Antwerp is known as the diamonds-and-design city, earning both halves of the title within a few blocks of its cruise terminal. This city is well laid out for port day explorations, small enough to cover on foot but layered enough that you’ll want to pay attention.
This guide follows a walk through the best of the city and offers a sense of how to sequence the day depending on how much time you have.
Why Make the Trip to Antwerp?
Downtown Antwerp city skyline at Grote Markt, Belgium
Antwerp is the place to be for those who like their history with a little edge—think old guild houses beside design studios, or a Gothic cathedral a few streets from the diamond trade. Here’s what you can find within the city confines during a river cruise port day:
The city is walkable, and with some planning, it’s possible to see most of these attractions in a single day. Below, explore its riverside attractions to discover which aspects of Antwerp speak to you. |
Landmarks and History in Antwerp
Antwerp’s compact layout makes it easy to explore its most iconic sights on foot. From historic squares to architectural marvels, here are the top landmarks you won’t want to miss during your day in port.
Grote Markt
Grote Markt in Antwerp, Belgium at twilight.
Antwerp’s cruise terminal drops you close enough to the old town that you won’t need a plan for the first hour, just your legs. Grote Markt is five to ten minutes away on foot, ringed by 16th-century edifices that still appear freshly gilded, with the Brabo Fountain sitting in the middle.
If you’re short on time, you’ll find fantastic cafés and restaurants lining the square, where you can grab a good meal of moules frites and stop in at a chocolatier like ChoFleur or Elle Chocolates to bring a few treats back to the ship.
Antwerp Central Station
The beautiful old railway station in Antwerp, Belgium
Antwerp Central Station, a fifteen-minute walk from the port, is one of the most aesthetically striking train stations in the world. The streets become progressively more commercial as you approach, ideal for those planning a spot of shopping along the way.
Once you arrive, step under the dome and look up: you’ll see why locals still call it the “Railway Cathedral.”
Cathedral of Our Lady
You don’t need to look hard to find the Cathedral of Our Lady—its spire will find you on the old town’s skyline. Construction started in 1352 and inside, four Rubens paintings hang in a Gothic interior threaded with stained glass.
The historic building is close enough to Grote Markt to merge the two into the same walk. If it’s your first river cruise and you’ve only got a few hours, put this near the top of your list.
MAS Museum
MAS (Museum aan de Stroom) sits about twenty minutes from the port on foot, or it’s a short taxi ride if the day’s already half gone. The building is made of stacked red sandstone and glass, and the drawcard is as much what’s inside as it is the free rooftop. It’s still free even if you don’t visit the actual museum, and catching a 360-degree view of the port and old town is one of the best things to do in Antwerp.
Plantin-Moretus Museum
Tucked into the historic center, just a short stroll from Grote Markt, the Plantin-Moretus Museum is easy to walk past without realizing what you’re missing. As the only museum in the world with UNESCO World Heritage status, it’s built around the printing house and workshop of the Plantin-Moretus family, whose presses influenced European publishing for nine generations.
Het Steen
Antwerp’s oldest building sits right on the waterfront. It started as a medieval fortress and has been repurposed time and time again, most recently into a visitor center. The interior can take as little as 15 minutes for a glance and some photos, or up to two hours if you want to move more slowly (and take advantage of another rooftop for viewing).
Royal Museum of Fine Arts and the Rubens Room
Peter Paul Rubens built his career in Antwerp, and the Royal Museum of Fine Arts houses a room devoted to his work, a fitting complement to the paintings already hanging in the Cathedral. If you’ve made time for the historic landmarks, this is a strong contender for any art lovers in your group.
Local Dining and Tastings
Between its historic squares and design-focused streets, you’ll find a culinary scene that’s equally essential to the Antwerp experience. From world-class chocolate to centuries-old brewing traditions, here are the local tastes and stops you shouldn’t miss.
Chocolatiers
Traditional Belgian chocolate shop
Antwerp treats chocolate like Belgium’s other cities treat beer, which is to say, seriously. Small shops selling artfully crafted pralines line the streets between Grote Markt and the Cathedral, many of which let passersby watch the process through the windows.
Local Beers
De Koninck has been brewing in Antwerp since 1833, and residents still drink it out of a chalice-shaped glass called a bolleke, which is also what they call the beer when they order one.
This historic brewery, about a 40-minute walk from Grote Markt, runs tours and tastings, with a cluster of food stalls nearby. If beer history or the fine art of its consumption interests you, it’s worth the detour.
Moules Frites
Traditional Belgian steamed mussels with cheese in Belgium
Belgium is known for its famous moules frites, and brasseries near the historic center serve the dish a dozen different ways, white wine and garlic being the classic. If you’re curious, make like the locals and use an empty mussel shell as sugar tongs to pluck the meat from subsequent shells.
Easy Café and Brewery Stops
PAKT sits in a former warehouse complex outside the old town, featuring reclaimed brick and a sustainable rooftop garden. Closer to the center, Elixir d’Anvers has been distilling herbal liqueur since 1863, using the same recipe the whole time. If the day’s slipping away, both make for interesting off-the-beaten-path visiting options, found not too far from port.
Explore Antwerp’s Shopping Streets
Antwerp’s reputation as a fashion capital is best explored through its diverse shopping districts, where high-end boutiques and historic arcades sit side-by-side. Whether you’re looking for international labels or local designer pieces, these are the top spots to browse during your day in port.
The Meir
Antwerp’s main shopping center is wide and animated, lined with international brands and ornate architecture that makes window-shopping and sightseeing indistinguishable. It’s an easy add-on between the Central Railway Station and the old town center, more of an impressive stroll than a destination.
Stadsfeestzaal
Along the Meir, a restored neo-classical glass-domed shopping hall hides behind an unassuming entrance, now filled with shops. Step inside even if you’re not buying anything—the arcade’s architecture is worth the five minutes.
The Diamond District
Antwerp cuts and trades a huge portion of the world’s diamonds, and the district near Central Station makes no secret of it, with block after block of jewelers and security to match. You don’t need to buy a diamond to appreciate walking through a neighborhood built around the trade. However, you’d be well-placed if you are in the market for one.
Antwerp’s Hidden Gems
Beyond the famous squares and bustling shopping streets, Antwerp is home to several quieter, atmospheric spots that offer a different perspective on the city. From medieval alleys to subterranean passages, these hidden gems are perfect for visitors looking to step off the beaten path.
Vlaeykensgang
Hidden off Oude Koornmarkt, one of the busiest streets in the old town, this narrow medieval alley dates to 1591 and was once the business quarters of the city’s shoemakers. Its beautiful cobblestone paths and ivy-hung facades make for great photo opportunities, or a peaceful break away from the city’s hustle and bustle.
Sint-Annatunnel
This pedestrian tunnel, built between 1931 and 1933, runs beneath the Scheldt, complete with original wooden escalators that still operate almost a century later. Ride down, walk the tunnel, and if you make it to the far bank, look back for a skyline view of Antwerp you’re unlikely to find anywhere else in the city.
Planning One Day in Antwerp: Itinerary and Sequencing
Most guests gravitate toward Grote Markt for two reasons: first, it’s a major local historic landmark close to riverbanks, and second, you can venture in almost any direction depending on what calls to you in the city.
The Cathedral and Central Station make for a good next move if history’s on the cards, whereas PAKT or Sint-Annatunnel are better for those seeking a quieter, less-trafficked river cruise experience. Antwerp’s center is small enough to explore mostly on foot, but bike shares and the tram help if you want to cover more ground.
FAQs: Things To Do in Antwerp, Belgium
What are the best things to do in Antwerp in one day?
The best one-day itinerary in Antwerp covers Grote Markt, the Cathedral of Our Lady, Antwerp Central Station, and the MAS Museum, with time for chocolate shopping and a riverside meal along the way.
Can you see Antwerp in one day?
Yes, Antwerp’s compact historic center makes it possible to see the city’s main landmarks, from Grote Markt to Central Station, comfortably in a single day.
Is Antwerp walkable for visitors?
Antwerp is highly walkable, with most major attractions, including the Cathedral, Grote Markt, and Central Station, located within a 10- to 15-minute walk of the cruise terminal.
Which Antwerp attractions are closest to the historic center?
Grote Markt, the Cathedral of Our Lady, and Vlaeykensgang all sit within a few minutes’ walk of Antwerp’s historic center.
Explore the Diamond-and-Design City in a Single Day
Antwerp jam-packs Gothic spires, world-class art, chocolate shops, and centuries of trade history into a city small enough to walk in an afternoon. With everything so close, you’ll be hard-pressed to miss the city’s impressive architecture, history, culture, and dining—even if you decide to go without a plan.
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