Antwerp Travel Guide: What to See, Do & Eat on a City Break

Located along the Scheldt River, Antwerp is one of Belgium’s major cities and known for being the country’s fashion and diamond capital. While other Belgian cities might offer the fairytale cobblestone streets, quiet corners and medieval churches, Antwerp offers a slice of contemporary museums, bustling shopping streets and an international culinary scene.

In this guide, you’ll find a plethora of things to see and do in Antwerp, and makes for an interesting city break compared to many other Belgian cities.

Read: What to See in Brussels in 2 Days— Your Guide to the Perfect City Break

Wander Antwerp’s Central Station (Antwerpen-Centraal)

For most visitors, pulling into Antwerp Central Station will be the port of call, and even if you’re not coming in by train, be sure to stop by as it has been voted one of the most beautiful train stations in the world.

Opened in 1905, this station is grand in architecture, and the swathes of stone, steel and glass boast an impressive roof in the main hallway.

WHERE | KONINGIN ASTRIDPLEIN 27

Enter Antwerp’s Main Shopping Boulevard Meir

When you leave the grandiose architecture that is the Central Station, you’ll enter some busy but overall unremarkable streets, but walk 10 minutes down and you’ll soon find yourself at Meir, Antwerp’s biggest shopping avenue.

Expect some of the biggest international brands like H&M and Uniqlo, but you can also stop by stores like Think Twice to pick up vintage pieces. Keep an eye out for their Instagram as they often have special sale days where you can pick up things at an amazing steal— a perennial student favourite and it’s not hard to see why.

If smaller shops and local boutiques are more your style, simply wander off any of the main streets. In particular, check out streets like Kloosterstraat.

WHERE | MEIR

Go Museum Hopping at KMSKA and M HKA

You’ll soon notice that Antwerp loves it’s abbreviations, as evidenced by some of it’s biggest museums KMSKA aka the Royal Museum of Fine Arts and M HKA aka the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Both museums are within walking distance in the Zuid district, and you can easily visit one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.

It’s worth noting that KMSKA only reopened in September 2022, after a whopping 11 years undergoing renovation and the construction of 40% more exhibition space. It houses the largest art collection in Flanders and is truly beautiful.

The M HKA on the other hand, boasts contemporary art, film and visual culture. Housed in a former grain silo, which was transformed from it’s industrial beginnings as a warehouse, to then becoming a nightclub, to what is now the museum.

WHERE | KMSKA — LEOPOLD DE WAELPLAATS 1

WHERE | M HKA — LEUVENSTRAAT 32

Explore the Streets of the Zuid Neighbourhood

While in the Zuid neighbourhood, it’s worth spending some time exploring the streets just south of Antwerp’s city centre.

The streets are chockfull of some of the cosiest coffee shops, hippest brunch places, and emerging international culinary restaurants to dine out at.

Get your coffee and brunch fix at Andy Roasters, Charlie’s, Butchers Coffee or Mirlo’s.

For dining out, check out NANI, BÚN Bar & Restaurant, Tamo and Restaurant Kato.

Cross the River Scheldt Underground via the Sint-Annatunnel

Similar to how you can cross Hamburg’s Norderelbe channel via an underground pathway, Sint-Annatunnel has connected Antwerp’s left and right banks since 1933.

The tunnel’s entrances have remained largely the same since then, so you’ll descend upon wooden escalators to enter a busy thoroughfare of pedestrians and cyclists.

Besides appreciating the aesthetics of the tunnel itself, you can cross over to the other side to get a view of Antwerp’s skyline from the opposite bank.

WHERE | SINT-JANSVLIET (ENTRANCE FROM ANTWERP CITY)

Explore Belgium’s Only Chinatown

Capital city Brussels might have an unofficial Chinatown, but Antwerp boasts Belgium’s only officially recognised Chinatown at Van Wesenbekestraat, just minutes away from the Central Station.

While this Chinatown might not be as huge as other Chinatowns around the world, you’ll still find a handful of Asian cuisines represented here. Head up to Fong Mei for Cantonese, Tawan Tai for Thai, and Phở Viet for Vietnamese.

Need to stock up on Asian groceries and snacks? Sun Wah Supermarket is a local favourite.

WHERE | VAN WESENBEKESTRAAT

Get Sweeping Sunset Views at Museum aan de Stroom

At Willemdok, you’ll find a curious red sandstone building in the middle of the port, which is actually Museum aan de Stroom, known locally as MAS.

Here, you’ll find several floors of exhibitions about global connectedness, reflecting Antwerp’s status as a major port city. 10 stories high, the museum rooms are stacked like boxes, and best of all, the museum has a free viewing deck at the top where you can find an unblocked 360° view of the city around.

Simply follow the escalators from the ground floor as you wind your way up the building and you’ll quickly find yourself at this viewing deck.

Time your visit to the MAS at sunset to get the most out of your skyline view.

WHERE | HANZESTEDENPLAATS 1

Discover the Alleys Surrounding Grote Markt

Grote Markt being the main city square means you’ll likely pass through it at some point. Here’s also where you’ll find the iconic monument that gave Antwerp it’s name.

However, it’s the streets around Grote Markt that are more interesting, and personally, have far more character. Stop by any of the coffeehouses like Tartoer or Mr. Pickles, go thrifting at Riot Vintage Shop, get your Mexican fix at El Gato Gordo, enjoy some mussels at Fish A’Gogo, or check out cosy bookstores like The Other Shop.

WHERE | GROTE MARKT

If You Have More Time…

Everything above was written about Antwerp’s must visits in and around the city centre, but if you have more time to spare, be sure to head out of the immediate centre and check out places like PAKT, a district of 25 businesses creating an ecosystem of creative and sustainable entrepreneurs and their businesses.

Next to PAKT is the neighbourhood of Zurenborg, a beautiful inner city suburb famous for the street of Cogels Osylei, due to the stunning display of art noveau houses which are now protected buildings.

Head even further down south to Middelheimmuseum, one of the world’s oldest open-air museums boasting a sculpture park spreading across 30 acres.

North of MAS on Eilandje, you’ll also find Parkbrug, another stunning display of modern architecture.

Beyond Antwerp, Belgium being a compact country means that it’s easy and convenient to visit other cities. It takes just over 40 minutes by train to visit Brussels, and about an hour and a bit to the medieval city of Ghent.

Antwerp is also the best connected Belgian city to The Netherlands, and you can easily find rail and bus connections to Dutch cities. The train to Rotterdam for example only takes about an hour, making Rotterdam an easy day trip option as well.