Is Antwerp Worth Visiting? Honest Pros and Cons (2026)

Pros of Visiting Antwerp

1. Grote Markt and the Old Town

The Grote Markt was my first stop, and it’s still the best introduction to the city. Gabled guildhalls line the square, and the Renaissance town hall fills one side. In the middle, the Brabo fountain shows a Roman soldier hurling a giant’s hand into the river. The legend says the city’s name comes from “hand werpen”, which means “hand throwing”. I was staying nearby, so I crossed the square at all hours.

From here, the old town spreads out in every direction. Slip down Vlaeykensgang, a quiet alley that feels cut off from the modern world, and look in at the old butchers’ hall, the Vleeshuis. A historical walking tour of the old city is an easy way to join the dots, and your guide will share tips on where to eat. Come back after dark, when the guildhalls are lit up and the crowds thin out.

2. Cathedral of Our Lady

The Cathedral of Our Lady is the largest Gothic church in the Low Countries. Its north tower is 123 metres tall, and you can spot it from almost anywhere in the old town. Inside, Rubens’s Descent from the Cross is the star. The cathedral is open from 10:00 to 17:00 on weekdays, 10:00 to 15:00 on Saturdays and 13:00 to 17:00 on Sundays. Tickets cost €12, and children under 18 go in free.

I went on a weekday morning, and it was quiet enough to sit and take in the vaulted ceiling. Arrive early if you want the Rubens paintings to yourself. I’d also pause by the side chapels, which most people walk straight past. Free guided tours run at set times in several languages, and you can join on the spot. The Antwerp City Pass includes the cathedral, so it pays off if you plan to see a few museums too.

3. Fashion and Shopping

Antwerp is one of Europe’s big fashion cities, and you feel it as soon as you start browsing. The Antwerp Six, a group of designers who studied at the city’s fashion academy in the 1980s, put Belgian fashion on the world map. The MoMu fashion museum tells that story, and its Antwerp Six exhibition runs until 17 January 2027. I went in expecting a quick look and stayed far longer than planned.

For the shopping itself, the Meir is the main high street, with all the big chains. For something more interesting, head to Nationalestraat, Schuttershofstraat and Huidevettersstraat, where Belgian designers and independent boutiques cluster. I spent a lazy afternoon window-shopping here, then stopped for coffee on a terrace. You don’t need to spend a thing to enjoy it. Even a slow loop of the shop windows tells you a lot about how Antwerpers dress, and it gave me a few ideas for my own wardrobe.

4. World-Class Art Museums

Rubens isn’t the only big name here. The Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, known as KMSKA, reopened in 2022 after an 11-year renovation. The collection runs from Jan Van Eyck and Rubens through James Ensor and Rik Wouters to Marlene Dumas. I visited on a drizzly afternoon and lost track of time. You can book an entry ticket ahead, and the museum hosts live events every Thursday evening.

Rubens fans should also visit the Rubenshuis. The artist’s house is closed for restoration, but the Rubens Experience and the garden are open from 10:00 to 18:00. The Rubens Experience uses video and interactive tools to show the man behind the paintings. The garden holds more than 22,000 plants, and it’s a lovely, quiet pocket right in the centre. I sat on a bench for a while and enjoyed the break from the busy streets. Art lovers will easily fill a full day between the two.

5. Antwerp Central Station

Antwerp Central Station is the one building I’d tell everyone to see, even if you’re not catching a train. Louis Delacenserie designed it, and it opened in 1905. The huge dome was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, which is why locals call it the railway cathedral. The platforms stack over several levels, with the grand hall out front. It regularly appears on lists of the world’s most beautiful stations, and I can see why.

Right next door is Antwerp Zoo, founded in 1843 and one of the oldest zoos in the world. It’s open 365 days a year. Gorillas live in the Valley of the Great Apes, and male elephants have their own space at the Egyptian Temple. Buy a zoo entry ticket ahead of time and skip the queue at the gate. It makes a great rainy-day plan, especially with kids. I loved how the old buildings sit among the animal houses, so even a short visit feels like a bit of history.

6. The Diamond District

Antwerp is where much of the world’s rough diamond trade happens. The Diamond District fills a few compact blocks just west of Central Station. I walked through it and spent a long time looking at the window displays. It doesn’t look glamorous, and that’s part of the appeal. Many dealers close on Saturdays for the Sabbath, so go on a weekday if you want to see it buzzing.

To get the story behind it, visit DIVA, the museum of diamonds, jewellery and silver on Suikerrui. Scenography, sound and interactive displays bring hundreds of objects to life. You can also join a guided walk through the Jewish neighbourhood and Diamond District. It lasts two hours, starts near Central Station and explains how the Jewish community shaped Antwerp’s diamond trade. I learned far more from a guide than I would have working it out alone, and it made the quiet streets feel much more alive.

7. Het Eilandje and the MAS

Het Eilandje is the old port district, and it’s where Antwerp feels most modern. Former warehouses now hold apartments, restaurants and bars. The MAS towers over it, a stack of red sandstone and glass that opened in 2011. The rooftop panorama is free, and I went up at sunset for a view over the city, the river and the docks. The nearby Port House is worth a look too, a glass extension by Zaha Hadid on top of an old fire station.

To see the port itself, take a boat tour of the port with an expert guide. It heads into the docks and locks, and you get headsets so you can hear the guide. Back in the centre, the pedestrian Sint-Anna tunnel runs under the river and has original wooden escalators from the 1930s. It’s free and only takes a few minutes to walk through.

8. Belgian Food and Beer

Antwerp’s food scene is excellent, and you don’t need a big budget to enjoy it. I ate frites from a paper cone most days, usually around €4 with a big spoonful of mayo. Try shrimp croquettes and stoofvlees, the Flemish beef stew cooked in beer, too. For something sweet, pick up Antwerpse handjes. These almond biscuits are shaped like a hand and have been baked in the city since 1934.

The local beer is Bolleke, the amber ale from De Koninck, served in a small round glass. The city brewery runs a self-guided interactive tour, and a brewery tour ticket includes two tasters. If you’d rather eat your way around, a food walking tour with five tastings starts on the Grote Markt and ends with a Belgian beer. It’s a fun way to start your visit. I’d do it on day one, because you come away with a list of places to return to.

9. Art Nouveau in Zurenborg

One of my favourite afternoons was in Zurenborg, a residential area about three kilometres from the old town. Most of the houses went up between 1894 and 1906, and they’re packed with mosaics, sgraffito and curling ironwork. The “Golden Triangle” of Cogels-Osylei, Transvaalstraat and Waterloostraat holds around 170 protected houses. Look up as you walk, because the best details sit above eye level.

It’s free and easy to reach. Take a short train ride to Antwerpen-Berchem and walk for about ten minutes. I’d allow a couple of hours to wander slowly and photograph the façades. Then head to Dageraadplaats, a square lined with cafés and restaurants, for a drink. Locals love it, and it feels far more relaxed than the old town. It was one of the few places where I felt like a visitor in someone’s neighbourhood rather than a tourist attraction. Go on a dry day, because the façades look best in good light.

10. Easy Day Trips

Antwerp sits on Belgium’s main rail network, so day trips are simple. From Antwerpen-Centraal, Mechelen is about 20 minutes away, Brussels takes roughly 35 to 45 minutes, Ghent about 50 minutes and Bruges around an hour and ten. Domestic tickets are easy to buy on Belgian Railways or at the station, and you don’t need to book ahead. I stayed in Antwerp for all three days, but I’d go back for Ghent and Bruges.

If you want a guide once you arrive, a boat, chocolate and walking tour in Bruges lasts about two and a half hours in a small group. In Ghent, a guided boat trip around the medieval centre takes about 40 minutes. Both work well after a train ride from Antwerp. Leave early so you still have time for dinner back in the city. Trains run often, so you can head home whenever you’ve had enough.

Cons of Visiting Antwerp

1. Unpredictable Weather

Rain shows up in every season in Antwerp. Most months bring 11 to 16 wet days, and even in summer I had a couple of grey, drizzly hours that sent me looking for cover. Evenings can turn cool, so a light layer helps. Wet cobbles get slippery too, so pack shoes with decent grip.

The good news is that you have plenty of indoor options. KMSKA, the cathedral and Illusion Antwerp all work for a wet afternoon. The Antwerp City Pass covers museums and De Lijn trams and buses, so you can swap plans without worrying about tickets. Don’t let the forecast put you off, because the city looks great in any weather. I’d keep a folding umbrella in my bag and a museum shortlist on my phone, then decide each morning.

2. Rough Edges Near the Station

The streets around Central Station can feel busy and a little scruffy. You’ll find heavy traffic, building works and litter in places, and it doesn’t match the polish of the old town. It isn’t unpleasant, but it caught me off guard on my first walk from the platforms.

The station and the zoo are well worth the detour, so don’t skip them. Choose a hotel in the old town if you want a calmer evening, and stick to the busier streets when you walk back at night. I never felt unsafe in daylight, and a few minutes away from the station the atmosphere changes quickly. It’s a small price for such a great building. Treat the area as a short stop rather than a place to linger, and spend your evenings in the old town instead.

3. Touristy Restaurants Around the Grote Markt

The restaurants right on the Grote Markt and the streets beside the cathedral cater to visitors. Menus come in several languages, prices run higher and the food can be forgettable. I almost sat down at one place purely because it had a perfect view of the guildhalls.

Walk ten minutes in any direction and the quality improves. Head towards Het Zuid, Het Eilandje or the backstreets behind Hoogstraat for local cafés, and grab frites from a frituur instead. A food walking tour takes the guesswork out if you’d rather follow a local. Eat with a view if you like, but don’t expect your best meal of the trip there. A drink on a terrace is a better way to enjoy the setting, and you can save the proper dinner for somewhere smaller.

4. Opening Days and Closures

Some of Antwerp’s biggest sights keep limited hours. The cathedral opens at 13:00 on Sundays and closes at 15:00 on Saturdays. The MAS galleries are closed on Mondays, and the artist’s house at the Rubenshuis is closed for restoration. I had to shuffle my plans once because I assumed everything would be open.

Plan your museum days around those gaps. Mondays suit the zoo, the old town, Zurenborg and a boat trip, while the cathedral works best on a weekday. A guided walk through the old city can fill a quiet day. The city still has more than enough to keep you busy, even with a few doors shut. Checking opening days before you leave takes five minutes and saves a wasted trip across town.

5. Tram Tunnel Works

The underground tram tunnel linking the centre with the left bank of the Scheldt is closed for renovation. It shut in May 2026, and trams aren’t running between the two banks while the work continues into 2027. Some tram routes have changed as a result.

You probably won’t notice much, because the old town, Het Eilandje and Het Zuid are all walkable. De Lijn runs shuttle buses between the banks, and the Sint-Anna tunnel stays open for pedestrians and cyclists. Check the De Lijn app for current routes before longer journeys. It’s an inconvenience, not a dealbreaker. The work will eventually improve the network, and visitors who stay near the centre will barely notice. I walked almost everywhere during my three days, so the closure never slowed me down. If you plan to stay further out, allow a little extra time for each journey.

Best Time to Visit

Summer – I visited in summer, and I’d happily go back. Highs sit around 23°C in July, evenings are long and terraces fill up along the river, in Zuidpark and around Dageraadplaats. Antwerp Pride takes over the city in early August with a big parade and open-air stages. Expect some rain, more crowds on the Grote Markt and higher hotel prices. A bike tour, a boat trip and a late visit to the MAS rooftop made the most of the long days.

Spring – Spring is a great all-rounder. Temperatures climb from around 10°C in March to the high teens by May, the parks turn green and the city feels calmer than in summer. Showers are common, so pack a light waterproof. It’s a good season for walking Zurenborg and the fashion streets without the summer crowds.

Autumn – Autumn is mild and quieter once the summer rush ends. Highs fall from the high teens in September to under 10°C by November, and rain is likely. It’s a good time for museums, and KMSKA stays lively on Thursday evenings. A cosy beer at De Koninck feels even better when it’s grey outside.

Winter – Winter is cold and wet, with highs around 7°C in December and early sunsets. The upside is Winter in Antwerp, which runs from early December to early January with a Christmas market on the Grote Markt, an ice rink on Groenplaats and lights along Suikerrui. Cafés and museums make up for the weather, and hotel prices drop outside the festive weeks.

How Long to Spend

1-2 Days: Enough for the essentials. Spend day one in the old town with the Grote Markt, the cathedral and a walking tour or food tour. Use day two for Central Station, the Diamond District or the zoo, then finish at the MAS rooftop for the view. It’s a busy pace, but it works for a short city break.

3-4 Days: The sweet spot. I spent three days in Antwerp, and that was enough to see the highlights without rushing. Day one covers the old town and the cathedral, day two suits KMSKA, Het Zuid and the fashion streets, and day three works for Het Eilandje, the MAS and Zurenborg. With a fourth day, add the zoo or a trip to Ghent.

5-7 Days: Plenty of time for a slower pace and a few day trips. Add Ghent, Bruges, Mechelen and Brussels by train, plus the De Koninck brewery and a boat tour of the port. It’s more than most visitors need, but it works if you want to use Antwerp as a base for exploring Flanders.

Getting Around

On foot: The old town is compact, and walking is the best way to see it. The cathedral is a couple of minutes from the Grote Markt, and Het Steen and the river are only a few more. The MAS and Central Station are each about 15 to 20 minutes away. Pack comfortable shoes, because the cobbles are uneven and slippery in the rain.

By bike: Antwerp is flat and bike-friendly, and Velo has around 320 stations and 4,200 bikes across the city. A day pass costs €5 and a week pass costs €12, and the first 30 minutes of each ride are included. Buy your pass in the app. If you’d like a guide, a city highlights bike tour covers the main sights in two hours.

Trams and buses: De Lijn runs all the trams and buses. A single ticket costs €3 and lasts 60 minutes with unlimited transfers, and you can pay by tapping a contactless card or phone at the white terminal on board. The Antwerp City Pass includes free tram and bus travel for 24, 48 or 72 hours, along with museum entry. Part of the underground tram tunnel is closed for renovation until 2027, so check the De Lijn app for current routes.

Taxi and Uber: Taxis and Uber are available, but you rarely need them in the centre. They’re handy late at night or with luggage. For short hops, I’d walk or grab a Velo bike instead.

To and from the airport: Brussels Airport is the main gateway. Trains run from the station beneath the terminal to Antwerpen-Centraal in about 35 minutes, and your ticket includes the €6.90 Brussels Airport supplement. You can buy tickets on the Belgian Railways site or at the station machines. If you fly into Charleroi, Flibco buses run to Antwerp Rooseveltplaats in just under two hours. For a door-to-door ride, a private transfer from Brussels Airport takes you straight to your hotel. Line up your journey back the day before, so you aren’t scrambling on the morning you leave.

So, is Antwerp Worth Visiting?

Antwerp is a city that grows on you. The Grote Markt, the cathedral and the Rubens paintings give you the classic Flemish city break, while Central Station, the MAS and the fashion streets add a modern edge. The food and beer are excellent, and you can see most of it on foot.

It isn’t perfect. Rain is common, the streets around the station are scruffy, some sights keep short hours and the tram tunnel is closed until 2027. None of that spoiled my trip. A compact umbrella, a hotel in the old town and a loose plan for each day sort out most of it.

If you’re on the fence, give Antwerp three nights. Climb the MAS at sunset, eat frites on the Grote Markt, wander through Zurenborg and spend a day in Ghent or Bruges. By the end, I’d bet you’re already thinking about coming back.