As much as I hate traveling alone, I’m making a conscious effort to try and push myself out of my comfort zone more often. On top of that, unfortunately thanks to the cats and their health issues solo travel is kind of my only option at the moment if I want to visit anywhere further than an hour and a half away! So for my first solo trip in Europe I decided on Antwerp, because of it’s proximity to Arnhem – just 2.5 hours away via two trains!

A little bit of background for those of you that, like my sister in law, are not all that familiar with Belgium’s 2nd largest city. Antwerp is part of the Flemish region (also known as Flanders), which is the Dutch speaking northern part of the country that also includes Brussels and Bruges. Belgium has 2 additional official languages: French (south and central) and German (spoken in a small part of the east). Antwerp is a major European port city and has the largest diamond district in the world. Allegedly, over 80% of all rough cut diamonds are purchased in Antwerp, half of which make their way back to the city to be polished!

---

Transportation

Most people arrive in Antwerp either by train or car. For those of you traveling to Belgium by plane, its easiest to fly into Brussels and then take a 35 minute train ride into Antwerp. Once you’re in the city itself, the central area is actually very walkable – I personally didn’t use public transportation at all! But if you do need to get somewhere a little further away, there are plenty of options: the metro, streetcars/trams, and buses, all of which are run by De Lijn.

Antwerp Central Station

Officially called Antwerpen-Centraal, this station is MASSIVE and it’s honestly one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen.. The whole thing is spread out across 4 levels, 3 of which have tracks and platforms (2 are below ground). So if you don’t like escalators, this probably isn’t a great station to visit. The current iteration of the station opened in 1905. Architecturally, the design is a blend of Neo-Baroque and Neo-Renaissance styles with a dome and glass/iron train shed that is over 600 feet (185 meters) long. The station is the first stop on the main route trains use to enter Belgium from the Netherlands. In terms of amenities, you’ll find a few shops, food, and the ticket counter on the ground floor. There are also luggage storage lockers available at both the main and back entrances of the station if your hotel doesn’t have the option.

Koningin Astridplein 27.

Shared Bikes and Scooters

Before I recommend biking or scooter-ing in Antwerp, I want to warn you that it’s definitely not the same experience as I’ve had in the Netherlands. The bike lanes were a bit more chaotic and everything felt like a free-for-all with bike riders seemingly doing whatever they wanted! If you’re still not deterred, you can rent bikes at Antwerp Centraal via either Fietspunt Antwerpen Centraal, Velo, or Blue-bike.

For something less strenuous, there are also dockless e-scooters pretty much everywhere from Lime, Bolt, and Voi. They’re so common that you’ll even find designated parking spaces for them on the sidewalks. I might try one out on my next visit! If you’re more of a moped person, you can also rent those via Felyx.

---

---

Things To Do in Antwerp

I did a little bit of everything that draws people to visit Antwerp: architecture appreciation, exploring museums, shopping, and a good amount of eating/drinking!

Cathedral of Our Lady

Known as De Kathedraal in Dutch, the Cathedral of Our Lady is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest Gothic church in all of Belgium. The larger belfry tower rises just over 400 feet (123 meters) above the city. Opened in 1521, this Roman Catholic church is home to famous altarpieces by the Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens, who was born and lived/worked in Antwerp. Your entry ticket (€12.00/adult in 2026) unfortunately doesn’t include climbing the tower, as it is owned separately by the city. There are guided tours of the tower hosted by Museum Vleeshuis, but tickets are only sold three times a year.

Groenplaats 21.

Grote Markt and City Hall

After leaving the cathedral, make your way over to Antwerp’s historic central square or Grote Markt. Here you’ll find the Brabo Fountain, along with a number of restored 16th-century guild houses and cafes/restaurants. The fountain was placed in the square in 1887 to commemorate the end of Dutch tolls for boats passing by on the Scheldt River. It depicts a man throwing a severed hand – referencing a myth about a giant that forced travelers to either pay a toll on that same river or lose a hand!

On the west side of the square sits City Hall, a Renaissance building with Italian and Flemish influences. If you’re visiting during the summer, you’ll see 87 flags displayed on the building’s facade – representing Belgium, Flanders, the EU, and all the countries that have consulates in Antwerp. While I didn’t go inside this time, there are guided tours you can sign up for on their website.

Grote Markt 1.

MAS Museum

The rooftop views at the Museum aan de Stroom seems to be a bigger draw than the museum itself. I’m not sure why, because I wasn’t all impressed by the view myself! For every 1 person I saw in an exhibit, I saw another 5+ without wristbands (which are needed to get into exhibits) headed straight up for the free panoramic view. MAS is a cultural history museum in the northern part of the city focuses on Antwerp and its connection to the world. Each floor holds a different exhibit, including City at War, Freight, Anyone Home?, and Viewable Storage. It was wild to me that at 11am on a Saturday, I was the only one in an entire exhibit! It was nice to be able to take my time and not feel rushed.

Hanzestedenplaats 1.

Chocolate Nation

I couldn’t go to Antwerp without stopping at Belgium’s largest chocolate museum – Chocolate Nation. There are 15 chocolate-themed exhibits, including Belgian chocolate’s history, how it’s made, famous chocolate brands, and innovations. At the start, each person gets a personal audio guide in their preferred language. The first couple of rooms are timed and you move through with the group you entered with. Eventually you can go at your own pace through the rest of the museum. At the end of the tour, you get to taste 10 different kinds of chocolate (which really helps you decide what to buy from the gift shop)! My favorites were the Gold and Power 41. It really wasn’t as busy as I expected for 1pm on a Saturday, considering how many people online advised buying tickets in advance. The line wasn’t all that bad and it took less than 10 minutes to get to the front, but I’m assuming visiting in the summer is worse!

Short girl tip: In the first few rooms, the audio is triggered automatically. But sometimes the device doesn’t catch it and you have to waive it high in the air to activate it. This is especially true if you’re short like me!

Koningin Astridplein 7.

Het Steen and The View

Along the Scheldt River, on the west side of the city, you’ll find the oldest building in all of Antwerp – Het Steen. This medieval fortress was built in the early 1200s and is now home to the official Antwerp visitor center. Just down the street from Het Steen (usually) is The View Ferris wheel. I say usually because it’s actually movable, and has been placed in other areas of the city like near the Christmas market during the holidays. So be sure to double check where it is before you go! I’m not crazy about heights, so I skipped taking a ride this time around since I was solo.

Steenplein 1.

Additional Antwerp Itinerary Ideas

Looking for more to fill your time in Antwerp? Below are a few things that are on my personal list to check out during future visits.

KMSKA Royal Museum of Fine Arts – Leopold de Waelplaats 1.
Peruse artwork from the fourteenth to twentieth centuries, including the world’s largest collection of works by Belgian artists James Ensor and Rik Wouters.

De Koninck Brewery Tour – Mechelsesteenweg 291.
This urban brewery was founded in Antwerp in 1833 and hosts daily (minus Mondays) self-guided interactive tours that include 2 tastings.

Plantin-Moretus Museum – Vrijdagmarkt 22.
This UNESCO World Heritage site revolves around the 16th-century printing dynasty founded by Christophe Plantin and Jan Moretus. It houses the two oldest surviving printing presses in the world!

Handelsbeurs – Borzestraat 31.
Antwerp’s former stock exchange, which dates back to the 16th century, has been reborn as an event venue. The space is open to the public for free to view on the weekends.

DIVA museum – Suikerrui 17/19.
This newer museum in Antwerp opened in 2018 after combining the former Diamond Museum and Sterckshof Silver Museum. It focuses on Antwerp’s history with jewelry, silver, and diamonds.

---

---

Where to Eat & Drink in Antwerp

Unlike in other parts of Belgium, which feature more French-influenced cuisine, in the north menus favor more hearty comfort foods. Popular Flemish dishes you’ll find in Antwerp include:

• Stoofvlees (slow-cooked beef stew made with dark Belgian beer and onions)
• Chicon Gratin (endive wrapped in ham, then baked in a cheese sauce)
• Garnaalkroketten (deep fried shrimp croquettes)
• Frites (double fried thick-cut fries)

If you’re looking for great places to grab a drink or have a sit-down meal, below are the spots I’d recommend since I’ve tried them myself! (Unfortunately none of the coffee shops I tried made the cut, sorry! Hopefully I’ll have better luck on my next visit).

Het Archief

Unlike most of my food and drink choices below, stopping in at Het Archief was a spur of the moment decision – and I’m so glad I did! Make your way past the bakery on the ground floor and head up a set of stairs to this wine bar and bottle shop. The multi-story metal spiral staircase makes for a beautiful backdrop while sipping on a few glasses of wine. On the weekday I visited it was fairly empty, but apparently they get very busy in the evenings and don’t take reservations. So pick when you go based on the vibe you’re looking for. Be careful if you’re considering ordering the mixed meat and cheese board and have dinner reservations later. It’s massive and kept me full for hours!

Wine Bar – Geefsstraat 5.

Dr. Beer

Belgium is known for their beer, so of course I had to make a beer bar stop while in Antwerp. After much deliberation I settled on Dr. Beer, which I constantly saw pop up on ‘best beer bars in Antwerp’ lists. They have so many options, both draft and in bottles/cans, as well as cocktails, wine, and small bites (think cheeses and chips). If you want something a bit more substantial to eat, they’re perfectly happy for you to order something to be delivered! It was a nice day so I opted to sit outside for a while, where there is plenty of seating options.

Beer Bar & Bottle Shop – Adriaan Brouwerstraat 31.

Pazzo

My first night in the city I had dinner at Pazzo, a modern French/Italian restaurant with a 2nd floor wine bar near the MAS Museum. Their menu consists of a dishes that are available year-round on one side and seasonal specials on the other. If you see the tagliatelle ‘nduja, get it! And be sure to come hungry, because the meal starts with complimentary hummus, chips, and their yummy homemade bread. It’s a great space for solo travelers, because you can make a reservation to sit at the bar which always makes dining alone a little less awkward. Just keep in mind that they’re not open on Saturdays or Sundays!

Italian Restaurant and Wine Bar – Oudeleeuwenrui 12.

Chicon

If you’re looking for a more casual vibe, then you’ll want to grab dinner at Chicon. Here they serve classic Flemish/Belgian dishes in very large portions (by European standards that is – fellow Americans will probably think they’re fairly standard). I loved the stoofvlees with fries, to the point where I practically cleaned my plate! While very busy, the cozy dining room with dark green walls and warm lighting wasn’t overwhelmingly loud. Unlike at Pazzo, you should definitely make a reservation if you want to eat here on a weekend night. I wrapped up dinner around 9pm and the restaurant was still full!

Belgian Comfort Food – Kaasrui 6.

Dogma

Just a short walk from Chicon is Dogma, a popular speakeasy-style cocktail bar in an industrial setting. They don’t take reservations, so just walk on in. I was able to grab a seat at the bar right away on a Saturday night after dinner, but for a larger group there may be a bit of a wait. While the seasonal drink I ordered was just okay, I’d highly recommend the ‘Bitch Please’ cocktail (while I can’t remember or find what all was in the drink, it featured pomegranate which I love). Their menu also has a few small bites and charcuterie if you’re feeling a little peckish.

Cocktail Bar – Wijngaardstraat 5.

On the List for Future Antwerp Visits

One weekend was nowhere near enough time to try all the food and drink spots in I have my eye on in Antwerp, so I’ve obviously got a few spots already on my list for next time.

De Pottekijker – Kaasrui 5.
Cozy Belgian grill restaurant located near the Grote Markt known for its skewers and signature fish pot.

Fish A’Gogo – Handschoenmarkt 1.
Small street-food style fish bar near the Cathedral of our Lady.

Bakery Canteen De Wilde Zee – Groendalstraat 12.
New all-day cafe in the De Wilde Zee shopping district that opened in mid-2026. Its menu features pastries, sandwiches, coffee, and aperitivi.

Giraffe – Marnixplaats 7.
Natural wine and cocktail bar serving small bites in south Antwerp.

Sukoon Coffee – Sint-Katelijnevest 5.
The first traditional hot sand-brewed Turkish coffee shop in all of Belgium. One downside: they don’t open until noon.

---

---

Where to Stay in Antwerp

I can confirm that all the advice I read on where to stay as a first time visitor was true – hotels in the central Old Town are the way to go. So all the hotels I’ve highlighted below can be found in that area. They are a little more pricey, so if that’s something you’re concerned about then check out the Station District which is said to be more budget-friendly.

You may be surprised to learn that in general, Antwerp hotels seem to be equally or even more expensive than ones you’ll find in the Belgian capital of Brussels. This is apparently thanks to there being less hotels in Antwerp, but still a pretty high demand from tourists.

Hotel Highlight: Sapphire House, Autograph Collection

Lange Nieuwstraat 20-24.

I usually don’t choose to stay in such high-end hotels, mainly because of the cost. But in this case, this Marriott hotel was surprisingly a middle-ground price-wise for the particular weekend I booked. It’s smack dab in the middle of everything – 15 minutes or less of a walk to everything I wanted to see and do. The color schemes/decor for the rooms are based on different gemstones. I was really hoping for emerald green but got sapphire blue. The only thing I really would ding them for is the rainfall showerhead, which I’m just not a fan of! Amenities include an on-site bar and restaurant, gym, and parking.

Additional Antwerp Hotels to Consider

Hotel Motel One Antwerpen – Oever 10/12-14.
This more budget friendly, modern 3-star hotel is located near the Plantin-Moretus Museum. It has both an on-site bar and highly rated breakfast buffet.

Hilton Antwerp Old Town – Groenplaats 32.
You can pretty much find a Hilton anywhere, which is why we stay in them so often! This particular location is just steps from the Cathedral of Our Lady.

Hotel Rubens – Grote Markt – Oude Beurs 29.
With just 36 rooms, this hotel is perfect for anyone looking for a smaller, boutique option.

---

What are your favorite things to do in Antwerp? Let me know in the comments!