Antwerp is the 2nd largest city in Belgium, famous for diamond trading, seaports, and fine arts. This city is known as “The Capital of Diamonds” because every year Antwerp trades 50% of cut diamonds and 80% of the global diamond trade.
With diamond trading, there are many things to do in Antwerp Belgium, on a trip. From exploring the city by bike rides to trying its best beer, Antwerp is a city that truly has something to offer to everyone.
So, if you visit just one city in Belgium, Antwerp is our top recommendation.
If you are planning your next trip to this city, then let us describe its beauty in words so you can enjoy it live.
Antwerp is full of surprises. Every corner of this city has its own story, from live markets to alluring streets. If you have limited time, you will probably want to see the most famous landmarks and places. Below we list some of the main highlights and most popular things to do in Antwerp Belgium.
This is the only museum on the UNESCO World Heritage list, that has the remaining printing workshop and publishing house in the world. Also known as the Wikipedia of the 16th century. Here you can admire prints, paintings and drawings by the Antwerp masters.
Travel tip: Museum Plantin Moretus is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 AM to 5 PM.
A market known as the historical and cultural heart of the city and Antwerp’s main square. One of the best things to do in Antwerp Belgium is you admire many guild houses surrounding the square, including butchers, Rodenborch, De Balans, Spaengien, De Mouwe, and Den Mouwe.
Guilds were associations of merchants who practiced the same trade. The largest guild house in the city was the butchers.
This zoo is considered one of the best thing to explore in Antwerp Belgium for locals and tourists alike. This zoo is one of the oldest animal parks in Belgium, established in 1843. This historic zoo is located in the center of the city, right next to the central railway station.
If you are on a family trip then this place has all kinds of activities to spend a good couple of hours here.
Travel tip: Antwerp Zoo is open from Sunday to Saturday, from 10 AM to 04:45 PM.
MAS is another world in Antwerp. You will discover the rich past of the city, the river, the port, and the world. This museum is nine floors high and each floor can give you a different view. From the rooftop of the MAS, you can gaze at the stars and enjoy an incredible view of the city from every level.
Travel tip: MAS- Museum aan de Stroom is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM.
This is one of the largest Gothic buildings and Antwerp tourist attractions in the city. It is not only an iconic building but also a treasury because it has some impressive collections of Rubens’s paintings.
Travel Tip: This building is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM and free for kids.
If you are an art buff then don’t forget to add this beautiful museum to your list of great things to do in Antwerp Belgium. The Museum has an interesting collection of Rubens’s work, and that’s really worth a visit. As an artist, you can spend hours feeling the deepness of the paintings.
The world-famous Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens created many of his paintings in this house.
Travel Tip: This museum is open from Monday to Friday, from 10 AM to 5 PM.
If you are bored with regular art, and paintings and want to do some fun activities with family or friends, then this museum gives you more than this. Here you will experience more than 30 optical illusions and phenomena which are the best things to do in Antwerp Belgium for all age groups.
In this attraction, you have to follow a trail, room after room full of surprises, optical illusions, and magic tricks. Keep your phone camera on because there are plenty of great photo opportunities. All we can say is this is a place for young and old alike.
Travel Tip: This Museum is open from Monday to Thursday from 10 AM to 5 PM & on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 AM to 7 PM.
After knowing the best places, as a UK traveler, if you are curious to see these spots, and looking for the visa procedure, then BELGIUM VISA is here. This is a reliable Visa agency that will help you get your Belgium Visa from London by booking an early appointment and assisting you with the document process.
If you want to explore Antwerp’s hidden gems and seek places to stay in Antwerp Belgium and the best-located hotels for sightseeing in Antwerp, here are our recommendations.
If you are looking for luxury accommodations, then Sapphire House Antwerp and Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp are good options for you. In mid Range (€€€), add Crowne Plaza Antwerp and Hotel Indigo Antwerp to your list.
If you do not mind walking to the attractions, then Hampton by Hilton and A-STAY are highly rated and cheaper hotels near the central station.
You can check all the facilities offered by these hotels on their sites, compare them, and book the best stay option according to your budget or comfort.
Antwerp has a lot of options for foodies & trying the varieties of Antwerp food is one of the best things to do in Antwerp Belgium for a foodie.
As a traveler, sometimes it becomes a headache to search for the best food corners in a new city. So, let us help you in this search.
If you want to try Indian food, then try Mission Masala, Aahaar Delux & Tandoori -Pasta restaurants, which can offer you the best Indian food varieties in Antwerp.
For Belgian food, visit Brewery De Koninck ( for famous Bolleke beer), No Worries, and Meat Factory ( for varieties of meat dishes).
Antwerp annually organizes a lot of music festivals to give its locals and travelers the best experience of music. Attending these music festivals is one of the best things to do in Antwerp Belgium.
Below are some of the famous music festivals:
Laus Polyphoniae:
This is an annual summer festival, organized by AMUZ, that takes place in the last weeks of August. The classical and rock music of this festival attracts visitors from Europe and all around the world.
Tomorrowland
This is a large-scale electronic music festival in near by area of Antwerp, known for its extravagant stages and immersive production. This year, the festival is going to take place on the first weekend from 18 July to 20 July, and on the second weekend from 25 July to 27 July 2025.
Live /s Live
A three-day music festival in Middenvijver Park, Antwerp offers you the authenticity of the music. Instead of one lineup for the whole festival, they offer you an innovative program every day. This year, this festival is scheduled for 27-29 June.
Big Bang Festival
This is a vibrant music festival for young audiences, founded by Wouter van Looy in 1995. This is a two-day festival that took place ending May. In this festival, professional musicians will enter into a dialogue with young instrumentalists or singers and share the stage with children.
If you are planning to take part in these festivals, then as a UK resident, you need a Belgium Visa to attend all these music festivals, so visit BELGIUM VISA to get a Belgium visa appointment from London, arrange your documents, get your visa on time and enjoy these music festivals.
If you are planning a trip to Belgium, then here are some tips that will add more value to your journey
If you are an adventure lover, then try bike tours here because exploring this city by bike is one of the next-level things to do in Antwerp Belgium. All the main attractions are not located in the city so by bike, you can see most of them in a short time.
Tourists can explore the best of the Belgian treasure trove in a single day by bicycle, including the city hall, the Cathedral of Our Lady, Het Eilandje, and the MAS Museum, and enjoy a ride along the River Scheldt.
In final thought, Antwerp is a hidden gem to discover the Belgian legacy in Rubean Art, painting, and buildings. From finding the best diamond to melt your soul in Rubens’s Art in the KMSKA museum, in this guide we explain all the best things to do in Antwerp Belgium.
Bike tours to this city can increase your travel experience, and the music festival will give you the music taste of the city.
So, if you are searching for the next city to stay, pin the Antwerp and start making your list of food, places, and things to do in Antwerp Belgium. And don’t forget to take a bike tour of the city. Happy Journey…!!!Note- If you are planning a trip to Belgium and struggling to apply for Belgium visa from the UK, BELGIUM VISA is here to help you get your visa on time, and the Visa experts will solve all your visa queries.
Antwerp in Belgium is best known as the diamond trade city and the second-largest port in Europe.
Yes, Antwerp is a city blended with modern architecture, interesting museums, and world-famous Rubean Art, with a glorious past. It is one of the most diverse cities in Belgium with a fantastic atmosphere.
There is no fixed time in which you can explore Antwerp completely but 4-5 days are enough to see the best places in Antwerp.
Museum Plantin Moretus, Grote Market, Antwerp Zoo, MAS – Museum aan de Stroom, Cathedral of Our Lady, Rubenshuis, Illusion Antwerpen
