Things to do in  Antwerp

The Belgian city of Antwerp is famous for being one of the world’s largest ports and the main hub of the world’s diamond trade. It’s also famous for its grand and Gothic architecture (Antwerp Central Station and Grote Markt), and for being the home of German painter Peter Paul Rubens.

If you’re a lover of art, history, and diamonds, Antwerp is worth visiting. Often overlooked in favor of Bruges and Brussels, the diamond capital is a hidden gem that boasts charming cobbled streets, world-class art and photography museums, stunning architecture, and one of Europe’s best selections of beer.

Antwerp’s small size and compact historical center makes it easy to explore in just a few days—48 hours is plenty of time to see top historical attractions such as the 14th-century Cathedral of Our Lady and Butcher’s Hall, plus famous museums like MAS.

That depends on what you’re after—Brussels is the capital of Belgium and the European Union and is a large, modern city home to a mix of grand art nouveau architecture and sleek bureaucratic buildings. Antwerp offers a more relaxed, hipster vibe and has a thriving art scene.

Nicknamed the Railway Cathedral, the 19th-century Antwerp Central station is one of the city’s most-visited attractions and an architectural symbol, thanks to its ornate central dome and vaulted ceilings. In second place is the grand Grote Markt square, closely followed by the 16th century printing museum, Museum Plantin-Moretus.

With only 24 hours in Antwerp, start by wandering around Grand Market Place, home to a series of 16th-century buildings, before heading inside the art-filled Cathedral of Our Lady. Explore the diamond district in the afternoon before embarking on a tour of Belgian beer and moules-frites, or mussels and fries.