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Day itinerary · 51.22° N · 4.40° E

Antwerp in a day, about 45 minutes by train from Brussels.

The most beautiful station in the country, the Rubens paintings in the cathedral, the Grote Markt, the free viewpoint at the MAS and, to finish, the brewery of the Bolleke. By train, about 45 minutes from Brussels.

Leaving from
Direct flight to Bruselas fromBarcelona 2 hBilbao 2 hAsturias 2 h 15Alicante 2 h 30Madrid 2 h 30Valencia 2 h 30Málaga 3 hSevilla 3 hFuerteventura 4 h 30Lanzarote 4 h 30Flight times are approximate.
See the planChoose a restaurant

Part of AntwerpBeers of Belgium

The concourse ceiling of Antwerp Central Station beneath the domeTrougnouf · CC BY 4.0
Total time9 h
By car45 min each way
From BrusselsTrain · 40–50 min
WalkingAbout 8 km, plus tram
DifficultyEasy
Cost€55–80 pp
ClosedMonday (De Koninck)

The plan

The day at a glance

Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.

  1. Leave Brussels 45 min by train

    from Bruxelles-Central; the train stops at Mechelen

  2. 1
    Antwerp Central Station

    the concourse and the dome, free

  3. 15 min on foot
  4. 2
    The Cathedral of Our Lady and the Rubens paintings

    along the Meir · €12 · free under 18

  5. 2 min on foot
  6. 3
    The Grote Markt, the town hall and the Brabo fountain

    the Brabo fountain

  7. 8 min on foot
  8. 4
    Frites Atelier

    chips with Flemish stew · every day from 11:30 to 20:00

    Korte Gasthuisstraat 32, 2000 Amberes

    Takeaway €
    Book
  9. 30 min on foot
  10. 5
    The MAS and its free viewing terrace over the port

    free rooftop viewpoint · museum €12

  11. 30 min by metro
  12. 6
    The De Koninck brewery, home of the Bolleke

    tram or premetro to Berchem · 1 h tour with two beers · €19.90

    Activity company With De Koninck, Antwerp City Brewery From €20 per person
    Book
  13. Back home 45 min by train

    tram to Antwerpen-Centraal or train from Berchem

Approximate cost About €30–40 per person

Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.

The route

Antwerp Central Station

Antwerp begins as you step off the train, in a station from 1905 with a dome and marble. This plan walks down to the cathedral of the Rubens paintings and the Grote Markt, has a quick lunch in the fashion district, goes up free to the MAS viewpoint over the port and ends in Berchem with the Bolleke, the city's beer, at its own brewery.

The day, hour by hour

8:45 · Train to Antwerp. Between 40 and 50 minutes from Brussels, stopping at Mechelen.

9:30 · The central station. Go up to the gallery in the concourse to see the dome.

10:15 · The cathedral. Twenty minutes' walk along the Meir. The Rubens triptychs, €12; free for under-18s.

11:30 · The Grote Markt. The Renaissance town hall and the Brabo fountain, right alongside.

12:30 · Chips at Frites Atelier. The chips from chef Sergio Herman, with Flemish stew on top.

13:45 · The MAS. Through the Eilandje district, go up the boulevard of escalators to the roof: the 360-degree view is free.

15:45 · De Koninck brewery. Tram or premetro to Berchem. A self-guided one-hour visit with two beers, €19.90.

17:30 · Return. Train from Berchem or from the central station.

Time20 min
The concourse ceiling of Antwerp Central Station beneath the domeTrougnouf · CC BY 4.0

Change the route

With young children, if it rains or if you fancy something else: another stop that fits the same day.

The Plantin-Moretus Museum building on the Vrijdagmarkt
From 5 December 2026, when it reopens: the printing museum instead of the brewery: The Plantin-Moretus Museum, the printing house of the Golden AgeMuseum · 1 h 30 · World Heritage · the two oldest printing presses in the world · reopens on 5 December 2026

Where to eat

Where to eat?

Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.

The Amadeus dining room on the Suikerrui© AmadeusAll-you-can-eat ribs between the Grote Markt and the river

Amadeus Antwerpen 2

Restaurant · Antwerp · Suikerrui · €€€€

What to order: the all-you-can-eat ribs and an Irish coffee for dessert

Dinner only, every day: Saturday and Sunday from 17:00

Takeaway and markets

Frites Atelier, Antwerp · fashion districtOpen every day from 11:30 to 20:00

Map

The stops, in order

With where to park at each one.

What to do Eat 88 €Stay Services

Getting there

By car or without one?

Without a car

Train to Antwerpen-Centraal, tram and premetro within the city.

By car

About 45 km, but Antwerp is a low-emission zone: register your car before entering.

When to go

When to go to Antwerp

Tuesday to Friday: De Koninck is closed on Mondays, the cathedral closes at 15:00 on Saturday and opens at 13:00 on Sunday. In December, Christmas market on the Grote Markt.

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Best timeGood timeLow season

Tips

Worth knowing first

  1. 1
    Never on a Monday

    De Koninck is closed.

  2. 2
    The Rubenshuis

    Closed for renovation until 2027: don't go looking for it.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does the trip to Antwerp from Brussels cost?

With the train, cathedral, brewery and lunch, between €55 and €80 per person.

What must I not miss?

The station, the cathedral and the MAS viewpoint.

More plans like this

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The Bardenas by 4x4 and lunch in TudelaGuided 4x4 3 h + Ribera vegetables €€€
A green TurisNat off-road vehicle fording a stream in the sierra
Cazorla: 4x4, olive oil and castleGuided 4x4 route · 4 h 30 + Tasting menu €€€€
The Bomfim 1896 dining room, with picture windows towards the quinta
Pinhão: Bomfim 1896 and a tastingTrain along the Douro + Douro cooking in a wood-fired oven €€€ + Tasting at the quinta
A museum room with a full-size chip stand and giant cones
Bruges with children: chips, a boat and swansFrietmuseum · €7 children + Boat 30 min · €9 children + Brasserie De Halve Maan €€

geocalia.com/en/belgium/antwerp/itineraries/antwerp-station-rubens-and-more
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.

9 h plan · €55–80 pp
From Brussels · 45 min
See the plan

Geocaliahttps://www.geocalia.com/en/belgium/antwerp/itineraries/antwerp-station-rubens-and-more