12 Wonderful Things To Do In Antwerp (+ Map & Practical Tips)

With classic art and contemporary design, Antwerp is a cosmopolitan charmer with a medieval heart. Here are some of the best things to do in Antwerp to discover all sides to this Belgian gem.

Once the richest city in Europe, Antwerp’s golden age in the 16th century made it the centre of world trade.

The city grew wealthy from Portuguese spices, American silver, and the booming textile market. Today, Antwerp is experiencing its fourth golden era – this time built on creativity and style.

The city effortlessly mixes old and new. Medieval cobblestone streets wind past contemporary galleries. Renaissance palaces sit alongside sleek modern buildings. Historic neighbourhoods blend seamlessly with trendy districts full of design shops and innovative restaurants.

What makes Antwerp truly special is how much locals love living here. You’ll feel the city’s genuine energy at bustling weekend markets, in cosy cafes, and throughout the vibrant neighbourhoods that make up this cosmopolitan gem.

Here are the best things to do in Antwerp to discover what makes this city so captivating.

MAP: ANTWERP

The map below has all the attractions we’ve included in this guide to help you plan your trip.

USING OUR MAPS. Click on the top right corner to open in the Google Maps app. Click on the star to save to your Google account.  

THINGS TO DO IN ANTWERP

1. GROTE MARKT & TOWN HALL

Grote Markt is the main square in Antwerp, which serves as the historical heart and social hub. It’s a beautiful square lined with ornate guild houses and stunning Flemish architecture.

It’s often considered one of the most beautiful squares in Europe.

The highlight is the Town Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Renaissance and Gothic elements. The ornate detailing on the building perfectly embodies Antwerp’s Golden Age of prosperity.

At the centre of the square, the dramatic Brabo Fountain depicts the legendary hero Silvius Brabo throwing the severed hand of the giant Antigoon into the River Scheldt.

2. MAYER VAN DEN BERGH MUSEUM

Fritz Mayer van den Bergh was a prominent art collector and the first to have a museum specially built to house his private collection.

Throughout his lifetime, he collected around 3,000 pieces, mainly from the 14th to 16th centuries.

The most celebrated piece in the collection is Mad Meg, Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s most famous work, depicting a heroine leading an army of women to pillage hell.

Mayer van den Bergh Museum is included on the Antwerp City Pass – we have more information about that below.

2025 Update – The museum is currently closed for extensive renovations. However, a temporary exhibition has been set up at Lange Gasthuisstraat 33, around 200 metres away.

3. SNIJDERS & ROCKOXHUIS

Nicholaas Rockox was the mayor of Antwerp and one of the most prominent citizens of his time. His friend, Frans Snijders, was a painter, student of Pieter Brueghel the Younger and colleague of the famous Flemish artist, Peter Paul Rubens.

As next-door neighbours, their houses have been combined into a museum evoking life in early 17th-century Antwerp.

There are paintings by Flemish masters such as Rubens, Anthony van Dyck and Jordaens.

An excellent tablet-based audiovisual guide provides information using image recognition, picking out points of interest from the artwork. It makes the whole experience much more interactive and informative.

4. RUBENSHUIS

Rubenshuis is the former home, studio and garden of Peter Paul Rubens, one of the most important Flemish artists.

Most of his works were completed in this property, which Rubens purchased in 1610 and had renovated, drawing on Italian Renaissance architectural styles.

A new immersive presentation, Rubens Experience, now brings his work to life like never before. The garden was also recently rebuilt using historical sources to replicate it the way Rubens would have wanted it to look.

We found the whole museum thoroughly interesting. It’s rare to see the actual home and studio of such a prominent artist.

Rubenshuis is included on the Antwerp City Pass.

5. MAS (MUSEUM ANN DE STROOM)

MAS or the Museum ann de Stroom (Museum by the river), with its curved glass facades and stacked box design, is intended to look like both a water and a warehouse.

The 10 enormous red brick containers stacked onto each other make up the exhibition space, which includes permanent and semi-permanent exhibitions. Themes include the notion of what ‘home’ means, exhibitions to freight and art from pre-Columbian America.

Each floor offers a gradually improving view of the city through MAS’s iconic rippling glass. The final view on the rooftop is one of the best panoramas of the Antwerp.

Entrance is included on the Antwerp City Card.

6. M HKA (MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART)

In stark contrast to the showy exterior of MAS, the M HKA, or the Museum of Contemporary Art, is a blank warehouse from the outside.

But inside is a place for curiosity, where a willingness to see things differently is rewarded with a stellar modern exhibition. A focus on art and society is explored through images, film, and various quirky installations.

The M HKA is a huge exhibition; a place to stroll around and soak up rather than work through chronologically. There are permanent and temporary exhibitions, and an excellent, but stark, photo exhibition.

The beautiful library and reading room, which also functions as the reception, is Antwerp’s favourite living room.

M HKA entrance is included on the Antwerp City Card.

7. FOMU (PHOTO MUSEUM ANTWERP)

The Photo Museum of Antwerp is a museum dedicated to the history, techniques, and contemporary practice of photography.

They have over 90,000 images, including historical frames, documentary shots, fine art and contemporary photography. There’s also a library you can explore with over 30,000 titles dedicated to photography and related skills.

They have a regularly changing temporary exhibition, so whenever you go, you’re likely to see something different.

You can also visit the workshop spaces, the cinema, the entrance hall, and there’s a great cafe on site.

FOMU entrance is included on the Antwerp City Card.

8. THE RED STAR LINE MUSEUM

Two million passengers sailed from Antwerp to the Americas on Red Star Line ships.

Today, the Red Star Line Museum, located at the old port, is an engaging look at the process immigrants went through in order to gain a better life.

From the harsh medical inspections in Antwerp to the horrible conditions at sea, a free parcel of land came at a cost of weeks of harrowing conditions.

The museum walks through the transient nature of Antwerp during the 19th century. In a city where today 92% of the population are happy, 100 years ago, they couldn’t wait to leave.

It’s an excellent exhibition on the site of the original warehouses (“sheds”) used by the shipping company at Antwerp’s Eilandje district, the last stop in Europe for many emigrants.

The Red Star line museum is included on the Antwerp City Card.

9. PLANTIN-MORETUS MUSEUM

The Plantin-Moretus Museum is the original residence and printing house of the Plantin and Moretus family, famous printers and publishers from the 16th to 18th centuries.

Christophe Plantin, born into a poor family in France, moved to Antwerp in the middle of the 16th century. Here, he started a successful publishing business and started something relatively unheard of in his time – the printing of scientific books.

The museum has the tools, the archives and machinery from early modern publishing.

It’s a beautiful exhibition with scientific books on display in dusty leather-bound glory. I loved inspecting the original typesets that were used to print them.

The museum is a UNESCO World Heritage site as the only fully preserved Renaissance / Baroque printing workshop.

The Plantin-Moretus Museum is included on the Antwerp City Card.

10. CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY

While Rubens’s illustrations show his depth of skill as an artist and his connections to the elite, his real masterpieces are on display at the Cathedral of Our Lady.

Construction commenced in 1352 and lasted 170 years. Like many of Belgium’s Gothic churches, the cathedral has a long history of devastation and destruction.

But despite current renovations, it stands today as a symbol of Antwerp’s golden era.

It’s also the perfect place to showcase Rubens’s most famous works. The cathedral boasts 4 of his masterpieces, including The Assumption of the Virgin, which takes pride of place above the main altar.

At various times of the year, temporary exhibitions are held in the cathedral showing other works. More information can be found at Visit Antwerp.

11. SINT-ANNATUNNEL

Sint Annatunnel is a pedestrian and bike tunnel under teh River Sheldt in Antwerp connecting the left and right banks of the city.

The tunnel is a popular thoroughfare for locals making a regular commute across the river. But the Art Deco style of the entrances, the original wooden escalators, vintage controls and signage make it a very photographic spot in Antwerp.

The full tunnel is around 570 metres long so it takes around 10 minutes to walk from one end to the other.

12. KLOOSTERSTRAAT

Kloosterstraat is a street in the Sint-Andries neighbourhood in the heart of Antwerp.

It’s a beautiful, semi-pedestrianised street lined with independent stores that give Antwerp its unique vibe.

You’ll find antiques and vintage stores, pop-ups, community galleries, public art, concept stores and plenty of interesting cafes.

Weekdays are generally quieter, but Sunday afternoon is probably the best. More of the shops are open, the locals are out enjoying the street, and the atmosphere is lovely.

PLANNING & LOGISTICS

WHEN TO GO?

The best time to visit Antwerp is during the shoulder seasons: April-June and September-October.

From April to June, the weather is mild with temperatures around 12-18°C (54-64°F), the city’s parks and squares come alive, and tourist crowds are manageable. In September and October, you’ll enjoy crisp autumn days perfect for walking, fewer tourists, and the city takes on a cozy atmosphere as locals return from summer holidays.

Antwerp shines during the Christmas season with festive markets and twinkling lights, but expect cold, damp weather and higher accommodation prices.

Peak season is July-August when temperatures reach 16-24°C (61-75°F). While the weather is warmest, the city can get busy and accommodation costs peak.

HOW LONG DO YOU NEED?

Two full days are perfect to explore Antwerp’s incredible art scene, the cathedral, Grote Markt, and to sample the city’s famous beer culture and culinary scene.

With 3-4 days, you can delve deeper into the art scene, visit more museums, explore different neighbourhoods like trendy Zuid, and take day trips to nearby attractions or the coast.

HOW TO GET THERE?

The best way to reach Antwerp is by train. Belgium’s excellent rail network makes the city highly accessible from across Europe.

Here are the most common train routes to Antwerp:

• From Brussels: Direct trains every 30 minutes, journey time 45 minutes
• From London: Eurostar to Brussels (2 hours), then connecting train (total 3-4 hours)
• From Amsterdam: Direct trains every 2 hours, journey time 1 hour 15 minutes
• From Paris: Thalys to Brussels, then connecting train (total 3.5-4 hours)
• From Bruges: Direct trains hourly, journey time 1 hour 30 minutes

All train journeys can be booked via thetrainline.com or omio.com. Both platforms accept international cards.

GETTING AROUND

Antwerp Central Station is located about 2 kilometres east of the historic centre, which is a 25-minute walk or short tram ride.

The station is a destination in itself – this architectural masterpiece is often called the world’s most beautiful train station and is worth admiring while you’re there.

Public transport: Single tram/bus tickets cost €3 and can be purchased by tapping a contactless card on the validators when boarding. The historic centre is compact and entirely walkable, with most major attractions within a 15-20 minute walk of each other.

Bikes: Antwerp is bike-friendly with dedicated cycle lanes. Bike rentals are available from various shops around the city centre.

WHERE TO STAY IN ANTWERP

Antwerp’s compact historic centre makes most locations convenient, but each area has its own character. The Old Town puts you steps from major sights, while Zuid offers a trendier, more local experience.

• Hotel Julien (€€€€) – A beautifully designed hotel that is both comfortable and elegant.
• Hotel Rubens (€€€) – Classic hotel near the cathedral with traditional Belgian hospitality.
• Hotel Les Nuits (€€€)– A modern boutique experience with a budget rate card.

ANTWERP CITY CARD

The Antwerp City Card provides free entry to museums, churches, and attractions, plus free public transport and discounts at restaurants and shops.

Card options and costs:

• 24 hours: €28
• 48 hours: €35
• 72 hours: €40

The card includes access to major attractions like the Cathedral of Our Lady, Rubens House, MAS Museum, and Red Star Line Museum, making it excellent value if you plan to visit multiple sites.

MORE BELGIUM GUIDES

• We’ve covered all the best things to do in Bruges on our 1 or 2 day itinerary.
• Discover the best things to do in Antwerp with our comprehensive guide.
• Our guide to visiting Mechelen has a few hidden gems.
• Here’s what you need to know to visit Ghent on a day trip.
• Our guide to Leuven, Belgium.
• The best things to do in Brussels, Belgium’s gritty capital.