Welcome to the heart of Flanders, where history meets modernity and diamonds sparkle in the air,  welcome to Antwerp! This blog will help you discover the best things to do in Antwerp.

What to do in Antwerp?

Antwerp is a gorgeous city for strolling around and visiting some museums. Below are some tips when visiting Antwerp.

Antwerp central train station

The central train station in Antwerp was announced as the most beautiful station in the world in 2014. The historical monument was built between 1899 and 1905 and is known for its magnificent arches and immense visitors hall.

If you are looking for some great pictures, capture the central station with the ferris wheel. Use the high ceilings of the departure hall and visit the station during the night.

Grote markt & Brabo Monument

The grote markt (market) is an iconic square in the center of Antwerp. It was built in the 16th century and is home to the guildhalls, many restaurants and cafes. This a great place to enjoy the Belgium culture and drink one (or many) Belgium beers.

Eat a famous Belgium waffle

When visiting Antwerp, it is a must to eat a Belgium waffle. We would advise you to visit the waffle stands in the streets and order a Luikse waffle (with a lot of chocolate sauce). You will not regret it!

Cathedral of our lady (onze lieve vrouwenkathedraal)

The Cathedral of our lady will catch your eye when you are wandering in the city center. The cathedral dates back to 1521 and is home to paintings of Antwerps painters. We did not visit the cathedral due to the admission fee. 

Museums

• MAS
• Chocolate museum
• Rubens museum
• DIVA diamond museum
• Museum Plantin-Moretus

Het Steen

Het Steen is the oldest building in Antwerp and had multiple functions over the years. In today’s world, it is used as a visitors center, cruise terminal and attraction. In the past, it was a castle, prison, sawmill and maritime museum.

The castle is built next to the river the Schelde. Do not forget to take a peek at the passing ships.

Fun streets

When visiting Antwerp, we enjoyed visiting the Lange Koepoortstraat & Korte Koepoortstraat. The streets offer diverse shops like the cat and authentic Japanese shops are worth a visit.

How to get to Antwerp?

Park in city centre

There are plenty of parking garages near the city center where you can safely park your car. We parked our car at the car park near the train station in the diamond area. The rings of Antwerp are home to a lot of people that cause traffic jams. So try to beat the crowds and start your day early.

Parking cost for a full day = €22

Park at park & ride

Would you like to avoid the traffic jams and travel on a budget, park your car at the park and ride areas on the outskirts of Antwerp. After parking your car, take public transport to the city center.

Public transport

You can also take the train to Antwerp. It is environmentally friendly and easily approachable from large cities in Belgium and the Netherlands. The central station of Antwerp is located in the city centre, so it is a perfect location to start your day. Take intro account that traveling by train is pretty expensive compared to your own car.

Another way to go to Antwerp is the bus. On a daily basis, commercial bus companies drive to Antwerp for a reasonable price.