Escorted Tours to Antwerp Belgium

Discover Antwerp's Wonders

Antwerp is the real urban deal, a refreshingly down-to-earth cosmopolitan destination, blessed with magnificent architecture, fashionable shop fronts, beer-washed pubs, dazzling monuments, jazzed-up clubs, inspired artworks, and restaurant tables piled with plates of superb Belgian and multicultural food. Antwerp tours will not only take you to a wealth of outstanding museums, picturesque galleries, sculpted streets and beautiful architecture, but are also full of refreshing nature spots and urban haunts. Its culture, history, vibrant nightlife and world class shopping are all within easy reach. Travel to Antwerp, a pocket-sized metropolis.

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Description

Antwerp, with its roots stretching back to the Middle Ages, has long been a hub of commerce and culture. Founded around the 4th century, it rose to prominence in the 16th century as one of Europe's leading ports. Throughout the ages, Antwerp has been a witness to prosperity and hardship, playing pivotal roles in the Age of Exploration, the Spanish Fury, and the diamond trade, affirming its economic and cultural significance. Today, Antwerp offers visitors a blend of historical marvels and modern vibrancy. From the majestic Cathedral of Our Lady, housing works by Rubens, to the bustling diamond district, the city is a treasure trove of artistic and architectural wonders. Contemporary attractions, such as the cutting-edge MAS Museum, complement its rich history. With its fashion-forward mindset, underscored by the influence of the Antwerp Six designers, the city is a fashionista's paradise. Whether strolling through the charming Zurenborg district, exploring the cobbled lanes of the old town, or savouring the Belgian culinary delights, Antwerp invites visitors to experience its unique heritage and dynamic present.

Useful information

Population:

The city: 536,079 The municipality: 1.23 million

Currency:

1 Euro = 100 cents

Emergency Info:

All emergencies: 112
Medical emergency service/fire brigade: 100
Police: 101
Doctor on call: +32 900 10 512
Belgian poison control: +32 70 245 245

Opening Hours:

Shops are open from Monday to Saturday 10am–6pm. Large department stores stay open longer.

Do & See

Antwerp Diamond Bus

Hop on the Antwerp Diamond double-decker bus and visit Antwerp’s best-known hotspots. It’s a first timers’ ideal introduction to the city. Daily departures from April until November, the other months only at the weekend.

Antwerp Zoo

The Antwerp Zoo was founded in 1843, which makes it one of the oldest zoos worldwide and the oldest in Belgium. About 5,000 animals from 950 species call this zoo their home. They live in monumental buildings and an impressive, meticulously maintained garden. A visit to the Zoo is a dose of pure relaxation in the middle of the city.

Cathedral of Our Lady

After 169 years of construction, the cathedral of Antwerp finally dominated Antwerp’s skyline in 1521 with a height of 123 metres. It was and still is the biggest Gothic building of the Benelux. The Cathedral is a huge treasury of works of art. Eye-catchers include two masterpieces by Rubens: The Raising of the Cross and The Descent from the Cross.

Central Station

Antwerp's Central Station is a magnificent architectural feat with its steel canopy over the platforms. Architecturally inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, the station was inaugurated in 1905. In 2007, the station was expanded, and a tunnel was added. The large station hall is frequently used for all kinds of events. Centraal Station has been voted one of the most beautiful stations in the world on numerous occasions.

FOMU — Fotomuseum

FOMU, Antwerp's photography museum, offers a deep dive into the world of photography, spanning its inception to contemporary works. With a vast collection of images, books, and equipment, the museum features thoughtfully curated exhibits showcasing both Belgian and international photographers. FOMU also hosts engaging tours, lectures and workshops.

Grote Markt & Brabo Fountain

At Grote Markt, the Brabo Fountain stands as a striking centrepiece amidst the historic architecture of Antwerp's central square. This celebrated monument is based on the legendary tale of Brabo, a local folk hero who defied the giant Antigoon, probably inspiring the city's name by throwing the giant's hand ("werpen" the "hant" in Middle Dutch) into the Scheldt River.

Het Steen

Het Steen is Antwerp's medieval fortress and its oldest building. Today, it houses a Visitor Centre, a cruise terminal, and The Antwerp Story exhibition. This historic site offers a deep dive into the city's heritage, complemented by stunning views from its terrace and a sleek, modern interior. Take the opportunity to snap a photo with Druon Antigoon, the mythical giant who lived in Antwerp. His statue towers over the passers by next to Het Steen.

KMSKA — Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp

Explore seven centuries of art at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp. Home to masterpieces from Flemish Primitives to Expressionists, it boasts extensive collections of James Ensor and Rik Wouters. This newly renovated museum displays works by Rubens, Van Dyck and Van Eyck, alongside more modern artists like Magritte and Modigliani. A fusion of tradition and innovation, it's a must-visit for art lovers.

Dining

À L'infintiste

À L'infintiste is a tiny restaurant with a special concept. You bring your own aperitif, wine or soft drinks and coffee or tea. Every day, the chef creates refined 6-course menus a fixed price.

Aahaar Delux

Aahaar is an authentic Indian restaurant which only serves vegetarian dishes. Go à la carte or choose the buffet formula and enjoy a nice selection of traditional Indian dishes. The restaurant is located in the diamond trading district and is a popular lunch spot for locals.

Au Vieux Port

Au Vieux Port exudes a nostalgic bistro atmosphere. Belgian/French classics are expertly prepared here in accordance with proven traditional methods. Some dishes are even carved right before your eyes in the dining area. Truly a spectacular experience.

B23

B23, near Antwerp's MAS, serves refined dishes like oysters, truffle-accented plates, and supreme steaks. Enjoy their extensive wine list and a cosy terrace. A top choice for fresh, quality dining with vegetarian options.

Balls & Glory

Predictably, the speciality of this casual eatery are their gloriously delicious handmade meatballs with a different filling each day, served with mashed potatoes or a salad. The meat is carefully sourced, ensuring it's organic and of top quality.

Bier Central

Bier Central offers more than 300 bottled beers and over 30 on tap. The menu features typical Belgian dishes like mussels, baked endive and stew cooked with local beer.

Bistrot du Nord

Just a stone's throw from Park Spoor Noord is Bistrot Du Nord — a relaxed, cosy restaurant with a straightforward brasserie fare. The menu primarily features meat dishes, but the fish options will also delight the no-nonsense gourmets. Deliciously affordable, and with a Michelin star!

Brasserie Appelmans

Brasserie Appelmans, located close to Antwerp’s Cathedral, offers a perfect mix of traditional and modern. Known for serving excellent food with Belgian highlights, like a stew made with local De Koninck beer, the restaurant reflects Antwerp's character in its fusion of the old and the new.

Cafés

Caffe Mundi

Follow the smell of freshly roasted coffee to Oude Beurs near Grote Markt, where you will find Caffe Mundi. Guaranteeing its customers only the best quality, the owners have come up with a new and original approach: everything is done in house, from the roasting, to the grinding and the brewing. Of course, you can even buy your own coffee plant in this coffee bar and shop.

Caffènation

“One Drug, One Café, One Caffènation” is the slogan of Caffènation. Once over the threshold, you almost stumble over the sacks of house blend coffee. Inside is a pleasant, no-nonsense atmosphere, typical of a business that has nothing more to prove. The music is slightly harder and both the service and the interior have a rough edge. Most coffees come from their own roasting business, which also supplies many other bars and restaurants in Antwerp. Furthermore, almost all local baristas made their first great espresso here. If you want to take home some typical Antwerp coffee, choose from a variety of bags of the bar’s own coffee beans.

Chocolatier Del Rey

For over 60 years, Antwerp chocolate lovers have found their way to Del Rey. Every day master chocolate makers craft delicious pralines, biscuits, pastries and ice cakes here. You can also have lunch at the Chocolate Lounge next door.

Esco*bar

Need a break while shopping? Then head to Esco*bar, where you can choose from a range of coffees and teas, or enjoy some breakfast or lunch. Weather permitting, the large garden doors are opened for some al fresco dining.

Me & My Monkey

Me & My Monkey (named after a song by The Beatles) is the successor of La Chascona. The interior matches the antique feel of the Kloosterstraat. The menu is full of decadent coffee drinks, sweetened with honey and speculoos (gingerbread cookie spread).

Mokkakapot

Mokkakapot is a creative coffee bar in Borgerhout’s fast changing Moorkensplein, only a stone’s throw from Central Station. There is art on the walls, a store selling clothes, jewellery and books as well as a menu with some original drinks and sandwiches.

Normo

At Normo, the jute sacks of raw coffee beans are displayed on pallets on the floor. Owner Jens Oris has put an authentic coffee roaster in the middle of his business, and roasts the beans during normal business hours. This “micro roastery” makes Normo perhaps the most independent coffee business in the city.

Revista

Revista combines coffee, free wifi and a whole array of international magazines and newspapers — the holy trinity for bloggers and fashion students. Revista also offers soups, filling salads and sandwiches, so you can easily spend a whole day there.

Bars & Nightlife

Bar Paniek

Bar Paniek, an eclectic hub created by the Time Circus collective, offers an industrial grunge vibe in an artistically repurposed warehouse by the Kattendijkdok. With its unique decor of salvaged materials and vintage charm, it's an incredible place to enjoy local beers, homemade juices and waterfront sunsets.

BelRoy’s at Nine

Next to Antwerp’s Cathedral, you can enjoy great cocktails in an amazing setting. The building is over 200 years old! On a hot summer night you can have a seat in the inner courtyard. In winter, gather around the open fire.

Cafe Beveren

Cafe Beveren is a cosy, unpretentious bar by the Scheldt river. It's a decidedly local place; there's no flashy facade to attract the tourists. However, this dive bar features a unique Decap dance organ from 1937. Drop a one Euro coin into a control box on the wall, and you can enjoy tunes from this mechanical marvel. Stop by for a quick pint and see an accordion, a drum set and a saxophone come to life.

Café Hopper

This jazz cafe has been named after the American painter, Edward Hopper and is widely known in Antwerp. The cafe has been hosting small live music events since its doors opened in 1991.

Café Storm

If you need to contemplate on your visit to the MAS museum, then you don’t have to go far. Located in the MAS building, Café Storm is the ideal place to relax and enjoy your drink. If you can, try to get hold of an outdoor seat. The view on the dock is amazing.

De Muze

De Muze is a monument of Antwerp's nightlife and jazz scene. Enjoy the numerous performances that take place here.

De Vagant

In De Vagant, you can sample a wide range of Belgian jenevers: more than 200 types! The café is located on an atmospheric, picturesque street with a beautiful view of the Cathedral.

Den Engel

Den Engel, just metres away from the city hall, is one of the most typical cafés in Antwerp. The history of the building dates back to the 14th century. The pints poured here are enjoyed by both young and old.

Shopping

Around Central Station

Did you know that Antwerp has been the world's largest diamond centre for over 550 years? Hundreds of diamonds are traded here daily. More than 80% of all rough diamonds in the world pass through here. All this takes place within a compact area next to the central station. You can shop precious stones, gawk at the shiny window displays, check out the specialised jewellery tool shops or have excellent Jewish or Indian food.

De Meir

The Meir is a pedestrianized shopping street that connects the central station to the historical centre of Antwerp. Here, international chains jostle for attention with small Antwerp designer boutiques. The Stadsfeestzaal shopping centre, once a concert hall, has 40 luxurious stores lavishing in the restored marble, gilded and mosaic interior, plus a few restaurants and a bar. Once a month and all through the month of December, many shops, cafes and restaurants will stay open for Koopzondag (Shopping Sunday).

Fashion District

The Modenatie building on the corner of Nationalestraat and Drukkerijstraat is the centre of this district, housing the Fashion Museum and the Fashion Academy. The area around Kammenstraat, Lombardenvest and Sint Antoniusstraat beckons the true fashionistas.

Het Zuid

South of the centre, between Amerikalei and the river, is the district known as het Zuid. Art and culture are the assets of this area, with important museums, numerous art galleries and renowned auction houses. Surely the trendiest area of the city, there is an abundance of designer restaurants, shops and cafes, too.

Historic City Centre

There is nowhere better to begin a shopping trip to Antwerp than in the traditional heart of the city — the Grote Markt and Groenplaats. The Grand Bazar Shopping Centre links Eiermarkt and Schoenmarkt with 50 shops. Kloosterstraat offers top-notch antiquing.

Kloosterstraat

Kloosterstraat remains Antwerp’s most compelling paradox. It's a street where 17th-century guildhouses jostle with avant-garde boutiques, and the scent of aged wood from antique shops mingles with espresso from minimalist cafés. While still home to Belgium’s densest cluster of vintage dealers (think Art Deco chandeliers, Flemish oak cabinets and stacks of Delftware), the thoroughfare has evolved beyond its brocante roots. Design galleries and independent fashion ateliers now occupy spaces between the traditional antiquarians, their sleek displays contrasting with the patina of Mercator-Orteliushuis’s Golden Age facade. The real pleasure lies in the hunt: you might uncover a 1920s medical diagram in one shop, then turn the corner to find handcrafted leather jackets or a gallery specialising in Brutalist ceramics. Even the street’s quirks — like the whimsical wooden Guirlande sculpture dangling above the pavement — reflect its refusal to be pinned down as purely old or new. Come weekdays when dealers have time to chat about provenance over bitterballen at the corner wine bar.

Kringwinkel

Antwerp has plenty of opportunities to shop second hand items, from clothing and books to furniture and interior design items, and everything in between. Kringwinkel is a long-standing charity shop, and probably the first step for any Antwerpener who wants to say goodbye to a precious object they no longer need. Stop by and browse the shelves, and find something unique without breaking the bank.

Quartier Latin

In Quartier Latin, also known as Theaterbuurt, you'll find the most upscale boutiques and specialty stores, antique and interior design shops. The Bourla on Graanmarkt and Stadsschouwburg theatre still remind us of the former Mecca for travelling theatre companies and the vibrant nightlife. When the weather cooperates, bring your lunch and a book to the botanical garden in the centre of the neighbourhood.

Tourist Information

Passport & Visa

Citizens of European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries do not need a visa to enter Belgium, only a valid ID. Many other countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Australia, and New Zealand, benefit from visa-free entry for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Visitors from visa-exempt countries must hold a valid passport and, starting in late 2025, will need to apply for an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) authorisation online before travelling. For those requiring a visa, such as travellers from some Middle-East, African or Asian nations, a Schengen visa must be obtained prior to arrival. All travellers should ensure their passport is valid for at least three months beyond their intended stay.

Airports

When travelling to Antwerp from afar, you are most likely to fly to Brussels Airport (BRU) or Charleroi Airport (officially Brussels South Charleroi Airport, CRL). Belgium’s biggest and most important airport is situated 45 km from Antwerp city centre, a 40-minute car trip. The express train from Brussels Airport – Zaventem station to Antwerpen Centraal takes only 30 minutes. Antwerp's own airport (ANR) is only 7 km from Antwerp city centre, a mere 15 minutes by car. Luxair, Tui Fly and Sky Alps offer connections to popular vacation spots, including London. The nearest train station is Mortsel. The local bus stop is right outside the terminal. Brussels South Charleroi Airport is the farthest of the three, around 115 kilometres away. The most cost-effective connection is to take the local bus from the airport to Charleroi Gare Centrale (around 20 minutes) and then take the train to Antwerpen Centraal (1 hour 45 minutes).

Public Transport

Antwerp is a pocket-sized metropolis: compact and easy to navigate, even on foot. You can easily explore the city on foot. About 20% of the historic centre is car-free, and during many summer events, pedestrians are given absolute priority. Ideal for crossing the city: take the tram or bus from the Flemish transport company De Lijn. De Lijn's trams run for an extra hour on Fridays and Saturdays. As a result, the weekend timetable better matches the schedule of the night buses. Good news for partygoers, who can enjoy the nightlife longer and want to get home safely and quickly. Buy your tram or bus ticket at a pre-sale point (newsagent, supermarket, corner shops, or at the machines at the stops). With pre-sale, a ticket is 20% cheaper. You can also pay the fare with De Lijn mobile app.

Taxi

In Antwerp, all official taxis have a permit from the City of Antwerp. You can recognise them by an illuminated taxi sign on the roof and a red license plate on the front. You pay a uniform tariff set by the city. The tariff is always visible on the taximeter on the dashboard. When you arrive at your destination, the taximeter automatically prints out a ticket with the taxi company’s name and contact information. There are always taxis on Queen Astrid Square (Koningin Astridplein), immediately north of the central station. Alternatively, book your ride through the taxi.eu app or call +32 3 238 38 38.

Electricity

In Belgium, power plugs type C and E are the official standards. The electrical plugs are compatible with type F plug with two round pins. The standard voltage is 230 Volt and the frequency is 50 Hz.

Telephone

Country code: +32 Area code: (0)3

Velo

Since 2011, you can explore Antwerp with one of the thousand red-and-white city bikes, called Velos. Wherever you are in the city centre, there is always a Velo station within walking distance. You can buy a bike pass for a day, week or year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time of year to visit Antwerp?

The best time to visit Antwerp is during the spring (April to June) and early fall (September to October) when the weather is mild and the city hosts various cultural events. Summer is also popular, but it can be crowded with tourists.

How many days should I plan to stay in Antwerp?

A stay of 2 to 3 days is ideal to explore Antwerp's main attractions, including its historic center, museums, and vibrant neighborhoods. This duration allows you to enjoy the city's art, architecture, and culinary scene without feeling rushed.

What are the must-see attractions in Antwerp?

Antwerp offers a range of attractions, including the Cathedral of Our Lady, the Antwerp Zoo, and the MAS Museum. Don't miss the Rubens House, the historic Grote Markt, and the bustling Meir shopping street.

How can I get around Antwerp?

Antwerp is well-connected by public transportation, including trams, buses, and trains. The city is also very walkable, and renting a bike is a popular option. Consider purchasing an Antwerp City Card for unlimited travel on public transport and discounts on attractions.

What local foods should I try in Antwerp?

In Antwerp, be sure to try local specialties such as Belgian waffles, Antwerpse Handjes (hand-shaped cookies), and stoofvlees (a Flemish beef stew). Pair your meals with Belgian beer, as Antwerp has a rich brewing tradition.

Are there any unique festivals or events in Antwerp?

Antwerp hosts several unique events, such as the Antwerp Pride in August and the Winter in Antwerp festival, which features Christmas markets and ice skating. The city also celebrates Rubensmarkt, a historical market event, in August.

What are some recommended day trips from Antwerp?

Consider day trips to nearby cities like Ghent and Bruges, both known for their beautiful medieval architecture. Alternatively, visit the Mechelen for its historical sites or the picturesque town of Lier, just a short train ride away.

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