Thinking of a trip to Belgium? Here’s what to see in Antwerp!
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Belgium may be small, but it has so much charm! I’ve been a few times now and loved every place I’ve visited. Antwerp often doesn’t make the radar for a quick trip, but it absolutely should!
Antwerp is a smaller town than Brussels, easy to explore in a day or two. It has its own share of great food and beer spots, which means I vote it deserves more than a day trip. It’s consistently a favorite among my friends who’ve been to Belgium, so I knew I had to go!
Weird fact: Antwerp has one of the biggest ports in Europe. It’s a big part of Antwerp’s economy, both historically and currently. Also: eat seafood here.
The name Antwerp comes from a legend. A giant named Antigoon would terrorize people crossing the Scheldt River in or out of town. If they didn’t pay his toll, he’d cut off one of their hands and throw it in the river! In Dutch, Antwerp means “hand throwing.”
Logistics
In Belgium, they speak both French and Flemish (similar to Dutch). Antwerp is on the Flemish side, so you’ll hear that most. But everyone speaks English, so you’ll be fine!
Belgium uses the Euro and is part of the EU. Almost everywhere will take card, but you may want some cash on hand for a food truck or restaurant. Remember: cash only often means they’re locally owned, so it’s worth eating there!
Pretty much all transport stops running at midnight, so don’t get caught by surprise! This includes trains and streetcars, and most taxis as well.
How long in Antwerp?
The city itself isn’t big. You could do it as a day trip from Brussels and get through the majors of what to see in Antwerp. But its charm and restaurants drew me to stay a night or two!
It’s an easy train from Brussels: only about 45 minutes. You may consider using Antwerp as your home base to explore Brussels, Rotterdam, or The Hague!
If you want someone else to be in charge, you can always go the guided day trip route. There are several good ones on Get Your Guide, including some that include other stops in the day.
That being said, it’s worth pointing out that to get to Ghent or Bruges, you’ll go almost back to Brussels, so maybe not worth it if you’re traveling by train. Ideally, spend a night in Antwerp and then base another couple days in Bruges or Brussels for a car-free visit to Belgium. If you have a car, it’s an easy 1.5 hour drive from Antwerp to Bruges.
Antwerp Hotels
Since you’re thinking about staying in Antwerp, here are a few accommodation options!
I stayed at Citybox Antwerpen and highly recommend it. It offers modern stripped down and amenities, including what you need and skipping what you don’t. That means each room has a comfortable bed, basic amenities, and easy self check in and out, but without a lot of fru fru extras that you don’t end up using (but still have to pay for at other hotels). There’s also a communal kitchen, laundry, and attached coffeeshop.
Hotel ‘t Sandt is a gorgeous boutique hotel in the center! It has beautiful decor touches everywhere, and the terrace has an amazing view of the city rooftops and cathedral.
If you’re more interested in an apartment style option, this apartment is perfect. It’s a one bedroom apartment with a kitchen, washing machine, and perfect central location!
Free Things to See in Antwerp
Here are the best free things if you’re thinking about what to see in Antwerp!
Start off with the Central train station because you’ll likely pass through here anyway. It’s a beautiful historic building, worth taking a moment to admire the old school glass ceiling and detailed architecture that feels more at home 100 years ago.
The best way to experience the city is to just wander. It’s not that big, so you won’t need to be picky about which direction you go. There’s art built into doorways, shop signs, rooftops… everywhere you look. And it’s not just historic! Antwerp has some fun quirky contemporary art around as well!
To plan your time, check out Het Steen. It was the city’s fortress along the Scheldt River, and these days holds the tourism office. They have a small (paid) exhibit inside about the history, but the building’s exterior is free and interesting on its own. Plus, this is a good spot to check for seasonal events happening in town.
Grote Markt is the main square. Visiting is a must! If you’re here on a Saturday, make sure to pass through in the morning: there’s often gatherings, parades, events, or weddings! The buildings that line the square are also some of the most beautiful in the city.
Cathedral of Our Lady is Antwerp’s central cathedral. The gothic church looms high above the surrounding buildings, making it an easy meeting point. The two spires are designed differently because one is owned by the city and the other by the church, each serving a different purpose. You see this in historic church of a certain era, like the one in Krakow. Entry isn’t free – 12€ as of fall 2025 – but it’s wroth seeing the exterior even if you don’t go in.
In front of the cathedral is a sculpture unique for the way it’s worked into the ground: a boy and his dog are curled up asleep, using the cobblestones as a blanket. Called “Nello and Patrasche,” they’re characters from an 1872 novel A Dog of Flanders. It’s a sad story, but the statue is heartwarming.
Meir is the main pedestrian shopping street in Antwerp. The historic buildings give a sense of ambiance even if you’re not planning to shop!
What to See in Antwerp: Museums and Paid Entry
Many of the museums here are somewhat niche: either you’ll be really into them, or not at all. There’s not much middle ground with the topics.
As always, do a walking tour! It’ll take you to so many of these spots listed but with a better sense of why they’re important or worth your time. This one is nearly free with a small reservation fee, or get in the local spirit and do a bike tour!
One great museum in Antwerp is the Plantin-Moretus Museum. It’s the former home and printing press of the Platin-Moretus family. The building shows their home, press, and shop as it looked centuries ago, making it feel like a step back in time. It’s a gorgeous building even if historic books aren’t your thing!
The Hofkamer is only open on certain days, but it’s a unique historic space also worth seeing if you can! It was renovated in the 1800s and is a lavish event space. The best part? They decorated a bathroom as a library, even building the toilet shaped as a stack of books! Guided tours are available Sundays between April and October.
Much of Europe’s chocolate is imported via Antwerp, so a chocolate museum is a great way to enjoy this bit of history! Chocolate Nation explains the process of making chocolate and history of Belgian chocolate. At the end you get unlimited chocolate tastings, including unusual types like blonde and ruby chocolate.
Chocolate Nation is whimsical and kid friendly! It might be a bit too silly for some adults, just depends on what you’re looking for. Entry tickets are a bit pricey for what’s offered, but if you’re into chocolate it’s worth considering.
The Museum aan de Stroom, or MAS, is Antwerp’s city museum. The building is a strikingly modern and sits along the port so gives great views from its panoramic terrace. The exhibits are a mix of history, food, ports and international trade, as well as pop culture and more. A few of the exhibitions are free, as well as the terrace level, so consider checking it out even if you don’t want to buy tickets!
I have to mention Rubens House, the museum in the historic home of the artist. However, it’s closed for renovations and schedule to reopen in 2027. The gardens and the Rubens Experience video presentation has stayed open throughout.
I hope this helps you figure out what to see in Antwerp for your next trip to Belgium. Check back soon for my bar and restaurant guide! You could spend an afternoon exploring the city’s beer scene, so keep it in mind when planning.
Thinking of a multi-stop trip? Try adding on Brussels, Bruges, Amsterdam, or Cologne; all are easy by train or car!
