Antwerp online travel guide
Antwerp, the harbour city of Belgium
26-05-2023 © Doris Leone
Online Travel Guide
A day in Antwerp means having a wonderful time, should you be travelling through Europe it is easy to reach by train or car.
Besides the big shopping street called “Meir” with lots of good stores, the city has a lot to offer, you can stroll through cute, little streets where you can admire beautiful street art for example. Furthermore, there are plenty of nice bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a nice start to your weekend. Staying longer than a day is not a bad idea, because the good atmosphere is definitely present in the harbour city of Antwerp. Have a look at my Antwerp online travel guide!
Transportation
By car, train or motorbike to Antwerp?
Whether you visit Antwerp by train, car or motorbike, everything is possible. If you arrive by train, you end up in the middle of an amazingly historical building, to be honest, it is a wonderful start of your trip in Antwerp.
Whenever you come by car or motorbike, you can easily park in the city in one of the parking garages, that cost you around €22,- per day. There is also a possibility to make use of several P&R locations, from where you can change to public transport.
Stroll through the streets of Antwerp
Make a nice walk from the town hall to the theatre house
The town hall is located in the heart of the city at the Grote Markt (main square). As a matter of fact, it was built in the 16th century, and it housed several shops to cover the costs of the expensive building. Thereupon, from here, you can have a nice walk through the city towards another special building, the Theatre House. Look around you on the way because you might come across some nice street art.
Visit 'het eilandje' & Museum aan de Stroom
Moreover, take a trip to the northern part of the city called ‘eilandje’ this means island in Dutch. Once you arrive over here, you will find the ‘Museum aan de Stroom’, which can be visited and see how Antwerp is connected to the rest of the world. Surprisingly, on top of the building, you have a fantastic panoramic view of the city. Overall, it is totally worth it.
Street art in Antwerp
Antwerp has many beautiful street art works on its walls, you can do a tour on your own by downloading the app “Street Art Cities”. Furthermore, you can use this app for several cities, such as Ghent. Significantly, I found the following art works pretty cool!
Record shops Antwerp
Strolling trough Antwerp, you will come across some nice record shops where you can find the coolest records. From rock, to soul, to reggae and hip hop. So, if you like records, just hop on in one of the shops.
Free Botanical Garden
Inside the city, you have a free Botanical Garden called Den Botaniek, where you can find awesome plants and trees. In short, you will see beautiful flora, such as a small cactus garden, a pond with giant fish and unusual statues.
Cultural sights of the Antwerp online travel guide
Check out the beautiful & historical buildings
Walking through Antwerp’s quaint streets and courtyards, you will come across many historic buildings. Have a look at the stunning entrance to the Handelsbeurs (Bourse of Antwerp) from the 17th century. In addition, you will often walk through streets where you suddenly encounter a marvellous historical building, take your time and enjoy the surroundings.
Admire the astonishing churches & cathedral
The city of Antwerp, has a wonderful historical cathedral to offer: ‘Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal’ (Cathedral of Our Lady), this is a famous one, located at the Groenplaats. In addition, you have a number of large churches such as St. Paul’s Church, St. George’s Church, St. James’s Church, St. Charles Borromeo’s Church and St. Andrew’s Church. A visit to one of these beautiful buildings is definitely worthwhile.
Relax at the Groenplaats
End your day at the Green Square aka Groenplaats
Be sure and do not miss this place of my Antwerp online travel guide. Especially in summer, the vibe is totally worth it. The Green Square, which Belgians know as ‘Groenplaats’ is the place to be if you love to chill with a nice drink or good meal after your day in Antwerp. Here you can visit nice little shops, galleries and chocolateries, but above all, enjoy yourself in one of the many terraces.
Try one of the Belgium beers
Belgium is known for its delicious beers, even if you do not like the bitterness of beer, there is something for everyone. In addition to the many special beers, you can also choose between a special passion fruit, cherry or cider beer. In any case, there is enough, so find a nice terrace or bar and enjoy a good Belgian beer.
Tips for tasty restaurants & bars
- Billies, enjoy your good beer with a nice snack in this cool place, they also offer main courses
- Satay, where you can eat the most delicious bowls with skewers
- Bier Central, where you can taste over 300 beers & eat in a barrel
- Bar & Food, for a particularly fun and tasty snack during your drink
- Ernest Bistro, with tasty fish dishes and Flemish classics on the menu
Coupled with this list of restaurants and nice bars, you can enjoy the best quality food. All spots are suitable for vegetarians.
