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Antwerp

Europe’s Hidden Gem of Culture & Style

Antwerp stands out as a major hub in Belgium known for its rich art history and busy port. The city’s historic center features wide canals lined with gabled buildings, many once home to wealthy merchants. Major museums display works by Flemish painters like Rubens and Van Dyck. Modern galleries share space alongside contemporary spaces, while fashion houses add a creative edge. Beyond the city walls, green parks provide quiet spots for walking or biking. Antwerp’s mix of old architecture and active cultural life makes it appealing to visitors seeking both relaxation and discovery.

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City in Belgium

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 8.3

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	9
Accessibility:	8
Tap water:	9

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken in Antwerp, especially in tourist areas, hotels, and shops. Many locals are fluent, making communication easy for English-speaking visitors.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Antwerp Summary

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‘Best for’ scores:
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Read how our scores work

Excellent for art, fashion and historic city life. Visit major museums, explore grand squares, shop designer boutiques and enjoy lively cafés.

Place score

8.2

Best at:

Walkable

Spotless

Beer

Architecture

Guided tours

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

🌈 9

LGBTQ+

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

Belgium – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type E Type C: Type E: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted, though some smaller establishments may prefer cash. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated for exceptional service. Rounding up the bill is common.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed, and beer culture is an important aspect of Belgian life.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned in indoor public spaces, with designated outdoor areas.

National Day (July)	Festivities and closures occur.
Christmas (December)	Markets and festive events are held.
Easter (March/April)	Cultural celebrations and closures happen.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Bolt, Uber
Other:	Belgium is famous for its waffles, chocolates, and beer. Public transport is efficient and reliable.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Antwerp, Belgium

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Jan

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Feb

🌥️

Mar

🌤️

Apr

🌤️

May

🌤️

Jun

🌤️

Jul

🌤️

Aug

🌤️

Sep

🌥️

Oct

☁️

Nov

☁️

Dec

High season:	June - Sep.
Shoulder season:	April - May, Oct., Dec.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Many shops and museums close on Mondays; most shops are closed on Sundays

Christmas market and winter lights: late November to early January, on the Grote Markt and around the cathedral

Don't miss

🖼️ Admire masterpieces at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts
🏰 Stroll through the medieval Grote Markt and see City Hall
🌇 Climb the Cathedral of Our Lady tower for skyline views
🍫 Taste Belgian chocolate at a local artisan chocolatier
💎 Explore diamond shops in the world-famous Diamond District
🌅 Enjoy riverside drinks at sunset along the Scheldt

You've been here?

Why travel to Antwerp?

Antwerp is not only home to the world's second-largest port but also a thriving hub for fashion and design. The city's art scene is extraordinary, with masterpieces by Rubens and cutting-edge contemporary galleries. Plus, it’s a paradise for beer lovers with its traditional Belgian breweries. Be mindful that some areas around the train station might feel less safe at night, so stick to well-lit streets and avoid isolated spots.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Plantin-Moretus House-Workshops-Museum Complex
2 Museum aan de Stroom
3 Red Star Line Museum
4 Cathedral of Our Lady
5 Zoo
6 Het Steen
7 Great Market Square
8 Rubenshuis

🎡Places for activities

1 Zoo Antwerpen
2 Fashion & Lace Museum
3 Stadsschouwburg
4 Antwerp Expo
5 Central Station
6 De Koninck

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Stadspark
2 Park Spoor Noord
3 Rivierenhof
4 Bremweide

🛍️Shopping

1 Diamond District
2 Grand Bazar
3 De Keyserlei
4 Nationalestraat
5 De Wilde Zee
6 Kloosterstraat

🎈Events

Antwerp Fashion Festival
Bollekesfeest Beer Festival
Winter in Antwerp (Christmas Market)
Zomer van Antwerpen (Summer Festival)
Antwerp Pride
Sinterklaas Arrival
Laundry Day (Music Festival)
Rubensmarkt (Historic Market)
Museum Night
Jazz Middelheim

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Start at Antwerpen-Centraal station; even non-train travelers should step inside.
Focus your walking around the Old Town, Grote Markt and Cathedral of Our Lady, where architecture, terraces and photo spots cluster tightly together.
Sample Belgian beer, chocolate and frites, but also explore Antwerp’s fashion boutiques and design stores, especially around the ModeMuseum and nearby streets.
Stroll to the riverside and Het Steen fortress around sunset; views over the Scheldt and skyline feel atmospheric yet stay pleasantly uncrowded on weekdays.

How to travel to Antwerp

Antwerp International Airport offers regional flights, but most international travelers fly into Brussels Airport (BRU) and take a 30-minute train ride to Antwerp. High-speed trains also connect Antwerp to Paris, Amsterdam and London.

Access summary

From Antwerp Airport (ANR): Local buses to Berchem/Central, roughly 10–20 minutes.
From Brussels Airport (BRU): Direct trains or shuttle buses, usually about 35–60 minutes.
From Paris: High-speed Thalys/Eurostar trains to Antwerp, typically around 2.5–3 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Antwerp

Antwerp offers a mix of accommodations from luxury hotels to charming guesthouses. The Old Town is perfect for sightseeing, while Zuid is great for art and design enthusiasts. Budget options and hostels are also available.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

De Keyser Hotel

7.8

NH Collection Antwerp Centre

9.3

Hotel Jamingo

8.8

Leonardo Hotel Antwerpen

8.0

B&B Hotel Antwerpen Centrum

9.2

Crowne Plaza Antwerpen By IHG

8.4

Hilton Antwerp Old Town

8.5

Hampton by Hilton Antwerp Central Station

8.9

Radisson Blu Hotel, Antwerp City Centre

8.3

PREMIER SUITES PLUS Antwerp

8.6

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Antwerp

The city center is compact and walkable. Public transport is excellent, with trams, buses and rental bikes widely available. Antwerp Central Station is a hub for trains to other Belgian cities and international destinations.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+15 %

Daily expenses in Antwerp are around 15% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend more on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£69	£163	£441
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£26	£68	£165
🍝 Food per day	£32	£83	£234
🚕 Transportation per day	£11	£12	£42

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£40
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£15
🍟 Fast food combo	£10
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£11
☕ Cappuccino	£3.20
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£4.20

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£2.70
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£24
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.50

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£11.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£25
🤧 Cold medication	£10.50
💇 Basic haircut	£15

Safety information overview

General safety

Antwerp is generally safe, but like in any city, keep an eye on your belongings, especially in busy areas and public transport. Avoid poorly lit areas at night.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities in Antwerp are high-quality, with several hospitals and clinics. Pharmacies are common and English-speaking medical staff is usually available.

Accessibility

Antwerp is quite accessible, with good infrastructure for visitors with mobility challenges. Public transport, major attractions and public buildings often cater to accessibility needs.

Tap water

Tap water in Antwerp is safe to drink and public drinking fountains are available in some areas. Bottled water is also widely available if preferred.