest part of the country (it actually snows there in winter). After a long descent through forested hills, the Vennbahn terminates in Aachen, Germany. From there, continue to Antwerp as described above.
• From Wallonia : from Charleroi, follow the Ravel bike lane along the Brussels-Charleroi Canal to and through Brussels until you reach the F1 to Antwerp. From Liège, follow the Ravel bike lane along the river Meuse and Albert Canal, until you reach the F72 and F5 to Antwerp.
• From France : France is not so bicycle-friendly; (intercity) bike lanes are almost non-existent. If you really must travel from France by bicycle, the nearest major French city is Lille. From there, make your way to Kortrijk in Belgium, from where the F7 cycle superhighway (still partly under construction) gets you to Ghent. From there, follow the F4 as described above to reach Antwerp.
• From the United Kingdom : take your bike on the ferry from Dover to Dunkerque (France, 20 km from the Belgian border, from the ferry port is actually over 30 km) and follow the coastal road from there until you reach De Panne (Belgium). Continue along the Belgian coast until Knokke and continue to Antwerp as described above, or (shorter) cut through via Diksmuide towards Deinze, then F7 to Ghent followed by F4 to Antwerp.

Get around [ edit ]

By public transportation [ edit ]

The public transportation company De Lijn has a dense network of buses, trams, and pre-metro (underground tram) connections in the city and wide area around it. Tickets can be purchased through the mobile app . You can also buy cards of €17 (10 fares) or alternatively 1 or 3 day tickets at fixed points in town; inside transportation payment of tickets is only possible via contactless payment (cards or via smartphone); buying tickets in cash is not possible anymore. For one fare, you can ride up to an hour.

The tram system operates with low-floor articulated units (refer to the above photo), mostly in tunnels under the centre, & older high-floor tramcars, mostly on ground-level routes.

The central bus station is the Franklin Roosevelt plaats , near the central train station. Most buses leave from there or from the train station. Maps of the bus/tram network in the entire region can be found in PDF format here [dead link] .

By taxi [ edit ]

Taxis are available, but they can be quite expensive. They await customers at specific locations around town (waving your hand will seldom work) like the Groenplaats or the railway station. You can recognize these places by an orange TAXI sign. The prices are fixed in the taximeter.

Mabo Taxi Antwerpen provides taxi rides in Antwerp for those who wish to avoid public transportation.

Driving in Antwerp is not as difficult as many big cities in the world, but crossroads can seem very chaotic for foreigners. There are few free parking spaces, but many spaces where you have to pay (on the street or in underground car parks). The underground car parks are well-signposted. The prices are typically €2 to €4.80 per hour, depending on the area. As of August 2023, parking on the streets is only allowed for residents and permit holders; visitors have to park in a car park downtown, or at one of the 9 park-and-rides (€1) at the border of the city, with connections on public transport to the centre.

There are many one-way roads, that can make it difficult to get to a specific place. Try to park your car as close as possible and go on foot.

Antwerp has introduced a Low Emission Zone, which applies to domestic and foreign registered cars. The latter have to jump through hoops to demonstrate their emission status. The zone seems to be inside but excluding the ring-road, but the official map is dreadful, so beware.

The city has many special paths for cyclists. Most one-way roads can be accessed both ways. Make sure to lock your bike to a fixed object, however, or it will be stolen! Around town there are a few places that are specially prepared for hosting bicycles for free, like at the Groenplaats .

Antwerp's bike-sharing scheme is called Velo . You can get a day pass for these bikes in the Central Station and pick up your bike at more than 80 places in Antwerp. The first 15 minutes are free, then the price gradually increases. Bicycles can also be rented at several places in town like Ligfiets, Windroos, Fietsdokter (verschransingsstraat), or Fietshaven (government initiative, under the central station).

By kick scooter [ edit ]

Shared electric kick scooters [dead link] that can be used in combination with an app, are available from 3 operators: Bird, Lime and Poppy. Minimum age is 16, some areas are no go, no park or low speed zones (8 km/h). Follow the same traffic rules as cyclists and drop the scooter after use in a drop-off zone or at a convenient spot.

On foot [ edit ]

Most things to see are near or within the Boulevards , the half-moon of avenues where there were once 16th-century city walls. This old town centre, with a diameter of about 1.5 km, can be walked, and there is also excellent public transport. The centre is densely signposted to aid those discovering it on foot [1] [dead link] .

By horse tram [ edit ]

A "Horse tram" (i.e. a horse and carriage) leaves from the Grote Markt every hour. It is an approximately 40-minute/2.5-km ride through the city.

See [ edit ]

• Antwerp City Pass . With the Antwerp City Card you can visit all museums and three monumental churches over a 48-hour period. It also features a 25% discount on attractions, sightseeing and bicycle rentals. In the free guide you find vouchers that you can use to enjoy benefits on typical Antwerp and Belgian products including chocolate and chips. €45/€55/€65 . ( updated May 2023 )

Centre [ edit ]

• 51.2078 4.397 4 Bouwmeester synagogue , Bouwmeestersstraat 7 ( close to the "Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp" ). ( updated Oct 2021 )
• 51.2094 4.4239 5 Romi Goldmuntz Synagogue ( Van Den Nest synagogue ), Oostenstraat 2 ( corner Van Den Nestlei ), ☏ +32 3 232 01 87 . The main synagogue of Antwerp. ( updated Oct 2021 )
• Red light district . Like cities such as Amsterdam and Hamburg, Antwerp has a red light district. If you want to visit, consider going during the day. When Villa Tinto set up, Antwerp's little red light district became Europe's most high tech brothel. If you intend to be a patron of the district, be wary of women who beckon you to their kamers and invite you in without discussing a price. In many cases, these women will charge a greatly inflated rate once they have you inside their kamer. Even if you have no intention of partaking in the festivities, it is worthwhile just to see the spectacle that the district is. 200 women all in their own window dressed for action. Be wary of beggars in the Red Light District: while few of them are particularly hostile, they can be bothersome and should be ignored. There is very little illegal activity as there is a constant police presence, which you can expect to see.  

Museums and galleries [ edit ]

• 51.24059 4.43954 9 Mineralogical Museum ( Museum van de Academie voor Mineralogie, ACAM ), Frans de l’Arbrelaan 12 ( take tram 6 direction Luchtbal and get off at Gasthuishoeve ), ☏ +32 3 658 62 83 , [email protected] . Sa 13:30-17:30 . Museum for mineralogy, paleontology and gemology. Largest collection of fluorescent minerals in Europe. Permanent collections of systematic minerals and fossils. Guided tours are free and highly recommended. Only open on Saturday afternoon. €4, free for children, students and teachers .  

Churches [ edit ]

• 51.22397 4.40128 15 Saint Paul's Church ( Sint-Pauluskerk ). A beautiful mixed gothic and baroque church formerly part of a nunnery. Noted for its Calvary monument. It is a short distance north of the Grote Maarkt on Zwartzustersstraat.  

Animal interest [ edit ]

Other buildings of note [ edit ].

• 51.21882 4.40394 19 Boerentoren ( Farmers' Tower ). Now called KBC Tower after the company that owns it, this 97-m skyscraper in the historical centre of town is said to be the oldest one on the European continent. It was built between 1929 and 1932. It is at the end of the Meir shopping street. The tower is renowned for its typical art-deco sculptures. It is not a skyscraper on the same scale as some that were erected in North America; for example the Empire State Building in New York, built at the same time, is 381 m.  
• Central Station is worth a look even if you're not travelling by train. In 2014, the British-American magazine Mashable has chosen Antwerpen-Centraal to be the most beautiful railway station in the world.

South of Antwerp [ edit ]

Since the restoration a couple of years ago, the south of the city is known as the trendy part.

The centre of this piece of the city is a huge square called de gedempte zuiderdokken which simply means, 'the filled-up southern docks'. In the 1960s, this was an abandoned trade dock. They filled up the dock in an attempt to expand the city. The high crime rate in the region made it a very cheap place to live. This was a blessing for the local art world, which started to flourish, making the region trendy and safe over the years. Today, it is known as a "yuppie stronghold".

• Het Muntplein . A place where graffiti artists can make artwork without being chased by police. There are often very nice creations. Graffiti contests occur on a regular basis.  
• 51.20398 4.38743 27 Palace of Justice ( Justitiepaleis ). There are actually two of these. The old one is a 19th-century red brick building on the Britselei. The new one is a dominant, modern, white building in the south of Antwerp (Bolivarplaats). You can hardly miss it once you're there. The architect of this building was Richard Rogers, who also built the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Millennium Dome in London.  

Do [ edit ]

• Pelgrom , ☏ +32 3 234 0809 . This building combines both an impressive bar in the basement, plus the 'poortershuis', which is a replica of the house of businessmen in Antwerp during the 17th century.  
• Antwerp by Bike — Discover Antwerp with a bike. The inner city is perhaps too crowded, but the green outskirts are really worth visiting. For bike rental, see [2] [dead link] and " Vélo ". "Antwerp by Bike" [3] has a charming tour with all the highlights of Antwerp, like the cathedral, the Butterfly Palace and the MAS museum (from July till September). For other tours, see [4]
• Baja Bikes ( Bike Tours Antwerp ). Antwerp is a perfect city to explore by bike. An English or Dutch guide will show you around and tell you all about the city. Besides that the guide knows where to go in Antwerp and can recommend you nice bars and restaurants. It is possible to do a highlights tour or book a private tour so that you will have your own guide. ( updated Dec 2015 )
• Football: Royal Antwerp play soccer in Pro League, Belgium's top tier. Their home ground Bosuilstadion (capacity 16,100) is 5 km east of city centre.

Tours and cruises [ edit ]

• Port of Antwerp . Take a boat tour of the second largest port in Europe and 5th largest in the world. There are various companies offering tours of differing price and length. ( updated Jan 2018 )
• Ghostly Nighttime Tour, ( Antwerp Ghostwalk ). Take the ghost tour and learn about the dark history of Antwerp. €15 . ( updated Dec 2022 )
• Jan Plezier Boottochten . Themed cruises including the pancake cruise (pancake boat), the spare ribs cruise and the shrimp cruise.  

Events [ edit ]

• Zomer van Antwerpen : 15 mid-June – early September. A great festival that takes places throughout the city for the whole summer. Cheap or free activities such as dancing, theater, performances, circus and outdoor movies are organised. Reservations are often a must, especially for free activities.  (date needs fixing)

Buy [ edit ]

• The main shopping area is the Meir , a street that stretches out from the Keyserlei (close to the central station) to the Groenplaats. It is one of the most famous shopping streets in Belgium. Don't forget to visit the mall Stadsfeestzaal (between Meir and Hopland ), which was beautifully restored and reopened in 2007 after it was partially destroyed by a fire ten years earlier. You will see a lot of gold on the ceiling, and all sorts of stores. The streets Hopland and Schuttershofstraat are the shopping terrain of the rich and famous with exclusive fashion shops like Cartier, Hermes, Scapa, and Armani. The Huidevettersstraat , Nationalestraat , and Kammenstraat (all close to the Meir) are also very interesting shopping streets to visit.

• Purchasing a diamond at one of the many tourist jewelry shops around the Central station can be an unpleasant experience. Like any big diamond city in the world, there are many tourist trap diamond shops around the actual diamond district centre, though it is fair to say that if you are prepared to bargain you can purchase jewellery here for significantly less than in countries such as the UK. Wealthy diamond buyers should do their investigative shopping online prior to visiting Antwerp. For tips on buying diamond rings, see Diamond rings in Antwerp . If you're less wealthy and someone asks you to bring back some diamonds from Antwerp, buy diamond-shaped chocolate pralines at e.g. Burie ( Korte Gasthuisstraat 3 ), Château Blanc [5] ( Torfbrug 1 ) or Del Rey ( Appelmansstraat 5 ).
• Trendy shopping can be done in the Kammenstraat and surroundings. In this area, you will also find the Fashion Museum [6] and many shops of famous Antwerp fashion designers, such as Walter van Beirendonck and Dries van Noten.
• The Kloosterstraat has many antique shops, with often bizarre items for sale.
• Chinatown can be found about 300 m north of the Central Station (see also Eat ). A lot of Japanese, Korean, and Chinese products can be found here.
• Weekend Markets take place on the Theaterplein Square (follow Wapper or Meistraat south from the Meir) in front of the Stadsschouwburg theatre. The markets are very popular with stalls offering everything from food (fruit and veg, meat, fish, nuts, cheese ethnic specialities) to household goods to bicycles to antiques to clothes. Sunday tends to see a lot more stalls compared to Saturday. Take a break from browsing at the stall at the centre of the square, where you can buy a cheese roll with a glass of chilled cava to wash it down, most convivial!
• At Ploegstraat 25 you can find a "give-away shop", where you can bring and take stuff as you please without any monetary interaction. Open M-F 14:00-18:00.

Learn [ edit ]

Antwerp has several colleges and a university.

• University of Antwerp .
• Artesis [dead link] (formerly Hogeschool Antwerpen).
• KU Leuven campus Carolus and Sint-Andries [dead link] (formerly Lessius Hogeschool).
• Karel de Grote Hogeschool .
• Antwerp Maritime Academy.

Due to very strict language requirements imposed by the Flemish government, all Bachelor courses are offered in Dutch only (except for the Maritime Academy which enjoys a special international status). However, the University of Antwerp offers 9 fully English-taught Master programmes, 7 advanced Master programmes, and 7 postgraduate degrees, in topics ranging from Linguistics and Computer Science to Marine Transport [7] [dead link] .

Antwerp hosts over 30,000 students, and therefore boasts a vibrant student life that also has many traditional aspects. Well-connected in the centre of Europe, offering a varied city day- and nightlife, and having a very reasonable cost of living compared to the surrounding capitals, it's a popular destination for Erasmus students. Current and prospective Erasmus students should get in touch with ESN Antwerp [8] , part of the global Erasmus Student Network and very active in organizing activities to help international students find their way around.

Eat [ edit ]

Antwerpse handjes are little biscuits or chocolates in the shape of a hand. Invented by a Jewish baker in 1932.

As with most Flemish towns, you can find many frietkoten in the city. These are places of which the Belgians are really proud of. Here you can buy the famous Belgian fries and other fried food for a reasonable price.

For lunch people often go eat a "smos", a sandwich with several layers of garniture in it. The name refers to the mess you make when trying to eat it. You can find them in several stores like Panos or Foodmaker.

De Keyserlei ( the street that runs west from Central Station ) is a street with a varied choice of restaurants. The side streets on the north side of De Keyserlei offer even more options, with Lebanese, South-African, Mexican, Italian and Vietnamese (to name but a few) restaurants all rubbing shoulders with each other. With so many restaurants in a small area the prices tend to be pretty competitive.

Chinatown takes up a couple of streets on the north side of Koningin-Astrid-plein (the large square to the north of Central Station). Look for the 2 lions guarding the entrance to Van Wesenbekestraat . Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai and Nepalese restaurants are here as well as lots of Chinese options.

Budget [ edit ]

Broodje/Boterkoken (sandwiches) are local and inexpensive.

• 51.21518 4.41759 1 Aahaar ( Vegetarian Indian Cuisine ), Lange Herentalsestraat 23 ( Minutes from Antwerp's main train station Central Station ), ☏ +32 3 226 00 52 . M-F 12:00-15:00 and 17:30-21:30, Sa Su 13:00-21:30 . Serves only vegetarian Indian cuisine, including a buffet with a daily changing menu. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.22034 4.399773 2 D’Oude Stad , Oude Koornmarkt 13 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.220478 4.398945 3 Kumpir Eethuis , Hoogstraat 10 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.219864 4.396762 4 The Yellow Window Coffee House , Vlasmarkt 8 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.221674 4.409209 5 Komida - City Campus UAntwerp , Koningstraat 8 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.210333 4.409588 6 Brasserie lambik , Lange Leemstraat 16 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.21994 4.398363 7 Falafel Tof , Hoogstraat 32 . ( updated Feb 2023 )

Mid-range [ edit ]

Try one of the Indian restaurants on Lange Herentalsestraat.

• 51.220114 4.400094 8 Rooden Hoed , Oude Koornmarkt 25 ( Corner of Oude Koornmarkt and Tempelstraat ), ☏ +32 3 289 09 09 . The oldest restaurant in Antwerp, specializing in seafood, especially mussels. Very popular with locals, but few tourists, so you know it's good. Mains starting at €20 (June 2017) ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.21617 4.40832 9 Bourla , Graanmarkt 7 , ☏ +32 3 232 16 32 . A "Havanna style" restaurant in an old theatre. They serve a mix of Belgian and French style food. Not cheap, but excellent value for money ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.21278 4.42002 10 Hoffys ( Kosher Yiddish cuisine ), Lange Kievitstraat 52, , ☏ +3 234 35 35 , [email protected] . 10:00-22:00 . Traditional Yiddish cuisine, focusing on kosher Yiddish dishes based on simple ingredients. €30-40 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.216528 4.413413 11 Tropicos ( at Tabakvest and Hopland ), Van Cuyckstraat 2 , ☏ +32 3 231 9964 . Known for its lively South American atmosphere, caipirinha cocktails, and tasteful Brazilian Mexican kitchen. €30-40 . ( updated Jan 2023 )

Splurge [ edit ]

• 51.19567 4.399346 12 Sombat , Desguinlei 196 , ☏ +32 3 226 21 90 . Thai haute cuisine €70-80 . ( updated Feb 2023 )

Drink [ edit ]

Wherever you are in Antwerp, you will always be near a pub or another drinking facility. Not surprising in the city that has the most pubs per capita in the world. The pubs do not have a closing hour.

Drinks originating here are De Koninck (commonly called "Bolleke") beer, and Elixir d'Anvers – a liquor based on plants.

• Den Engel — Most famous traditional cafe in Antwerp. Situated at Grote Markt .
• De Vagant — A famous Belgian cafe serving about 300 kinds of Jenever.
• De Muze — A jazz café in Melkmarkt. Relaxed atmosphere and live (jazz) music played on a regular basis. Beyond typical Belgian beers, coffee lovers can enjoy a true Italian Espresso or, if willing to drink something bigger, a "Koffie Verkeerd".
• Caffénation — Most friendly bar in Antwerp. They have very nice specialized coffee creations and a cozy outdoor with lots of green. Good music. Say hi from "TheKitt" for a special, double shot cappuccino.
• 51.21442 4.4033 1 Kulminator , Vleminckveld 32 . Kind of off the beaten path, this bar has a neat hole in the wall atmosphere and an amazing selection of beer, (around 700 beers, with 200-300 aged over 10 years) ranging from expensive to about average. All in all, a great time, and a great value.  
• Paeters Vaetje , (in the Cathedral Square). Here you can order more than 100 kinds of beer. In summertime, you can also sit outside.
• Pelgrom , Pelgrimsstraat 15 , ☏ +32 3 234 0809 . A cafe in an old underground storage place right next to the vlaaikesgang with medieval finishes.  
• Kassa4 , in the student neighborhood, on the Ossenmarkt. Very popular student pub with a good choice of alternative music. Can be very crowded at times.
• Den Hovenier — Typical Antwerp pub near the Sint-Jacob Church .
• Café Beveren , near the river. Enjoy the automatic Decap Organ.
• Stanny — Non-smoking café close to the station of Antwerp-Berchem.
• Copa Cava — a cava bar on the vlasmarkt, with a cosy atmosphere and which serves relatively cheap and exclusive cava from Barcelona.
• La Treille — intimate wine bar and shop at Haarstraat 23, close to the Grote Markt, serves and sells authentic wines (straight form the vineyard) out of Italy, Belgium and France.
• t Vervolg — between the "groenplaats" and the "Grote Markt", very friendly prices mixed with house & RnB always ensures there's something going on Monday through Saturday evening.
• SIPS . A cocktail bar.  
• Witzli-Poetzli (Blauwmoezelstraat 8, Meir. From 10:00 daily.) The Witzli-Poetzli is a very small café in the centre of city centre. It is next to the great cathedral. In the summer there's a unique terras in the shadow of the cathedral. In the winter it is a cosy place where people come to drink coffee and read a newspaper.
• Café Den Joker , Kleine Markt 16 . The one and only comedy bar in Antwerp. A lot of Belgian stand-up comedians started their career in this small bar. Comedy organized weekly. Also improvisation sessions and quizzes. Often in Dutch.  

Clubs [ edit ]

• 51.24285 4.41892 2 Noxx . Hosts famous DJs. You can find it close to the Kinepolis Antwerp ('Metropolis'), just outside the centre of Antwerp.  
• Café d'Anvers . The most infamous club in Antwerp. In the middle of the red light district. Known for its progressive music.  
• Café Local . In 't Zuid. Free entrance on Thursdays.  

Sleep [ edit ]

Hotels [ edit ].

• 51.21343 4.42351 1 ibis budget Antwerpen Centraal Station ( formerly "Etap Hotel" ), Lange Kievitstraat 145 ( in a cluster of modern residential buildings behind the Antwerpen Centraal station, not on the square in front of it. ), ☏ +32 3 202 50 20 .  
• Hotel Rubenshof , Amerikalei 115 ( from Antwerpen Centraal, take trams no. 12 or 24 ), ☏ +32 3 237 07 89 . Run by a friendly couple, it offers a combination of lush, authentically historic interiors with a budget price (and standards). from €52 (shared bathrooms) .  

Other accommodation options [ edit ]

• Antwerp Mabuhay Lodgings , Zurenborg, Draakstraat 32 . Bed and breakfast, guesthouse in cozy neighborhood of Antwerp. Rooms available for two. Apartments and studios available for short term staying visitors, expats, or students.  
• Camping Vogelzang , Vogelzanglaan 7-9 . 10 minutes by tram from the heart of the city and good for low-budget travellers.  
• Scoutel . A scouting youth hostel that is open to everyone and offers affordable accommodations in the centre of the city, just around the corner of the central train station.  
• The Swan B&B , Huikstraat 25 . A self-contained apartment for up to 3 guests in a quiet part of the historic city centre, a 5-minute walk from the main square. The owner Nadine gladly provides directions and tourist advice. Minimum stay of 2 nights. From €65 .  

• Astoria Hotel Antwerp , Korte Herentalsestraat 5 2018 Antwerp Belgium , ☏ +32 3 227 31 30 , [email protected] . ( updated Dec 2018 )

Chain hotels [ edit ]

• 51.23174 4.41271 2 Best Western Hotel Docklands , Kempischdok-Westkaai 84-90 2000 Antwerpen , ☏ +32 3 231 07 26 . The name is absolutely correct - the Best Western is in the docklands area. The hotel could use an update to contemporary standards, but can be cheaper than more central hotels.  
• 51.19031 4.40409 3 Crowne Plaza Antwerpen ( at the intersection of the R1, A1 and A12 highways, on the outskirts of the city ). It can be inexpensive for a hotel of its class, but it comes at the expense of the less-than-handy location and rather aged decor in the cheapest rooms. On the flip side, the large pool with artsy decorations and forest vistas is a treat. from €70 .  
• 51.22903 4.41278 4 Holiday Inn Express Antwerpen City North , Italiëlei 2, 2000 Antwerpen . The hotel faces one of the port basins in the docklands area in the north of Antwerp, offering a view of the Museum aan de Stroom from some of its rooms. Despite the modern facade, the hotel was built to the brand's previous standards, so it may not be comparable to newer HIExpress properties in terms of furniture and fitouts, but all hotels in the chain it offers free breakfast and WiFi included in the room rate. €97 .  
• 51.21468 4.41097 5 Ibis Hotel Antwerpen Centrum ( good location in the city centre, near the Stadschouwburg theatre and the Vogeltjesmarkt ), ☏ +32 3 2318830 . While the room rates tend to be low, the breakfast in the hotel tends not to be, but there are plenty of cafes in the immediate area and a market on the Theaterplein square in front of the hotel Saturday and Sunday mornings. If you're a very light sleeper try to get a room on the side that doesn't face onto the Theaterplein as the market traders start setting up pretty early!.  
• 51.218769 4.420528 6 Ibis Styles Antwerpen City Centre , Koningin Astridplein 43 , ☏ +32 33 69 59 99 . This hotel offers a great location next to the Antwerp Centraal railway station. From €103 .  
• 51.220199 4.415299 7 Quality Hotel Antwerpen Centrum Opera , Molenbergstraat 9 , ☏ +32 32 32 76 75 . This hotel is on a side street, a reasonable distance from the central train station. It may not be easy to find, so look for the huge sign atop the corner building. From €85 .  
• 51.26781 4.40167 8 Novotel Antwerpen , Luithagen - Haven 6 . This is an old-style low-rise suburban Novotel, complete with a garden with an outdoor pool. The good news is that it was completely renovated, so expect reasonably fresh, nice appointments and features such as the inBalance gym and a game station for kids. The location is north of the docklands, which makes it a reasonable choice pretty much only for those arriving by car.  
• 51.21802 4.42128 9 Park Inn by Radisson Antwerp , Koningin Astridplein 2018 Antwerp ( right on Koningin Astrid Square 100 m from the Antwerpen Centraal station ), ☏ +32 3 202 31 70 , [email protected] . Some rooms feature Nespresso machines. The heated pool and fitness centre at the Radisson Blu Astrid, 100 metres away, can be used free of charge. €99 .  
• 51.1946 4.40638 10 Ramada Plaza Antwerp , Desguinlei 94 . The Ramada Plaza is a glazed highrise tower overlooking a park, with 210 elegantly appointed rooms, geared towards business travellers. It is in the very south of the city, right next to the Berchem motorway junction. While the location is remote, there is a tram station next to the hotel.  
• 51.20913 4.44612 11 Scandic Antwerpen , Luitenant Lippenslaan 66, Borgerhout . If you are looking for minimalistic Scandinavian design, this is not the place - the Scandic Antwerpen looks every bit like a 1990s Hilton inside, a bunch of which the chain once operated. It is in Borgerhout, right outside Antwerp's motorway ringroad, which is convenient for those arriving by car and not for others.  
• 51.20925 4.43063 12 Tryp By Wyndham Antwerp ( formerly "SIR Plantin" ), Plantin en Moretuslei 136 . The Tryp is a bit farther from the city's main attractions than some other hotels, but it compensates for that with attractive pricing and artsy decor, including renderings of traditional Dutch paintings as headboards. From €69 .  

Independent and boutique hotels [ edit ]

• Elzenveld , Lange Gasthuisstraat 45 . A former hospital that advertises itself as a conference centre, but also offers accommodation.  

• Hotel Firean
• 51.21924 4.40261 13 Hilton Antwerp , Groenplaats 32 . The Hilton is in an 1885 listed building that used to be the Grand Bazar du Bon Marché department store. The hotel has a restaurant and a rootfop cafe overlooking the Groenplaats . €156 .  
• HotelO Antwerpen Kathedral . €139 .  
• HotelO Antwerpen - Sud . €145 .  
• Hotel Julien . €205 .  
• 51.213611 4.4166 14 Leopold Hotel Antwerp , Quinten Matsijslei 25 , ☏ +32 3 203 1234 . Check-in: 15:00 , check-out: 12:00 . 4-star hotel overlooking the city park. 5 minutes' walk from diamond district and central station.  
• 51.21333 4.42287 15 Lindner Hotel & City Lounge Antwerpen , Lange Kievitstraat 125 . This hotel belonging to a German upscale chain is hidden in a tower in a modern mixed development behind the Centraal station, and affords nice views of the city from its upper-floor lounges and gym, as well as comfortable rooms outfitted in a subdued, modern fashion. €140 .  
• Maison d'Anvers . €134 .  
• 51.21924 4.42135 16 Radisson Blu Astrid Hotel, Antwerp , Koningin Astridplein 7 ( across from the main rail station ), ☏ +32 (3) 203 12 34 , [email protected] . Some might say that the biggest benefit of staying at the Astrid is not having to look at its peculiar postmodern facade. More tangible benefits include splendid location on the Astridplein just by the Antwerpen Centraal and large rooms with modern comforts.  
• Hotel Rubens-Grote Markt . €170 .  
• Hotel 't Sandt . €170 .  
• Hotel De Witte Lelie . €295 .  

Connect [ edit ]

As of July 2022, Antwerp has 5G from all Belgian carriers. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Stay safe [ edit ]

Most parts of Antwerp are safe, but some neighborhoods are to be avoided in the evening, especially the area around De Coninckplein and the neighborhoods of Borgerhout, Seefhoek and the Schipperskwartier. Still, these neighbourhoods have a very lively atmosphere and so are definitely worth a visit during the day.

Moreover, it is of utmost importance to lock your bike properly if left outside on the street throughout the city. If you need police assistance, the direct police number is 101. If you need a non-urgent police inquiry or the most nearby police station you can dial 0800/12312 for free. Most police officers in Antwerp are friendly and professional.

Antwerp used to be a major stronghold of Flemish independence. Though most people are indifferent towards this movement nowadays, do not be surprised if you get occasional death stares if you speak any amount of French. This only concerns a minority (mostly older people and ultra-nationalists), but do refrain from assuming that everyone in the Antwerp area speaks (or is willing to speak) French.

Like most of the rest of Europe, the number for emergencies (ambulance, police and fire) is 112.

Go next [ edit ]

Antwerp is a key railway hub on the high-speed line from the Netherlands to France , so you can get relatively quickly and easily not only around Belgium, but also to its two neighbours.

Belgium [ edit ]

Getting around Belgium is relatively easy from Antwerp, as the country is small and featuring one of the densest railway networks in the world. Some of the more popular destinations that can be visited on a day trip from Antwerp are:

• Bruges (Brugge) — Very nice medieval town. Often called "Venice of the North", because of the many canals that flow through and under it. Well worth an overnight stay, since it is most romantic at night and very safe.
• Brussels — The capital of Belgium and some say, the capital of Europe. Multicultural and multilingual. Unfortunately, some of the city's historic (medieval) centre was destroyed at the end of the 19th century when Belgium seceded from the Netherlands and Brussels was made capital of the new country. Nonetheless, Brussels is known as a city of "hidden gems," where you can turn a street corner in a less-than-breathtaking area and come face-to-face with an opulent and unexpected Art Deco or Art Nouveau building. Its popularity with tourists has been steadily increasing.
• Ghent — A medieval town a bit like Bruges, with more emphasis on cathedrals and other big buildings. Great centre of medieval paintings exhibited in and around the cathedral of Sint-Baafs.
• Namur — The regional capital of Wallonia.
• Leuven — Nearly as lively as Antwerp or Brussels is this college town, home to one of the world's oldest universities is here. Many hotels also cater to businessmen who find Brussels too expensive.

Netherlands [ edit ]

• Amsterdam — You can take a direct train to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. There is about one train an hour and it will take you about two hours to get there. Amsterdam is well known for its grachten , many bicycles, and coffee-shops. There also is the Eurostar high-speed train which is a bit more expensive but you will get there a lot faster.
• Rotterdam — You can take a direct train to Rotterdam in the Netherlands. There is about one train an hour and it will take you about one hour to get there. Rotterdam is well known for its harbour.
• Den Bosch — You can go by train to this medieval city (change trains in Roosendaal ).
• Zeeland — Where the Schelde reaches the ocean. It's about two hours by train and you will have to change in Roosendaal.
• Hulst — A very well-preserved historic fortified city very near Antwerp, which attracts lots of day-trippers from Belgium.
• Saeftinghe — Nature reserve known as The Drowned Land of Saeftinghe , on the border between Belgium and the Netherlands.

France [ edit ]

• Lille — Lille is in the North of France just off the Belgian border. It is famous among others for having the largest bookstore in Europe ("Le furet du Nord"). The train ride is pretty long (sometimes over two hours) making it less easy for a day trip. The Dutch (Flemish) name is Rijsel and the town is not to be confused with another Flemish town called "Lille" in Dutch!
• Paris — With the Eurostar, you can be there in about two hours.

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Some 50km north of Brussels, ANTWERP , Belgium’s second city, lays claim to being the de facto capital of Flemish Belgium, boosting its credentials with an animated cultural scene, a burgeoning fashion industry, and more top-ranking cafés and restaurants than you could possibly sample alongside a spirited nightlife – quite enough to keep anyone busy for a few days, if not more. The city fans out carelessly from the east bank of the Scheldt, its centre a rough polygon formed and framed by its enclosing boulevards and the river. Recent efforts to clean and smarten the centre have been tremendously successful, revealing scores of beautiful buildings previously camouflaged by the accumulated grime. On the surface it’s not a wealthy city, and it’s rarely neat and tidy, but it is a hectic and immediately likeable place, with a dense concentration of things to see, not least some fine churches, including a simply wonderful cathedral , and a varied selection of excellent museums.

Eating and drinking

Entertainment and nightlife, fashion shopping in antwerp, the koninklijk museum voor schone kunsten, mercenary mutinies, modenatie and momu, the onze lieve vrouwekathedraal, the rubenshuis.

North of the centre lies Het Eilandje (the Little Isle), where the city’s old docks and wharves have been rejuvenated and deluxe apartments shoehorned into the former warehouses, the whole caboodle overseen by the soaring modernism of the Museum Aan de Stroom , Antwerp’s premier museum. To the east of the centre, the star turns are the Rubenshuis , one-time home and studio of Rubens, and the cathedral-like Centraal Station , which itself abuts the diamond district – the city has long been at the heart of the international diamond trade. The area to the south of the centre, Het Zuid , is of interest too, a long-neglected but now resurgent residential district whose wide boulevards, with their long vistas and geometrical roundabouts, were laid out at the end of the nineteenth century. The obvious targets here are MuHKA (the Museum of Contemporary Art) and the Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten (Fine Art Museum), though this is currently closed for a thoroughgoing revamp.

Antwerp’s bustling centre is the most engaging part of the city, its mazy streets and cobbled lanes studded with fine old churches, mansions and museums. The logical place to start an exploration is the Grote Markt , still the centre of activities and flanked by the elegant Stadhuis . From here, it’s a couple of hundred metres south to the magnificent Gothic Onze Lieve Vrouwekathedraal , home to a quartet of paintings by Rubens, with the intriguing old printing house of Christopher Plantin, now the Museum Plantin-Moretus , just beyond. Another short hop, this time to the north, brings up the striking medieval Vleeshuis , one-time headquarters of the guild of butchers, with the sinuous Baroque of St-Pauluskerk beckoning beyond. The city centre finishes off with two other excellent attractions, the charming Hendrik Conscienceplein and the Rockoxhuis , which holds a small but superb collection of paintings.

Brief history

In the beginning Antwerp wasn’t much desired: it may have occupied a prime river site, but it was too far east to be important in the cloth trade and too far west to be on the major trade routes connecting Germany and Holland. However, in the late fifteenth century it benefited from both a general movement of trade to the west and the decline of the Anglo-Flemish cloth trade. Within the space of just 25 years, many of the great trading families of western Europe had relocated here, and the tiny old fortified settlement of yesteryear was transformed by a deluge of splendid new mansions and churches, docks and harbours. In addition, the new masters of the region, the Habsburgs , had become frustrated with the turbulent burghers of Flanders and both the emperor Maximilian and his successor Charles V patronized the city at the expense of its Flemish rivals, underwriting its success as the leading port of their expanding empire.

Antwerp’s golden age lasted for less than a hundred years, prematurely stifled by Charles V’s son Philip II , who inherited Spain and the Low Countries in 1555. Fanatically Catholic, Philip viewed the reformist stirrings of the Low Countries with horror, and his sustained attempt to bring his Protestant subjects to heel brought war and pestilence to the region for decades. Protestantism had taken root in Antwerp early on and the city seethed with discontent as Philip’s intentions became all too clear. The spark was the Ommegang of August 18, 1566, when priests carting the image of the Virgin through the city’s streets insisted that all should bend the knee as it passed. The parade itself was peaceful enough, but afterwards, with the battle cry of “Long live the beggars”, the city’s Protestant guildsmen and their apprentices smashed the inside of the cathedral to pieces – the most extreme example of the “ iconoclastic fury ” that then swept the region. Philip responded by sending in an army of occupation, which sought to overawe and intimidate the local citizenry from a brand-new citadel built on the south side of town. Nine years later, it was this same garrison that sat unpaid and underfed in its fortress, surrounded by the wealth of what the soldiers regarded as a “heretical” city. Philip’s mercenaries mutinied , and at dawn on November 4, 1576, they stormed Antwerp, running riot for three long days, plundering public buildings and private mansions, and slaughtering some eight thousand of its inhabitants in the “ Spanish fury ”, a catastrophe that finished the city’s commercial supremacy. More disasters were to follow. Philip’s soldiers were driven out after the massacre, but they were back in 1585 laying siege outside the city walls for seven months, their success leading to Antwerp’s ultimate incorporation within the Spanish Netherlands . Under the terms of the capitulation, Protestants had two years to leave town, and a flood of skilled workers poured north to the relative safety of Holland, further weakening the city’s economy.

In the early seventeenth century there was a modest recovery, but the Dutch, who were now free of Spain, controlled the waterways of the Scheldt and were determined that no neighbouring Catholic port would threaten their trade. Consequently, in 1648, under the Peace of Westphalia , which finally wrapped up the Thirty Years’ War, they forced the closure of the Scheldt to all non-Dutch shipping. This ruined Antwerp, and the city remained firmly in the doldrums until the French army arrived in 1797 – Napoleon declaring it to be “little better than a heap of ruins…scarcely like a European city at all”. The French rebuilt the docks and reopened the Scheldt to shipping, and the city revived to become independent Belgium’s largest port, a role that made it a prime target during both world wars. In 1914, the invading German army overran Antwerp’s outer defences with surprising ease, forcing the Belgian government – which had moved here from Brussels a few weeks before – into a second hasty evacuation along with Winston Churchill and the Royal Marines, who had only just arrived. During World War II , both sides bombed Antwerp, but the worst damage was inflicted after the Liberation when the city was hit by hundreds of Hitler’s V1 and V2 rockets .

After the war, Antwerp quickly picked up the pieces, becoming one of Europe’s major seaports and, more recently, a focus for those Flemish-speakers looking for greater independence within (or without) a federal Belgium. It has also consolidated its position at the heart of the worldwide diamond trade and developed an international reputation for its innovative fashion designers, from the so-called “Antwerp Six” to new and upcoming talent such as Tim Vansteenbergen, A.F. Vandevorst and Stephan Schneider.

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Antwerp has the range of hotels you’d expect of Belgium’s second city, an ever increasing supply of B&B s and several hostels . Consequently, finding accommodation is rarely difficult, although there are surprisingly few places in the centre, which is by far the best spot to soak up the city’s atmosphere. Many medium-priced and budget places are clustered in the humdrum area around Centraal Station, where you should exercise caution at night, particularly if travelling alone.

The tourist office issues a free and comprehensive booklet detailing the city’s hotels, B&Bs and hostels – and excluding the seedier establishments.

Antwerp is an enjoyable place to eat, its busy centre liberally sprinkled with informal cafés and restaurants which excel at combining traditional Flemish dishes with Mediterranean, French and vegetarian cuisines. There is a good range of slightly more formal – and expensive – restaurants too, though generally the distinction between the city’s cafés and restaurants is blurred.

Antwerp is also a fine place to drink . There are lots of bars in the city centre, mostly dark and tiny affairs exuding a cheerful vitality. Some of them regularly feature live music, but most don’t, satisfying themselves – and their customers – with everything from taped chanson to house. Bar opening hours are elastic, with many places only closing when the last customers leave – say 2 or 3am – and, unless otherwise stated in our listings below, all are open daily. The favourite local tipple is De Koninck, a light ale drunk in a bolleke , or small, stemmed glass.

Antwerp has a vibrant and diverse cultural scene , and the best way to get a handle on it is to pick up the very useful, fortnightly Zone 03 ( w www.zone03.be ), a free Dutch-language newssheet which details all up-and-coming events, exhibitions and concerts; it’s available from the tourist office and at newsstands all over the city centre. The city has its own orchestra and opera companies as well as several good Flemish theatre troupes, and there are occasional appearances by touring English-language theatre companies too. English-language films are almost always subtitled – as distinct from dubbed – and Antwerp has a reliable, city-centre art-house cinema.

Antwerp’s fluid club scene is in a rude state of health, with a handful of boisterous places dotted round the peripheries of the city centre. They get going at around midnight and admission fees are typically modest (€10 or so) except for big-name DJs. There’s a flourishing jazz scene too, with a couple of good places in the centre.

As regards festivals , the city hosts a goodly portion of the Festival van Vlaanderen (Flanders Festival; w www.festival.be ), which runs from May to November and features more than one hundred classical concerts performed in cities across the whole of Flemish-speaking Belgium. There’s also SFINKS ( w www.sfinks.be ), Belgium’s best world music festival, held outdoors over the last weekend of July in the suburb of Boechout, about 10km southeast of downtown Antwerp.

Tickets for most concerts and events are on sale at Info Cultuur ( t 03 338 95 85, w www.infocultuur.be ), which shares its premises with the tourist office at Grote Markt 13. A comparable service is provided at the Fnac store, on the Groenplaats.

The success of Antwerp’s fashion designers has spawned dozens of excellent designer shops and stores. To help visitors get a grip on it all, the tourist office produces the Antwerp Fashion Map , which details several city walks that take you past all the most innovative shops. There is, however, a particular concentration of fashion shops around the ModeNatie complex. Recommended places hereabouts kick off with the men’s and women’s wear of Dries van Noten’s Modepaleis , Nationalestraat 16 – at the corner of Kammenstraat – and continue with the imported designer clothes of Alamode , Nationalestraat 25. Neighbouring Kammenstraat weighs in with the contemporary jewellery of Anne Zellien , at no. 47, and the club and streetwear of Fish & Chips , at no. 36, while Lombardenstraat, just to the east, is home to Maison Anna Heylen , at no.16, Original , at no. 10, and Louis , at no. 2, with the last two featuring the clothes of many designers, from Hilfiger to Junk de Luxe. There are a couple of secondhand/vintage clothes shop in the area too, with women’s stuff at Jutka & Riska , Nationalestraat 87, and all sorts of interesting gear at Episode , Steenhouwersvest 34, just west of Nationalestraat. If you’ve wandered over onto Steenhouwersvest, then also pop into the chichi premises of the Belgian-American Diane von Furstenberg , at no. 44.

Occupying an immense Neoclassical edifice dating from the 1880s, Antwerp’s prestigious Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten (KMSKA; Royal Fine Art Museum), overlooking Leopold de Waelplaats, possesses a first-rate collection of Belgian art from the fifteenth century onwards, but it’s closed for a long-term refurbishment until at least 2014. In the meantime, plans are afoot to display highlights of the collection elsewhere in the city – the cathedral and the MAS museum are two likely locations – and the tourist office will have the latest news. Key paintings in the collection include two tiny but especially delicate works by Jan van Eyck (1390–1441), a Madonna at the Fountain and a St Barbara , and Quinten Matsys ’ (1465–1530) triptych of the Lamentation , a profound and moving work portraying the Christ, his forehead flecked with blood, surrounded by grieving followers including Mary Magdalene, who tenderly wipes his feet with her hair as tears roll down her face. The museum also possesses several enormous canvases by Rubens (1577–1640), most notably an inventive Last Communion of St Francis (1619), showing a very sick-looking saint equipped with the marks of the stigmata, a faint halo and a half-smile: despite the sorrowful ministrations of his fellow monks, Francis can’t wait for salvation. Also from 1619 is Christ Crucified Between the Two Thieves which, with its muscular thieves and belligerent Romans, possesses all the high drama you might expect, but is almost overwhelmed by its central image – you can virtually hear the tearing of Christ’s flesh as the soldier’s lance sinks into him.

The Spanish fury was a disaster for Antwerp, but although the savagery of the attack was unusual, mutinies in the Spanish army were not. The Habsburgs often neglected to pay their soldiers for years on end and this failure, combined with harsh conditions and seemingly interminable warfare, provoked at least a couple of mutinies every year. Indeed, mutinies became so commonplace that they began to develop their own rituals, with the tercio (army unit) concerned refusing orders but keeping military discipline and electing representatives to haggle a financial deal with the army authorities. A deal was usually reached, outstanding wages were paid (at least in part), normal military life was resumed and, remarkably enough, punishments were rare.

Spread over several floors at Nationalestraat 28, ModeNatie ( www.modenatie.com ) is a lavish and extraordinarily ambitious fashion complex, which incorporates both the fashion department of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and the Flanders Fashion Institute. As such, it reflects the international success of local designers, beginning in the 1980s with the so-called “ Antwerp Six ” – including Dries van Noten, Dirk Bikkembergs, Marina Yee and Martin Margiela – and continuing with younger designers like A.F. Vandevorst, Stephan Schneider and Tim Vansteenbergen; all are graduates of the academy. Part of the building contains a fashion museum, MoMu ( www.momu.be ), whose adventurous and thought-provoking temporary displays cover a lot of ground – everything from the walking stick as fashion statement through to the evolution of the trench coat.

One of the finest Gothic churches in Belgium, the Onze Lieve Vrouwekathedraal (Cathedral of Our Lady; www.dekathedraal.be ) is a forceful, self-confident structure that mostly dates from the middle of the fifteenth century. Its graceful, intricate spire dominated the skyline of the medieval city and was long a favourite with British travellers. William Beckford, for instance, fresh from spending millions on his own house in Wiltshire in the early 1800s, was particularly impressed, writing that he “longed to ascend it that instant, to stretch myself out upon its summit and calculate, from so sublime an elevation, the influence of the planets”. To help guide yourself around, pick up a free diagrammatic plan just beyond the entry desk.

Inside, the seven-aisled nave is breathtaking, if only because of its sense of space, an impression that’s reinforced by the bright, light stonework. The religious troubles of the sixteenth century – primarily the Iconoclastic Fury of 1566 – polished off the cathedral’s early furnishings and fittings, so what you see today are largely Baroque embellishments, most notably four early paintings by Pieter Paul Rubens (1577–1640). Of these, the Descent from the Cross , a triptych painted after the artist’s return from Italy in 1612 and hung just to the right of the central crossing, is without doubt the most beautiful, displaying an uncharacteristically moving realism derived from Caravaggio. Christ languishes in the centre in glowing white, surrounded by mourners tenderly struggling to lower him. As was normal practice at the time, students in Rubens’ studio worked on the painting, among them the young van Dyck , who completed the face of the Virgin and the arm of Mary Magdalene. His work was so masterful that Rubens is supposed to have declared it an improvement on his own, though this story appears to originate from van Dyck himself. Oddly enough, the painting was commissioned by the guild of arquebusiers, who asked for a picture of St Christopher, their patron saint; Rubens’ painting was not at all what they had in mind, and they promptly threatened him with legal action unless he added a picture of the saint to the wings. Rubens obliged, painting in the muscular giant who now dominates the outside of the left panel.

Above the high altar is a second Rubens painting, the Assumption , a swirling Baroque scene painted in 1625, full of cherubs and luxuriant drapery, while on the left-hand side of the central crossing, the same artist’s The Raising of the Cross is a grandiloquent canvas full of straining, muscular soldiers and saints; this triptych was painted in 1610, which makes it the earliest of the four. On the right-hand side of the ambulatory in the second chapel along, there’s the cathedral’s fourth and final Rubens, the Resurrection , painted in 1612 for the tomb of his friend, the printer Jan Moretus, showing a strident, militaristic Christ carrying a red, furled banner. Among the cathedral’s many other paintings, the only other highlight is Maerten de Vos ’ (1531–1603) Marriage at Cana , hung opposite the Descent from the Cross , a typically mannered work completed in 1597.

The Rubenshuis , at Wapper 9, attracts tourists in droves. Not so much a house as a mansion, this was where Rubens lived for most of his adult life, but it was only acquired by the city in 1937, by which time it was little more than a shell. Skilfully restored, it opened as a museum in 1946. On the right is the classical studio, where Rubens worked and taught; on the left is the gabled Flemish house where he lived, to which is attached his art gallery, an Italianate chamber where he entertained the artistic and cultural elite of Europe. Rubens had an enviably successful career, spending the first years of the seventeenth century studying the Renaissance masters in Italy, before settling in this house in 1608. Soon after, he painted two wonderful canvases for the cathedral and his fame spread, both as a painter and diplomat, working for Charles I in England and receiving commissions from all over Europe.

The Rubenshuis is a tad short of the great man’s paintings, but the reconstruction of his old home and studio is very convincing, and a clearly arrowed tour begins by twisting its way through the neatly panelled and attractively furnished domestic interiors of the Flemish half of the building. Beyond, and in contrast to the cramped living quarters, is the elegant art gallery , which, with its pocket-sized sculpture gallery, was where Rubens displayed his favourite pieces to a chosen few – and in a scene comparable to that portrayed in Willem van Haecht’s The Gallery of Cornelis van der Geest , which is displayed here. The arrows then direct you on into the great studio , which is overlooked by a narrow gallery and equipped with a special high door to allow the largest canvases to be brought in and out with ease. Several of Rubens’ paintings are displayed here, including a playful Adam and Eve , an early work in which the couple flirt while the serpent slithers back up the tree. Also in the studio is a more characteristic piece, the Annunciation , where you can sense the drama of the angel Gabriel’s appearance to Mary, who is shown in her living room complete with wicker basket and a sleeping cat.

Behind the house, the garden is laid out in the formal style of Rubens’ day – the Baroque portico might be familiar from the artist’s Medici series, on display in the Louvre.

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Antwerp Travel Guide: History, Attractions, Hotels, Restaurants and Markets

September 15, 2023 | Posted in: Belgium

Antwerp, located in Belgium's northern part, sits on the Scheldt River, 55 miles from the North Sea. As Belgium's most populous city after Brussels, it boasts a population exceeding 500,000. Historically, Antwerp flourished as a significant port city during the late Middle Ages and early modern period, particularly in the diamond trade. By the 16th century, it had become the de facto capital of the Low Countries. Today, Antwerp's reputation as a port remains and it's renowned for diamonds, fashion and design. The city also stands as the capital of the province of Antwerp in the Flemish Region of Belgium. 

Where is Antwerp?

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Antwerp's history traces back to the Middle Ages, originating as a modest settlement on the Scheldt River's banks. Its strategic location on the river enabled it to evolve into a pivotal trade and transport hub to the North Sea. By the 16th century, it had become one of northern Europe's largest cities, recognized for industry, banking and merchant trading. The city's prosperity was particularly tied to trading spices, silk, luxury items and later, diamonds. However, the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule in the late 16th century led to the Scheldt River's blockade, impacting Antwerp's trade significance. Despite this setback, Antwerp persisted as a crucial port city. World War II saw its occupation and damage from bombing raids, but post-war efforts led to significant rebuilding and revitalization. Dutch, specifically the Flemish variety, is the primary language spoken in Antwerp. The city, being the Flanders region's capital, predominantly speaks Dutch. Research shows that about 85% of the population speaks Dutch as their first language. Antwerp operates within the Central European Time Zone. Specifically, it observes Central European Standard Time (CET) during winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST) during summer months with daylight saving time. CET is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

Antwerp is globally recognized for its diamond traders and cutters. Historically, its strategic location on the Scheldt River made it a dominant commercial center. Even today, the city remains a global leader in the diamond industry, with over 84% of the world's rough diamonds and 50% of cut diamonds passing through it. Some of Antwerp's top attractions include the Plantin Moretus Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage site, FOMU Antwerp (Photo Museum of Antwerp), ZOO Antwerp, Red Star Line Museum and Muhka, the Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp. A typical visit to Antwerp spans 2 days.  Antwerp offers a culinary journey reflecting Belgium's rich food culture. Local specialties include Belgian waffles, chocolates and beer. The city's diverse food scene encompasses fine dining restaurants, casual eateries and street food vendors.

Top hotels in Antwerp include Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp, Maison Nationale City Flats & Suites, YAYS Antwerp Opera, Boutique Hotel Maison Emile and Hotel NH Collection Antwerp Centre. Antwerp is easily accessible by various means, including train, plane, car, or bus. Direct Eurostar trains from London's St Pancras International Station to Antwerp Central Station offer a swift route, taking around 3 hours. Antwerp's Christmas markets, especially “Winter in Antwerp” on the Grote Markt, tend to be crowded, particularly during weekends and peak times. However, the festive atmosphere and attractions like food and drink stalls, an ice skating rink and a Ferris wheel make the experience worthwhile.

Antwerp is one of the cities in Belgium located in the northern part. It lies on the Scheldt River, 55 miles (88 km) from the North Sea. Antwerp, with a population of more than 500,000 people, is the most populous city in Belgium after the capital Brussels. Historically, Antwerp grew prosperous as a major port city during the late Middle Ages and early modern period. It was a centre of industry and trade, particularly the diamond trade. In the 16th century, Antwerp was even the de facto capital of the Low Countries. Today, Antwerp remains an important port and is known for diamonds, fashion and design. It also has a vibrant cultural scene with historical architecture, museums and events. Antwerp is the capital and most populous city of the province of Antwerp in the Flemish Region of Belgium. Geographically, it is located in the north of the country near the border with the Netherlands. Antwerp is a major city and port along the Scheldt River known for its history in trade and diamonds. 

What is the history of Antwerp?

Antwerp has a long and rich history dating back to the Middle Ages. It originated as a small settlement on the banks of the Scheldt River and grew to become one of the most important commercial and cultural centres in Europe. In the 11th and 12th centuries, Antwerp was just a small trading post and port under the Duchy of Brabant. However, its location on the Scheldt River allowed it to become an important centre for trade and transport to the North Sea. As a result, Antwerp grew quickly during the late Middle Ages and became one of the largest cities in northern Europe by the 16th century. It was a major centre of industry, banking and merchant trading. Much of its wealth came from being the main trading port for spices, silk, luxury items and later diamonds. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Antwerp experienced its golden age and was arguably the most important trade centre north of the Alps. It attracted many Dutch, Portuguese, German, Italian and Spanish merchants.

The city also became a hub for arts and culture during this period. However, the city began to decline after the Scheldt River was blockaded during the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule in the late 16th century. This damaged Antwerp's role as a trade centre. Although Antwerp no longer reached the same heights as before, it remained an important port city. Antwerp, in more recent history, during World War II, was occupied and damaged by bombing raids. Since then, Antwerp has undergone significant rebuilding and revitalisation efforts. Today it continues to function as a major port, focus of international trade, centre of fashion and design and destination for tourism. The evidence indicates Antwerp has a rich history and it became a major commercial centre during its golden age in the 16th and 17th centuries when it was a hub of industry and merchant trading. 

The primary language spoken in Antwerp is Dutch. Specifically, most people in Antwerp speak the Flemish variety of Dutch. Flemish, sometimes called Flemish Dutch, belongs to the West Flemish dialect group of Dutch. It is native to the northern region of Belgium, including provinces like Antwerp and East and West Flanders. Flemish has over 6 million native speakers in Belgium and is recognised as one of the country's three official languages, alongside French and German. Antwerp, as the capital of the Flanders region, is a predominantly Dutch-speaking city.

Research indicates that approximately 85% of the population speaks Dutch as their mother tongue. The remainder of the population speaks other languages like French, English, Spanish, Arabic, Berber and Turkish. This language diversity reflects Antwerp's history as an international trading centre and port city that attracted many immigrants over the centuries. While the main language is Dutch, many Antwerp natives will also speak French and English as second languages. French is Belgium’s other official language and English is widely studied and used in international business. Signs, menus and documents in Antwerp will often be presented in Dutch, French and sometimes English to accommodate different language speakers. 

Antwerp is pronounced AN-twerp, emphasising the first syllable “AN” and a silent “w”. The “A” sounds like the vowel in “cat” or “at”, the “N” is pronounced clearly, the “t” is soft like in “butter” and the “erp” rhymes with “curb” or “burp”. No “L” sound at the end. The local Flemish dialect puts more emphasis on the “r” sound, almost sounding like “ant-werrep”, but standard English keeps the “r” soft. The proper way to say Antwerp is by stressing the first syllable and leaving the “w” silent – “AN-twerp”. 

Antwerp, Belgium, falls within the Central European Time Zone or Central European. More specifically, Antwerp observes Central European Standard Time (CET) in the winter months and Central European Summer Time (CEST) during the summer months when daylight saving time is in effect. The Central European Time zone is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When daylight saving time is not in effect, Antwerp's time zone is UTC +1. During daylight saving time between late March and late October, Antwerp switches to CEST, which is UTC +2. Antwerp is 1 or 2 hours ahead of UTC, depending on the time of year. Some major cities that also fall in the CET/CEST time zone include Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Paris and Vienna. So Antwerp shares the same standard time as most of Western Europe and mainland European countries. Antwerp is currently 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST) in North America. This time difference helps facilitate international business and travel.

According to recent estimates, the city of Antwerp in Belgium has a population of over 1 million people. More specifically, the population of the municipality of Antwerp is around 559,000 residents as of 2022. However, the metropolitan region that includes the greater Antwerp area has an estimated population of over 1 million residents. The current metropolitan area population of Antwerp in 2023 stands at 1,057,000 individuals. This figure represents a modest growth of 0.38% compared to the previous year, 2022, when the population was 1,053,000. Tracing back to 2021, the population was 1,048,000, marking a 0.48% increase from 2022 and a 0.58% increase from 2020.

The gender breakdown of Antwerp is fairly even, with women making up approximately 51% of the population and men around 49%. In terms of age, about 15% of the population is under 15 years old, while 18% are over the age of 65. The majority of the population, approximately 67%, falls between the ages of 15 and 65. Antwerp is a culturally diverse city with sizable immigrant communities adding to the population. 

In addition to native Belgians, there are people of North African, Turkish, Eastern European, South Asian and East Asian descent living in Antwerp. The city attracts many foreign workers and students. Overall, Antwerp’s population continues to grow steadily each year. Its current metro area population is over 1.05 million in 2023, up from just over 1 million in 2010. Antwerp remains the second most populous metro area in Belgium, behind Brussels. 

Around 1 million people reside in the greater Antwerp metropolitan area as of 2023, with an even gender split and diversity across age groups and cultural backgrounds.

Listed below are the most interesting facts of Antwerp:

• Currency: The currency used in Antwerp and in the rest of Belgium is the Euro. As one of the facts of Belgium, the Euro plays a significant role in the European and global economy. Being part of the European Monetary Union, the Euro facilitates trade and economic integration across many European nations.
• Timezone: Antwerp operates under Central European Time, one hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+1). During the summer months, the city observes Daylight Saving Time and switches to Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2). This alignment with most of Central Europe ensures synchronicity in regional business and social activities.
• Language: Dutch is the official language spoken in Antwerp, reflecting the Flemish heritage of the region. However, other languages such as French, English and German are also widely spoken due to their cosmopolitan nature and historical ties. This multilingualism adds to the city's rich cultural diversity and is one of the intriguing facts of Belgium.
• Power Plugs: In Antwerp, the power plugs and sockets used are of type C and E, with a standard voltage of 230 V and a standard frequency of 50 Hz. This is consistent with the electrical standards across much of Europe. Visitors should be aware of these specifications to ensure compatibility with their electronic devices, reflecting the practical aspects of life in one of Belgium's most vibrant cities.

Antwerp is famous for diamond traders and cutters. For much of its history, Antwerp served as an influential commercial centre due to its strategic location on the Scheldt River. Antwerp was a leader in global trade during the 16th and 17th centuries when Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian and Dutch merchants conducted business there. Much of the wealth and prominence Antwerp enjoyed during this golden age stemmed from it being the most important diamond market at the time. Even today, Antwerp remains a global leader in the diamond industry. Over 84% of the world's rough diamonds and 50% of cut diamonds pass through the city. Antwerp is home to diamond trading houses, brokers, cutters and polishers. Many monumental buildings and landmarks around the city also testify to Antwerp's prosperous history as a diamond capital. Beyond diamonds, Antwerp is also famous for its deep-rooted fashion scene. It nurtured famous fashion designers like the avant-garde Antwerp Six and cultivated new talent from its famed fashion academy. Antwerp has several museums spotlighting its artistic heritage, including works by native Peter Paul Rubens. The city boasts stunning Gothic architecture blended with vibrant cosmopolitan culture. 

What are the best things to do in Antwerp?

Listed below are the best things to do in Antwerp: 

• Plantin Moretus Museum: Plantin Moretus Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage site, celebrates the history of printing and publishing in Antwerp. Visitors can explore the original printing presses, rare manuscripts and beautifully preserved interiors of this Renaissance-era treasure. With its rich collection and historical significance, Plantin Moretus Museum offers a captivating glimpse into the world of literature, technology and intellectual life.
• FOMU Antwerp (Photo Museum of Antwerp): FOMU Antwerp is a leading institution dedicated to photography, showcasing both contemporary and historical works. With diverse exhibitions and a vast collection, the museum offers a thought-provoking exploration of photography as an art form and a medium of expression. FOMU Antwerp is a must-visit destination for photography enthusiasts and anyone interested in visual arts and culture.
• ZOO Antwerp: ZOO Antwerp, also known as Dierentuin, is one of the oldest zoos in the world and a beloved attraction in Antwerp. With a wide variety of animals from around the globe, beautifully landscaped gardens and conservation efforts, it offers an engaging and educational experience for visitors of all ages. Whether exploring the exotic animal exhibits or enjoying a leisurely stroll through the gardens, ZOO Antwerp provides a delightful day out for families and nature enthusiasts.
• Red Star Line Museum: Red Star Line Museum tells the poignant story of the millions of European emigrants who sailed to America with the Red Star Line. Through personal testimonies, artefacts and interactive exhibits, the museum brings to life the hopes, dreams and challenges faced by those seeking a new life. Red Star Line Museum offers a moving and insightful experience that resonates with the universal themes of migration and identity.
• Muhka: Muhka, the Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp, is a vibrant hub for contemporary visual arts. With its ever-changing exhibitions, the museum showcases cutting-edge works by local and international artists. Among the things to do in Antwerp is visiting Muhka which provides a platform for artistic experimentation and dialogue, making it a stimulating destination for art lovers seeking to explore the latest trends and ideas in contemporary art.

Listed below are the best museums in Antwerp:

• The Plantin Moretus Museum: The Plantin Moretus Museum is a fascinating tribute to the printing world. Housed in a 16th-century building that was once the Plantin Moretus Antwerp printing company, it showcases old books, maps and printing tools. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it holds the two oldest printing presses in the world and offers a unique insight into the history of printing. The museum's architecture and garden are also worth exploring.
• FOMU Antwerp (Photo Museum of Antwerp): FOMU Antwerp is a renowned photography museum that celebrated its 50th birthday in 2015. It hosts various exhibitions, including works by famous photographers and a collection of photographs, photography equipment and books. From contemporary art to historical pieces, FOMU offers photography enthusiasts a diverse and engaging experience.
• The Red Star Line Museum: The Red Star Line Museum tells the poignant story of over 2.5 million Europeans who migrated to North America between 1873 and 1934. Housed in the original Red Star Line company buildings, the museum offers a comprehensive view of the migration process, including medical checks, personal stories and the transformation of migration ships. It's considered one of the best museums in Antwerp , providing a deep and thoughtful exploration of migration history.
• Muhka (Museum of Contemporary Art, Antwerp): Muhka is Belgium's Museum of Contemporary Art in Antwerp, offering a diverse range of contemporary visual art exhibitions, lectures, cinema and workshops. With over 32,000 books, catalogues and magazines, it's a hub for contemporary art research and appreciation. Whether you're a fan of contemporary art or just curious, Muhka provides an intriguing and multifaceted experience.
• The Rubens Museum (Rubenshuis): The Rubens Museum, also known as Rubenshuis, is dedicated to the life and work of the legendary Belgian artist Peter Paul Rubens. Located in Rubens' former home, it showcases his artwork and offers a glimpse into his daily life through various objects and architectural designs. The museum's collection includes works by Rubens' peers, making it one of the best museums in Antwerp with unique art.

What to do in Antwerp for a day?

Listed below are things to do in Antwerp in a day:

• Museum Vleeshuis: Museum Vleeshuis is a fascinating destination that delves into the musical history of Antwerp. Housed in a stunning Gothic building, the museum showcases a wide array of musical instruments and explores the city's musical heritage. Visitors can learn about the region's music evolution and even experience live performances. Museum Vleeshuis offers an engaging and melodious journey that appeals to music lovers and history enthusiasts alike.
• Museum aan de Stroom: Museum aan de Stroom, also known as MAS, is a striking modern museum focusing on the city's culture, history and art. With its innovative architecture and interactive exhibits, MAS provides a comprehensive insight into Antwerp's identity. The museum's rooftop offers breathtaking city views, adding to the unique experience. Museum aan de Stroom is a must-visit for those looking to understand the essence of Antwerp.
• Museum Mayer van den Bergh: Museum Mayer van den Bergh is a hidden gem that houses an impressive collection of art, including works by renowned artists like Pieter Bruegel the Elder. The museum's intimate setting allows visitors to explore the art in a peaceful and contemplative environment. With its rich collection and personal touch, Museum Mayer van den Bergh offers an inspiring and enriching experience for art enthusiasts.
• FOMU Antwerp (Photo Museum of Antwerp): FOMU Antwerp is a leading museum showcasing contemporary and historical photography. With rotating exhibitions and a vast collection, the museum offers a diverse and thought-provoking exploration of the medium. From artistic expressions to social commentaries, FOMU Antwerp provides a visual feast that challenges and inspires. It's a must-visit for photography enthusiasts and anyone interested in visual arts.

The ideal visit duration for a trip to Antwerp is typically 2 days. This time frame allows visitors to explore the city's rich cultural heritage and arts scene and taste tge local cuisine. In 2 days, one can comfortably visit key attractions such as the Cathedral of Our Lady, the Antwerp Zoo and the Museum aan de Stroom. It also provides ample time to stroll through the historic streets, shop for famous Belgian chocolates and diamonds and even enjoy a leisurely cruise on the River Scheldt. While a longer stay would certainly enable a more in-depth exploration, 2 days in Antwerp offers a well-rounded experience, capturing the city's essence and providing a glimpse into the unique blend of tradition and modernity that defines this Belgian gem. With 2 full days, tourists can sufficiently explore Antwerp's major attractions like the Grote Markt, Cathedral of Our Lady, riverfront castle Het Steen, Rubens House museum and the fashion district. Two days provide opportunities to shop for Belgian chocolates, fashion and antiques in between sightseeing. Staying overnight enables trying more restaurants, bars and cafes while also experiencing Antwerp's nightlife. An overnight stay also avoids rushing or cramming activities into one hectic day.

Antwerp significantly contributes to the country's tourism industry. Antwerp is a popular tourist destination and the second latest city of Belgium. It attracts both domestic and international visitors throughout the year. In 2022, it is estimated over 11.6 million day tourists visited Antwerp, representing a 56% increase from 2021. The city also recorded over 2 million overnight hotel stays during the first 10 months of 2022, returning to pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019.

Annually, Antwerp attracts millions of leisure and business travellers who visit its historic sites, vibrant culture, restaurants, events and shopping. Some of Antwerp's major tourist draws include architectural landmarks like the Gothic Antwerp Cathedral, the mediaeval castle Het Steen and the opulent train station. The city also has a celebrated fashion and design scene, numerous art museums featuring works by Rubens and other Flemish painters and Belgium's largest port. Antwerp's reputation as the “diamond capital” adds to its appeal. In addition to traditional sightseeing, Antwerp offers trendy cafés, Michelin-star dining, Belgian beers and sweets, Christmas markets, music festivals and high-end shopping. Many tourists make Antwerp a day trip from Brussels, but it has abundant hotels to accommodate overnight guests.

As a culturally-rich destination with diversity, history and modern amenities, Antwerp significantly boosts tourism revenue and appeal for Belgium . The evidence indicates Antwerp is an increasingly popular tourist destination that draws millions of domestic and foreign visitors yearly to its historic landmarks, museums, restaurants, events and shopping. This makes the city a vital contributor to Belgium's tourism industry.

What are the top restaurants in Antwerp?

Listed below are the top restaurants in Antwerp:

• The Jane: The Jane is a Michelin-starred restaurant located in a historic military chapel from the early 1900s. Chef Nick Bril serves innovative modern European cuisine using seasonal ingredients and complex flavours.
•  Zilte: Zilte specialises in seafood with a menu featuring oysters, lobster, turbot and other fresh catches in a sophisticated setting. This Michelin-starred restaurant offers seaboard delights paired with an extensive wine list.  
• Sir Anthony Van Dijck: Sir Anthony Van Dijck is among the best restaurants in Antwerp and overlooks the river in the museum district, serving refined Belgian cuisine like smoked eel, grilled sole and premium steaks. The dining room evokes old-world elegance with velvet chairs and chandeliers.

In Antwerp, one can enjoy a delightful culinary experience that reflects the rich food culture in Belgium. Visitors can try both traditional Belgian dishes and international cuisine. One must not miss trying local specialities like Belgian waffles, chocolate and beer. Seafood lovers can enjoy fresh mussels, while those looking for comfort food can opt for stoemp, a mashed vegetable dish. The city's vibrant food scene also includes fine dining restaurants, casual eateries and street food vendors, ensuring something for every palate and budget. Whether it's a quick snack or a lavish meal, the food in Belgium , particularly in Antwerp, promises a gastronomic adventure that satisfies both the taste buds and the soul.

What are the best bars and cafes in Antwerp?

Listed below are the best bars and cafés in Antwerp .

• Dogma: Dogma is a renowned cocktail bar in Antwerp known for its creative and expertly crafted drinks. The interior exudes a vintage charm, with dim lighting and classic decor that creates an intimate and sophisticated atmosphere. The bartenders at Dogma are true artisans, using premium ingredients and innovative techniques to create unique and memorable cocktails. Whether a seasoned cocktail enthusiast or a curious newcomer, Dogma offers an exceptional experience that leaves a lasting impression.
• Jones & Co: Jones & Co is a trendy coffee bar and eatery in the heart of Antwerp. Focusing on quality and sustainability, they serve freshly brewed coffee from carefully selected beans, delicious pastries and light meals. The ambience at Jones & Co is relaxed and welcoming, making it a favourite spot for locals and visitors alike to enjoy a leisurely breakfast or afternoon break. The friendly staff and commitment to excellence make Jones & Co a must-visit destination for coffee lovers.
• Beerlovers Bar: Beerlovers Bar is a haven for beer enthusiasts in Antwerp, offering an extensive selection of local and international craft beers. The knowledgeable staff are passionate about beer and always ready to guide guests through the impressive menu. With a laid-back vibe and communal seating, Beerlovers Bar encourages socialising and exploring new flavours. Whether a craft beer aficionado or a curious taster, Beerlovers Bar provides a delightful and educational experience that celebrates the rich beer culture of Belgium.

Antwerp has a lively nightlife scene with a diverse range of bars, pubs, dance clubs, live music venues and late-night eateries. The nightlife in Antwerp reflects Antwerp's multicultural makeup and youthful creative energy. While Antwerp may not be as renowned as some European party cities, it still offers fun nights out for all tastes.

The historic centre around the Grote Markt provides a classic backdrop for Antwerp's nightlife. Grand ornate buildings house traditional pubs and bars where locals and tourists unwind over Belgian beers, wines and gin. Trendy cocktail lounges can also be found in this area. For dancing, head to clubs near Groenplaats playing electronic, hip-hop, rock and pop music into the night. The university district brings a youthful vibe with inexpensive bars and cafés that get lively late at night. Live jazz, blues and rock music are on tap at venues like De Muze.

The hipster Zuid neighbourhood also draws those looking for alternative and underground nightlife. Many restaurants, gastropubs and brasseries throughout Antwerp stay open until 1 or 2 am. After dark, Antwerp offers entertainment hubs where one can dance the night away at a club, enjoy craft beers at a classic pub, listen to live bands, or simply relax over cocktails and conversation. The diversity and culture of Antwerp is reflected in its moderate but captivating nightlife scene.

What are the best areas to stay in Antwerp?

Listed below are the neighbourhoods stay in Antwerp

• ‘t Zuid: ‘t Zuid is an upscale residential neighbourhood south of the city centre, known for its elegant accommodations along stately boulevards. The area is home to the Antwerp Zoo and Central Station, offering a sophisticated ambience with beautiful architecture. Art galleries, upscale dining options and proximity to key attractions make ‘t Zuid a refined and convenient place to stay.
• Central Station Area: Central Station Area is a bustling part of Antwerp, centred around the city's main railway station. It's a convenient base for exploring the city with a wide range of hotels, restaurants and shops. The Central Station Area's excellent transport links and vibrant atmosphere make it a popular choice for tourists and business travellers.
• Meir and “Wilde Zee: Meir and “Wilde Zee” is the main shopping district in Antwerp, known for its pedestrian boulevard filled with stores and restaurants. The area can be busy and lively, offering various shopping opportunities from high-end brands to local boutiques. Meir and “Wilde Zee” are perfect for those who enjoy being in the heart of the action and want easy access to dining and entertainment options.
• Grote Markt: Grote Markt is the historic heart of Antwerp, home to the city's stunning Cathedral and iconic square. With a high concentration of hotels, restaurants and nightlife, it's ideal for sightseeing and exploring the city's rich history. Grote Markt's cobblestone streets, historic buildings and lively atmosphere make it a must-visit area for tourists wanting a classic Antwerp experience.
• Quartier Latin: Quartier Latin is a trendy and artistic neighbourhood in Antwerp, filled with bars, cafes and boutique shops. Known for its bohemian vibe and cultural richness, it's a great place to explore the city's creative side. Quartier Latin's unique character, vibrant street life and proximity to cultural attractions make it a favourite among young and creative travellers.

Listed below are the best hotels in Antwerp:

• Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp: Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp is renowned for its luxurious accommodations and top-notch service. The hotel offers a serene retreat in the city's heart, with beautifully designed rooms and lush gardens. Guests can indulge in the hotel's spa and wellness facilities, dine in its exquisite restaurant for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and make reservations to ensure a special culinary experience. The personalised attention of the staff adds to the hotel's appeal, making it ideal for those seeking elegance and tranquillity in a bustling city.
• Maison Nationale City Flats & Suites: Maison Nationale City Flats & Suites offers a modern design and comfort blend, providing a unique and stylish stay in Antwerp. The hotel features spacious suites with contemporary furnishings and all the amenities needed for a comfortable stay. Its central location makes exploring the city's attractions convenient and guests can find delightful places to eat nearby, including breakfast, lunch, or dinner options. The attentive staff ensures a pleasant experience and can help with reservations at local restaurants.
• YAYS Antwerp Opera: YAYS Antwerp Opera is located near the famous Antwerp Opera House and offers a chic and sophisticated stay. The hotel's elegant rooms are designed with attention to detail, providing a luxurious experience. Guests can enjoy the city's vibrant cultural scene and have lunch or dinner at the nearby theatres, museums and galleries. Reservations for special dining experiences can be made through the hotel's friendly staff and the excellent service makes it popular among travellers seeking culture and elegance.
• Boutique Hotel Maison Emile: Boutique Hotel Maison Emile is one of the best hotels in Antwerp and it is a charming hotel that exudes warmth and character. Situated in a historic building, the hotel offers uniquely decorated rooms that reflect the artistic spirit of Antwerp. Guests can enjoy a delicious breakfast in the cosy dining area and explore nearby boutiques and cafés for lunch or dinner. The hotel's intimate atmosphere, personalised service, recommendations and reservations for local dining make it a perfect choice for a boutique experience.
• Hotel NH Collection Antwerp Centre: Hotel NH Collection Antwerp Centre is part of the renowned NH Collection and offers a luxurious stay in the heart of Antwerp. With modern and spacious rooms, top-tier amenities and a convenient location near major attractions, it's a favourite among business and leisure travellers. The hotel's restaurant serves delectable cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner and reservations are accepted for special dining experiences. The fitness centre allows guests to maintain their routine while away from home and the professional staff and excellent facilities ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay.

How to get to Antwerp?

Antwerp is easily accessible by train, plane, car or bus from major European cities, including London. There are multiple transportation options for reaching Antwerp, depending on departure point and preferences. The most direct option from London is taking the Eurostar train from St Pancras International Station directly to Antwerp Central Station. This high-speed route takes around 3 hours. Alternatively, travellers can take a Eurostar to Brussels then transfer to a local train or bus for the roughly 45-minute journey between Brussels and Antwerp. Regular flights from London airports like Heathrow and London City to Brussels Airport also exist. From there, trains to Antwerp are quick and frequent. Some budget airlines like RyanAir also offer direct flights from London Stansted Airport to Antwerp Airport. Driving to Antwerp from London takes 8–9 hours to cover the roughly 500 km (310.69 miles) distance. Travellers can take ferry crossings from southern England to France or Belgium. Another option is the direct Eurolines bus between London and Antwerp which takes around 8.5 hours. Train and air travel provides the fastest and most direct routes for getting to Antwerp from London or other cities. The well-connected transportation network makes Antwerp very accessible for European travellers.

Yes, there is a small regional airport located in Antwerp called Antwerp International Airport. However, it is not a major airport and only handles some commercial passenger flights as well as general aviation traffic. Antwerp Airport is located 5 km (3.1 miles) southeast of the city centre in the district of Deurne. It has one passenger terminal, aircraft stands, freight facilities and a flight school. The single runway is only 600 metres ( 0.37 miles)  long, allowing it to accommodate small passenger aircraft. There are no regular long-haul or intercontinental flights to and from Antwerp Airport. It mainly handles domestic routes and flights to select European cities operated by smaller budget airlines like CityJet. Major airlines fly into Brussels Airport instead, which is the largest international airport serving the Antwerp region. Regarding passenger traffic, Antwerp Airport served around 250,000 passengers in 2019 before the pandemic. This is quite modest compared to the major airports. Still, Antwerp does have its own airport within city limits, even if it is small-scale and connects mostly to domestic destinations and a handful of European hubs. Travellers coming from further abroad will need to fly into Brussels and take ground transport to Antwerp.

Listed below are the steps someone needs to follow in order to get from Antwerp to Brussels.

• Firstly, one must determine the preferred mode of transport. Options include train, car, bus, taxi, or bicycle. Factors such as travel time, cost and convenience should be considered to choose the best option for the journey from Antwerp to Brussels.
• Secondly, one should head to Antwerp's central train station if choosing the train . A ticket to Brussels must be purchased from a ticket machine or the ticket counter. After checking the schedule and waiting for the next available train, one can board the train and enjoy a comfortable ride. The journey typically takes around 40-50 minutes.
• Thirdly, one can rent a car or use a personal vehicle if opting to drive . Following the E19 motorway from Antwerp to Brussels and using a GPS or map for guidance if needed, the drive usually takes 45 minutes to an hour. The distance between Antwerp and Brussels is 45 km (28 miles) by road.
• Fourthly, for bus travel, one must find a bus station in Antwerp that offers services to Brussels. A ticket can be purchased online or at the station and the bus ride may take around 1-2 hours, depending on traffic and stops.
• Fifthly, If choosing a taxi or ride-sharing service , one can book a ride using a taxi service or app like Uber. The destination must be provided as Brussels and the ride may take 45 minutes to an hour.
• Lastly, upon arrival in Brussels , one should use local transportation, such as trams, buses, or the metro, to reach the specific destination in Brussels . Maps or locals can be consulted for directions if needed.

Yes, Antwerp City Pass is definitely worth it. The Antwerp City Pass is the official tourist pass for the city of Antwerp in Belgium. It offers free or discounted admission to museums, attractions, public transportation and other services in Antwerp. It can save money for visitors planning to see multiple sights and use public transit during their stay. The Antwerp City Pass costs €29 (£25, $30) for 24 hours, €40 (£34, $43) for 48 hours and €48 (£41, $51) for 72 hours. The pass is activated when used for the first time, not when purchased.

There are three options to buy the Antwerp City Pass. These are, online through the Visit Antwerp website, the visitor centers in Antwerp and at the FOMU Photo Museum shop. The two visitor centers where people can buy the Antwerp City Pass. The first one is at Grote Markt 13, which is open daily 10am-5pm. The second visitor center is at Antwerp Central Station and is open daily 9am-5pm.

The Antwerp City Pass offers free admission to over 15 museums and attractions including Rubens House, Museum aan de Stroom (MAS), Plantin-Moretus Museum, Cathedral of Our Lady, De Ruien, St. Paul's Church.

It also offers free public transportation on trams and buses operated by De Lijn. Discounts of 10-25% on additional attractions like the Antwerp zoo, boat tours, Segway tours and more. Buyers will also get a voucher booklet for discounts at shops and restaurants across Antwerp.

What are the markets in Antwerp?

Antwerp has several weekly, monthly, seasonal and annual markets. The weekly markets are Vogelenmarkt, Exotic market, Friday market, Antiques market, Bio market. The monthly or seasonal markets in Antwerp are the Boekenplein market, the Lambermontmartre, the Brocantwerpen and the Grote Markt. The yearly markets in Antwerp are the Rubens market and the famous Antwerp Christmas market.

Listed below are the markets in Antwerp.

• Rubens market. Rubens is a market that takes place yearly, in Grote Markt on August 15 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. At the Rubens market, all merchants are dressed like 17th-century merchants and their stands are decorated in that way as well. At the end of the market day, the best-dressed merchant with the best-decorated stand is chosen. The items being sold are of this age, though, which might be a good thing if you're looking to buy some produce.
• Antwerp Christmas market. Every year the city of Antwerp organizes the Antwerp Christmas market with lots of food and drink stands but also stands selling seasonal products, an ice skating rink and even a Ferris wheel. It's a good place to do some Christmas shopping.
• Boekenplein market (“Books Square”). Boekenplein market is more than just a books market. There are always some musicians playing and there are stands where you can grab a bite or a drink. To be consumed while reading your newly bought book, of course. Boekenplein market is taking place every third Sunday of the months March to October, in De Coninckplein, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Lambermontmartre market. Lambermontmartre market is a square where (mostly graphic) artists display their work and often there's also someone drawing portraits of people. Lambermontmartre wants to recreate the same ambiance in the south neighborhood (“‘t Zuid”) of Antwerp, but also includes acoustic concerts. It is considered similar to Montmartre in Paris. It is taking place every last Sunday, from May to  September, from 12 p.m. to 5 pm.
• Brocantwerpen. Brocantwerpen is a flea-market where you can also find some vintage and antiques. People can buy furniture, dolls, film posters, clothing, handbags, matchboxes, vinyl records, stamps and much more. Most things are unique. It is taking place about 6 times a year at the Grote Markt. People should check more information on the Brocantwerpen website for dates and hours to visit.
• Vogelenmarkt (“Birds market”).   The Vogelenmarkt is one of my favorite markets in Antwerp as it's so diverse and definitely not a typical farmers market. The stands at the Vogelenmarkt sell flowers, fabrics, antiques, jewelry and more. You can even find small animals, like hamsters, here. It is taking place every Sunday from 8am to 1pm, at the Oudevaartplaats, Theaterplein and surrounding streets.
• Exotic market. The exotic market is – as you could have guessed – a very multicultural market where you can buy and taste all kinds of Mediterranean specialties. It's a great place to find Turkish and Moroccan food. It is taking place every Saturday (except on public holidays) from 8am to 4pm, at the Oudevaartplaats, Theaterplein and surrounding streets.
• Friday market. On Fridays, old furniture and small antiques are auctioned at the Friday Market. It's always a lively event and fun to attend, even if you just go to watch. It is taking place every Friday from 9am to 1pm at the  Vrijdagmarkt.
• Antiques market. At the Antiques market people can find antiques and other old/second-hand stuff at the antique market on Saturday and Sunday. This market is aimed more at “casual” buyers than the Friday market. It is open on Saturdays at Lijnwaadmarkt from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except on public holidays). Also on Sundays Sint-Jansvliet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (also on public holidays)
• Bio market. Bio is hip, also in Antwerp. At the Sunday bio market, only products with a bio quality label are being sold. It is taking place every Sunday from 8am to 4pm at Falconplein.

Are Christmas markets crowded in Antwerp?

Yes, Antwerp's Christmas markets do tend to get quite crowded, especially on weekends and during peak times. However, the lively atmosphere is part of the appeal. The Antwerp Christmas market is taking place yearly and attracts locals and tourists to their festive stalls. The biggest is the “Winter in Antwerp” market running for over a month on the Grote Markt main square and adjacent streets. With over 200 stalls, this bustling market attracts crowds browsing gifts, ornaments, food and drinks. The historic centre also hosts an intimate, authentic Christmas market at the wharf, bringing seasonal cheer with carols, crafts and local cuisine. The zoological gardens hold a family-friendly Santa's Village market as well. During evenings and weekends, these markets overflow with visitors soaking up the Christmas spirit, meaning congested foot traffic and queues are common. However, the cheerful ambience and twinkling lights help offset the crowds. Visiting on weekdays or mornings provides a more relaxed experience. The extended duration of Antwerp's Christmas markets also spreads out attendance. Lively crowds are integral to enjoying the festive atmosphere that makes Antwerp's Christmas markets so popular yet worth braving the masses.

Yes, live musical performances are central to the festive atmosphere at many Christmas markets throughout Belgium, including in cities like Bruges, Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent. The markets often have special stages for live music and carol singers. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, holiday music fills the air at Belgium's Christmas markets. Shoppers can listen to choirs singing traditional carols or bands playing upbeat festive tunes as they browse the stalls. Some markets have pianists or organists playing Christmas songs as well. Daily music schedules in Bruges, Brussels and Antwerp feature local school and church choirs and professional musicians. Brass bands and other ensembles may provide live entertainment too. The music adds to the seasonal spirit and provides warmth during the cold winter nights. The sound of classic Christmas carols sung by choir groups as shoppers sip warm mulled wine and gather around food stalls is an integral part of the traditional European Christmas market. The evidence indicates live musical performances from choirs, singers, bands and other musicians are commonly incorporated into Christmas markets throughout Belgium to provide a festive holiday atmosphere.

What are the best music festivals in Belgium?

Listed below are the best music festivals in Belgium:

• Tomorrowland: One of the most popular Belgium music festivals, Tomorrowland is held in Boom, near Antwerp. It attracts music lovers from all over the world, featuring a wide array of electronic music genres. The festival is known for its elaborate stage designs and top-notch production.
• Rock Werchter: Rock Werchter is a Belgium music festival located near Leuven that offers a diverse lineup of rock, pop and electronic music. It has been a staple in the Belgian music scene for decades and continues to draw large crowds. The festival's commitment to quality and variety has earned it numerous awards.
• Pukkelpop: Pukkelpop is a Belgium music festival held in Hasselt, known for its eclectic mix of genres. From indie rock to hip-hop, the festival caters to a wide audience. Its innovative approach to programming and emphasis on emerging talent make it a favourite among music enthusiasts.
• Gent Jazz Festival: The Gent Jazz Festival is a celebration of jazz music in Ghent, Belgium. It showcases both local and international jazz talents. As one of the premier Belgium festivals for jazz lovers, it offers a rich and diverse program that appeals to both purists and newcomers.

Antwerp has a maritime temperate climate with mild winters and summers. According to the weather data, Antwerp's warmest month is July when average high temperatures reach 23°C (73°F) and nighttime lows average 12°C (54°F). The weather is mostly comfortable in July with some humid days. Antwerp's coldest month is January when daytime highs average only 5.9°C (43°F) and lows drop to 0.3°C (33°F) so winter weather is very cold. The best months for pleasant weather in Antwerp are June, August and September. In June, Antwerp enjoys warm daytime highs of 20.2°C (69°F) and mild nights of 10.5°C (51°F). August brings high temperatures of 22.7°C (73°F) and evenings are comfortable with lows of 12°C (54°F). Antwerp weather in September remains warm with average highs of 19.1°C (66°F).

In terms of rainfall, November is Antwerp's wettest month with precipitation averaging 81mm over 12 days. October also brings substantial rainfall while December, January and May each average 60-70mm of precipitation per month. April is Antwerp's driest month when rainfall decreases to just 40mm over 7 wet days. Summertime weather is more settled with July averaging only 35mm of rain. Antwerp's prevailing winds come from the west and south between September and February bringing wet and stormy weather off the North Sea. Northerly winds are more common in late spring.

Antwerp's warmest weather comes in July but June to September offer mild temperatures and lower rainfall. Winters are cold and wet. November sees the most precipitation while April is the driest month. Antwerp's weather is changeable year-round due to its maritime location.

Yes, Antwerp is absolutely worth visiting. As Belgium's second-largest city, Antwerp has a wide variety of historic sites, museums, architecture, shopping, food and nightlife, making it an engaging destination for tourists. The beautiful mediaeval centre is filled with guild houses, the impressive Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady and stunning architecture dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Antwerp also has popular art museums like the Royal Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum Mayer Van Den Bergh with significant collections. The famed Antwerp Central train station, built in 1905, is a sight. For shopping, Antwerp is the world capital of diamond trading and cutting and has an array of boutiques and markets. The dining scene is excellent, with Belgian specialities like waffles, chocolate, fries and beer. Antwerp has trendy fashion and design districts and lively nightlife venues. The port area along the river is also of interest. Easy to navigate and relatively compact, Antwerp can be seen in a couple days or provide enough museums, historic sites, restaurants and cafés to occupy many more days. To sum up, Antwerp makes for a rewarding and memorable urban getaway with something for all interests.

No, Antwerp is generally not considered an expensive city compared to other major European destinations. The cost of living and travelling in Antwerp and Belgium is moderately priced. Basic goods like milk, cigarettes, water and beer are reasonably priced. For example, a pint of beer at a pub in Antwerp costs around €2-4, comparable to other cities like Brussels. Hotel rooms, restaurant meals, groceries and public transportation also tend to cost slightly less than in other major cities like London, Paris, or Amsterdam. However, prices are higher compared to more budget-friendly destinations in Eastern Europe. The average cost of a basic breakfast in Antwerp is €8-12 and dinner for two is around €40-60. While Antwerp has some pricier luxury hotels and dining, budget options are widely available. Rental accommodation, food from markets and supermarkets and free attractions help keep travel costs low. Summing up, the cost of living and travelling in Antwerp and Belgium is relatively affordable compared to other Western European countries. Moderate prices in Belgium on most goods and services make it a reasonable destination for travellers looking to stretch their budgets further.

Is Antwerp safe?

Yes, Antwerp is generally considered a safe city to visit and live in. Antwerp has relatively low crime rates compared to other major cities in Europe. Violent crime rates are minimal and petty crimes like pickpocketing or theft are more common. However, violent incidents are rare and most visits to Antwerp are trouble-free. As with any large tourist city, visitors should take normal safety precautions like being aware of their surroundings, securing valuables and avoiding isolated areas at night. Areas like the red light district can attract more petty crimes, but increased police patrols have improved safety in recent years. Antwerp is as safe as most European cities and its compact, walkable layout makes it easy to stay in safe, populated areas. If visitors exercise basic street smarts and caution, they are highly unlikely to encounter any issues regarding criminality or theft while travelling in Antwerp, Belgium. The city has strong law enforcement and low crime levels compared to many other destinations. For these reasons, Antwerp can be considered a very safe place to visit.

Yes, Antwerp is easy to visit with children. Antwerp has many family-friendly attractions and activities, making it an enjoyable destination for kids and toddlers. The Antwerp Zoo is a top attraction, housing over 9000 animals in a beautiful park setting. The Aquatopia indoor water park is next to the zoo, with slides, pools and play areas for all ages. The calm canals with boat tours and cruises provide a unique way to see the city. Kid-focused museums like the Museum aan de Stroom (MAS) and the Museum of Diamonds have interactive exhibits and programs. Antwerp also has great public parks like Nachtegaalplaats Park with playgrounds and the beautiful 19th century Central Station with its main hall, zoo mosaic floor and train watching. Sweet treats like Belgian waffles and chocolate shops also delight young ones. The compact city centre makes it walkable for families, plus there is a large number of family-oriented attractions. Also, most attractions are accessible via public transport. Visiting Antwerp with kids and toddlers is easy and recommended.

Are there any beaches near Antwerp?

Yes, there are a few beaches located not too far from the city of Antwerp in Belgium. However, Antwerp has no beaches directly, as it is inland and along the Scheldt River. The nearest beach town to Antwerp would be Blankenberge, which has a long stretch of sandy beach along the North Sea. Blankenberge is about 30 km (18.6 miles) or a 30-minute from Antwerp. Other beach towns within an hour's drive of Antwerp include Knokke-Heist to the northeast and De Haan to the west. The coastline of Belgium is not very extensive, but these beach resort towns offer some nice options for swimming, sunbathing and enjoying the sand and sea breezes during the summer months. They provide a nice seaside getaway without travelling too far from Antwerp. While Antwerp city does not have beaches, the Belgium beaches near the city can provide enjoyable beach days for those looking to visit the coast while based in Antwerp.

Listed below are the UNESCO world heritage sights in Belgium:

• The Grand Place in Brussels: The Grand Place in Brussels, with ornate mediaeval guildhalls, town hall and vibrant commercial atmosphere, was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1998. The Grand Place testifies to the vitality of the commercial role and the importance of the municipal institutions of the historic cities of Belgium. It is an outstanding example of a historical public square.
• The Flemish Béguinages: The Flemish Béguinage consists of 13 béguinages across Flanders, including those in Bruges, Antwerp and Ghent, which were added to the UNESCO list in 1998 as well. These architectural complexes originated in the Middle Ages when they housed lay religious women called Beguines. They are exceptional examples of the traditional architecture of Western Europe.
• The Four Lifts on the old Canal du Centre: The Four Lifts on the Old Canal du Centre and their Environs in La Louvière and Le Roeulx were inscribed in 1998 and 1999. They are hydraulic boat lifts on the historic Canal du Centre. They are an exceptional example of a late 19th-century industrial landscape in good condition. 
• The historic centre of Bruges: The historic centre of Bruges, whose public and commercial buildings date from the 12th to the 15th centuries, was added to the UNESCO list in 2000. Bruges has managed to preserve its historic fabric, including mediaeval buildings, remarkably well. It is an outstanding example of an architectural and cultural ensemble.
• The Neolithic Flint Mines at Spiennes: The Neolithic Flint Mines at Spiennes covers over 100 hectares and were inscribed in 2000. They constitute the largest and earliest concentration of ancient mines in Europe, dating back over 6000 years. They provided high-quality flint across the continent for thousands of years.

Find below the most important pages about Antwerp.

14 Best Hotels in Antwerp and Best Neighbourhoods to Stay

17 Best Restaurants in Antwerp to eat like a local

14 Top Antwerp Museums: History, Photo & Art Galleries

Antwerp Christmas Market 2023-2024: 🎅 Dates, Location, Attractions

14 Best Cafés and Bars in Antwerp

26 Best Things to do in Antwerp, Belgium

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Travelsito says

Great post Sofie. Many fashion designers have learned there business in Antwerp as well.

Thank you! Yup, it’s definitely the fashion capital of Belgium and people come from everywhere to study at the fashion school of Antwerp.

Well I did ask if you had anything on Antwerp… great post Sofie. Extremely helpful. Thanks

Hahaha, truth! You’re very welcome. Glad you like it:)

Culinaire wandeling Antwerpen says

Wat een fantastische stad toch! Vol leuke hotspots… Tijdens onze jaarlijkse teambuilding met de collega’s deden wij onder andere een culinaire wandeling in Antwerpen. Van een leuke ervaring gesproken…

Ben ik helemaal met je eens! Ik ben zelf niet zo’n fan van rondleidingen… behalve als het culinaire rondleidingen zijn :) Geen betere manier om een plek te leren kennen dan middels haar eetcultuur!

Marcin BWZ says

hello Sofie, I came to your blog because I’m looking for information about Antwerp. It’s great that you write blog in 2 languages, because I’m currently learning Dutch :) I think I’ll stay here longer. Greetings, Marcin

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Destinations | EUROPE

Best places to visit in antwerp – travel guide.

12 Oct 2021 | Belgium , Destinations , Europe

Wondering about the best places to visit in Antwerp? Keep on reading this local guide!

No matter how much I love traveling, my home always has a special place in my heart. I’m originally from Limburg, but I’ve now lived in Antwerp for almost ten years. 

Antwerp is the fashion city of Belgium, and it’s a bustling city full of culture, architecture, and delicious food. I’ve put together an Antwerp travel guide full of the top spots to visit and the best things to do from a local’s perspective.

** Disclaimer: This post contains affiliated links which means that purchases made through these links reward Bey of Travel a small commission without any additional charge for the purchaser.** 

25 Best Places to visit in Antwerp: Travel Guide

Before I share all of the amazing things to do in Antwerp, here are some planning tips to help prepare for your trip!

Antwerp is located in Belgium , in western Europe. It lies in the Dutch-speaking region of the country, called Flemish. 

It is a port city and is situated on Belgium’s River Scheldt. Antwerp is perfect for culture and nature lovers alike, its history dates back to the Middle Ages, and thanks to its parks and green spaces you can enjoy short hikes and strolls in and around the city!

When is the best time to visit Antwerp? 

The best time to visit Antwerp is during spring or summer – so ideally any time between March and September. Although it will be a little busier, there’s less chance of rain so you can fully enjoy the city without worrying about getting soaked. 

If you want to avoid crowds, I would recommend visiting Antwerp in early January or February. Although this is the coldest time of year, there are plenty of Christmas decorations up and everything looks extra festive. Just make sure to bundle up!

How to move around in Antwerp?

To get into Antwerp, you can take a taxi from our national airport in Zaventem, which will cost around €60. Alternatively, there is also a train station in the airport.

It takes around half an hour to get the train from Brussels to Antwerp – trains leave around every 20 minutes. 

If you want a more low-cost option, the bus is the cheapest form of transport into the city and takes around 40 minutes.

Once you’re in Antwerp, it’s best to explore by bike or on foot. You can rent a bike at A-Velo, they offer day or week passes, and you can ride between the different Velo stations during your rental. Check their website online for more information about renting a bike.

The Botanical Garden

Visit the botanical garden and the conservatory.

The Antwerp Botanical Garden is home to a gorgeous green space that spans three hectares and is home to over 10,000 plants from all over the world!

Address:  Leopoldstraat 24, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium

Hours: Every day from 8:00 am to 08:00 pm

Middelheim Park 

I love Middelheim Park and I think that it’s one of the best places to visit in Antwerp. It’s a gorgeous, wooded park – originally opened in 1939 – and features sculptures by famous artists such as Rodin and Picasso.

Stroll along former castle grounds of Vogelzoan, Middelheim, and Den Brandt.  

Address: Middelheimlaan 1, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium

The Scheldt

Antwerp is a city by the water, so ensure you enjoy a picnic along the Scheldt in summer during your stay. Take a picnic blanket and some drinks and enjoy a beautiful sunset over the water.

Address:  Scheldt River in Antwerp, Belgium

The Cathedral of Our Lady

The Cathedral of Our Lady is a Roman Catholic church in Antwerp. It is gorgeous and it has played a pivotal role in our history.

Address: Groenplaats 21, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium

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Het Steen is basically a medieval castle right in the city center! It was originally built in 1128 and has been used as a prison for many centuries. In fact, it’s one of the oldest structures that remain standing in Antwerp today. 

Architecture lovers can visit the well-known ‘t Steen or the Palace of Justice.

Address: Steenplein 1, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium

Antwerp’s city hall

Antwerp’s city hall — located on the riverfront – is a great example of northern Gothic architecture. It was originally built in 1533 and features a beautiful, red facade with intricate details.

Over time though, it has been destroyed and rebuilt quite a few times due to fires.

Address: Grote Markt 1, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium

Pay a visit to the Havenhuis, a design of the late world-famous architect Zaha Hadid. 

Vlaeykensgang

Visit Antwerp’s most hidden (but most beautiful) alley.

More things to do in Antwerp Belgium 

There are plenty of ways to fill your days in Antwerp, from beautiful views to pieces of history. 

On the other side of the water (on the left bank), you’ll find the most beautiful view of the city. You can get there through the pedestrian tunnel at Sint-Jansvliet. 

Want to escape the bustle of the city? Pay a visit to the ‘beach’ of Sint Anneke . The Sint-Anna tunnel is also worth checking out, as it truly is a hidden pearl in our diamond city. It opened in 1933 and the tunnel has managed to retain its authenticity until now.

For theater performances, visit the Bourla or enjoy a wonderful performance of the classical ballet in the Stadsschouwburg. The best concerts take place in the ‘Sportpaleis’, but if you prefer something more intimate, go to Trix or Middelheim. Make sure you plan and book your tickets well in advance to avoid missing out!

Walking Trails and Scenic City Strolls 

Antwerp has both the modern amenities and urban history for the city explorer, and more – there is water, and amazing nature. If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, then go on a stroll or a ride through these trails in Antwerp, 

Scheldenland

The Scheldt flows through the city from south to north and has always played an important role in the history of Antwerp. The city originated along the Scheldt and owes much of its richest tales to the river. It has an important economic function but also plays a major role in local nature and life. 

The river and the green areas connected to it together form the Scheldeland. This landscape is the habitat of many special animal and plant species and belongs almost entirely to the Natura 2000 network, a European network of protected nature reserves. 

You can find more information about the walking area here . 

Groene Bedding

A green ribbon runs around the Antwerp core city. It is largely enclosed by the surrounding infrastructures. Although the roads take up a lot of space, there is still room for quite a bit of open green space. 

In the south, it is still fairly robust, but the further north you go, the more fragmented it becomes. At the Lobroekdok, the Green Ribbon Bedding is completely absorbed into the building fabric. You can find more information about the walking area here.

Hoboken Polder 

My favorite place to go hiking is without a doubt the Hoboken Polder area, which is just outside the city. In the Hoboken Polder, there are several nice walks along indicated pathways. These walks give a wide impression of this beautiful nature reserve and cover approximately 9 km of walking. 

Along the way, you walk among cows and pass ponds where you can admire different bird species. You can find the map here . 

Where to eat in Antwerp? The Best Restaurants and Markets 

Because of the mix of cultures, you can find the best food to suit everyone’s taste buds in Antwerp. There’s absolutely anything, from classics such as veal stew or steak tartare served with French fries to several hipster vegan options.

When in Belgium, you simply need to try our french fries (although they should be called Belgian fries…as we Belgians invented them!). We call them ‘frietjes’ and every Belgian family eats them monthly – or even weekly. 

Antwerp’s most famous spot to eat them is Number 1, which is just around the corner from the City Hall in the historic city center. Since 1980, this place has been open day and night, and it’s a must-visit for locals and tourists alike. Want something even more special? 

World-famous chef Sergio Herman opened the Frites Atelier a couple of years ago – here you can eat delicious luxury french fries (for a slightly higher price).

Don’t forget to taste our delicious Belgian chocolate – Neuhaus is my personal favorite. They also have beautiful gift boxes as the perfect souvenir!

Visit the market on the Theaterplein on Saturday where you can eat hand-made cheese croquettes (look for the lighting tower stand), along with yummy Moroccan pizzas or fresh oysters.

My personal favorite spots to eat in Antwerp include:

• De Arme Duivel – Head here for some Belgian classic dishes. Reservation is a must. They also do takeaway (available through the app Deliveroo). The address is Armeduivelstraat 1, 2000 Antwerpen.
• Varelli – Find delicious Greek food here – every dish on the menu is a delight!  
• Graanmarkt 13 – This restaurant is built around seasonal vegetables, and they also have a nice shop with clothes and design articles. Ask for a table on their splendid terrace.
• Het Gerecht – A culinary experience with only fresh homemade products in the perfect setting.
• The Jane – Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience – booking well in advance is a must!
• Het Gebaar – World-famous pastry chef Roger Van Damme will treat you to several magical desserts.
• Yust – The young Belgian chef Laurens Jasperse makes sharing dishes very hard! The menu consists of only fresh ingredients, adapted to every season and inspired by every corner of the culinary world.
• Nathan – Restaurant Nathan rapidly rose to the top of the Belgian food scene with a Michelin star, which was more than deserved. The young couple serves the most delicious menus at affordable prices. Go for lunch and be blown away!

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Where to find the best coffee in antwerp .

More of a coffee fanatic than a foodie? There are so many incredible coffee places in Antwerp, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

• Tinsel – Tinsel is my favorite coffee bar by far in Antwerp. As they say themselves: ‘Tinsel is a small place with a big heart. Serving solely seasonal and homemade dishes, we strive to offer simple yet delicious food. No muss, no fuss’. Breakfast or brunch is worth a try as well. 
• Caffènation – This is my go-to for a coffee on the go! 
• Normo – At Normo, coziness comes first. They also sell their own pastries, coffee beans, and tea. 
• Escobar – Escobar lies in a side ally of the Meir. It’s the ideal stop between shops, where you can enjoy a coffee or a nice lunch on their big fun terrace. 
• Bar Paniek – I don’t really recommend this for the coffee, but more to enjoy the beautiful view over the water. 

Going out in Antwerp

Many visitors flock to Antwerp every year for the world-famous Tomorrowland festival. Is the festival really worth a trip around the world? The short answer is an absolute yes. I’ve now enjoyed ten years there as a visitor myself, and I must say it’s simply a phenomenal festival that will blow you away. 

Not just because of the music, but also because of the breath-taking details like the podium constructions, structures, and much more. Tomorrowland is truly like a fairytale.

Not got tickets for Tomorrowland? Club Vaag or Ampère are both excellent choices for a fun night out.

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Best Beaches in Kotor Montenegro 

The hidden treasures of the Adriatic are poised for exploration, offering unforgettable seaside moments. From the easily accessible Kotor Beach, lying at the base of ancient fortifications, to the secluded allure of Bajova Kula, each spot offers its own piece of paradise. 

• Kotor Beach
• Bajova Kula Beach
• Plavi Horizonti Beach
• Verige Beach
• Morinj Beach
• Zanjice Beach
• Risan Beach
• Kotor Natural Beach
• Oblatno Beach
• Pirate Beach

Whether planning a solo escape, a romantic excursion, or a family holiday, Kotor’s beaches cater to all occasions, ensuring lasting memories. 

1. Kotor Beach

A stone’s throw from the Old Town, Kotor Beach is a convenient and lively stretch perfect for those who love to be in the heart of the action. It is convenient for visitors who want to combine historical tours with seaside relaxation. 

While not the largest of beaches, its proximity to the city centre makes it particularly accessible. 

The beach is quite pebbly, and because of its size it tends to be very crowded by noon. I recommend getting there early (between 8 to 10 am), grab a sun lounger (paid) and enjoy a full day there.

If you are sightseeing in the Old Town, and then heading there in the late afternoon or evening I recommend just taking a walk and enjoying the scenery as finding a place to sit down will be a little difficult. 

There are not a lot of food options on the beach (but a 5 minute walk from the beach will welcome you to many options).

Highlights:

• Accessibility : Just minutes from the city centre.
• Amenities : A mix of free and paid amenities are available, including sunbeds and umbrellas.
• Vibe : Busy and vibrant, surrounded by bars and restaurants.

2. Bajova Kula Beach

Named after the legendary hero Bajo Pivljanin, Bajova Kula Beach prides itself on its clear waters and small, secluded bay. It’s ideal for those seeking tranquillity away from the centre.

To get to the beach, you have to drive for 20 minutes as public transport is infrequent. Plus getting there early will be a bonus as you can enjoy the peaceful view of the bay, and soak in the sun. 

If you are not driving, consider taking a cab, this will also be convenient as sometimes parking can be an issue when visiting during the peak hours of the day. 

You can swim at the Bajova Kula Beach, and there is also a beach bar on-site. You can pay for sun beds. 

Be careful when you stroll on the beach as it is quite pebbly and glass pieces are often seen on the shore. 

All in all I recommend visiting the beach for its epic views of the Kotor Bay, and its vibe. 

• Distance : Roughly 20 minutes’ drive from Kotor.
• Amenities : Enjoy the luxury of a private beach feel with rentable cabanas (morning hours).
• Ambiance : Calm and peaceful, perfect for pure relaxation (morning hours).

3. Plavi Horizonti Beach

Or as the locals call it, ‘Blue Horizons’ is a beach experience not to be missed. 

The fine sandy beach gradually slopes into shallow waters, making it ideal for families with their playful toddlers. It’s one of the most sublime places to witness the horizons, as the name suggests, and lose yourself in the magnificent sunsets.

You can swim, or rent sun loungers. To keep everyone busy and entertained you will find a variety of activities from beach volleyball, tennis, and basketball to building sand castles and hanging out in their restaurant. 

The beach is best visited in June and September. And it holds the coveted Blue Flag recognition for excellence in environmental management and water quality.

• Distance : Roughly 20 minutes’ drive from Kotor Old town (near Tivat Airport)
• Amenities : Beautiful and smooth, perfect for children and families. Good restaurant and parking available on site.
• Ambiance : Coastal charmer with cliffs and trees and endless sea views. 

4. Verige Beach

Verige Beach is a hidden gem located about 25 minutes drive from Kotor. Tucked away in the narrowest part of the Bay of Kotor, this enchanting wild beach is easily accessible via the Kotor Bay Ferry.

The beach has fine pebbles, and its crystal-clear waters are breathtaking. Enhancing its beauty, the quaint Church of Our Lady of Angels stands nearby, offering breathtaking views over the bay, Perast, and Our Lady of the Rocks. 

The sight of the church, with the scenic backdrop, is utterly captivating!

I like Verige Beach more for sightseeing, including capturing the sights of the boats docking or going up and down the waters. 

The waters are also frequented by mega yachts and elegant sailing boats, adding to the beach’s allure.

If you wish to hang out and soak in the sun, you can rent sun loungers nearby or sit down to eat at the restaurant onsite.

• Distance : About 25 minutes’ drive away from Kotor town.
• Aim : Ideal for those looking to escape the busyness for a day.
• Convenience : Limited amenities, but sun loungers are available for rent. 

5. Morinj Beach

Situated a mere 30-minute drive from Kotor, it may require a bit more travel, but its appeal is undeniable. 

Unlike the typically smaller beaches of Kotor, Morinj Beach stands out with its expansive sandy shores, a rare find in the bay area. 

It offers a gentle entry into the water, without the abrupt deepening found at many other local beaches, making it an ideal choice for families.

However, keep in mind that the waters of the Morinj Beach are a little bit cooler which is perfect for hot summer days as the waters can provide a refreshing respite on sweltering days.

Access to Morinj Beach is straightforward and free. You can rent a car and drive there. For convenience, there is a large parking lot located across the street, available for a nominal fee of €2.

• Distance : About 30 minutes’ drive north from Kotor.
• Amenities : Mostly free beach with some paid options for extra comfort.
• Features : Great for children and families.

6. Zanjice Beach

Tucked on the Lustica Peninsula, Zanjice Beach lures visitors with pebbly shores and clear blue waters. It’s a bit further out but worth the trek for its serene atmosphere.

The beach is only accessible during the peak season, and you can also book tours to get there from Kotor, or Budva. 

The beach is great for views, and the Blue Cave. 

Free entry to the beach, and in terms of amenities you can rent sunbeds, umbrellas, and access toilets and showers.

• Distance : Approximately 30 minutes’ drive from Kotor. Or you can come by boat (20 minutes)
• Amenities : Paid sunbeds, with some free areas to lay your towel.
• Surroundings : A quieter choice surrounded by nature.

7. Risan Beach

Want to escape the crowds? Then make your way to Risan Bay. Here, you can enjoy the offbeat shores of Bolnička Plaža, characterised by the authentic stones and rocks of Kotor Bay. 

The beach lacks the amenities that you would expect from a well-developed beach area, but it’s untamed, rugged beauty is its charm. 

Beyond its picturesque scenery, Risan Beach is steeped in history, standing as one of the bay’s most ancient settlements. 

Just a short stroll from the shore, visitors can discover Roman mosaics, adding a layer of cultural enrichment to the beach’s natural allure. 

The view of the 7th-century Banja Monastery, framed by towering cypress trees, is undeniably charming.

• Proximity : Approximately a 20-minute drive from Kotor.
• Cultural significance : Offers a touch of history with nearby ancient ruins.
• Amenities : Basic amenities are available, with a focus on the natural environment.

8. Kotor Natural Beach

Kotor Natural Beach is an undiscovered treasure for those in search of a completely free seaside retreat.

Nestled on the side opposite Kotor Beach, it presents a more untouched and rugged seaside experience compared to its counterpart. Here, you won’t find the sun loungers and manicured shores common to other Kotor vicinity beaches.

Given the pebbly and rocky terrain of this wild beach, I recommend bringing aqua shoes. 

Swimming is allowed and is okay here. 

Near the beach, you will find the ruins of the Fjord Hotel, and there are two small cafes. 

• Distance : a short walk from the Old Town to the beach. Parking is available nearby 
• Activities : Sunbathing, swimming 
• Facilities : Cafes near/on the beach

9. Jaz Beach

One of the longest beaches in the Bay of Kotor, Jaz Beach is famous not only for its beauty but also as a venue for top-notch music festivals. Its vivacious atmosphere, coupled with excellent facilities, makes it a hit for those who enjoy the livelier side of seaside leisure.

You can rent sun loungers, and umbrellas and when driving there you will be delighted to know that there is a large parking space (and it is FREE!).

• Distance :  Located approximately 20 minutes from the city centre (Budva municipality).
• Activities : Water sports, and live music events are just some of the activities on offer.
• Facilities : Sunbeds, cafes, and umbrellas are available.

10. Oblatno Beach

​​Oblatno Beach, located just a 20-minute drive from Kotor, is the epitome of a chic beach getaway. 

For an epic day out at a cool beach club, Oblatno is amazing – it is similar to Plavi Horizonti Beach, where the waters are sandy and fine. 

The beach is great for families where you can enjoy beachside games.

The beach is free to access, but there is an area under the Almara Beach Club – where you will have to pay to access. This is where you will also find sun loungers for rent. 

Other than the beach amenities you can also enjoy cocktails and light snacks all whilst soaking the views of the Adriatic Sea.

A note about the Almara Beach Club – this is a full service restaurant serving fresh and delicious seafood (including paella). 

• Distance : A 20-minute drive from Kotor
• Amenities : Sun loungers, umbrellas, changing rooms, showers, and restaurant/bar services.
• Vibe : A trendy and upscale beach club atmosphere with live music events during peak season.

11. Pirate Beach

Pirate Beach offers a blend of fun and relaxation where children can play to their heart’s content, making it a favourite among visiting families. This beach is located in Perast and is about a 20 minute drive.

Pirate Beach boasts a contemporary ambiance, and is perfect for a day out of Kotor. The beach features imported gravel, and for relaxation, you can rent a pair of sun loungers, complete with an umbrella, at €20, providing the perfect setup to enjoy cocktails with a view. 

What’s more the stunning backdrop of Perast with the Our Lady of the Rocks, and Sveti Đorđe, is hard to beat, and a must see in Montenegro. 

• Distance : A 20-minute drive from Kotor. 
• Amenities : Sun loungers, umbrellas, Kid-friendly with shallow areas and play zones.
• Vibe : Amazing views, and the sun and sea!

Kotor’s Beach Experience

In Kotor, you will find amazing beaches. There are private and public beach areas and it caters to every luxury level (you can explore and sunbathe for free, or spend a little extra for a luxury experience). 

The pebbly shores and crystal-clear waters are a common feature, inviting both locals and visitors to bask in the natural beauty of Montenegro’s coastline.

Public Beaches

Public beaches in Kotor are where the vibrant pulse of the city meets tranquil turquoise waters. These stretches are open to everyone, often characterised by stones or pebbles, and provide a serene setting for swimming and sunbathing. 

Best of all, there’s no entrance fee to enjoy the simple pleasure of a day at the beach here.

Private Beach Sections

Dotting the shoreline are chic private beach sections – often affiliated with hotels or beach clubs – where you can rent a sunbed, enjoy waiter service, and sometimes even experience live music or DJ sets. 

These areas typically require a small entry fee or sunbed rental but offer amenities like showers, changing rooms, and often a nearby bar or restaurant for that extra touch of luxury.

Highlights of Kotor’s Beaches

• Public Sections : Enjoy the liberating feeling of unfettered access and the charm of local beach life. Pack a picnic or grab snacks from nearby vendors, and bask in the sun’s warm glow against the dramatic backdrop of Kotor’s mountains.
• Private Sections : Revel in the cosseted comfort of a private spot, where facilities and creature comforts are at your fingertips. These are perfect for those who fancy a bit more pampering during their beach day.

In summary, Kotor’s beaches offer a diverse range of coastal experiences, from laid-back public spots to the more curated atmosphere of private sections. 

With easy access from the historic town and enthralling views all around, your time on the shores of Kotor will be nothing but unforgettable. 

Whether you choose the simplicity of a public beach or the enhanced experience of a private beach section in Kotor, each offers its own slice of Montenegro’s coastal paradise. 

Enjoy the delightful mix of tradition and relaxation on the shores of the Bay of Kotor and beyond.

Best Time to Visit Kotor’s Beaches

Summer season (peak season).

The optimal time to enjoy Kotor’s waters is during the summer months. From June to August, you’ll find warm, balmy weather perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and a variety of water sports. 

The skies are usually clear during these months, offering uninterrupted enjoyment of the sun and sea.

• June – The start of the summer marks the beginning of the beach season with a pleasant climate and fewer crowds.
• July – July is ideal for those who love the heat, as it gets warmer and the beach life is in full swing.
• August – The waters are warmest in August, but expect more visitors as it’s the peak of tourist season.

Shoulder Season – Spring and Autumn

For those looking to avoid the summer crowds, the shoulder seasons of late spring (May) and early autumn (September) are good alternatives. The weather is milder during these months, but it’s still warm enough to enjoy the coastal activities without the summer throngs. 

However, keep in mind that beaches in winter may not be as fun as temperatures dip and many services won’t be open or available. 

How to Enjoy Kotor’s Beaches

Finding your perfect spot.

Kotor’s coast is lined with both vibrant and secluded beaches. Whether you prefer a lively atmosphere with beach bars and music or a quiet cove for relaxation, there is a spot for every preference.

• For Lively Beach Vibes: Visit the main beaches with amenities such as sunbeds, umbrellas, and nearby restaurants.
• For Secluded Relaxation: Seek out smaller coves that are a bit off the beaten path. They offer tranquillity and are perfect for a serene day by the sea.

Transport & Accessibility

The coastal region of Kotor is accessible from your hotel by various modes of transport.

• Car: Renting a car offers the most flexibility for exploring different beaches along the coast at your own pace.
• Public Transport: There are buses that run along the coast, connecting Kotor to various beaches.
• Bike or Foot: For the more adventurous and active, biking or walking to nearby beaches provides an opportunity to take in the stunning scenery.

Safety and Amenities

Be mindful of safety when swimming and ensure that you are visiting beaches that have lifeguards on duty during the summer months. 

Most popular beaches will have amenities like changing facilities, showers, and restrooms. It’s always good practice to check beforehand, especially if venturing to more secluded spots.

Local Regulations and Environment

Remember to adhere to any local regulations and respect the natural environment. Keep the beaches clean by disposing of your waste responsibly.

Kotor’s beaches offer a mix of serenity and summer fun, set against some of the most dramatic coastal landscapes in Europe. 

By choosing the right time to visit and considering your preferred beach style, your Kotor beach getaway can be an unforgettable adventure filled with crystal-clear waters and picture-perfect views.

Tips for a Perfect Beach Day in Kotor

Here are some of the tips for having a perfect day out in Kotor,

• Arrive Early : Especially during the summer, beaches can get crowded quickly.
• Mind Your Belongings : While beach theft isn’t common, it’s always wise to keep an eye on your personal items.
• Sun Protection : The Mediterranean sun can be strong; sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water will be your best friends.
• Stay Hydrated : The Adriatic sun can be intense; make sure to drink plenty of water.
• Respect the Environment : Keep the beaches as beautiful as you found them by disposing of your trash properly.
• Explore Beyond the Main Beaches : Some of the most magical spots are those less travelled. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the closest beach to Kotor?

Kotor Beach is one of the beaches closest to the Old Town, and is perfect for sightseeing and also sunbathing. 

Does Kotor have good beaches?

Kotor has amazing beaches. You can hit the beaches close to the city, or venture beyond to Herceg Novi Riviera and others.

Can you swim in Kotor Beach?

Yes, you can swim in Kotor Beach. 

Whether you long for the secluded, natural havens, crave the energy of a crowd, or simply wish to bask in the Mediterranean charm, Kotor’s beaches offer something for every preference. 

Each grain of sand and pebble tells a tale of ancient civilizations, maritime adventures, and timeless beauty that awaits your discovery. Don’t just travel—experience Kotor in all its coastal glory. Happy sunbathing!

Pin: Best Beaches in Kotor Montenegro

I love checking out coffee spots in my travels and the ones you listed sound amazing!

So sweet! Thank you for passing by Natalie!

I totally need to get to Antwerp next time I make my way to Belgium. This is a great article and I will definitely be keeping this handy. 🙂

Thank you so much for reading!

Fab post Stephanie! I love the food recommendations – Graanmarkt 13, Het Gerecht and Yust all sound fantastic. What makes the Jane so special? What kind of food do they serve?

I looove the sound of strolling through both Scheldenland and Groene Bedding. That is my favourite way to explore a city.

Thank you so much for reading Josy! The Jane is a Michelin star restaurant for a once in a lifetime experience!

Have not been to Belgium yet, but when I do Antwerp is definitely on my list 🙂 Love all of these ideas!

Thank you so much Kelly!

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I took the train to Antwerp, Belgium – here’s my guide to the city

In the final leg of our odyssey to celebrate 50 years of Interrail, we explore a city that’s seriously hip, but also caters for those who are just beer-curious

I s it Colin Farrell’s fault that Antwerp isn’t better known, or loved? Ever since the 2008’s In Bruges, that is the city that has cornered the market as Belgium’s quirky tourist destination, while the country’s actual coolest city flies under the radar. With a historic centre that’s a blend of picturesque streets and shopping heaven, Antwerp ought to be far better known. In size, population and cultural significance, it’s comparable to Edinburgh, and if you’re coming from London the train journey is an hour faster.

Fashion rules here, thanks to the global influence of a breakthrough group of 1980s designers that included Dries van Noten and Ann Demeulemeester. The Antwerp Six, as they became known, cemented the city’s reputation as a happening place, and their legacy manifests today in the hundreds of ateliers, outlets and concept stores among the shopfronts. Many of the streets have their own individual feel: Meir, the most famous thoroughfare, is dominated by high-street brands, Schuttershofstraat offers high-end luxury labels, while Nationalestraat and Kammenstraat are the places to go for new names and local designers, from haute couture to streetwear. The ModeMuseum (or “MoMu”) has been hosting impressive exhibitions of contemporary fashion for 20 years, with a library, bookshop and cafe that have turned it into a spiritual home for fashion students and industry professionals alike. Expect it to be an even more popular hangout when it reopens in October after a major expansion and two-year renovation.

Adjacent to the fashion district, the medieval and renaissance streets of the city centre bustle with nightlife, emanating from the Grote Markt, a square overlooked by the beautiful facades of its 16th- and 17th-century guildhalls. To the north, Europe’s second-largest seaport sits on the banks of the Scheldt river, and its docks and surrounding areas have benefited from considerable investment in the past decade, including a space-age port authority building designed by Zaha Hadid. Like most of the city, it’s an area best explored by bike rather than on foot – the distances are far more comfortable to cover on two wheels, while the trams and buses can be irregular.

There are all sorts of delights to be discovered as you venture away from the centre. In Zurenborg, for instance, is the nexus of Antwerp’s most extraordinary townhouses: fin-de-siècle mansions, built in eclectic and ever more extravagant styles, line Cogels-Osylei and Waterloostraat. Expanding ever southwards is a mix of enjoyably cosy family suburbs and hip, emerging districts such as Berchem, where the locals have taken up the habit of writing inspiring or philosophical quotes on the inside of their windows. The neighbouring “Green Quarter” is a car-free development in the grounds of a former military hospital, whose chapel is now the stunning backdrop to The Jane , chef Nick Bril’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant; in 2019 Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen transformed a nearby Augustinian convent into the August hotel.

Eat and Drink

Antwerp is a great place to visit if you’re beer-curious, and a good start is the De Koninck City Brewery . It makes the city’s popular bolleke beer, named after the goblet-style glasses it is served in, and its visitor centre is an impressive food complex where a baker, a butcher, a cheesemaker and a chocolatier all sell their wares. Within a minute’s walk are some great post-tasting dining options – head to Black Smoke for barbecue, or De Pelgrim for celebrated vol-au-vents.

Craft beers from across Belgium are on offer at the special Belgian taproom in PAKT , the Green Quarter’s hidden gem. Since 2017, food entrepreneurs and urban farmers have filled this warren of warehouses with sustainable businesses, including rooftop diner Racine and coffee roastery Caffènation . For a more traditional beer experience try Cafe Zeezicht , with its wood-panelled rooms and cool clientele. It sits on Dageraadplaats, a charming square handy for a number of neighbourhood restaurants, including the vegetarian Salt & Mint , whose Moroccan cuisine reflects Antwerp’s strong north African community.

The Schipperskwartier and Eilandje districts around Antwerp’s old port boast a buzzy nightlife, and the old town remains a popular place to eat, drink and stay out late: Fiera brings fine dining and a smart crowd to the classily restored stock exchange building, the Handelsbeurs, while at tiny brasserie Invincible diners can sit at the counter and watch the chefs assemble the wine-paired dishes – from lobster sausage to salt-crusted dorade.

Antwerp’s history as a trading town has been rich in all senses. Museums abound here and one of the best is also one of the newest: MAS – the Museum Aan de Stroom – sits in the centre of the docks like a piece of Lego in the middle of a carpet, and its cubic design contains 10 themed floors relating to the art and culture of the city. It’s the kind of place you can return to again and again, and worth the visit alone for the ride up the outward-facing escalators to the long-range view from its roof. Another must is the Rubenshuis , the 17th-century family home of Antwerp’s most famous artist, Peter Paul Rubens. There’s something compellingly transgressive about the way you’re allowed to let yourself into his historic, canvas-covered rooms, as if you’re nosing around while he’s out at the shops.

Art is a major constituent of Antwerp’s cultural capital and KMSKA – the Royal Museum of Fine Arts – whose collection covers seven centuries, will reopen in September after a considerable upgrade. Fomu , in the fashionable “Zuid” or south district, is one of the most important photography museums in Europe, exhibiting works by international names and screening films daily in its two beautiful cinemas (many in their original English). Dutch-language theatre is a popular outing for Antwerpers, and the city has its own vibrant theatre district, the Quartier Latin. In the old town, capacious jazz cafe De Muze is a staple of the music scene, and has been serving live gigs almost every evening since 1964.

Neighbourhood

It’s just over 15 minutes by bike from the town centre to Nachtegalenpark, 90 hectares (220 acres) of green space formed by the erstwhile aristocratic estates of Vogelenzang, Middelheim and Den Brandt. They’ve belonged to the city since 1910, and offer a wide variety of outdoor recreation, from peaceful walks through leafy woods or horticultural gardens to children’s play areas and sports clubs (there’s even an unexpectedly popular cricket club).

The showpiece is the Middelheim museum , an open-air sculpture park displaying more than 200 works in a stunningly varied setting. You could walk around for hours without seeing the same thing twice, stumbling across a Rodin here, a Hepworth there, and the pavilion at its centre contains thousands more artworks in its repository. Quirky postmodern pieces interact with older items, and there are numerous outbuildings dotted around the grounds including a cafe-restaurant at the and residential streets around the park contain a fascinatingly varied selection of Belgian architecture.

Where to stay

On a quiet sidestreet in the creative heart of Berchem is Yust , which opened in 2019 with the aim of being as much a community as a hotel. Its rooms, in a building that housed the city’s telephone and electrical works at the turn of the 20th century, include everything from hostel dorms to deluxe suites and long-term loft rentals, with a lobby that doubles as a co-working space and a restaurant that presents its offerings as a variety of sharing-plate set menus. A busy calendar of talks, events and hangouts encourage guests to connect with each other, and there are normal and electric bikes to rent. Dorm beds from £24, private rooms from £80

Emma John travelled on a pass provided by Interrail ; prices start at £ 155 . Her trip was provided by Visit Antwerp

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• Travel Planning Guide

Should You Visit Antwerp?

Are you thinking about visiting Antwerp, Belgium? Here's what you need to know before planning your trip.

• Is Antwerp Worth Visiting?

Reasons to Visit Antwerp

• In the Summer?
• In the Autumn?
• In the Winter?
• In the Spring?

What is Antwerp most famous for?

• What is Antwerp most known for?

What is the most famous sight in Antwerp?

• How touristy is Antwerp?

How long should I spend in Antwerp?

Is antwerp worth visiting.

Antwerp is worth visiting for one to three days so that you can explore everything that the port city has to offer. We first visited in 2022 and have returned several times. During our time here, we fell in love with its authenticity and countless chocolate shops. Antwerp is an industrial port city that is a cultural, culinary, and shopping destination in Flanders. The city is larger than many other nearby cities and it has a large and impressive train station that offers connections to many nearby areas. There's a bustling old town area that brings together locals and tourists who dine, shop, and explore. Visitors enjoy the city's cathedrals and architecture, as well as popping in the many chocolate shops and waffle stands.

Nightlife With its large student population and young vibe, you'll find an active nightlife scene around town. Many of the the clubs and bars are concentrated in the docklands, but you'll also find places to hang out everywhere around town.

Food People with a sweet tooth will enjoy the chocolates and biscuits that make this city famous. You'll also find plenty of fries and casual dining options to choose from. Local favorites include mussels and fish and chips, and of course, you must try the beer!

Authenticity Antwerp has an authentic vibe where you can experience local culture, cuisine, and activities without the large tourist crowds of other popular destinations.

Is Antwerp worth visiting in the Summer?

You'll find the weather to be very nice here during summer with average temperatures around 17°C (63°F).

The peak season for travel is summer in Antwerp, so expect to see more tourists than usual. Even though this destination is not very touristy, in the high season it's busier than usual because this is when most visitors come here.

You'll also find it quite easy to get around on foot, because this is a very walkable port city, especially in the nice weather. This is a great time of year to wander through the museums, enjoy the city's energy, and admire the historic sights. Also, you'll be able to grab some drinks at a bar.

Is Antwerp worth visiting in the Autumn?

Autumn is the shoulder season for travel in Antwerp. This destination is not very touristy, and in the shoulder season it can become fairly quiet.

You'll find the weather to be very nice here during autumn with average temperatures around 12°C (54°F).

Autumn is a great time of year to explore the numerous museums and landmarks around town. They are fun for the whole family as well great for couples. Soaking up that old town charm in the autumn is one of the favorite activities of visitors. The quaint scenery combined with the weather this time of year is quite nice. You'll find plenty to do during autumn, as you'll be able to browse around the old town, browse through museums, and discover the big city activities.

Is Antwerp worth visiting in the Winter?

This is the low season for travel in Antwerp. This destination is not very touristy, so in the low season it can become fairly quiet.

The weather in Antwerp can be quite cold during winter, and averages around 3°C (38°F). But be prepared for much lower temperatures, too.

During this season it's fun to experience the famous sights and museums, the cuisine, and the historic old town. Also, you can enjoy the evening activities and soak up the big city atmosphere.

Is Antwerp worth visiting in the Spring?

The weather in Antwerp can be quite cold during spring, and averages around 8°C (47°F). But be prepared for much lower temperatures, too.

Spring is the shoulder season for travel in Antwerp, which means slightly less visitors than in the peak season. This destination is not very touristy, and in the shoulder season it can become fairly quiet.

Soaking up that old town charm in the spring is one of the favorite activities of visitors. The quaint scenery combined with the weather this time of year is quite nice. This is a great time of year to browse the shops, browse the museums, and admire the historic sights. Also, you can check out the nightlife.

Things to Consider Before Visiting Antwerp

Not As Family-Friendly While there are some family activities, it's not as child-friendly as other destinations.

The Cost Depending on your budget, schedule, and travel style, Antwerp might be an expensive destination for you. You can find out the travel costs for Antwerp here or see if Antwerp is expensive here .

Antwerp is most famous for its historic train station, festive chocolate shops, decadent waffle stands, and down-to-earth old town. The port city is very popular for its shopping. It's also known for museums, nightlife, and historical sights. And many travelers come for the food, as well. It is often described as cultural, historical, youthful, vibrant, authentic, and genuine.

The most popular sight in Antwerp is Antwerpen-Centraal . You can see prices and costs for this and other sights in Antwerp on our travel costs page .

Or, see tickets, activities, and tours for Antwerpen-Centraal and other attractions here .

How touristy is Antwerp? Is it a popular port city to visit?

Antwerp is an off-the-beaten-path port city that many travelers overlook. Here are some of the most popular activities and tours. (Prices in US Dollars)

• 2-Hour Private Walking Tour in Antwerp: $228
• Antwerp Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $244
• Antwerp Bike Tours: $35
• Historical Walking Tour: Legends of Antwerp: $3.24
• Private tour: Highlights & History of Antwerp: $89
• Evening Walking Tour: The Dark Side of Antwerp: $3.25
• Legends of Antwerp Private Walking Tour: $90
• Guided Bike Tour: 2 Hours Highlights of Antwerp: $29

The ideal length of time for a trip to Antwerp is one to three days. Since Antwerp has a variety of activities such as shopping, most people need this much time to see and do everything here.

If you have a specific amount of time for your trip, see our advice about how much time to spend here: Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Antwerp? and Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Antwerp? .

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Home » Europe » Belgium » 21 Fun Things to Do in Antwerp, Belgium

21 Fun Things to Do in Antwerp, Belgium

By Author Laura Longwell

Posted on Last updated: April 25, 2023

A vibrant port city with a rich history, Antwerp, Belgium is full of interesting attractions and things to see. From fashion and artwork to a 600-year-old diamond district and standout museums, visitors are never at a loss for ways to keep busy. We’ve been to the city several times and always find something new to love. Here’s a look at some of our favorite things to do in Antwerp.

Explore the Central Station

Visit the cathedral of our lady, see the works of a master at ruben house, walk through history at plantin-moretus museum, explore the diamond district, hang out in grote markt, see het steen castle, take a break in groenplaats, visit mas museum, browse meir shopping street, sample flavors at the chocolate line, see the art at st. paul’s church, visit red star line museum, see the activity at the port of antwerp, descend in saint anna’s tunnel, marvel at the art nouveau buildings, see the exhibits at museum vleeshuis, grab a bite at the saturday exotic market, enjoy the botanical garden, step inside st. andrew’s church, listen to music at de muze jazz cafe.

Among one of the most spectacular places to see in Antwerp is the central railway station, Antwerp Central (Antwerpen-Centraal). The train station is arguably one of the most beautiful in the world. It’s striking from the outside, but to truly appreciate the station, you’ll have to explore the inside.

The building’s interior incorporates iron, steel, and glass in intricate designs that make it truly remarkable. The central station has a main hall located on the entrance side of Koningin Astridplein and a clock that’s the center of attention. It’s a perfectly beautiful welcome and a great place to start an Antwerp visit.

The Cathedral of Our Lady or Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal is a Gothic holy building in the city’s historic center. Thanks to its 123-meter-high north tower, the building is visible from most places around Antwerp.

Completed in 1521, the architectural wonder was under construction for 169 years. Its belltower is included along with other remarkable towers in Belgium–like the belfrys in Bruges and Ghent –as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The cathedral houses outstanding artworks, including paintings by Baroque artist Peter Paul Rubens. Visitors can either explore the cathedral on their own or opt for a guided tour to see the paintings, incredible stained glass, and other features.

Even if you’re not an art lover, a visit to Ruben House Museum ( Rubenshuis ) in one of the top things to do in Antwerp based on its 400-year history and preservation. The home of Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens is now packed with his masterpieces and works of contemporaries.

Rubens purchased the house in 1610 and later extended and renovated it, making it into his perfect space for living and creating. Here, the renowned artist produced most of his famous paintings that gained global recognition. From the embossed leather wall coverings to the spaces where every inch is covered with art, it’s impossible not to feel the creative energy here.

Another great attraction in Antwerp worth visiting is the Plantin-Moretus Museum . The only UNESCO-listed museum , Plantin-Moretus offers visitors a close look at the importance and history of printing through artifacts stretching back to the 1500s.

Visitors get to explore the old buildings that housed the printing presses as well as the Plantin and Moretus families over the centuries. The rich library features many notable historical books, including the Biblia Polyglotta (1568-1573), a Bible written in five languages. Over three centuries, the printing house was among the top in Europe, distributing scientific discoveries, philosophical theories, and art like Rubens’s portraits around the continent.

Don’t miss the opportunity to see the world’s oldest printing presses, which were built around 1600.

The famous Diamond District right next to the Central Station is one of the more intriguing places to visit in Antwerp. Dating from 1447, it is considered the diamond capital of the world, and over 80% of the world’s rough diamonds pass through the area. Visitors can visit the numerous jewelry shops selling diamonds. However, the diamond trading markets are usually out of bounds.

If you’re interested in getting a deeper appreciation of the diamond world from history to craftsmanship to design, head to nearby DIVA, the diamond museum . Through multimedia and interactive exhibits, guests get immersed in the glittering world of precious jewels.

The Grote Markt, the main square, is among the most beautiful town squares in Europe. With the 16th-century city hall and gleaming guildhouses, you can’t ask for a better backdrop to enjoy.

Grote Markt is a great place for people watching on summer afternoons. On weekends or during certain seasons, it fills with local markets, most notably the famous Antwerp Christmas market . After you’ve had your fill of shopping or simply taking in the views, head to one of the many cafes and restaurants just a few steps away.

Het Steen Castle, established in the early 13th century, once served as the city’s fortress in its prime location right on the river. It’s the oldest building still standing in the city and is a favorite of photographers for the castle itself and for the curious statue just outside.

Over the centuries, “the Steen” has served lots of different purposes from a prison to a museum. It’s now a visitors center with a panoramic rooftop and is home to The Antwerp Story . The exhibit introduces people to the history of the city and provides an overview of its neighborhoods, its people, and what makes Antwerp unique.

Groenplaats, or Green Square, is another of Antwerp’s welcoming squares right in the heart of the city. Ringed with bars and cafes, it’s a fun place to stop for a coffee or to enjoy lunch while watching the activity. There is also a daily flower market to peruse.

A distinctive modern building along the river Scheldt, the MAS Museum is the largest museum in Antwerp. It has a vast and varied collection of over 500,000 items that are featured in permanent and temporary exhibitions with themes relating to Antwerp’s contact with the world. Visitors will find everything from eating utensils to maritime artifacts that chronicle international trade and shipping.

The iconic building is 10 stories high, and its rooftop provides panoramic views of the city, so it’s a great place to visit when the weather is nice.

One of the top places for shopping in Belgium, Meir Shopping Street runs from the Cathedral of Our Lady to the central railway station. It is lined with major European chains and luxury shops, making the street a draw for tourists and locals. One of the best places to shop along the street is the exclusive shopping center known as Stadsfeestzaal in the restored city festival hall.

Beyond the shops they house, the buildings along Meir are also worth a look. The Rococo facades date from the 18th and 19th centuries and are gorgeous to look at.

Any visit to Belgium must include chocolate. The Chocolate Line is a fantastic place to visit in Antwerp, especially if you’re a great fan of chocolate. Located in the city center, it is in a historical building on Meir.

Chocolatier Dominique Persoone is known for innovation and developing unusual flavor combinations, so be prepared to find uncommon offerings, including chocolate lipstick. The Chocolate Line offers everything from raspberry and salted caramel to fried onions, beetroot, and even grass. The shop is accented with plenty of larger-than-life chocolate sculptures.

St. Paul’s Church is a work of art. Built in 1639 as a Dominican monastery church, the Gothic building is ornate inside and outside.

The church has some remarkable Baroque altars and 50 paintings by renowned artists, including Rubens, Van Dyck, and Van Balen. Outside, the Calvary Garden includes 63 life-sized statues made by a group of Belgian sculptors dating back to the 1700s. It’s definitely worth stopping in when you visit Antwerp, especially if you’re an art lover.

From 1873 to 1935, the Red Star Line transported people from Antwerp to New York and Philadelphia in search of a new start and prosperity in North America. The Red Star Line Museum tells the story of these courageous individuals, looking at why they left and what happened on their journey.

In total, more than 2 million people made the transatlantic trip that began in the very buildings where the museum is now. From photographs and luggage to letters and personal testimonials, the museum brings their stories to life.

The second largest seaport in Europe, there’s always something moving through the Port of Antwerp whether it’s container ships in the distance, cruise ships docking, or the frequent water buses that traverse the river Scheldt. Originally constructed in 1811, the port remains a vital part of the city economy.

Visitors can take a walk along the waterfront or rent a bicycle to explore one of the four cycling routes. A free map shows the routes and what can be seen along the way. There are also boat tours of the harbor if you have time to spare, or you can take a water bus to St. Anna on the opposite side of the river.

If you don’t want to wait on the ferry to St. Anna or are simply curious about the passage, take a ride on the escalator in St. Anna’s Tunnel (called the Underpass by locals). As the name indicates, it was designed to connect the new part of town with the historic center.

The unique escalators were made in the 1930s. They were a novelty then and still are (we’ve only seen them at Macy’s Herald Square in Manhattan), and they take users on a ride deep below the river to cross to the other side. On the way down, you’ll see pictures showing the history of the tunnel and its construction.

Antwerp’s Zurenborg neighborhood has numerous stunning examples of Art Nouveau architecture. Characterized by bright exterior paintings, mosaics, large windows, and ornate details, the style evolved in the late 19th century and took hold in cities around Belgium (they’re some of many beautiful places to see in Brussels ).

Zurenborg’s Golden Triangle–the area between Transvaal, Waterloo, and Cogels-Osylei streets is a particularly rich place to find examples of the fanciful style. Lovers of architecture and photography will want to spend some time wandering the streets here to see all the different features

The Museum Vleeshuis is a former guildhall that has been transformed into a museum. At over 500 years old, the building itself is notably historic, but its displays are what command much of the attention today.

The exhibits at Museum Vleeshuis chronicle six centuries of dance, sound, and music in the city of Antwerp. There are lots of rare instruments and musical manuscripts as well as stories about many notable musicians and the importance of music as part of the fabric of the city.

The Saturday Exotic Market at Theaterplein is a perfect stop for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. The food runs the gamut from Turkish and North African specialties to quiche, oysters, and champagne.

There are lots of ingredients and prepared items to take home and plenty to eat at the market with lots of tables available. Not only is the food delicious, but the market is full of locals out shopping and enjoying a social occasion, so the whole atmosphere is fun. Bring your appetite!

With over 2000 plants, the Botanical Garden (Den Botaniek) provides a green oasis in the city. This world-class garden has a wide variety of shrubs, trees, herbs, and exotic plants that make it a paradise for plant enthusiasts.

The Botanical Garden was originally established nearly 200 years ago to grow medicinal plants to supply St Elisabeth hospital. The city started managing the garden in 1926, and it has since become an indispensable part of Antwerp’s landscape. It is free to visit and open year-round, so it functions much like a city park.

From the moment you step into St. Andrew’s Church , it’s hard to look away from the stunning high altar. Made in the early 1700s, it has soaring marble columns and more than 20 figures adorn the sides. But it is only one of many brilliant sculptures and paintings visitors will find in the impressive church.

Built by Augustinian friars, St. Andrew’s Church was consecrated in 1529. The church is predominantly late Gothic in style, but the steeple and upper tiers are characteristic of the late-Baroque era. If you find it open, it’s worth a peek inside to see the sculptures and the beautiful pulpit.

Initially opened in 1964, the De Muze Jazz Café is among the top places for jazz in the city. For decades, it has attracted jazz greats from around the world to play on its stage. With a healthy selection of cocktails and beers and some of the best music around, the cafe draws regulars and visitors to hear live music every night after 10pm.

Laura Longwell is an award-winning travel blogger and photographer. Since founding Travel Addicts in 2008, she has written hundreds of articles that help over 3 million people a year get the most out of their travel. In that time, she has visited nearly 60 countries on 5 continents, often returning to favorite destinations over and over again. She has a deep love of history, uncovering unexpected attractions, and trying all the good food a place has to offer.

In addition to Travel Addicts, Laura runs a site about her hometown of Philadelphia—Guide to Philly—which chronicles unique things to do and places to see around southeastern Pennsylvania. Her travel tips and advice appear across the web.

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