Antwerp Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Antwerp tours, the grand Grote Markt and Cathedral of Our Lady, the world’s diamond capital and Rubens’ city, chocolate and beer tastings, and easy day trips to Bruges, Ghent and Brussels. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Antwerp itinerary.
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Explore Antwerp by interest
Whatever brings you to Antwerp — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Old Town
The Grote Markt and cathedral.
ExploreDiamond District
The world’s diamond capital.
ExploreFood & beer
Chocolate, fries and Belgian beer.
ExploreRubens & art
The Rubens House and cathedral.
ExplorePort & river
The Scheldt and Europe’s great port.
ExploreBike tours
See Antwerp on two wheels.
ExploreFashion & design
The Antwerp Six and MoMu.
ExploreDay trips
Bruges, Ghent and Brussels.
ExploreTop attractions in Antwerp
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Grote Markt
Guild houses and Town Hall.
Cathedral of Our Lady
Gothic spire and Rubens art.
Diamond District
The world’s diamond capital.
Chocolate & beer
Belgian flavours.
Central Station
A cathedral of railways.
Het Steen & port
The riverside castle and Scheldt.
Rubens House
The master’s home and studio.
Bruges & Ghent
Fairy-tale Flemish cities.
Antwerp in 1 day
- 1Grote Markt & Town Hall
- 2Cathedral of Our Lady
- 3Diamond District
- 4Chocolate & beer
Antwerp in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Old town & diamonds
- 2Rubens House
- 3Day 2: Bruges or Ghent
- 4Beer cafés
Antwerp in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Old town & diamonds
- 2Day 2: Bruges
- 3Day 3: Ghent or Brussels
- 4Beer & chocolate
Antwerp with kids
- 1Central Station wonder
- 2Het Steen & river
- 3Chocolate tasting
- 4Antwerp Zoo
1.5 hrs awayBruges
Fairy-tale canals and squares.
1 hr awayGhent
Grand medieval architecture.
45 min awayBrussels
The Grand Place and Atomium.
2 hrs awayFlanders Fields
The WWI battlefields of Ypres.
20 min awayMechelen
A charming cathedral city.
45 min awayBrussels & chocolate
Capital sights and chocolate.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Antwerp visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring and summer (May–September) bring the mildest, sunniest days and lively café terraces — the best time to visit, though spring and autumn are pleasantly quieter.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Fresh, blossoming days ideal for the old town, the river and outdoor terraces.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Warm and lively, perfect for the squares, terraces and river, with festivals and long days.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Crisp, golden days with fewer crowds — a lovely time for galleries, food and beer cafés.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Cool and atmospheric, cosy for chocolate, beer cafés, museums and the Christmas market.
Pack for rain
Belgium can be wet year-round, so bring a layer and umbrella — Antwerp’s cafés, churches and museums are perfect rainy-day refuges.
One day
Enough for the old town, diamonds and a food tour.
Two days
Add a Bruges or Ghent day trip.
Three days
The sweet spot: the city, Bruges, and Ghent or Brussels.
Four to five days
Add more Flemish towns and the coast.
A week or more
Use Antwerp as a stylish base to explore all of Flanders.
Travelling with kids
Mix the zoo, Het Steen castle and chocolate at a gentle pace.
On foot
Antwerp’s old town, the Grote Markt, cathedral and shopping streets are compact and best explored on foot.
Trams & premetro
A handy tram and underground premetro network covers the wider city cheaply, including links to the station and museums.
By bike
Flat and bike-friendly, Antwerp has shared Velo bikes and cycle lanes — a great way to get around.
Trains
Antwerp’s magnificent Central Station offers fast trains across Belgium — Brussels in 45 minutes, Ghent and Bruges within easy reach.
Day-trip transport
Frequent trains and tours reach Bruges, Ghent and Brussels easily for day trips.
From the airport
Brussels Airport links to Antwerp by direct train in about 30–40 minutes; Antwerp also has its own small airport.
Book tours ahead
Popular small-group food, beer and diamond tours and day trips to Bruges and Ghent have limited places — book ahead at weekends and in summer.
Currency & tipping
Belgium uses the euro; service is included, though rounding up for good service is appreciated.
Try the bolleke
Order a De Koninck “bolleke” amber ale and sample Belgian chocolate, fries with mayo and waffles — Antwerp essentials.
See the station
Don’t miss Antwerp Central Station, often called a “railway cathedral” and one of the world’s most beautiful stations — free to admire.
Rubens & MAS
Visit the Rubens House and the modern MAS museum, whose rooftop offers free panoramic views over the city and port.
Use trams
Antwerp’s trams and premetro make getting around easy and cheap; a single ticket or day pass covers the network.
Food & beer tours
Small-group chocolate and beer tours fill up — book ahead.
Diamond tours
Diamond-district and Jewish-quarter tours have limited places — reserve early.
Bruges & Ghent trips
Popular day trips to Bruges and Ghent sell out — book ahead.
Walking & bike tours
Guided old-town and bike tours fill up at weekends — reserve early.
Rubens House
Pre-book popular museum tickets in peak season.
Summer & weekends
Summer and weekends are busiest — plan ahead.
Walking tours
Around €15–40 for a guided Antwerp old-town or bike tour.
Food & beer tours
About €40–80 for a chocolate, food and beer tasting tour.
Diamond tours
Roughly €25–55 for a Diamond District and Jewish quarter tour.
River cruises
Around €15–30 for a Scheldt river or harbour cruise.
Day trips
About €50–80 for a Bruges, Ghent or Brussels day trip.
How to save
Take cheap trains to Bruges, Ghent and Brussels, admire free sights like Central Station and the MAS rooftop, and walk the compact centre.
Antwerp through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Fresh days, blossom and quiet terraces.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Lovely before the summer crowds.
- Best for
- Warm days, terraces and festivals.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Busy; book food tours and day trips ahead.
- Best for
- Crisp days for galleries and beer cafés.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A lovely, quieter time to visit.
- Best for
- Cosy chocolate, beer and the Christmas market.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cool and atmospheric; lower prices.