Antwerp
Visit Antwerp for Flemish art, diamond history and a landmark railway station, with museums and historic streets between the Scheldt and the old city center.
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Antwerp is a port city on the River Scheldt in Belgium’s Flemish Region, about 40 km north of Brussels. Its historic center lies between the river and de Leien, the boulevard that follows the former Spanish fortification walls. The Grote Markt is a useful starting point for seeing the City Hall, the Cathedral of Our Lady and nearby historic streets. Antwerp was a major trading and banking center in the 16th century, and its diamond district remains a hub of the global diamond trade. The port, the second largest in Europe after Rotterdam, occupies extensive docklands.
Plan museum visits around your interests: the Rubenshuis was the painter’s home and studio, the Plantin-Moretus Museum preserves a historic printing house, and MAS explores Antwerp’s maritime history. The Royal Museum of Fine Arts is in Zuid. For a change of pace, look for Art Nouveau details in Zurenborg or walk through the open-air sculpture collection at Middelheim Park. Cafés and bars cluster around the Grote Markt, het Zuid, het Eilandje and Dageraadplaats in Zurenborg. Antwerp has cool winters, warm summers and frequent light rain. Two days can cover the historic center and a few museums; a longer stay leaves time for more neighborhoods.
Antwerp in five
- Reserve a time slot for the KMSKAThe Royal Museum of Fine Arts lists adult tickets at €20 and asks every visitor, including card holders, to reserve a slot. Count about 2 hours, and note the late Thursday opening to 22:00 outside holidays.KMSKA opening hours and tickets
- Take the MAS panorama without a ticketThe MAS roof and boulevard are open without a ticket, Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 to 22:00, and until midnight from 1 April to 31 October. The galleries need a reserved slot and are closed on Mondays.Antwerp in 2 days
- Check what is closed before you plan RubensThe Rubenshuis house is shut for renovation, but its Rubens Experience and garden are open, closed Wednesdays. The Plantin-Moretus Museum is closed until 5 December 2026, and Rubens's Moretus triptych is off view in the cathedral.What is closed right now
- Price the City Pass against your listThe pass costs €45, €55 or €65 for 24, 48 or 72 hours and includes public transport on De Lijn. It only pays back if you enter several paid sites in a day or two.City Pass or pay as you go
- Arrive by rail and look upAntwerp Central opened in 1905 and has a visitor centre on level 0 near the escalators. From the station, the historic center is a 20-minute walk along the Meir or about 10 minutes by tram.
Things to do in Antwerp
See all attractions in Antwerp
Need to know
- Airport
- Brussels Airport (BRU), 30 min to 1 hour by train to Antwerp Central
- Getting there
- Rotterdam 32 min, Amsterdam 1h20 on the Eurostar; London via Brussels
- Getting around
- On foot, De Lijn trams and buses, and Velo bikes
- Best base
- Historic center, or the station district for rail arrivals
- Time needed
- 2 days; 3 with a day trip to Ghent
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low2°Cold, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh9°Low3°Cold, museumsFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, museums
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°Cool, showersMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, showers
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low6°Mild, springAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, spring
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Mild, terracesMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, terraces
- JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Long daysJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°Warm, busyJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°Warm, busyAugustRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°Mild, calmerSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calmer
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Cool, rainOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, rain
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low6°Cold, greyNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, grey
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh8°Low4°Christmas lightsDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas lights
Average daily high and low in Antwerp, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Jul Tomorrowland
Right now in Antwerp
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 76%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 96%
Antwerp
09:06 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today13°9°96%Monday: Drizzle. High 13°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Tue10°5°6%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Wed10°3°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°4°0%Thursday: Clear. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri9°2°2%Friday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sat9°2°8%Saturday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sun9°6°14%Sunday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 14%.
Updated 06:27 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Coming up
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- Brussels, BelgiumBrussels Winter WondersNov 27, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 · Read the event guide
- Brussels, BelgiumAalst CarnivalFeb 7 – 9, 2027 · Read the event guide
- AFAS Dome · concertRod Stewart The Final EncoreMay 29, 2027 · Rooms near the venue
Every year
- JulTomorrowlandAntwerp
- JulGhent FestivitiesGhent, a day trip
- JulRock WerchterLeuven, a day trip
- AugFlower Carpet of BrusselsBrussels, a day trip
- AugMAfestival BruggeBruges, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Ghentby direct trainGuild houses on the Graslei and a medieval castle, calmer than Bruges.Read the guide
- Brusselsby direct trainThe capital's Grand Place and museums, easy to pair with an Antwerp base.Read the guide
- Rotterdam32 min on the EurostarModern Dutch architecture and markets, a short hop north of the border.Read the guide
Before you go to Antwerp
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Antwerp, checked
- MAS: galleries Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 17:00 (last access 16:00), closed Mondays. Roof and boulevard free, 9:30 to 22:00, until midnight April to October.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
- Cathedral of Our Lady: €12 adults. Open weekdays 10:00 to 17:00, Saturday 10:00 to 15:00, Sunday 13:00 to 17:00, with listed exceptions.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Antwerp's low emission zone applies 24/7; cars with foreign plates register once, free, no later than the day after entering.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Antwerp
Quays and a castle, on the same rail corridor
Read the guideBrussels travel guideThe capital, where most international trains stop
Read the guideLeuven travel guideA university town east of Brussels, a short train beyond the capital
Read the guideAll of BelgiumCities, coast, Ardennes and rail planning
Read the guideAntwerp FAQ
How many days do you need in Antwerp?
Two days cover the cathedral, the Grote Markt, the MAS roof, one major museum and the station. Add a third day for Ghent or Rotterdam, or if you want KMSKA and the Red Star Line Museum without hurrying.
Is Antwerp worth visiting if you have seen Bruges?
Yes, for a different trip: Antwerp is a working port with fashion, art and nightlife, not a medieval postcard. Choose Bruges for canals and quiet evenings, Antwerp for museums, shopping and a larger menu of restaurants.
Is the Antwerp City Pass worth it?
Only if you plan several paid entries. The official example shows a saving of €13 over 48 hours against single tickets, and nothing if you visit one museum a day. The pass also covers De Lijn trams and buses.
Can you visit Antwerp as a day trip from Brussels?
You can, by direct train from Brussels, but a day leaves little time beyond the cathedral, the Grote Markt and one museum. Sleep one night if you want the MAS roof at dusk and the old streets without day crowds.
Do you need a car in Antwerp?
No. The center is walkable, trams and buses cover the rest, and Antwerp runs a low emission zone that applies at all hours. Cars with foreign plates must register once, for free, no later than the day after entering.