Day 1 in Antwerp
Welcome to Antwerp! Upon arrival, you will go through customs and
immigration. Make your transfer to your
destination, arrive at your hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do.
If you arrive by train (or even if you don`t, but we urge you to)
make sure to admire the famed Central
Station. Once you rise to the main area of the station, you will
see the architectural beauty of the Antwerpen-Centraal (Antwerp Central
Station). Dubbed Europe`s most romantic and the world`s most beautiful train
station, this `railway cathedral` has breathtaking qualities that depicts a mix
of modern and ancient construction. So even if you do not arrive or depart by
train, it is a must see for the photo opportunities alone.
Spend your afternoon enjoying a pleasant lunch at any of the
charming cafes in Grote Markt
in Old Town, an area that offers unlimited restaurant options and
stunning architecture. Old Town is also where you will find the Cathedral of Our Lady (the
tallest building in downtown Antwerp) and Silvius Brabo (the famous hand statue and how Antwerp got
its name). Because of its size, the Cathedral is a great reference point to
avoid getting lost in this part of the city.
While in Grote Markt you will find an impressive array of former
(medieval) guild houses or guild halls. Look at the top of these houses and you
will see how decorative the roofs are; they would even have statues upon them
so watch out for those as well. This area is a great place to stroll and offers
the perfect opportunity to people or crowd watch! It`s a great way to observe
the locals, though you might even meet a friendly Belgian to strike up a
conversation with.
Spend some time discovering the Cathedral, a well-known
symbol in Antwerp. It took 169 years (1352-1521) of labor to finish and it
is listed as one of the UNESCO World`s Heritage Sites! Inside, you will see paintings
of Antwerp`s beloved painter, Rubens, which are `The Raising of the
Cross`, `Assumption of the Virgin Mary` and `The Descent from the Cross` .
(NOTE: To
get into the cathedral, you would have to pay a fee. For adults it`s about
€5 and for students/60+/groups of at least 20 people, it would be about €3.
Children below 12 years old are given free admittance)
Spend the rest of the day wandering the city. Nearby from the city
center you`ll find Hendrik
Conscienceplein, a small square named after Hendrik Conscience, a
famous 19th century Flemish writer and poet. This is near the St. Charles Borromeo Church
and the Municipal Library
which both have beautiful Baroque-style facades.
Also nearby is the `almost` hidden secret spot, Vlaeykensgant, a picturesque
alleyway which is like a throwback to the Middle Ages, a time wherein streets
were small and cramped. This actually used to be an area where the Antwerp`s poorest
lived, but today, it`s transformed into a heavenly refuge which makes for
a really great spot when you want to escape the bustle of the city. Besides,
the tenants who live here have set up restaurants that are Antwerp`s finest.
You may just want to stay here for dinner.
As night falls you`ll find plenty to keep you entertained.
Two of the main entertainment areas are Grote Markt and Groenplaats, which both contain concentrations of bars,
cafes, and theaters. If you`re looking for a night filled with dancing and
nightclubs, head over to the Centraal
Station (Central Train Station) area.
Day 2 in Antwerp
Wake up early and visit one of the weekly
markets, there are various markets going on throughout the week, as
well as many monthly and seasonal markets that take place. The Vogelenmarkt
(`Birds market`) is a local favorite in Antwerp. It
is diverse and definitely not a typical farmers market. The stands at the
Vogelenmarkt sell flowers, fabrics, antiques, jewelry and more. Some other
weekly markets are the Exotic market, Friday market
(obviously one that takes place on Fridays), Antiques market,
and the hip Bio market that is held on Sundays. Also be sure
to check out when the monthly and seasonal markets are held.
We recommend spending the rest of your day discovering the art and culture of Antwerp. You`ll
find an abundance of museums, music halls and theaters in this city. There are
even numerous fairs, festivals, concerts, exhibitions and events that happen
throughout the year.
We highly recommend The Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, the city`s best museum
because it houses a huge collection of world-class paintings, sculptures and
drawings from the 14th through the 20th centuries. The
museum predominately represents artists in Antwerp, Belgium and the Northern
and Southern Netherlands since the 15th century, as well as works
from abroad.
Another favorite is the Museum aan de Stroom
(Translated: Museum at the River). This is a fantastic museum that tells the
story of Antwerp and the world: its past, present and future. The museum is a
striking red building at the area of Eilandje and also has
a café, restaurant and rooftop access to enjoy panoramic views of the city!
Some other fabulous museums worth checking out
during your visit include the Rubens
House, the former home and studio turned museum of Peter Paul Rubens;
Museum Plantin-Moretus,
a museum that honors the printing influence of Christophe Plantin and Jan
Moretus; Red Star Museum,
located in old warehouses in the old port district, this museum showcases the
historical period when millions of Europeans chose to sail across seas in order
to get to the promised lands, amongst many others in and around the city.
Wind down your
day enjoying the green areas located in the city center of Antwerp. Grab an
afternoon snack and escape the crowds to enjoy the green outdoors. The Park Spoor Noord is the
newest green park in Antwerp, offering a panoramic green park for leisure,
sports and perfect for strolls. The Stadspark (or city park) is over 34 acres of green space
in the shape of a triangle where a beautiful pond sits in the middle. And
located in the Leopoldstraat and the Huidevetterstraat is the Botanical
Garden, built over 200 years ago. Here you`ll find beautiful trees,
shrubs, plants and herbs making it a perfect spot to relax and smell the roses.
As night falls, we recommend a visit to deSingel, a performing arts
center that was built in 1968 offering internationally renowned symphony
orchestras, musicians, theater troupes, and dance companies. You`ll also find
an opera house
and the Bourla Theatre
offering some other choices in performing arts.
Day 3 in Antwerp
Start your day off
with a hearty breakfast before a busy day exploring the renowned shopping districts of Antwerp.
The city is called a `triomfelycke coopstad` (triumphant shopping city) which
is undoubtedly true being that it is packed with various shopping centers. It
is also called a `fashion city`, as it is home of the `Antwerp Six`, a group of
fashion designers that made Antwerp a notable location for fashion design in
the international setting. They have been such a huge influence over the years
that there has been a rise of inexpensive to luxurious boutiques of designers
that can satisfy every shopaholic looking for the latest fashion trends.
With Antwerp being
the diamond center of the world, one area not to be missed is the Diamond District, located
right outside the Central Station. Here, you`ll find over 1,800 shops that
offer some of the world`s highest quality cuts called the `Antwerp Cut`. We
recommend a guided tour of the `diamond business`, and check out Diamond Land
that is on a nearby side street, De Keyserlei. Here you can watch cutters,
setters, and goldsmiths at work as they cut and polish precious stones.
The main shopping
street in Antwerp, Meir,
is also the most important shopping area in the country, both by number of
shoppers and by rent prices. While here, make sure to check out the De
Stadsfeestzaal (City`s Party Hall) where you`ll find 40 luxurious
shops in one of the most beautiful shopping centers you`ve probably ever seen,
with a gorgeous marble staircase and mosaic floors.
For all you
fashionistas out there, make sure to pay a visit to the Fashion District, located at
the Modenatie.
This is where the Flanders Fashion Institute (FFI), the Fashion
Museum (MOMU) and the Fashion Academy are all
located, and it is home of several fashion boutiques in the surrounding
streets, especially around the Kammenstraat,
Schuttershofstraat, and Lombardenvest.
Another excellent distinct if
you are looking for fashion is the Zuid District or `South district`, which offers a lot of
designer shops, interior showrooms and contemporary galleries in the
neighborhood. Make sure to stop in the Demeulemeester (owned
by one of the `Antwerp Six`).
Another area to
check out is the De Wilde Zee
or `Wild Sea`, a laid-back area near Lombardenvest that has shops specializing
in delicatessens and pralines, as well as some fashion boutiques. De Keyserlei is the a long
street by Central Station that leads to the Meir, this avenue offers a several
stores such as cafes, jewelers, shoes, clothing and more. It also is where
you`ll find several shopping centers. And the Historic City Center in Grote Markt and Goenplaats are perfect for finding that special souvenir.
Groenplaats is also where you`ll find another shopping center, the modern Grand Bazaar that has
50 shops and is the biggest indoor center.
Once you have
worked up an appetite, you`ll want to grab a treat at Goossens Baker or Philip`s Biscuits. Goossens
has been around since 1884 and it`s extremely popular with the locals, which
means you have to try it. Right next door is another local favorite, Philip`s
Biscuits. Make sure to try the delicious, buttery Antwerp Hand cookie, also a
perfect gift to bring home as well!
In the evening,
head to the arty ares of `t Zuid` (the South) where you`ll
find several trendy bars and restaurants, this is a perfect area to stroll
during the day, but also perfect for run at night.
Additional Days in Antwerp
Should you be able to spend additional days in
Antwerp we recommend you cross the river to explore the `left bank` of Antwerp. To
get there, just go through the enchanting St. Anna Tunnel that goes through the Scheldt River. Once
you are on the left bank check out the Galgenweel, a semi-natural
lake about 100 acres around, it`s a popular getaway for the locals looking to
escape the crowds, and especially for sailing enthusiast. Also located on the
left bank is the Boeienweide,
a green field full of buoy decorations, a great spot to enjoy a view of
Antwerp`s city skyline.
We also recommend experiencing the city by bike.
Around the port area, down cobblestone streets around Zuid and the old town,
out to the green spaces of Middleheim, and by the water and shipping containers
Eilandje. The city is bike-friendly with over 400 miles of bicycle lanes, making
this is an excellent way to experience the city.
You may also want to pay a visit to the Antwerp Zoo, located right in the center of town. The zoo was founded in 1843 and is widely regarded as one of the finest zoos in Europe on account of its variety of species; its success in breeding; cared bestowed on the animals; and its beautiful architecture.
Your Last Day in Antwerp
Depart your hotel for the airport for the airport or train station where you will head home or make your way to more European adventures. Savor the memories of a very special time in Antwerp in the Flanders province.