Spending a weekend in Antwerp, Belgium + free map with highlights

Antwerp is never boring – you can enjoy shopping, good food, visit countless museums, spend the night in style. What to see during a city trip to Antwerp? First of all, where can you stay and which hotels are nice? I will recommend 3 hotels that are really cool.

Where to stay in Antwerp?

First, if you’re looking for a nice hotel just to get a good night’s sleep that shouldn’t cost too much then I recommend the IBIS Hotel. Simply because it is very comfortable, and certainly very well priced. The location is also perfect, if you arrived by train you can walk to the hotel! It is located right next to Antwerp Central train station.

Simply because it is very comfortable, and certainly very well priced. The location is also perfect, if you arrived by train you can walk to the hotel! It is located right next to Antwerp Central train station.

Not necessarily on a budget? The second hotel I recommend is the Raddison Blu Astrid Hotel. It is close to the Zoo, Starbucks and dozens of nice places to eat. The staff is friendly, and they have very nice stylish rooms. Highly recommended if you want something more luxurious for a good price.

The last hotel I recommend is the Keyser hotel. It is somehow basic but I have been here multiple times. It has a very good location, lets say the best of all 3. It is directly next to the MacDonalds and all kind of shops. Also it is 1 minute walking from the Central Station on top of that the breakfast is very ok.

In Antwerp you need to shop!

A weekend in Antwerp is of course not complete without a good shopping session. In the autumn, the new collections can be found in the shops on the Meir and in the surrounding side streets, and you can pick up new autumn and winter outfits. The nicest smaller shops and boutiques can be found in the Latin Quarter and the Fashion District south of the historic center. Here you will also find shops by Belgian designers, for example, and you can score unique items that are not available in the shops at home.

Amazing Museums in Antwerpen

Tip: Download the free Antwerp Museum App to get great offline tours for the churches mentioned above. They are completely free and a great addition during your visit.

The Plantin-Moretus Museum is the only museum that is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is the original residence and printing house of the publishing family Plantin-Moretus in the heart of Antwerp. The printing house has been perfectly preserved. The printery printed all kinds of books, including Bibles. In addition to the permanent collection, there are changing exhibitions. The museum sometimes seemed like a maze! Here you can taste the history. Definitely worth a look! It is free for everyone under 19, and above that you will pay 6 euros.

Another museum which is worth a visit is Museum De Reede. Which is a very nice and quiet museum, beautiful works by masters such as Munch (known for the scream) as well as beautiful works by students of the academy of Antwerp!

Four churches in Antwerp you would want to visit

1. Cathedral of Our Lady (main cathedral of Antwerp): Check opening hours
2. Saint Carolus Boromeus church: Check opening hours
3. Saint James’s Church: Check opening hours
4. Saint Andrew’s Church: Check opening hours

Places to grab a lunch in Antwerp

In Antwerp you eat fries! Visiting Antwerp without eating fries is of course impossible. I would recommend a visit to Frites Atelier. They have ( ofcourse ) fries, but also a large range of burgers, meat and fish.

More in the mood for a filled sandwhich or bagel? Try out Barnini. As a stopover from shopping or a day in Antwerp, Barnini is perfectly fine. Tasty bagels, homemade ice teas and delicious coffees. Great place for a nice breakfast or a good lunch!

Also do not forget to visit Zurenborg

Zurenborg is not the most famous, but perhaps the most beautiful neighborhood in Antwerp. In this district you will find beautiful Belle Epoque grandeur: Art Nouveau facades, elegant streets and atmospheric squares. The highlight is the 19th-century Cogels-Osylei: sublime architecture from around the turn of the last century. Zurenborg is a residential area located in the southeast of Antwerp.

Want to do much more in Antwerp?

Visit ‘t Steen; Steen is the old fortress of Antwerp, which can be found on the banks of the Scheldt. It was built at the beginning of the thirteenth century and is therefore the oldest building on the Antwerp quay. Not in the mood to walk alone? Take a guided walking tour

Another idea to do in Antwerp is; the Antwerpse Ruien, either the old Sewers or Overwelfde Stadsgrachten, are a special attraction in the city. Wastewater is no longer rinsed in De Ruien, so you can visit it with an underground walk. The 3-hour walking tours have been organized since 2005. You put on a protective suit at the start of the tour and are then guided through the underground Antwerp.

Last but not least, go to the zoo! The Antwerp zoo dates from 1843 and is one of the best-known, oldest and most beautiful city zoos in Europe. It is located right next to Central Station. There are about 1000 different animal species to see in the zoo, and you can also walk around the beautiful garden of the Zoo.

During my stay I used a printable map so I didnt need to take my phone everytime I walk. Print out yours at Sygic Travel Data antwerp-printable-tourist-map-87275.pdf (sygictraveldata.com)