The dynamic city of Antwerp, Antwerpen in Flemish and Anvers in French, is Belgium’s second-largest city and is situated in eastern Flanders, just 45 kilometres north of Brussels.
Renowned among art enthusiasts and those working in the diamond industry, Antwerp is the country’s principal port and retains its medieval charm through cobbled alleyways lined with cafés, the Cathedral of Our Lady – an imposing Gothic edifice visible from every corner of the city – and picturesque period buildings that were once the homes of wealthy merchants. Rubens, the master of Baroque, spent much of the early 17th century in Antwerp and immortalised it in numerous canvases.
The city develops around Grote Markt, the market square, overlooked by the Town Hall, the Stadhuis. Nearby lies the diamond quarter, surprisingly modest in appearance, and the Diamond Museum.
A vibrant nightlife, multicultural atmosphere and striking architecture make Antwerp one of Belgium’s most beloved cities.
Visit Het Steen, the fortress on the River Scheldt that seems to command the city from a rocky knoll, wander through the market square which, like in all Flemish towns, represents the heart of the city, admire the Baroque statue of Brabo, the guild houses and the Town Hall with its Renaissance-style architecture.
Make a trip to Antwerp Central Station, a Neo-Gothic masterpiece topped by an imposing dome, marvel at the Cathedral of Our Lady, the largest Gothic cathedral in the Low Countries, and the elegant silhouette of its spire, and visit the Rubenshuis palace designed by the artist himself. The Antwerp Diamond Museum is also well worth a visit.
Explore the so-called Fashion Quarter and visit ModeNatie, which houses the MoMu Fashion Museum, and stroll along the pedestrian street Meir.
Grote Markt, the market square, is the heart of Antwerp’s medieval city centre and lies close to the banks of the River Scheldt.
With its unusual triangular shape, the square is flanked on two sides by picturesque guild houses, 16th and 17th-century buildings that combine Gothic elements, such as pinnacles, with Renaissance features, and is dominated by the imposing structure of the Stadhuis, the Town Hall, an Italian-Flemish Renaissance-style building constructed in 1565.
The Baroque fountain of Brabo, created by Jef Lambeaux in 1887, stands in the centre of the square and recounts the legendary origin of the city’s name.
Many restaurants and cafés overlook Grote Markt. In winter the square hosts a charming Christmas market and ice-skating rink.
The Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp, or Onze Lieve Vrouwekathedraal, is considered Belgium’s most beautiful Gothic cathedral.
It took 169 years, from 1352 to 1521, to complete this imposing structure visible from every corner of the city. The elegant silhouette of its spire tower, standing 123 metres high, offers lucky visitors exceptional views.
Inside, the cathedral features late-Baroque decoration and four marvellous works from Rubens‘s early period.
Antwerp’s oldest building is the Het Steen Castle, a medieval fortress in the heart of the city that stands on a knoll beside the River Scheldt on the site of the ancient Gallo-Roman settlement of Antwerp.
Built between 1200 and 1225, it has undergone numerous alterations over the centuries, to such an extent that different types of stone are visibly employed. Converted into a prison between 1303 and 1827, the castle now houses the former courthouse, St Walburga’s Church, the dock and the fish market.
Outside stands the statue of Lange Wapper, a character from local folklore.
Pedestrian streets, historic residences and bustling shopping centres make Antwerp an ideal destination for shopping enthusiasts.
Meir Street is located in the city centre and connects the Fashion Quarter and the Latin Quarter. It’s a pedestrian commercial street flanked by 18th and 19th-century buildings housing small boutiques, tea rooms, food shops, high-end fashion stores, antique shops, watch retailers and chocolateries.
The Stadsfeestzaal shopping complex is charming and not far away, featuring over 40 luxury shops.
Shops are open from 9.30am to 6pm and remain closed on Sundays.
Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) is Antwerp’s most important native artist.
The Rubenshuis, once the residence and studio of the celebrated Flemish painter regarded as the father of Baroque, was converted into a museum in 1946 to celebrate his art and life.
The building, dating from 1611 and audaciously and exuberantly designed by Rubens himself, showcases splendid architecture: beyond the Baroque portico and Renaissance garden, the Italian-style building houses 10 canvases by the painter.
Museum De Reede in Antwerp is a museum dedicated to contemporary graphic art, with particular focus on works by artists such as Francisco Goya, Edvard Munch, Félicien Rops and Otto Dix. The museum opened in 2017 and is located in Antwerp’s artistic neighbourhood of Zuid, known for its vibrant art scene.
Museum De Reede’s main focus is on works on paper, including etchings, lithographs and engravings. The museum offers visitors the opportunity to explore and appreciate the graphic art of these significant artists, providing an in-depth view of their work and its impact on art history.
Museum De Reede is renowned for its collection of works by Francisco Goya, one of the greatest Spanish painters and engravers of the 18th and 19th centuries: the collection includes his famous series of prints “The Caprices” and “The Disasters of War”, which address the social and political issues of the time.
Antwerp Zoo is a zoological garden in the city centre, just a short walk from Antwerpen-Centraal railway station, and is among the oldest in the world.
Although built in 1843, the Zoo boasts state-of-the-art enclosures and enjoys international renown.
From African penguins to elephants, giraffes to hippopotamuses, housing a total of 5,000 animals from 950 different species, this facility is dedicated to preserving wildlife and operates an extraordinary breeding programme aimed at saving endangered animals such as bonobos and okapis.
Allow at least an afternoon to visit the Zoo and its magnificent buildings.
Away from the beaten tourist path, the Zurenborg neighbourhood lies to the southeast of Antwerp’s historic centre and boasts numerous exceptional buildings, veritable masterpieces of Art Nouveau and turn-of-the-century architecture.
Developed around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Zurenborg is characterised by elegant squares, residential streets and stately mansions.
Particularly striking is the façade of the Help U Zelve palace, a whirl of frescoes and wrought iron, whilst the Bootje palace features a charming balcony shaped like a ship and Dageraadplaats square is also worth exploring. The houses were often decorated with motifs referencing local history: the Flemish lion, for example, adorns the façades of Cogels-Osylei street, though you can also find decorations dedicated to Charlemagne, Waterloo and Napoleon.
One of the most famous buildings stands at the intersection of Waterloostraat and Generale Merlenstraat: the house walls depict The Four Seasons, one on each façade.
To reach Zurenborg you can use buses 14, 16, 32 or 38, tram number 6, 8 or 11, or the train.
The View is an observation wheel recently installed in the city, opposite Antwerp Central Station. Standing 55 metres high, it features 42 cabins with a capacity of 800 people per hour, multicolour LED lighting, a special VIP cabin and an extra-large cabin for wheelchair users and the disabled: sophisticated design in every detail.
The stunning Stadsfeestzaal shopping centre is housed within a magnificent neoclassical building constructed in 1908 to designs by architect Alexis Van Mechelen and restored to its former glory following the devastating fire of 2000.
Grand and exclusive, the shopping centre is located in the heart of Antwerp, on the main shopping street, Meir, and houses over 40 luxury shops spread across 4 levels. A second entrance opens onto Hopland.
Fashion shops and dining outlets are perfectly integrated within an architecture that is both historic and contemporary, characterised by a glass dome covered with gold leaf, a grand staircase, numerous decorations, sculptures, mosaics, wall reliefs, marble and oak parquet floors.
The shopping centre has an underground car park for nearly 300 vehicles.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Antwerp is Belgium’s style capital and is frequented by fashion gurus, art enthusiasts, night owls and those working in the diamond industry. Vibrant and lively, Antwerp offers numerous opportunities for visitors.
Discover the historic Flemish city centre and admire its architecture, visit the excellent Rubenshuis museum, the Diamond Museum and the Royal Museum of Fine Arts to discover Flemish masters, enjoy a bite to eat at Vleeshuis, the meat market, and visit the railway station, one of the world’s most beautiful.
Don’t miss the Middelheim Museum, an open-air masterpiece located 4 kilometres south of the centre, Het Steen, the medieval fortress overlooking the river, and, for those interested in fashion and photography, the MoMu and FoMu.
Antwerp is also home to the largest Gothic church in the Low Countries and Europe’s oldest zoo: Antwerp Zoo is home to over 950 animal species and runs numerous programmes for the protection of endangered wildlife.
Belgium’s second-largest city, Antwerp is a place full of contrasts, multicultural in nature, and is widely considered the style capital. Its medieval historic centre is a maze of stone-paved alleyways flanked by period buildings, small restaurants and cafés.
Beyond art galleries and museums, Antwerp’s cultural life is particularly enlivened by a lively nightlife scene.
Belgium is dotted with theme parks and boasts excellent museums dedicated to younger visitors. Antwerp is easy to navigate on foot, by bicycle or with a pushchair, and is a truly child-friendly city.
To keep your children entertained, visit Antwerp Zoo, one of Europe’s oldest with over 5,000 animals, or Aquatopia, an aquarium spread across two floors featuring various habitats in the city centre.
Among the many activities you can enjoy with your little ones, don’t miss Antwerp in miniature, or Mini-Antwerpen, a scale model at 1:87 featuring replicas of ships and monuments. The visit includes a workshop where builders produce exact copies of Antwerp’s buildings and an exhibition of snails from around the world.
What about chocolate? Numerous artisanal chocolatiers have their workshops in the city and offer unusual flavour combinations and artistic presentations. Children can watch chocolate being made and taste some truly delightful creations.
Antwerp has a small but vibrant gay scene with numerous gay-friendly bars and hotels. The most popular venues display the rainbow flag.
The city is home to one of the most famous gay clubs in the Benelux, the nightclub Red & Blue.
At the tourism office you’ll find the handy multilingual guide map Gay Antwerpen, whilst the Friends Gaymap is available in numerous cafés and bookshops.
The lovely Café Hessenhuis is located inside a 16th-century warehouse and features modern interior design.
Belgium’s second city, the country’s main port and the capital of style, Antwerp offers a wide range of luxury hotels, B&Bs, boutique hotels and hostels. Several major chain hotels are also present in the city.
Stay in historic buildings, often furnished with period furniture, where original features have been preserved to respect the character of the properties, or opt for a design-focused stay, perhaps in palaces located in the Sint-Andries Fashion Quarter.
The heart of this great Flemish city is Grote Markt, and in its vicinity you’ll find accommodation in impressive Renaissance-style buildings with Italian-Flemish influences. Also worth considering are properties in the Meir area, Antwerp’s main shopping street.
Antwerp is an essential stop for anyone visiting Belgium.
The city is located in the western part of Belgium, in the Flanders region, close to two airports: Brussels Airport, the international hub, is 45 kilometres from the city centre, whilst Antwerp’s small airport, used mainly for regional flights, is just 15 minutes’ drive away.
What's the weather at Antwerp? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Antwerp for the next few days.
Hotel 
Budget accommodations 
Apartments 
Family Hotel 
Luxury Hotel