Antwerp, Rubens, the oldest printing house and the most beautiful station, 45 minutes from Brussels.

Antwerp is Belgium's second city and its most different one: a great port, the capital of diamonds and fashion, and at the same time the city of Rubens and of Golden Age printing. It is less picture-postcard than Bruges and more of a real city, and arriving by train at its central station is already a sight in itself. From Brussels it is a comfortable day trip; with one night, you enjoy it more.

How do you get there from Brussels?

By train, 40 to 50 minutes from the Brussels stations, with very frequent trains that stop at Mechelen. You arrive at Antwerp Central, and from there it is a twenty-minute walk to the historic centre along the Keyserlei and the Meir, or a few minutes by tram.

By car it is about 45 km on the A12 or the E19, but Antwerp is a low-emission zone and you have to register your car before entering. On a day trip, the train is far more practical.

What to see in a day?

Start with the station itself and walk down the Meir to the Cathedral of Our Lady, with Rubens's great triptychs; under-18s do not pay. Next to it is the Grote Markt, with the Renaissance town hall and the Brabo fountain. Have a quick lunch in the fashion district and, in the afternoon, walk to the Eilandje and go up the free viewing terrace of the MAS, with the port and the Scheldt at your feet.

With more time, the Plantin-Moretus Museum, the sixteenth- and seventeenth-century printing house with the oldest printing presses in the world, reopens on 5 December 2026 after a refurbishment. And if you like beer, the De Koninck brewery, in Berchem, shows how Bolleke is made, Tuesday to Sunday.

What about Rubens's house?

The Rubenshuis, the painter's house and studio, is closed for a major refurbishment and will not reopen until 2027. Until then, you can see Rubens in the cathedral, which keeps the works he painted for it.

Where to eat?

Antwerp is a restaurant city, and the centre has a bit of everything. For something quick and very Belgian, Frites Atelier, chef Sergio Herman's chips, is open every day from 11:30 to 20:00, five minutes from the cathedral. If you are going to De Koninck, the brewery bar serves its beers until late in the evening from Thursday to Saturday. Order a Bolleke in any bar: it is the city's beer.

Where to stay?

In the historic centre, between the cathedral and the river. The Hotel Julien occupies two sixteenth-century houses with Belgian design, a private spa and a roof terrace. The Hotel Rubens, a minute from the Grote Markt, has garden-facing rooms and covered parking with advance booking.

Antwerp, Ghent or Bruges?

If you are after canals and a medieval postcard, Bruges or Ghent. If you are interested in art, design, fashion or simply a city with a working port, Antwerp. From Brussels they combine well by train: Antwerp and Mechelen on the same day, or Antwerp and Ghent over two days.