Antwerp (Anvers in French) glitters with many facets. It’s the World’s Diamond Capital, an historic port city, and a hub of Flemish art and fashion. Add to that chocolate shops, canals, and architecture that ranges from Gothic spires to Zaha Hadid modernism, and you have a gem that dazzles.
We arrived by bicycle in Antwerp, as part of Our 10-DayBelgian bike tour, from Brussels to Leuven, Mechelen, to Antwerp, then on to Ghent, Bruges and into The Netherlands.
Where to stay in Antwerp, Belgium, best hotels in Antwerp
Grand Entry
Arriving by train at the Antwerp Central Train Station, you’ll see why it’s ranked among the world’s most beautiful. Baroque-meets-modernist grandeur as a glass-arched ceiling sets the stage for Antwerp adventure, glitter and history!
Chocolate Nation is next to the historic picturesque Antwerp Train Station – it’s the world’s largest chocolate museum! This is a fun tour, about the painstaking process of harvesting and producing unique Belgian chocolate, from rainforest cocoa beans to perfect confections. Chocolate Nation culminates with tasting of 10 chocolates on little help-yourself-spoons, from white to milk to rich dark cocoa, and my favorite: velvety Madagascar!
Stroll Antwerp’s Diamond District as you depart the train station to see where 80% of the worlds’ diamonds are cut and traded. Its dazzling! Meir Street here has a lively pedestrian zone with all the latest shops and eateries. Schuttershofstraat displays more upscale chic shopping, as you continue toward Grote Markt, passing wonderful cafes and restaurants of every imaginable ethnic cuisine.
Myths and Monuments
In Grote Markt, the heart of Antwerp, you’ll find the fountain statue of Brabo, he’s hurling a severed hand into the River Schelde. Legend says Brabo defeated the beast Antigoon, who greedily cut off the hands of those refusing to pay his bridge toll. “Antwerpen” means hand-werpen, or “hand throwing.” Antwerp’s Grand Market Square, the Stadhuis (townhall) and the guilded facades surrounding, are just a fairytale of architecture to behold. Sip a coffee or beer at any of the outdoor cafes around the Square, its mesmerizing, colorful and enchanting from day into glittery night.
From here, tour DIVA – The Diamond Museum, then stroll toward the Shelde River and walk up the grand entry to the medieval Het Steen castle and city gate, where inside there’s honestly too much information in a modern presentation of Antwerp’s evolution. But the ancient gates on the River are worth a visit and a photo!
Sign up in advance for the popular De Ruien, (we wished we had) for a tour of Antwerp’s underground waterways – once the city’s sewers, and Sint Annatunnel. You can tour below the city, the canals that crisscross Antwerp, and see the old wooden escalators under the river.
Museums and Masterpieces
Art lovers will find Antwerp a treasure chest. Rubens House offers an interesting multi-media presentation of the prolific Dutch artist, his home here is under renovation until 2030, we snuck in for a sneak peak, and loved the gardens and statues. The Cathedral of Our Lady nearby soars above the city since 1352, home to four of Rubens’ famous altarpieces that you can enjoy in plain view within this massive church.
The strikingly modern MAS (Museum aan de Stroom), a riverside icon with ripple-shaped windows and panoramic views, is worth visiting for the architecture alone. MAS is a red stone tower perched on the riverbanks. We found the 8 floors of exhibits a bit bizarre and would say skip the admission tour, and just walk up to the rooftop of the amazing building inside and out for free. Look for the 3,000 hands, Antwerp is all about hands. From MAS, you are not far to the Red Star Line Museum, where millions began their migration to Ellis Island, if you are interested in that European American story.
We didn’t have time for The Royal Museum of Fine Arts (KMSKA) which showcases seven centuries of Dutch masterpieces in a freshly renovated building. Another Museum we skipped was the Museum Plantin-Moretus, a UNESCO World Heritage site preserving the world’s oldest printing presses, which is another industry originated in Antwerp.
Quarters and Quirks
Wander the cobbled Vlaeykensgang, a hidden 16th-century alley of shoemakers. Or marvel at the eclectic mansions of Cogels-Osylei, an avenue of architectural indulgence. The Port House, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, is a diamond-shaped structure perched atop a former fire station—a modern tribute to Antwerp’s trade legacy.
Antwerp Zoo’s, founded way back in 1843 by King Leopold, is one of Europe’s oldest, home to over 4,000 animals in leafy enclosures, right beside the train station.
Beer, Chocolate, and Belgian Flavor
No Belgian city tour is complete without indulgence in local bites and brews. Go to Chocolate Nation for a tour and tasting. Antwerp’s signature beer tour at the De Koninck Brewery ends with a frothy glass of beloved Bolleke. For food, enjoy Moules-Frites – mussels and Belgian frites (served with mayo). Sweet tooths will find Belgian waffles with chocolate and whipped cream served most everywhere. Handjes are beloved “hand shaped” almond cookies, again an ode to Antwerp’s hand legend. The Oude Koornmarkt and side streets hide dozens of cafés and brasseries, from cozy brown pubs to trendy eateries.
Antwerp all in all…
Antwerp is a city of contrasts – old-world myths and cutting-edge design, Gothic cathedrals and glittering diamonds, old-world pubs and cafes, plus youthful breweries. At times, we adored Antwerp, it’s pretty pedestrian squares, shops, and cafes, sparkling jewelry stores and the Stadhuis lit up at night. Other times, Antwerp was twerking, hectic, busy with its population of a half a million, plus tourists bustling about. We were excited to explore more of beautiful Belgium on our bikes (also reached by efficient trains), its smaller cities and medieval villages, and the pastoral countryside dotted with farm animals and authentic old windmills.
Antwerp to Ghent our 34-mile bike ride started with a bike tunnel under the Shelde River, which was a speedy way to exit (underwater) in the Sint Annatunnel, with the day’s bike commuters. Antwerp’s beautiful old wooden escalator was a quick sight as we emerged on the other side, no time to stop as we were keeping up with other cyclists. The Belgians bike fast and proficiently. Our ride was straightforward leaving Antwerp, paralleling the train tracks most of the way to Gent, into a stiff wind no less. Flat well paved bike paths brought us to beautiful Ghent, through the old city gates to this canal-woven city.
See our review of Biking Belgium – a 10-Day Itinerary of some of the most majestic cities in Belgium with gorgeous countryside for cycling in between. You can also continue your Belgium bike tour into the Netherlands easily, see our bike tour into Dutch “Sea Land” and the southern border of Netherlands abutting Belgium and Germany, returning to Brussel entirely on bicycles.
See more on Bike Travel – DIY European Bike Tours we completed and provide you the full itinerary
“Antwerp sparkles at night in the Grote Market next to beloved Brabo, just like the diamonds in the windows of the many jewelry stores.” – Heather Burke, Travel Writer
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