This guide to know the best of Antwerp in one day It will help you prepare an itinerary through one of the most essential Belgian cities, making the most of your time.
Known as the city of diamonds and Rubens, Antwerp has numerous tourist attractions mostly concentrated in its beautiful old town that can be explored perfectly on foot in 24 hours, in which in addition to moving to medieval times when you travel these alleys, you should not miss the delicious Belgian beer, the world-famous chocolate and the typical mussels with fries.
Based on the time we spent in the city during our trip to Ghent, Leuven and Antwerp, we have prepared the best route to go Antwerp in one day, not forgetting any of the great experiences that this magnificent city offers. We start!
How to get to Antwerp
The fastest way to get to Antwerp is to take the train at Zaventem airport or at Brussels stations.
The train from Brussels to Antwerp departs every 10 minutes from the Central Station and will leave you at the Antwerpen Centraal station in 45 minutes for 7.60 euros.
If you are not going to spend the night in Brussels you can go directly from Zaventem airport by train or on the Airport Express bus and saterrizas at Charleroi Airport we advise you to board a bus to Brussels Midi (South) station and from there a Train to Antwerp.
If you only have one day and want to learn more about the history of the city, a good alternative is to book this excursion by train or by bus that includes the city of Ghent, both with a guide in Spanish and located among the best excursions in Brussels.
For more information you can read this post on how to go from Brussels to Antwerp.
Recommended hotel in Antwerp
Our recommended accommodation to tour Antwerp in one day It is the Antwerp Inn Hotel, located 5 minutes from the train station and 15 minutes from the historic center that in addition to its excellent location, has 24-hour reception, clean and new rooms, friendly staff and one of the best quality / price ratios of the city.
Tips for traveling to Antwerp
This list of tips will help you on your first visit to this famous Belgian city:
- Complete this list of places to visit in Antwerp essential and if you have more time this is 10 amazing places to see in Belgium.
- If you have flexibility of days, it is better to take the train on the weekend by having a 50% discount. If you are going to make several journeys through Belgium you can get profitable to buy the Rail Pass, a ticket that costs 80 euros (50 euros if you are under 26 years old) that includes 10 train tickets and can be used by several people at the same time.
- To not miss any interesting place and learn more about the history, we recommend you book this free tour of Antwerp Free! and this free tour of mysteries and legends that will allow you to know the most hidden face of the city, both with a guide in Spanish.
What to see in Antwerp in one day
The route of what to see in Antwerp in one day It starts early in the morning at the Central Train Station, one of the most beautiful in the world. When you leave the station you will pass through the Diamond neighborhood, which you will visit in the afternoon next to the Chinatown, until you reach Meir Street which has the most luxurious shops in the city and where the Stadsfeestzaal shopping center is also located, located in a Beautiful neoclassical building.
Antwerp Central Station
Deviating a few meters down Wapper Street you will reach the Rubenhuis, the house-workshop in which Rubens lived during his last 29 years and which was converted into a museum and is inspired by the beautiful Italian villas, where you will see some paintings by Rubens and the rooms with the original furniture.
At the end of the visit you will return to Meir Street to reach the Church of San Carlos Borromeo, the most beautiful in Antwerp, which has a spectacular baroque facade and although 39 paintings of the great Rubens were burned inside, it is worth entering to see The main altar
After a pleasant walk through the streets of the old town you will reach the jewel of the city, the Grote Markt or Market Square, which has several guild houses located among the most beautiful in the country, a spectacular Renaissance-style town hall and the original Fountain de Brabo, located in the center.
Grotemarkt
When leaving this square, the Antwerp in one day Continue with the visit to the Cathedral of Our Lord, located in the beautiful Groenplaats square, a few meters from Grote Markt. The exterior of the church impresses with its huge tower with a large bell tower and inside there are several paintings by Rubens, illuminated with the natural light that passes through large windows of the year 1537.
Arrived and this point and before continuing with the itinerary, you can regain strength by drinking a delicious Belgian craft beer in the recommended Paters Vaetje and Den Engel although if you prefer to eat we advise you to try the mussels of the Fish a'gogo or the delicious food of the Morso.
With renewed energy you can continue with a walk through the historic center crossing the beautiful Vlaeykensgang alley, which will take you to medieval times with its houses from the 16th century.
Vlaeykensgang alley
Near the end of this street is the Plantin-Moretus Museum, where you will see the two oldest presses in the world and an old archive, both declared a World Heritage Site.
After the visit, the Antwerp in one day continue with a walk through Klooserstraat, a street full of antique shops and with a great offer in bars and restaurants from where you can approach the bank of the Scheldt river and border it until you reach Steen Castle, in a neo-Gothic style that served as a defense of the Viking raids.
Steen Castle
After seeing the castle on the outside you will continue along the Escalda shore until you reach the Eilandje neighborhood, located in the old port of the city, which has become the fashionable neighborhood after the hangars have been transformed into original coffee shops, galleries with the latest trends and interesting museums with the MAS, which has magnificent views from the upper terrace.
Once all the visits to the neighborhood are finished, you can approach the set Schipperskwartier, the old sailors' neighborhood.
Eilandje neighborhood
This neighborhood is about 20 minutes walk from Chinatown, the next visit of the Antwerp in one day, where you will find a typical neighborhood, full of restaurants, shops and red lanterns, which have their most prominent place at the entrance door.
Next to the Chinatown and the train station is the famous diamond district, formed by the pedestrian streets of Pelikaanstraat, Schupstraat, Hoveniersstraat and Rijfstraat, where as a curiosity you get money, which about 84% of all rough diamonds and 50% of all the polished diamonds in the world pass through this city and where to get to know the whole process of making this precious mineral, you can take a guided tour in Spanish in one of its best stores such as Diamonland.
The itinerary through Antwerp ends with a dinner at the De Arme Duivel restaurant or you can return to the center to see the illuminated Grote Markt and eat at De Pottekijker or the Label, two of the most recommended in Antwerp.
Antwerp route map in one day
Do you want to organize a trip to Antwerp?
Get it here:
The best offers of Flights to Brussels here
The best hotels at the best prices in Antwerp here
Book the best tours and excursions in Antwerp in Spanish here
Rent your car in Belgium at the best price here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
The best offers of Flights to Brussels here
The best hotels at the best prices in Antwerp here
Book the best tours and excursions in Antwerp in Spanish here
Rent your car in Belgium at the best price here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
