What to see in Antwerp in one day

On our route through Belgium in a week we had time to enjoy a full day in this interesting city Antwerp is the second most populated city in Belgium and is famous for its diamond production You will be able to appreciate it in one of its neighborhoods. This city full of history has a more relaxed and welcoming atmosphere than other more crowded European cities, and it also has a historical center very nice.

The following is a list of the sites we consider essential to visit see in Antwerp in one day. We hope it will help you if you have limited time in Belgium and you are thinking about whether or not it is worth visiting this city.

We went by train from Ghent, so we are going to introduce you to the important places to see in Antwerp following the route we did, that is, starting from the impressive Antwerp train station. If you need a map to visit Antwerp in one day or a tomorrow At the end of the article, as we do in all our routes, we have left one that is accessible from google maps so you can follow it and modify it to your liking.

1. Antwerp train station

As we already mentioned, arriving by train to Antwerp is one of the best options since you will be able to admire one of the most impressive train stations in the world. The Antwerp Central Station is an architectural masterpiece. Its glazed dome, its marble staircases and its style baroque.

Diamond Quarter

Very close to the train station is this curious neighborhood where many people look, but few buy, the diamond district. If you wonder why this name comes from the answer is very simple, it is full of jewelry stores with showcases full of diamonds. Both this neighborhood and the diamond trade itself are dominated by the Jewish community of Antwerp.

We read that some visit to a jewelry store to see the cutting and polishing of a diamond live, but we were unable to find one that was open to the public on our visit to Antwerp.

3.Rubens Museum House (Rubenshuis)

Art lovers should not miss the home and studio of the famous Flemish painter, Peter Paul Rubens. The Rubens House Museum was the home of the painter and his family during his last years in Antwerp and nowadays houses a large collection of his masterpieces. The best thing to do is to stroll through the historic rooms that retain the original furniture and be amazed by the canvases and sketches of Rubens. Visiting hours are from 10 am to 5 pm every day except Mondays.

4. Old Royal Palace and Meir Street

If we continue our tour of Antwerp in the direction of the historic center, we will come across the most famous shopping street in Antwerp, the Meir Street. Here you will find a wide variety of stores from fashion boutiques to department stores.

In the middle of the street is the former Royal Palace The lower part of the building currently houses the famous chocolate shop Chocolate Line which is located where once was the kitchen of the palace. We recommend that you enter not only to admire and buy among the hundreds of chocolates that are there, but to see a part of the palace, it is spectacular! In addition, you can see live and in direct how prepare some chocolates.

5. Groenplaats

At the end of Meir Street, we find ourselves directly immersed in the historic center of the city, in the Groenplaats (green square). This square has a beautiful view of the Cathedral of Our Lady and in the center there is a bronze figure of Rubens.

If you are looking for a place to relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the city, Groenplaats is perfect. This charming square has a large number of café and restaurant terraces which are filled to capacity on sunny days.

💡 Do you want to see this statue?
Leaving the Groenplaats, just in front of the cathedral you will find this curious statue of a boy tucking himself in with his dog.

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6. Cathedral of Our Lady of Antwerp

The Cathedral of Our Lady is an impressive gothic masterpiece and one of the must-see places to visit in Antwerp. Full of stained-glass windows inside, on the outside, the magnificent bell tower declared a World Heritage Site.  

In addition, inside you will also find some masterpieces by Rubens such as the "Elevation of the Cross" or "The Descent from the Cross". Visiting hours are from 10:00 to 17:00 h from Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 15:00 h on Saturdays, and from 13:00 to 17:00 h on Sundays.

7. Vlaeykensgang Alley

Want to discover a "secret" place? Look for the Vlaeykensgang Alley, a small medieval street hidden in the center of Antwerp that will transport you back in time. With its cobblestones and picturesque houses, there is a magical and intimate atmosphere when you enter. In addition, there are some super nice restaurants inside, making you want to enter any of them.

We have to say that we passed by several times and did not see it, so stay tuned!

8. Grote Markt

The Grote Markt, or Market Square, is the historic heart of Antwerp and one of the must-see sights of the city. This square is surrounded by picturesque guild houses of the fifteenth century, among which is also the city council Renaissance.

This place is perfect to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the city and to make some spectacular photos. When we went there they were just setting up the Christmas market and it was full of Christmas trees and lights, very magical.

9. St. Charles Borromeo Church

After touring the Grote Mark and taking thousands of photos, we continued our tour to one of the most curious churches we have seen. Located in the Hendrik Conscience square, this church stands out for its incredible baroque facade all ornamented.

 It is a perfect place to take a break and enjoy a moment of tranquility. As a curiosity, the painter Rubens was the main person in charge of the interior decoration and paintings, which were lost in a fire in the 18th century.

10. Steen Castle

Once you have toured the historic center of Antwerp, you cannot leave the city without visiting the Scheldt River and the impressive medieval fortress of Steen Did you know that it was once built to control Viking raids? At its gates stands the statue of Lange Wapper a giant of Flemish folklore who, according to legend, roams the streets of Antwerp at night.

The view of this castle on the banks of the river will transport you to another era, although inside you can only visit some exhibits and, most importantly at least for us, its panoramic terrace. The entrance hours are from 10-18h every day, and the price of the general admission is 7€.

💡 Free activities in Antwerp
The visitor center, the rooftop terrace with panoramic views and some areas of Steen Castle can be visited free of charge.

11. MAS Museum

If you have time to spare in the city, this modern museum is a must-see for art and culture lovers. This curious building located in the Eilandje district, the old port of the city, houses an extensive collection of art and exhibitions related to the history and culture of Antwerp.

In addition, from the museum's rooftop terrace, there is a spectacular panoramic view of the city. We went around Christmas time, when all the lights were up and the Ferris wheel and the scenery was amazing. And best of all, going up to the terrace is free!

💡 Time-saving recommendation.
As this area is further away from the center, if you want to make the most of the time we recommend you to go by electric scooter (You can see more information in our article on getting around Belgium ). There is a bike path that runs along the river all the way to the museum and it is a very nice ride.

12. Plantin-Moretus Museum

This museum is housed in a 16th century mansion and is the only museum in the world considered to be the only one of its kind in the world UNESCO World Heritage Site as it is one of the most important oldest printing presses in the world. Inside the museum you can see various exhibitions related to printing, a large collection of books and presses and pieces of the old printing press.

Visiting hours are from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and the general admission fee is 12€. It is one of the best things to do in Antwerp if you have enough time in the city or if the weather is bad during your visit to Antwerp. We didn't have time to see it, but we have it written down for future trips.

📍 Map to visit AMBERES in one day (route).

Here we leave you the walking route we used to visit Antwerp in one day. If you click on the map below you can modify the route on your mobile to adapt it to your needs, for example if you have less time you can remove a couple of sites and use the map to visit Antwerp in half a day or a morning.

All the sites we tell you about can be seen following the route marked on the map. If you want to reach all the sites on foot you may have to take public transport, a bike or an electric scooter.

If you are interested in visiting all the places that we have shown you, you can buy Antwerp City Card that besides giving you access to all the monuments allows you to use public transport in an unlimited way. Of course it is worth it if you plan to make a complete visit you can see all the information in the button below.

See info City Card

If you want to read other articles ideal for your trip that complement What to see in Antwerp in one day you can visit our posts about Belgium.