Here’s how to spend a day in Antwerp if you are visiting Belgium.
I suggest stopping there for at least a day because there are a lot of things to see, but you can totally go for more time there.
Plus, the train network serves very well all the towns to visit so you can add Bruges, Ghent or Brussels to your itinerary !
Antwerp is Belgium’s second largest city. The city is located on the Scheldt River and 88km from the North Sea. The Port of Antwerp is the 13th biggest in the world, and 2nd in Europe after Rotterdam.
I’ll list here all the things to do when spending a day in Antwerp.
Antwerp circuit : 40 minutes, 8 stops
Start your day at the famous train station called Antwerpen Centraal. Inaugurated in 1905, it has been voted many times one of the most beautiful stations in the world. Locals call it the ‘Railway Cathedral’.
Right outside the station is the Diamond district. With 84% of the world’s rough diamonds passed through this district, hence making it the largest diamond district in the world !
13 minutes away from the station is the most frequently visited shopping street in Belgium : the Meir.
The street has beautiful buildings from the 18th and 19th century and the Stadsfeestzaal Shopping Centre has made the Meir the most expensive shopping destination in Benelux.
A 10 minute walk will take you to Groenplaats (meaning Green Place), one of the main square in Antwerp.
On this square is the impressive Cathedral of Our Lady. This Roman Catholic cathedral in Gothic style was completed in 1521.
You can also see at the center a statue of Antwerp’s most famous painter, Rubens.
It is called Green Place because until the 18th century is was the city’s cemetery. It was converted into a square during the Austrian occupation when cemeteries inside the city walls were abolished.
4 minutes from the square is the Grote Markt, the main square of the city, surrounded by guild houses. Those houses used to belong to guilds and craftsmen. North of the square is the largest guild house in Antwerp, which was the butchers’ house.
Also located in Grote Markt is the Town Hall, built in the 16th century.
The famous Brabo fountain in the middle was built in 1887 and refers to a known legend : Brabo is throwing the giant Antigone’s hand he just chopped off into the river.
5 minutes away from the fountain is Steen Castle, a medieval fortress built between 1200 and 1225, which makes it the oldest building in Antwerp.
Fee : 7€
Opening hours : Everyday, 10am to 6pm
Last but not least : PAKT. It is either a 45 minutes walk in direction of the train station, or you can take the line 4 or 9 and it will take 20 minutes.
This former industrial site is now a sustainable space for entrepreneurs and small businesses such as brewery, café, restaurants, and various start-ups. Why sustainable ? Well they use the heat from the pizza ovens to heat offices on the upper floors, the rainwater is collected to roast coffee in the bar and the vegetables and herbs growing on the rooftops are used for the cuisine in the restaurants.
Searching for more places to visit in Antwerp ? You can wander in the charming little streets surrounding Grote Markt :
Before heading back : if you are searching for a great waffle in Antwerp, head to La Compagnie Belge.
That’s it for my Antwerp recommendations !
I hope this article gave you a better idea of what to expect from a day in Brussels, it’s nice to stop by if you are coming to Belgium !
If you plan on coming to Belgium soon you can check out my other articles such as a day in Bruges, a day in Ghent or a day in Brussels.
If you need more information about what to know before going to Belgium, you can check out this article.
I have also made a post about restaurant and food recommendations, click here to check it out !
If you need a custom itinerary, you can fill this form and I’ll make your own personalised itinerary.
