The train station itself is the first sightseeing stop , Belgium to visit a friend in January of 2019. The following itinerary is based on that experience. Additional information & tips along with a link to a video of this trip can be found at the end of the post.
Day 1:
We left early in the morning from Amsterdam Centraal and two hours later, we had arrived at Antwerpen Centraal. If you are vacationing in The Netherlands, Antwerp is an easy journey to check off another country while getting your fill off amazing beer, waffles, chocolate and fries. In my opinion, Antwerp could be 'accomplished' in a day or a leisurely weekend. It is also small, so it is very walkable; we did not utilize any transportation while we were here.
The train station itself is the first sightseeing stop; Antwerpen Centraal: in 2009, Newsweek named this station as the fourth best/beautiful train station in the world. So take a moment to look around.
If you take the main road out of the station (West on De Keyserkei), the entire area to the left is considered the Diamond District. Belgium is considered the 'diamond capital of the world' as it's where 60-80% of the world's diamonds are cut and traded. The only day that this area is shut down is on Saturday (which was the day we were there; but you could window shop if you are so inclined). If you continue on, the road will turn into Leysstraat, and then into Meir; which is the main shopping street/area.
After stopping at a local shop for a cappuccino (tip: look for a real espresso machine as the machine generated coffee is popular) and a waffle, we headed to the Cathedral of Our Lady Antwerp: a landmark spire tops this Gothic-style cathedral and is known for its Baroque masterpieces by Rubens. We admired the outside; it's 8€ to enter. Don't forget to check out the Nello & Patrache Statue. A must do.
We continued on to Grote Markt; the main square. This square holds the Brabo's Monument & Fountain: constructed in the 18th century. This is the iconic view of Antwerp; which ended up being centrally located for us so we passed through a few times during our trip.
We back-tracked slightly to the Saint Carolus Borromeus Church. This church is free to enter, and has two floors. The contrasting black, white and gold is absolutely stunning, a must do.
By this time we were hungry, so we headed back to the Groenplaats area (an entire square of various cafes and restaurants). We randomly picked one as we were only after a broodje (sandwich) and a beer. Due to the cold, most of the restaurants had heating lamps for outside seating so we were comfortable.
Feeling satisfied, we wandered North, saw a rainbow crosswalk near Que Pasa and Sint-Pauluskerk; a restored Gothic church with a Baroque tower. We walked around the Calvarietuin (garden); it was beautiful but also eerie with the graveyard. This church is also free to enter.
We then made our way to the Museum Aan de Stroom; a very modern, striking red sandstone museum with high-tech exhibitions exploring Antwerp's place in the world. While we did not actually go to the museum (entrance fee is 5-10€), you can enter the building and go all the way to the top for the rooftop observation terrace. It's a great view, there are a few little art pieces along the way, and you get an awesome interior view of the unique architecture of the building all for free! A must do.
As we wandered back towards the city center we came across the Museum Vleeshuis | Klank van de Stad; a museum with exhibits on Antwerp's dance and music history. While we did not go in, we admired the outside. The building was used as a guildhall for butchers in the early-1500's.
We also caught the tail end of the Exotic Food Market: consisting of stands ranging from fresh produce and fish to handmade items. Open every Saturday from 8am-4pm.
After resting at the house (we stayed in Zuid, but ideally you would stay in a more central location) we were ready for dinner. As per our host's recommendation, we had made a reservation at Amadeus Antwerpen 1. It is an all-you-can-eat ribs joint (plus a salad and baked potato) for 18€. It was a fun experience, and I recommend eating here.
To walk off our dinner, we took a stroll across Sint-Annatunnel: a pedestrian tunnel that connects the east and west banks of the city. It also has a wooden escalator and you get a cool view of the city once you cross. A must do.
Day 2 (1/2 day):
We started our morning with a coffee and a pastry at a cafe on the way back into town. We passed by the Monument Schelde Vrij. The main activity of the day was the The Rubens House; a museum in Rubens' 17th-century former home, showcasing his paintings, sculptures and tapestries. It is 8€ to enter. When we had our fill of sightseeing, we hopped on our train back to Amsterdam. We utilized NS International to buy our tickets.
Notes:
Watch the video of our full trip.
Things I would change:
We let our friend take us everywhere (which as the guest you feel like you are being chill but really it is a lot of stress on your host). It could have been slightly more efficient if I would have planned a few things.
If I return to Antwerp, I would like to see the Steen Castle and Chocolate Nation.
Utilizing google maps. Right after this trip, I discovered you could save/mark all the restaurants and sites. I honestly don't know how I survived without it.
Foods to try:
Antwerp Handjes (biscuit or chocolate shaped like a hand), Gentse neus (fruit filled chocolate that resembles a nose), french fries (originated in Belgium, traditionally served with mayo - I promise it is different than American mayo), Belgian chocolate, Speculaas (cookies) and of course, Belgian waffles. Oh, and ALL of the beer.
Travel tips:
Figure out an idea of sites you want to see; this will determine a centralized area for where you should stay. Especially if you are only there for a few days, you don't want to waste time getting into town.
Google reviews seem to be the most accurate rating system for restaurants around Europe. If you want good food, stay away from main streets with lots of neon signs, go a few streets over.
Mark everything on your google maps. This also seems to be the best (walking) navigation app.
Other:
The goal of my blogs are to give as much information in as little words as possible. Planning for a trip, especially overseas, can be stressful and overwhelming and a lot of blogs are an overflow of information. I try to do as many quick links as possible, to send you directly to the website of the attraction, restaurant, hotel etc. so you can get the most accurate and up-to-date information possible (fees and timetables).
Comment with any questions, and if you found this helpful, subscribe!
Safe and Happy Wandering.
Comments