Antwerp Travel Guide
Antwerp is the epitome of cool and elegance. This port city has captivated those with a flair for fashion for centuries. From the era of Baroque master Peter Paul Rubens the present day, allure remains as strong as ever.
A Hub of Style and Elegance
In Antwerp, you'll encounter business travellers, artists, fashion enthusiasts, and diamond traders alike. This city beautifully merges historical grandeur with a lively atmosphere. The Grote Markt, a stunning cathedral, scenic Scheldt riverbanks, and charming cobbled streets coexist with a vibrant nightlife, art galleries, and cultural institutions. Home to the Rubens, Plantin-Moretus Museum, Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA), Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (M HKA), and much more, Antwerp offers limitless options for those seeking a touch of brilliance.
Essential Information
When to Visit:
Anytime throughout the year, but don't miss the vibrant Doel Village Festival on August 12th.
Getting There:
FlyBe and VLM offer direct flights from Southend and London City airports, taking about one hour.
VLM flights from Manchester will in October.
Eurostar trains depart from St Pancras in London and arrive at the stunning neo-Gothic Antwerp Central station via Brussels in approximately three hours.
Getting Around:
The best way to explore Antwerp is on foot, but there's also a convenient 'pre-metro' tram system that navigates the streets. A single ticket covers both the and bus networks. To visit Doel and Saeftinghe, consider renting a bike or car.
Begin your journey at the heart of it all, Antwerp’s railway station. Known as the Railway Cathedral, Antwerp Central Station is not just a portal to the city a stunning attraction in its own right. Its vaulted ceilings, grand clocks, and impressive entrance hall, established in 1905, are truly captivating.
As you exit this magnificent structure, numerous highlights await just a short walk away. Antwerp Zoo, one of the oldest zoos in the world, is nearby. If zoos aren't your preference, continue your stroll to the Diamond Square Mile, a historic hub for diamond trading where an astonishing 84% of the world’s rough diamonds are handled by Antwerp’s skilled dealers.
After your leisurely walk, make your way to the Meir, a vibrant boulevard perfect for shopping and lined with beautiful Rococo architecture. This was a favorite spot for Peter Paul Rubens, a Baroque master and Antwerp icon, who sought inspiration and relaxation just around the corner from his city palace, now known as the Rubens House.
Your exploration leads you to the Cathedral of Our Lady, a monumental Gothic structure that has adorned the Antwerp skyline since the early 14th century, featuring a Baroque interior influenced by Rubens.
Next, visit Antwerp’s iconic Grote Markt, home to the Renaissance Town Hall with its Baroque elements, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In front stands the impressive Brabo Fountain, which tells the legend of how Antwerp got its name, featuring the heroic Brabo defeating the giant Antigoon and throwing his hand into the Scheldt.
Antwerp boasts excellent connectivity to Brussels Airport and the city center (35-40 min), as well as to Ghent (50 min) and Bruges (1h30). Here, you can find accommodation options in Antwerp.
Where to stay
Hotel De Witte Lelie, located in Antwerp’s city centre, is one of three high-gabled buildings that line the city’s oldest shopping street. The four-star hotel, built in the seventeenth century, contains the Bronze Bar where guests can unwind among fashionable surroundings and two sitting rooms in which visitors can relax in front of an open fireplace. Each of the ten rooms and suites has a view of the floral courtyard, free Wi-Fi access, a free minibar as well as separate bath and shower facilities. Guests will enjoy the hotel’s welcoming atmosphere, comfortable surroundings and stylish decor.
A historical 12th-century monastery, now transformed into a hotel, masterfully blends historical charm with modern, sustainable design. Situated in the Botanic Garden of Antwerp, this hidden treasure exudes a relaxed ambience. The retreat features 108 luxurious rooms, including specialised spa suites, along with a dedicated spa with treatments inspired by the healing power of plants and herbs is a truly tranquil experience. Dining options include a Belgian bistro, a cosmopolitan international bar, and a fine dining restaurant led by Michelin-starred chefs.
No wonder the lounge is so grand. Hotel Franq occupies a many-pillared banking hall; and while its bedrooms can’t quite match this opening fanfare of marble, glass and soaring vertical space, they are snug and comfortable. The roomier deluxe doubles are the pick of the pack, but all have king-size beds, good reading lights and the kind of black and white photographs on the wall that are worth more than just a glance. On the ground floor, the Michelin-starred Franq restaurant adds to the general air of luxury, which comes at refreshingly low prices for off-season stays. What really seals the deal here, however, is the location. Franq sits on the elegant Kirkdorp street, within easy walking distance of the Rockoxhuis museum, the Baroque St Charles Church and Normo, one of Antwerp’s best coffee houses.
5. Hotel Les Nuits, city centre
One of the wonders of Antwerp is the sense of style you get in even its mid-priced boutique hotels — and Hotel Les Nuits is a case in point. Not that you’d know it at the entrance — which is a lift in a passageway between two fashion boutiques on Lange Gasthuisstraat. The hotel has 22 rooms, on three floors of the building, and is both a surprise and a delight thanks to its ingenious and stylish rooms, each with smart, tiled bathrooms. Those in the Just Friends category are the ones to go for, with mirrored bathroom doors creating an extra sense of space.
