Things to Do in Antwerp
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Antwerp, Belgium, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Antwerp. Diamonds, a genuinely enormous cathedral, and a fashion scene that takes itself considerably more seriously than most cities its size. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Antwerp: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the tram fare. Six main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
The Diamond District
Antwerp has long been one of the world's most important trading centres for diamonds, a genuinely staggering share of the world's rough diamonds still passes through this compact district near Antwerp Centraal station. The area is dense with jewellers, cutters, and traders, most of the actual trading happens behind closed doors, but the district itself, and the DIVA museum covering the diamond and silverware trade, are open to visitors.
Even without buying anything, walking through gives a genuine sense of just how much of this specific global industry runs through one relatively small pocket of the city.
Address Near Antwerp Centraal station
Official site divaantwerp.be
Cathedral of Our Lady
Antwerp's Cathedral of Our Lady houses major works by Peter Paul Rubens, the Flemish master who called this city home, several of his large altarpieces remain in the cathedral to this day, including The Elevation of the Cross and The Descent from the Cross. It's the largest Gothic church in the Low Countries, and the spire, visible from much of the city, took nearly two centuries to complete.
It's a genuinely significant art stop as much as a religious one, worth allowing a proper hour to take in both the architecture and the Rubens works properly rather than rushing through.
Hours Mon–Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 1pm–4pm, hours vary seasonally
Address Groenplaats, Antwerp
Antwerp's Fashion Scene
Antwerp has become internationally known as a hub for fashion design, a group of influential designers (the 'Antwerp Six') who trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts here in the 1980s put the city firmly on the international fashion map, and that reputation has stuck. The MoMu (Fashion Museum) covers this history and hosts rotating exhibitions on Belgian and international design.
The Het Zuid district, south of the centre, is where much of the independent boutique and designer shopping scene lives today, worth a wander even if fashion isn't a primary interest, the architecture and cafe scene there are genuinely pleasant regardless.
Hours Tue–Sun 10am–6pm, closed Mondays
Address Nationalestraat, Antwerp
Official site momu.be
Het Steen
Antwerp's oldest building, a medieval fortress sitting right on the Scheldt riverbank, and the city's most recognisable historic landmark after the cathedral spire. It's had several lives over the centuries, fortress, prison, and now a visitor centre with river views.
The riverside promenade around it is a genuinely pleasant free walk, especially in the evening when the fortress is lit up against the water.
Address Steenplein, Antwerp
Plantin-Moretus Museum
A former printing house and publishing dynasty's home, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and genuinely one of the more unusual museums in Europe, the world's oldest surviving printing presses, an extraordinary historic library, and beautifully preserved interiors that give a proper sense of Antwerp's wealth during its Golden Age as a printing and trading centre.
It's a quieter, less crowded stop than the cathedral or the fashion museum, worth it if you appreciate genuinely well-preserved historic interiors and the history of the printed word.
Hours Tue–Sun 10am–5pm, closed Mondays
Address Vrijdagmarkt, Antwerp
Grote Markt & Belgian Beer Cafes
Antwerp's main square, guild houses and the city hall forming a genuinely striking backdrop, and a good starting or ending point for exploring the historic centre. The surrounding streets are packed with cafes serving Belgian beer properly, in the correct glass, at the correct temperature, worth taking seriously if you're at all interested.
De Koninck, Antwerp's own beer, is worth trying locally, and several bars around the Grote Markt do a genuinely good job of Belgium's wider beer culture if you want to explore beyond the local brew.
Address Grote Markt, central Antwerp
Best time to visit Antwerp
April through June and September through October give the most comfortable weather for walking between the cathedral, the diamond district, and the riverside, mild without the peak summer crowds.
Antwerp doesn't really slow down in winter, the museums and cafes are just as good year-round, and the city's Christmas market around the cathedral square is worth seeing if your visit lines up with December.
Getting around Antwerp
Antwerp's historic centre is genuinely walkable, most of the sights above sit within a comfortable stroll of each other. The tram network covers anything further out, including Het Zuid's fashion district, cheap and easy to use with a contactless card.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Antwerp worth visiting?
- Yes, particularly for the Rubens-filled cathedral, the diamond district, and a genuinely strong fashion and design scene that punches well above the city's size.
- How many days do you need in Antwerp?
- Two days covers the main sights comfortably; it also works well as a day trip from Brussels if time is tight.
- Is Antwerp expensive?
- Moderate by Belgian standards, generally a bit cheaper than Brussels, museum entry and beer prices are both reasonable.
- What is Antwerp famous for?
- Being one of the world's most important diamond trading centres, its Rubens-filled Cathedral of Our Lady, and training a generation of internationally influential fashion designers.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change. UK travellers can check the FCDO foreign travel advice; if you're travelling from elsewhere, check the equivalent service run by your own country's government.
