Antwerpen-Centraal and the Meir: the station-cathedral and the shopping street
From Antwerpen-Centraal On foot, from the station to the historic center about 2 hours afternoon easy
Antwerpen-Centraal station is called the spoorwegkathedraal, the railway cathedral, because of the dome over the waiting concourse. The stone building, by Louis Delacenserie, was built between 1895 and 1905, with marble staircases, a monumental clock and an iron-and-glass gare about 44 meters high.
The station operates on four levels, with 14 tracks. Trains heading north pass through a tunnel under the city, 18 meters below street level, opened in 2007. For those arriving by train, the first impression of Antwerpen is already a stroll: it’s worth climbing the stairs and taking time to look at the concourse.
From the station runs De Keyserlei, a wide avenue that continues into the Meir, the city’s main shopping street, pedestrian-only. It’s about 2 km to the cathedral area, passing shops, cafés and 18th- and 19th-century buildings. At the end of the Meir, Groenplaats opens the view to the cathedral tower.
The station sits next to Zoo Antwerpen and the diamond district, which makes it easy to combine all three in one day.
Stops: Antwerpen-Centraal, Astridplein, De Keyserlei, Meir.
Includes: Outdoor walk and in the station concourse, no ticket required.
Tip: Enter via Astridplein to see the facade and go up to the upper level for the view of the gare. On Sundays many shops on the Meir are closed; on Saturdays the street gets crowded.
Best time: All year. In December the area usually has Christmas decorations.
Het Steen, Schelde riverbank and Sint-Annatunnel
From Antwerp city centre On foot along the riverbank about 2 hours afternoon easy
Het Steen is the oldest building in Antwerp. Built between 1200 and 1225, it was the gatehouse of the dukes of Brabant’s castle, demolished in the 19th century, and served as a prison from 1303 to 1827. On the entrance bridge stands the statue of Lange Wapper, a giant from Flemish folklore who frightened locals in the Middle Ages.
The building was enlarged and became the gateway for city visitors, with a visitor center, a cruise ship terminal and Antwerp Story, an interactive exhibition about the city and the port. The terrace at the top offers views of the river and the city centre.
The Schelde riverbank is a long promenade, good for walking. Heading south, on Sint-Jansvliet, is the entrance to the Sint-Annatunnel, a 572-meter pedestrian and cyclist tunnel under the river, opened in 1933. The descent of about 31 meters is made via the original wooden escalators, among the few still in use worldwide.
On the other side is Linkeroever, the left bank, with a small riverside beach and the classic view of Antwerp’s skyline, including the cathedral tower.
Stops: Het Steen, Steenplein, Sint-Annatunnel, Linkeroever.
Includes: The tunnel and the riverbank do not require tickets. Antwerp Story, at Het Steen, has an admission fee. Check the current price list.
Tip: Cross the tunnel in the late afternoon and return after sunset to see Linkeroever’s illuminated city center. On Thursdays the wooden escalators are often under maintenance; there are elevators.
Best time: All year round. From May to September the riverbank is livelier.
Red Star Line Museum: the port from which 2 million emigrants departed for America
From Antwerp city centre On foot through the Eilandje or by bus about 2 hours afternoon easy
Between 1872 and 1935, Red Star Line ships carried more than 2 million people from Antwerpen to the United States and Canada. Many came from Eastern Europe in search of a new life. At peak years the company transported over 100,000 passengers a year.
The museum occupies the company’s original warehouses on the banks of the Scheldt, where third-class passengers underwent medical inspections and disinfection before boarding. The exhibition follows the journeys of real people, with letters, photos, objects and testimonies, from leaving their village to arriving at Ellis Island in New York.
Among the famous passengers are Albert Einstein, who traveled three times with the line, the last time in 1933, and Irving Berlin, who crossed the ocean at age five in 1893. The theme of migration is brought up to the present in temporary exhibitions.
On the site of the old chimney a viewing tower shaped like a ship’s funnel was built, offering views of the port and the Eilandje.
Stops: Red Star Line Museum, Eilandje, Rijnkaai.
Includes: There is an admission fee; temporary exhibitions are generally included. Check the current price list.
Tip: Combine it with the MAS, a few minutes’ walk away. Those with ancestors who emigrated through Europe may find context for their family history. The museum usually closes on Mondays.
Best time: Open year-round. A good option for a rainy day.
MoMu (ModeMuseum) and the fashion shops on Nationalestraat
From Antwerp city centre On foot from the Groenplaats about 2 hours afternoon easy
Antwerpen is one of Europe’s fashion capitals thanks to a generation of designers trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in the city. In 1986 six of them caught international press attention at a fair in London and became known as the Antwerp Six: Dries Van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dirk Van Saene, Dirk Bikkembergs and Marina Yee. Martin Margiela, from the same school, followed soon after.
The MoMu, ModeMuseum Antwerpen (Fashion Museum), was founded in 2002 and is on Nationalestraat, in the same building as the academy’s fashion department. The museum alternates displays from its collection with thematic exhibitions about designers, techniques and the history of dress.
Around it, Nationalestraat and Kammenstraat bring together Belgian designer stores, independent boutiques and vintage shops. Dries Van Noten’s flagship store is in the area, housed in a historic building.
The walk combines culture and shopping and fits nicely between the cathedral and the Het Zuid neighbourhood.
Stops: MoMu, Nationalestraat, Kammenstraat.
Includes: The museum charges admission. Shops in the area are free to visit. Check the current pricing.
Tip: Check which exhibition is on before you go, because the museum can close for a few days between shows. Many shops are closed on Sundays.
Best time: Year-round. Sales typically take place in January and July.
Kazerne Dossin: Holocaust memorial and museum in Mechelen
From Mechelen city centre On foot from Mechelen’s Grote Markt about 2 hours morning easy
During World War II, the Nazis used the former Dossin barracks in Mechelen as an assembly site for Jews, Sinti and Roma arrested in Belgium and northern France. Between 1942 and 1944, more than 25,000 people passed through there and were deported, most to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Few returned.
The original barracks house the memorial. In 1955 it received the first Jewish museum on deportation and resistance. The current museum, in a new building by architect bOb Van Reeth across the street, opened in 2012. The architecture carries symbolic references to the Holocaust.
The exhibition traces the persecution in Belgium, life in the camp and the transports, with photos, documents and portraits of those who were deported. The final section links that history to contemporary issues such as racism, exclusion and human rights. There is also a documentation centre.
It is a powerful, quiet visit. Allow time for it and avoid scheduling it hurriedly between other activities.
Stops: Kazerne Dossin, Mechelen.
Includes: There is an admission fee. Guided visits for groups are reserved separately. Check the current price list.
Tip: The museum is usually closed on Wednesdays and on dates in the Jewish calendar, such as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. For children from 9 years old there is a dedicated route to be done with parents. Maintain a respectful tone at the memorial.
Best time: All year round. Confirm the closing days before you go.
Diamond quarter and DIVA, the museum of diamonds, jewelry and silver
From Antwerpen-Centraal On foot about 2 hours morning easy
Right next to Antwerpen-Centraal station is the Diamantkwartier, the diamond district, a few-block area known as the Square Mile. Four diamond exchanges operate there, including the Diamond Club of Antwerp, and hundreds of cutting and trading offices. A large share of the world’s rough diamonds passes through Antwerpen.
Much of the trade was built up by Jewish families, and Antwerpen’s Jewish community remains connected to the sector. For that reason, the district is quiet on Saturdays. Hoveniersstraat is the main street for the offices, and jewelry shops line the streets around the station.
To learn the history, visit DIVA, the museum of diamonds, jewelry and silver, near the Grote Markt. The exhibition shows how diamonds are cut, displays centuries of goldsmith work and explains the city’s link to the gemstone trade.
Stops: Diamantkwartier, Hoveniersstraat, DIVA.
Includes: The neighborhood is a free street walk. The DIVA requires an admission ticket. Check the current table.
Tip: Visit the neighborhood on a weekday: on Saturdays many shops close. Photographing people and office facades can be intrusive; be discreet.
Best time: All year, Monday to Friday.
Sint-Jacobskerk: the church where Rubens is buried
From Antwerp city centre On foot from the Meir about 1 hour afternoon easy
Sint-Jacobskerk, the church of Saint James, is on Lange Nieuwstraat, a few minutes from the Meir. From the outside it is Gothic; inside it is almost entirely Baroque, with marble, altars and sculptures paid for by wealthy city families who had their chapels there.
Behind the choir is Peter Paul Rubens’s funerary chapel. The painter is buried there, and the altar includes a work by him, the Madonna and Child surrounded by saints. The whole chapel, with the altar, epitaph and tombs, has undergone full restoration.
Another notable work is The Miraculous Draught of Fishes by Jacob Jordaens, which returned to the church after restoration. The church itself underwent a long restoration in two phases.
The visit is short and calm, away from the crowds at the cathedral, and completes the Rubens route through the city.
Stops: Sint-Jacobskerk, Lange Nieuwstraat.
Includes: Guided visits are usually ticketed. Check the current price list.
Tip: The church usually opens for visits only in the afternoon. Speak quietly, as it is a place of worship. Combine it with the Meir and the Centraal on the same day.
Best time: Open year-round. Confirm visiting hours before you go.
Sint-Pauluskerk: the Rosary paintings and the Baroque Calvary
From Antwerp city centre On foot from the Grote Markt about 1 hour afternoon easy
Sint-Pauluskerk was the church of the Dominican convent. Construction began after 1517 and the church was consecrated in 1571. In 1679 a lightning strike caused a fire, and the tower was rebuilt in Baroque style on its Gothic base.
In the north side nave is the cycle of the Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary, painted between 1616 and 1618 by eleven artists. Rubens encouraged the project and painted The Flagellation; Anthony van Dyck and Jacob Jordaens are also included in the series. In April 1968 a fire hit the church at night, and neighborhood residents helped remove the paintings.
Next to the church is the Calvary, a garden planned in 1697 and completed in the 18th century, with 63 life-size statues of prophets, angels and saints rising up to the crucifixion. It is one of the most curious scenes in the city.
The church is near the Veemarkt, a few minutes from the Grote Markt, in an area of old streets by the river.
Stops: Sint-Pauluskerk, Veemarkt.
Includes: The visit has restricted hours. Check whether tickets are available and the current pricing.
Tip: Opening days and hours are limited and change with the season; check before you go so you don't find the door closed. Enter the Calvary garden from the side of the church.
Best time: From April to October, when the church usually has more open days. Confirm beforehand.
Zoo Antwerpen: the historic zoo next to the station
From Antwerpen-Centraal On foot, the entrance is next to the station about 4 hours full day easy
The Zoo Antwerpen was founded on July 21, 1843 and is the oldest animal park in Belgium, one of the oldest in the world. It is located in the city centre, adjacent to Antwerpen-Centraal station, which makes it easy to visit even for those just passing through.
Beyond the animals, the zoo is notable for 19th- and early-20th-century architecture. The Egyptian temple, from 1856, houses savanna animals; the Moorish-style temple, from 1885, houses the okapis; and the aquarium, from 1910, was designed by Emile Thielens. Gardens, lakes and historic pavilions complete the route.
The zoo has about 5,000 animals from different parts of the world. It is managed by the same society as Planckendael, the animal park in Muizen, near Mechelen.
It’s a programme for families with children and a good break between the city centre museums.
Stops: Zoo Antwerpen, Antwerpen-Centraal.
Includes: There is an admission fee, with discounts for children and online purchase. Check the current price table.
Tip: Buy the ticket in advance to avoid queues on weekends and during school holidays. Bring a coat outside of summer, because much of the route is outdoors.
Best time: From April to September, with long days and animals more active outdoors. Open year-round.
Port House (Havenhuis) by Zaha Hadid and the port of Antwerpen
From Antwerp city centre By bicycle, bus or car to the northern docks about 2 hours morning easy
The Havenhuis, the Port House, is the headquarters of the port authority of Antwerpen. At its base is an old fire station from 1922, protected as a monument. Above it, Zaha Hadid’s office placed a faceted glass volume that resembles a diamond or a ship’s bow, opened in 2016.
The old fire station has changed little inside. The old hose-drying tower links the old part to the new, with four glass elevators. The building is one of the landmarks of contemporary architecture in Belgium and stands on the square named after the architect.
The port of Antwerpen is one of the largest in Europe, and the Havenhuis sits on the passage between the old docks of the Eilandje and the port area to the north. From the outside the building can be seen at any time. The interior is only open on guided tours with a reservation.
Stops: Havenhuis, Zaha Hadidplein, Eilandje.
Includes: The exterior view does not require a ticket. Guided tours of the interior are paid and need a reservation. Check the current price list.
Tip: Ride a bicycle from the MAS, following the docks north. Confirm guided-tour dates in advance, as they do not run every day.
Best time: All year. On sunny days the glass reflects the sky and the docks.
Zurenborg and Cogels-Osylei: the belle époque neighbourhood
From Antwerp city centre Tram or train to Antwerpen-Berchem and walk about 2 hours morning easy
Zurenborg is a residential neighbourhood southeast of the centre, near Antwerpen-Berchem station, built almost entirely between 1894 and 1906. The streets bring together art nouveau houses alongside neo-Gothic, neo-Renaissance and neoclassical façades, and even English chalet–style houses, a mix that reflects the tastes of the wealthy bourgeoisie of the belle époque.
The best-known street is Cogels-Osylei, with the highest concentration of mansions. It’s worth walking slowly and looking up: there are wrought-iron balconies, mosaics, stained glass, small turrets and tile panels. In the 1960s the neighbourhood was threatened with demolition and was saved when it was protected as an urban landscape; many houses are listed monuments.
The northern part of the neighbourhood, more middle-class, revolves around Dageraadplaats, a square with cafés and restaurants, good for a break at the end of the walk.
Stops: Zurenborg, Cogels-Osylei, Dageraadplaats, Antwerpen-Berchem.
Includes: Outdoor street walk, no admission. The houses are private residences and are not open for visits.
Tip: Start at Cogels-Osylei and finish at Dageraadplaats for lunch. Respect the residents: photograph from the sidewalk, do not enter gardens or doorways.
Best time: Year-round; from April to October daylight helps with photos of the façades.
Museum Hof van Busleyden: the Renaissance palace of Mechelen
From Mechelen city centre On foot from Mechelen’s Grote Markt about 2 hours afternoon easy
The Hof van Busleyden is an urban Renaissance palace built about 500 years ago by Hieronymus van Busleyden, a humanist and court adviser. It is a few minutes from Mechelen’s Grote Markt, with inner gardens and rooms of brick and stone.
The museum covers the era of the Dukes of Burgundy and the time when Mechelen was the capital of the Low Countries. The visit features Margaret of Austria, who governed from here, her nephew Charles V, and the city’s hospitable sisters. The rooms display Northern European Renaissance art on themes such as power, religion, humanism and globalization.
The museum’s two gardens are open to the public and provide a calm place to rest between visits. There is a special trail for children aged 6 to 13, included with admission.
Stops: Museum Hof van Busleyden, Mechelen.
Includes: The museum requires admission. The gardens do not require a ticket. Check the current pricing.
Tip: The museum usually opens Wednesday to Sunday and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Combine it with a climb of the cathedral tower on the same day.
Best time: Open year-round. A good option for a rainy day.
Brouwerij Het Anker and the Groot Begijnhof of Mechelen
From Mechelen city centre On foot from Mechelen’s Grote Markt about 3 hours afternoon easy (about 100 steps)
The Groot Begijnhof, Mechelen’s large beguinage, is a neighbourhood of narrow streets and brick houses where beguines—religious women who lived communally without perpetual vows—once lived. It is part of the Flemish beguinages listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Inside the beguinage is Brouwerij-Stokerij Het Anker, a brewery with origins in 1471, one of Belgium’s oldest. The Leclef family restored the buildings in the 1990s. The site produces Gouden Carolus, a beer named for Charles V, who grew up in Mechelen. The Gouden Carolus Classic and Tripel are still produced in the three postwar copper boilers.
The guided tour visits the brewhouse, the fermentation area and the distillery, which makes whisky from beer, and ends with two tastings. The ground-floor brasserie is open to the public every day.
If you don’t drink alcohol, you can stick to the walk through the beguinage and the brewery’s architecture.
Stops: Groot Begijnhof, Brouwerij Het Anker.
Includes: Guided tour with two tastings, paid and by reservation. The walk through the beguinage does not require an entrance ticket. Check the current price list.
Tip: Book the visit in advance, especially on Saturdays. Taste little and take it slow; if you drink, do not drive. The route has about 100 steps and is not wheelchair accessible.
Best time: Year-round. Tours run Tuesday through Sunday, with additional times on Saturdays.
Speelgoedmuseum Mechelen: the toy museum
From Mechelen On foot or by bus from Mechelen center about 2 hours morning easy
The Speelgoedmuseum Mechelen is the city’s toy museum, designed for families. The permanent collection brings together toys from the Middle Ages to the present day, all used by children in Belgium.
The visit is interactive. Each visitor receives a wristband that activates information screens, and there are play areas set up for all ages. Adults often rediscover toys from their own childhood.
The museum is open every day, which makes it easier to fit into an itinerary when other museums are closed on Mondays or Tuesdays.
Stops: Speelgoedmuseum Mechelen.
Includes: There is an admission fee, with different prices for children. Check the current rates.
Tip: Good program for a rainy day with children. Closed December 24, 25 and 31, and January 1.
Best time: All year round.
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