In our guide, you will find useful information about the city, its history, and its culture. A valuable aid to better organize your trip, knowing what to do and what to see in Antwerp.
- What to see in Antwerp: places of interest
- 1 Antwerp Cathedral
- 2 Grote Markt
- 3 The Antwerp City Hall
- 4 The Port of Antwerp
- 5 Rubenshuis
- 5 The Church of Saint Charles Borromeo
- 6 Antwerp, diamonds
- To make your visit complete, we suggest visiting the following Museums of Antwerp.
- Antwerp in brief: how to get around, how to arrive, where to stay, what to eat
- 7 Antwerp, how to get around
- 8 Antwerp, how to get there
- 9 Where to eat in Antwerp
- 10 Where to sleep in Antwerp
When planning your trip, knowing where Antwerp is located will help you understand the best way to approach this city. Located right in the center of Europe, it has had various influences due to its position that make it very special compared to many other European cities.
There are many things that will surprise you about this city, and through this guide, we want to give you some advice on how to best organize your days, illustrating what to do in Antwerp: what to see and what to visit.
What to see in Antwerp: places of interest
During your trip to Antwerp, Belgium, you must not miss these places, among the most beautiful in the city.
1 Antwerp Cathedral
The Antwerp Cathedral is known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of Antwerp and is one of the most visited monuments in the city. Entirely in Gothic style, it has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is certainly one of the first things to add to the list “Antwerp: what to visit“.
2 Grote Markt
Grote Markt is the heart of the Old City. A little curiosity about this place: the buildings surrounding it are faithful reconstructions of the originals, destroyed in a fire in the 1800s.
3 The Antwerp City Hall
The Antwerp City Hall: a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the oldest Renaissance buildings in Northern Europe.
4 The Port of Antwerp
The Port of Antwerp is the second largest port in Europe, it is navigable and definitely worth visiting. Add it to the list “Antwerp things to see“.
5 Rubenshuis
Rubenshuis is the villa where the painter Peter Paul Rubens lived. Inside you can find many of his works perfectly preserved over time.
5 The Church of Saint Charles Borromeo
The Church of Saint Charles Borromeo is truly evocative, also thanks to the works carried out by the painter Peter Paul Rubens. It is located in Hendrik Conscienceplein square, a very charming place, where the nightlife of Antwerp also takes place. It is certainly to be included in your list “What to visit in Antwerp“.
6 Antwerp, diamonds
Antwerp is known as the “diamond city” (Diamondland). It is here that you find artisan workshops working this precious stone. On the list “Antwerp, things to do” we recommend including a visit to the diamond district, currently mainly inhabited by Indian and Jewish communities.
To make your visit complete, we suggest visiting the following Museums of Antwerp.
- MoMu: it is Antwerp’s museum dedicated to fashion.
- Museum of Fine Arts: inside almost 8,000 works are preserved, including several paintings by the painter Peter Paul Rubens. Currently, the museum is under restoration and will be until 2019.
- Plantin – Moreus Museum: it is a museum dedicated to typography.
- Mayer van den Bergh Museum: based on a unique collection of nearly 1,000 pieces, which makes it the first in the world. It was created by the mind of an art enthusiast, Fritz Mayer van den Bergh.
Antwerp in brief: how to get around, how to arrive, where to stay, what to eat
7 Antwerp, how to get around
Most areas of Antwerp are pedestrian zones, so the best way to get around during your vacation is on foot. Alternatively, you can use the city’s urban services: buses and trams. By purchasing the Antwerp City Card, you can use all public transportation.
8 Antwerp, how to get there
From the airport of Antwerp, Antwerp Airport Brussels, you can reach the city by train in less than 45 minutes. On site you will find various means available, including taxis that have a good price ratio.
9 Where to eat in Antwerp
Antwerp, where to eat: there are many typical local places in Antwerp. If you prefer fish, we suggest the port; to taste traditional cuisine, we recommend the central area of the city. Among the must-try dishes remember: Moules et frites meaning mussels with fries; Carbonade, a meat stew flavored with beer, onions, and spices. For the sweetest, there are the Antwerpse handjes, chocolate hands typical of Antwerp.
10 Where to sleep in Antwerp
For choosing your hotel in Antwerp we suggest the most characteristic area, namely the city center. Hotels and accommodation facilities in Antwerp and the rest of Belgium are of good quality and often you can also find affordable lodging, especially non-hotel accommodations.
