Capital of its namesake province, Antwerp is a metropolis on the banks of the Scheldt River, where its beautiful historic heritage mingles with the modern and avant-garde of the city’s new areas. Once part of the territories of Spain, it has retained its global importance over the years and is Belgium’s most populous city, as well as being one of the world’s largest ports. Read on to find out what things to do in Antwerp, Belgium.
What things to do in Antwerp, Belgium?
The Grote Markt: the central square to watch in Antwerp
Once you land in Antwerp, you need to head for the centre of Antwerp’s activity, where all the action happens: the market square, or Grote Markt as the locals call it.
And as well as being one of the liveliest spots in the city, it’s also packed with must-see sights in Antwerp.
In exquisite Renaissance style, Antwerp’s town hall leads the charge of monuments that populate the Grote Markt square. You can visit it on weekdays from 8:30am to 5:30pm.
At its centre is the Brabo Fountain, a beautiful sculpture that pays homage to the founder of the city of Antwerp.
From here, you can start your tour of the historic city centre, a collection of streets that are a must-see in Antwerp Belgium.
The Cathedral of Our Lady, a monument to see in Antwerp
After passing the Grote Markt, there’s one thing you can’t miss in Antwerp, and that’s the iconic Cathedral of Our Lady.
This cathedral is the largest in Antwerp, but also in the whole of Belgium. Just a few minutes from the Grote Markt, the Gothic-style church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and no wonder.
You definitely have to see its interior, which you can visit on weekdays from 10am to 5pm, as well as on Saturdays and Sundays.
The great artist, Rubens, was responsible for the design of the various stained-glass windows illustrating biblical passages and also the organs in the main hall of the building.
Antwerp Station
If you’re coming from Brussels it will have been the first thing you’ve been able to witness, and we’re sure that, like us, you think it’s a must-see in Antwerp.
It’s interior is breathtaking and is even more beautiful than many of the buildings you’ll find in the city.
That’s undoubtedly because of the spectacular main hall, with carved marble staircases and large windows that let the light flood into the interior.
Before you leave, take a walk outside. The entire façade, in baroque style, is a magnificent piece of architecture to see in Antwerp.
Vlaaikensgang: an alley you have to see in Antwerp, Belgium
The next stop on the route is unusual. That’s because normally, we wouldn’t recommend you stop to see a single alley, but Vlaaikensgang is a well-kept secret of the locals.
In this alley, the beautiful white facades of its 16th-century houses make it impossible not to wander through the streets of Antwerp until you find it.
All the walking through the narrow streets will be worth it when you reach this corner, and along the way you’ll enjoy a journey that will transport you back centuries.
Not only that, but you’ll also be able to stop for a drink in the charming little shops that now populate the alleyway of Vlaaikensgang in Antwerp, Belgium.
Diamond Neighbourhood
A very curious thing about Antwerp is its history with diamonds. In this district of the city, you’ll find the most jewellery shops per square metre in Belgium
This is one of the busiest shopping areas in Antwerp and Belgium, as a huge amount of rough diamonds pass through this city, making this district a unique place in the world.
If you want to know the whole process that takes place, from the extraction of the diamond until it reaches these jewellery shops, some of them have explanatory activities that talk about the whole business that is so important for the people of the Diamond Quarter.
Steen’s Castle
Among the magnificent monuments of Antwerp that seem to be straight out of a novel, Steen Castle is one of the most deserving of recognition.
Centuries ago, this fortress was used to defend the town from raiding Vikings who came to plunder the area. It was later used as a prison, and today you can take a tour of the interior.
The monumental complex also provides unparalleled views of the entire harbour area and is therefore a must-see in Antwerp.
The Eilandje Neighbourhood
Amongst the landscapes that Antwerp’s waterfront has to offer, the Eilandje district is one of those that has changed the most over time.
Once the city’s main harbour, it is now a modern place, full of cafés and other entertainment venues.
The MAS museum occupies the landscape of the area, with its distinctive, gridded silhouette, and also offers stunning views from the top of its terrace.
We recommend a visit to this area if you want to see one of Antwerp’s trendiest neighbourhoods. You can also head to the Schipperskwartier, the sailors’ district, which is just a few minutes away from the trendy streets of Eilandje.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What things to do around Antwerp, Belgium?
Bruges, a beautiful city to see in Belgium
If you take a train from the imposing Antwerp station to charming Bruges, you won’t regret it
Bruges, a World Heritage Site, is a city of medieval beauty and character that leaves no one indifferent. From its canals to its squares and museums, we’re sure you’ll love it.
We recommend you visit its market square, where all the activity of the city takes place and where the medieval facades, such as those of the Belfort bell tower, stand out. Another square to see is Burg Square, where you’ll find the town hall and the Basilica of the Holy Blood.
It’ll take you an hour and a half to get there, plus the journey only costs around €18 and there are frequent trains to Bruges station.
What things to do in Antwerp, Belgium, in 1 day
Antwerp is a huge city, with so much to offer that it’s difficult to sum up everything to see in one day. We recommend this list of sites, but you can vary your itinerary to suit your own preferences:
- The Grote Markt
- Our Lady’s Cathedral
- Antwerp Station
- Vlaaikensgang
- The Diamond Quarter
Where should I eat in Antwerp?
In this section we have taken the opportunity to give you a list of places, where you can try all the gastronomy that Antwerp has to offer:
- No Worries:With a fantastic terrace on which to enjoy all its gastronomic offerings, No Worries is one of the best places in Antwerp to try Belgian food, and you can do so for around €20 per person.
- Okoz: In Antwerp, you can also sample Asian food, and Okoz is a fantastic way to do so. The price is around €15-20 per head.
- Dilbi: For those who do not want to move away from the Mediterranean diet, in Dilbi you will enjoy different options of this gastronomy. Its price is around €15-20.
Where can I stay in Antwerp?
As we don’t want you to rack your brains looking for a place to sleep, we have selected a few accommodations from the wide range of accommodation available in Antwerp:
- Tomorrow Morning:This charming, minimalist-style hotel is a perfect place to stay, as its location is excellent, as are its facilities. The price is around €131 per head.
- La Liberté: A luxury hotel, with a competitive price and perfect facilities. The price is around €140 per night.
- Hotel Antwerp Billard Palace: A more austere option, just minutes from the centre and with comfortable rooms. The price is €50 per night.
How do I get to Antwerp?
From Spain there are flights to Antwerp, although they usually have at least one stopover en route.
Another highly recommended option is to fly to Brussels: from a city like Madrid, there are affordable flights that take you to Brussels in two and a half hours.
From Brussels, you can take a train to Antwerp in 40-55 minutes. The cost is around €16, although it depends on the time of year and availability.
There is also the option of booking one of the tours, which are organized from Brussels and where you will spend the day in Antwerp doing various activities.
Tips about a trip to Antwerp, Belgium
- The official currency of Belgium is the euro, so you won’t have to worry about exchanging currency.
- If you’re a European citizen, you don’t need a visa to enter the country; your ID card or passport is enough.
- If you are travelling from a country with a different currency, we recommend that you exchange your money in advance.
- The best time to visit Antwerp is from May to September, when temperatures are milder.
- There is no roaming in Belgium, you can use the internet on your mobile phone without any problems.
- The city is safe, but as with any tourist destination, it’s best to be careful with your belongings.
- Be covered for possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
How to organize what things to do in Antwerp, Belgium?
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers
- Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
- Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post)
- Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make any modifications you need to make, and you’re all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Antwerp, Belgium.
If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about travelling to Antwerp
We recommend May, June, July, August and September to visit Antwerp. However, there are also many tourists. A good option is early spring, when there are more daylight hours and not so many tourists.
In Antwerp, the official language is Dutch. In addition, other languages such as English and French are spoken.
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