2024 Antwerp Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in September)

Antwerp｜The must try restaurant in summer

Sofie's Place
⭐️ Overall rating: 5/5
🍽 Recommendation: Thai beef salad
💁 Service: Good
💰 £40 per person
📍 Location: Graanmarkt 1, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium
Sofie’s place is one of my favourite restaurants in Antwerp, and during summer time, I like sitting outside and having a drink with my friends here.
The food is high quality and freshly made. From the starter, Ceasar salade with some fresh seafood tastes awesome and the Tomatensalade burrata is fresh.
I ordered Thai beef salad and it tastes like Chinese food. The sweet sauce is impressive. #境外遊 #foodie #Antwerp

The place is about pleasuring senses

This is truly the place for your 5 senses satisfaction: 1. Sight: one can view the great masterpiece (Castle) made from chocolate as well enjoy the Chocolatier’s demonstrations. 2. Hearing: you can listen and learn the new unknown details about the production process and get to know the interesting historical details about chocolate. 3. Smell: chocolate smell in this museum increasing theta brain waves which trigged relaxation even with teenagers 😂. 4. Touch: it’s a miracle everything you touch in this museum turns into the chocolate (slightly exaggerating). 5. TASTE: 10 different flavors of chocolates to taste - heaven! I will definitely recommend! #wecreate #belgium #Belgiumchocholate #museum #Chocolatemuseum #antwerp #Chocolatenation

Let’s go to Belgium

Another #throwback to Belgium trip. #2023travelwish

Love a vibrant city? This is it! Antwerp

This is the lovely city i've been. Talk about it's history, I couldn't agree more. I take a short train 30 minutes from Brussels and this city is easy to walkable. You can see there is a lot of gems right here. As a muslim, I do respect their Gothic building. Their grote markt is lively and full of people. Nice!! At first I thought the historical building must be their church. oh well, my mistake. Some of it is a train station, their museum and their old government building. In case you'd love to be here, do enjoy the vibrant nightlife of the city! Cheers!! #mytripvlog #tripblazers #spooktaculartrip #deliciousfood #fypシ

Impressions in Antwerp 🇧🇪

The first time I visited Belgium, my trip took me to Antwerp - a town with great atmosphere, delicious food and dark academia vibes in the old town. Lively Antwerp is a hidden gem. Its medieval streets, Renaissance monuments and vibrant nightlife tend to be overshadowed by its reputation as centre of the diamond trade and as the world's fifth-largest port. Cycling is a popular choice for getting around this stylish Flemish city. See thousands of Old Masters at the Royal Museum and Rubens House. Experience the bustle of life at the Grote Markt. Marvel at the art and architecture of the still unfinished Cathedral of Our Lady, started in 1351. My personal highlights included seeing Grote Markt, having Belgian fries with mayo and riding a Bird scooter down the streets... #tripblazers #myvlogtrip

Beautiful Antwerp Central Station

Koningin Astridplein is a square in the center of the Belgian city of Antwerp. It leads to the De Keyserlei and the Carnotstraat among others. Right at the square, there is the beautiful Antwerp Central Station which many travellers and locals use to get to different cities and different areas of the city itself. The Central station has a beautiful architecture and was built in 1905. This central station is one of the most beautiful central stations in the world, given its beautiful architecture and grandeur. Just right beside it, you will find a popular destination which is the diamond street (De Keyserlei). There are also a lot of popular destinations around it. #antwerp #antwerpen

Yummy Frites (Fries) in Antwerp

Frituur n°1 is a local fries store in Antwerp located in the city centre. They sell a few mainstream food dishes, mainly fast food and quick bites, but the fries were the highlight. Got to know of this place from a local, and there were many locals queuing up for it (but the queue moves very quickly). The locals recommended the most popular ones, which is just fries with beef stew and mayonnaise sauce. Fries were pretty nice! But note that this shop doesn’t accept any card payments, and only cash is accepted. There is also a seating area with plenty of seats but the toilet was sealed off, so no toilets were accessible. 4/5 and would recommend for a quick bite! #food #antwerp #belgium

Belgian Waffle House in Antwerp

Address - Van Hecke Waffle House in Antwerp Ambiance/Facilities - waffles were not too bad! The waffles were crispy and warm, but super light on the inside. Ambience wise, it was a small Waffle House but had enough seats to accommodate everyone. The owner was also very friendly and helped us move to a bigger table when it was available. Highlights - We got a banana split and it was amazing! we also got a normal waffle with the whipped cream, it was nice on its own as well! Avg. Price per Person - 10-15 euros depending on what you get. They have Belgian waffles and even main dishes. They also serve tea, hot chocolate, and many other drinks along with ice cream to go with your waffles. Rating - 4.5/5 #food #antwerp #antwerpen #belgianwaffles

Middelheimmuseum

This is a detail from Congoville, a free temporary exhibition at the open air museum Middelheimpark. Scroll to see further details. In the exhibition,15 artists who were selected by the Belgian-Congolese art historian Sandrine Colard, show their vision on Congoville and the colonial traces in our society. Special focus lies on the former Colonial College of Belgium whose building next to the Middelheimpark is now owned by University Antwerp. Foundet in 1920 and closed in 1962, it trained top civil servants to run the Belgian colonies. The garden also contains the director's villa in colonial style. This photo shows the work of artist Maurice Mbikayi and is called ‘The Aesthetic Observer (2021) ‘. Maurice Mbikayic, born in 1974 in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), lives and works in Cape Town (South Africa). In the clothing of this figure we see keys from old computer keyboards. It refers to the raw materials needed in today's technology. The workers who extract the ores from the ground in Congo are still exploited thus enabling the Western way of life. Afterwards, the West often dumps the materials back in Africa as toxic waste. By using this dumped materials in his art, Mbikayi denounces this reprehensible situation. At the same time it honorees the resilience of the African people, who have found endless ways to make the most of limited resources. The dandy-like character of the figure refers to the Sapeurs from Brazzaville-Congo who are members of ‘La Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes’ which means that they belong to ‘the elite of élégance’. They parade across the street like peacocks in striking clothing and create flamboyant identities for themselves showing they haven’t lost their free spirit and self respect. #modernart #sculpturepark #antwerp #antwerpen #middelheimmuseum #instantwerpen #vakantieineigenland #artpark #park #stadantwerpen #museum #terras #summertime #middelheim #visitantwerp #themepark#zoo#nationalpark#lakes

Antwerpen-Centraal

The Central Station immediately has a wow factor for those arriving by train in Antwerp. The impressive building was built between 1899 and 1905 according to a design by the architects Louis Delacenserie and Charles Poupaert in an eclectic style. It is in fact already the third station on this spot after the previous two were demolished. Originally it was a terminus where all trains had to turn in their direction of travel. This changed in March 2007 after a thorough renovation and modernization of the station platform, in which a two-track tunnel was opened that runs under the station and part of the city so that trains can continue their route without turning. #antwerpenstation #treinstation #metrostation #travelmore #slowtravel #station #building #antwerpenmijnstad #antwerpen #antwerpenbelgium #anvers #happynewyear #themepark#zoo#nationalpark#lakes

Hendrik Conscienceplein

Since 1883, Hendrik Conscience Square is named after the 19th-century Flemish writer Hendrik Conscience whose statue has been placed on the square. Before that it was called Jesuit Square because the Jesuits built the square in its current form. The partly 17th-century buildings around the square are characterized by a Baroque style. This is especially true for the imposing St. Carolus Borromeo Church, a former Jesuit church. The baroque style of the buildings around the square, with great pomp and splendor, was consciously stimulated by the Jesuits. As part of the Counter Reformation, the order wanted to encourage the population to come to their churches in all kinds of ways. Hence the difference in height of 8 meters between the front of the Sint Carolus Borromeus church and the rear with nothing behind just to make it look more imposant. A 17th century publicity stunt to attract more people. The entire square has been tiled with cobble stones. If you look closely you can see the 4 symbols of the card game (heart, club, diamond, spade). The photo is taken under the Sodality (oldest part of Hendrik Conscience heritage library), a wide passage that connects Conscienceplein with the Jesuitsrui, popularly called the “Jesuitengat". In 1927 a bronze memorial plaque in honor of August Snieders, a writer, was placed. In 1975 this square became the first auto-free square in the city, created through the efforts of local residents and some well-known artists such as Hugo Heyrman and Panamarenko. #erfgoedbibliotheekhendrikconscience #cityview #discoverbelgium #kidsoceanworld #themepark#zoo#nationalpark#lakes

#givethanks

If you only look at the picture, wouldnt you think of such a beautiful building but a train station? The Antwerp Central Railway Station in Belgium, built between 1895 and 1905, was built by the Belgian King Leopold II. The magnificent neo-Baroque architecture is decorated with more than 20 kinds of marble and stone. And magnificent. When it was completed, it was criticized for its luxury, but time has confirmed the vision of the builders. Today, this station has become one of the symbols of Antwerp and has been rated as the most beautiful railway station in the world.

Belgium|Antwerp eat and drink Raiders h The hotel opposite the Antwerp station is in an excellent location, the restaurant's large glass windows are the best location to enjoy the station. The location of the hotel is also very good, walking distance to the commercial street and the Rubens House. But spit it out, because it is very difficult to hold the tail room and the room with 4 numbers, in the case of telling the front desk (language communication is no problem, basically can be considered intentional) still give us a room number 4 and the tail room The room, after asking for a room change, gave us another tail room in another direction... This service is very speechless h This shows all kinds of Beautiful diamonds and art collections from around the world, as well as diamond jewelry that various superstars have ever worn. Rubens House The paintings that I once saw in the art book can be seen here! The Rubens Garden is also a great place to take pictures. Antwerp station highly recommended photography, casual shooting is very filming, intricate elevators and huge domes are amazing! There is also a very retro cafe eat Frites Atelier potato roast beef fries a bit like our rice bowl, is a popular local snack, in addition to the traditional potato beef The taste is curry and spicy cabbage Graanmarket 13 fashion avant-garde Antwerp innovative dishes, the chef has also visited China, adding innovative elements to traditional Belgian dishes purchase Belgian chocolate, super rich

Antwerp | The must try bakery in Antwerp

Dellafaille MAS 📍 Nassaubrug zn, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium This bakery is located near our hotel, and there are only two such stores in Antwerp. When the weather is good, many Belgians push strollers with their children to buy breakfast. After trying Belgian bread, I love it so much! The bread has a crispy crust and soft, flaky interior, with an exceptionally great texture. The store also sells items similar to egg tarts. If you don’t want a baguette or egg tart, you can buy some packaged snacks to take away and enjoy later. #100WaysOfTravel #antwerp

Antwerp｜Discover the brilliant coffee shop in Belgium

Maurice Bar 📍Korte Nieuwstraat 22, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium Discovering this café was a stroke of luck. It looks like a converted church, and I originally thought that entering through the wooden door would lead to an indoor space. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that by looking down and walking further, there is also a fantastic garden. Belgians enjoy sitting on chairs covered with soft blankets on weekends, sipping coffee, chatting with friends, and relaxing. One of the main reasons I particularly like this place is that it is next to a home goods store, and the coffee cups have beautiful designs with purple patterns. #travelchecklist #antwerp

Antwerp | The KMSKA Museum Exhibition: Old Meets New.

▪️ The Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) covers seven centuries of art, from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. It includes early Netherlandish paintings, expressionism, and works in painting, sculpture, drawing, and decorative arts. Many pieces are by renowned Flemish painters such as Peter Paul Rubens and Jacob Jordaens. The museum also showcases various styles and periods, including the Dutch Golden Age, Baroque, 19th-century Romanticism, and Modernism. ▫️ Originally designed by architects Jacob Winders and Frans Van Dyck in the 19th century, the KMSKA opened to the public in 1890. The museum was established to collect, preserve, and display significant Belgian and Flemish artworks. After winning an international competition in 2003, the museum underwent over a decade of renovation and expansion, reopening this year. 🔺 To fully enjoy the exhibition, it's recommended to allocate 2 hours for your visit. Tickets can be booked in advance on the official website or purchased at the self-service machines at the museum entrance. 🎫 Tickets: €20 for ages 26 and above, €10 for ages 19-26, free for ages 18 and below. 🕙 Opening hours: 10:00 - 17:00 (open until 18:00 on weekends, until 22:00 on Thursdays except in July/August). 📍 Address: Leopold de Waelplaats, 2000 Antwerp

VEERDIENST SINT-ANNA free boat antwerpen

Red Star Line Museum 🇧🇪

#summerdestinations Just had an incredible visit to the Red Star Line Museum in Antwerp! 🚢 This museum, situated on the waterfront, dives deep into the stories of millions of immigrants who sailed from Europe to the New World in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The entrance fee is about €10, which is a steal for such an immersive experience. The exhibits are well-curated and truly bring the history to life, with personal stories and interactive displays that really engage you. After exploring the museum, I wandered around the nearby old docks, which offer a charming mix of historic and modern Antwerp. Don’t miss the MAS Museum nearby, with its panoramic views of the city from the top – the perfect way to cap off your visit. 🏙️ Overall, the Red Star Line Museum is a must-see for anyone interested in history and migration. It’s both educational and touching, making for a meaningful day out. #trip #RedStarLineMuseum #Antwerp #HistoryBuff #TravelHighlights #CulturalExperience

Antwerp station in early morning in May

I arrived in Antwerp in earlry Sunday morning and left breathlessseeing its outstanding architecture. #antwerpenstation

🌟 Antwerp's Gem: Sapphire House Hotel Review 🌟

🏨 Nestled in Antwerp's beating heart, Sapphire House is where old-world allure meets modern-day luxury. Imagine stepping into a world where every detail screams comfort, from the plush beds that promise a heavenly sleep to the soundproof walls whispering secrets of serenity. 🛌 🍽️ Foodies, brace yourselves for a culinary journey at their gourmet restaurant, and sip on sophistication at the stylish bar. Service? Top-notch. They've got you covered, whether you need a family-sized van or a chat in Mandarin. 🥂 🌆 Location is a winner! You're just a stone's throw from Antwerp's cultural gems, with the bonus of a hotel key card that doubles as a city map. And breakfast? A hot dish menu that'll make your morning. 🍳 🌿 A tiny hiccup on the 'plant-based' claim – but hey, nobody's perfect. The Sapphire House, sparkling with newness and cleanliness, is a treasure waiting to be discovered at Lange Nieuwstraat 20/24. 🏰 #Antwerp #AntwerpHotel #AntwerpTravel

Chocolate Nation @ Antwerp 🇧🇪

#familytrips2024 Chocolate Nation in Antwerp is the largest Belgian chocolate museum, offering an immersive experience into the world of chocolate. The museum features 14 themed rooms where visitors embark on a 60 to 90-minute journey starting from cocoa plantations to the world's largest cocoa storage port in Antwerp. Highlights include interactive displays, a giant fantasy machine showing chocolate production, and multiple tasting opportunities of up to ten different chocolate flavors. This engaging and educational visit is a must for chocolate lovers and offers insights into Belgian chocolate’s rich history and tradition. My rating: 4 ⭐️ out of 5!

Het Steen Castle

Het Steen is one of the oldest castles in Europe and also one of the largest ancient castles, located in the old town center of Antwerp. The castle was built in 1200 as a fortress by the Roman Empire. 'Steen' in Dutch means 'stone', hence the name Stone Castle. In the 16th century, Charles V transformed the castle into a city gate that connected to the city walls, and it was later used as a prison, until it became a museum in the 19th century. Today's Het Steen is no longer as it was in the past.

🌿✨ Antwerp's Hidden Gem: Botanic Sanctuary 🏨🌟

Nestled in the heart of Antwerp, the Botanic Sanctuary is a historical haven dating back to 1238. 🏛️🍃 Transformed into a hotel, it's a lush paradise that marries the charm of ancient architecture with modern minimalism. Though the rooms might be cozy due to its heritage roots, they don't skimp on style or comfort. 🛌✨ Service here is top-notch, making you feel like royalty without the pretense. 🤴👸 Stroll just 15 minutes, and you'll find yourself at the Central Train Station, with all of Antwerp at your fingertips. 🚉👣 Foodies, rejoice! With five dining options, including a Michelin-starred restaurant, your taste buds are in for a treat. 🍽️🌟 Whether it's a quick bite or a lavish dinner, your culinary desires won't go unmet. 🍰🥂 Discover this green oasis at Leopoldstraat 26, Antwerp, and let the Botanic Sanctuary enchant you. 🌳💫 #Antwerp #AntwerpHotel #AntwerpTravel

Castle of Antwerp 🏰

#europetrip Castle of Antwerp, also known as Het Steen is a medieval fortress in the old city centre of Antwerp, Belgium which is one of the Europe’s biggest port. The Castle is located in the banks of the River Scheldt, walking distance to the historic center of Antwerp. You should start you journey in Antwerp from Castle of Antwerp to get know about the city as you will find the visitor centre inside the castle. To know more about the castle and the city, you may approach one of the officers inside the visitor centre, they are friendly. You able to get the scenic views of the river and the city skyline from the castle’s rooftop. Is free to access. Opening Hours: 10am - 6pm

Antwerp's Historic Gem: Exploring the Riches of Het Steen

#familytrips2024 "Step into the enchanting world of Antwerp's past at Het Steen, a magnificent fortress that stands as a testament to the city's rich history. Dating back to the Middle Ages, this iconic landmark exudes an aura of grandeur and resilience. Wander through its ancient halls and towering battlements, where echoes of bygone eras whisper tales of medieval knights and royal intrigue. The picturesque waterfront location offers unparalleled views of the bustling Scheldt River, adding to the allure of this architectural marvel. Whether you're a history enthusiast or simply seeking a glimpse into Antwerp's storied past, a visit to Het Steen promises an unforgettable journey through time."

Mesmerised by the Antwerp Central Station

You could pop by this place a few times to the central station just to admire the beautiful interior and exterior of the train station. It looked different during day time and ar night when the lights lit up. We were staying at a hotel located opposite the train station, hence we ended up always popping by to admire the stunning architecture and the clock. Truly amazing!

Happiness at Chocolate Nation

The Chocolate Nation at Antwerp is highly recommended. The interactive audio guide is very informative and interesting, with detail walkthrough of how a chocolate is made from cocoa beans. At the end of the visit, you get to taste more than 8 types of fresh chocolate with a spoon. This experience is truly memorable and the fresh chocolate completely blew my mind. Highly recommended!

Grote Markt Beautiful City Square.

Grote Markt is the main square in the Historic Centre of Antwerp. It is a very attractive location and nice place to spend time during visits to the city. Originally residential forum, this area was converted into community space in 1220 by Duke Henry I of Brabant. Here you can see a host guildhalls, Stadhuis (Town Hall) and other traditional buildings with step-gabbled brick facades. You will want to also have a good look at the imaginative and attractive Barbo Fountain in the centre of Grote Markt. It depicts the mythical Roman solider who defeated the Giant Antigoon. Plenty of cafes, bars, souvenir and gift shops line the square and you are close to important sightseeing in the area including Onze-Lieve_Vrouwe-Kathedraal (Cathedral of Our Lady) and Stadhuis (450 year anniversary presently being held). In the end, Grote Markt is a typical Belgium market square and should be enjoyed during visits to the city. You may want to pass by more than once, seeing it during the day with sunshine and blue skies and again in the evening when buildings are lit against the darkness of night. Definitely recommend!! #Degrotemarkt #Antwerp #Belgium #Historical #Artichature

a lovely time in Antwerp

me and my Boyfriend stayed for a couple of days in Antwerp and we had the best time there! We went sightseeing and Antwerp is just a beautiful city. It has a lot of tourist attractions that i really adore. Our stay was also very cute and the price was very reasonable for the space you get. Overall we had a great time and i would be definitely go back there. #instatravel #antwerp #couplestrip