Start your visit to Antwerp at Het Steen: the oldest preserved building in the city. This former castle is home to Antwerp's visitor centre. Visitors there discover more about Antwerp during the interactive experience trail 'The Antwerp Story'. From Het Steen, it’s just a short walk to Grote Markt and the heart of Antwerp. Take a look around, admire City Hall and the centuries-old guild houses or discover the Vlaeykensgang alley. Are you into jewellery? Do visit the nearby DIVA, museum for diamonds, jewellery and silver! A must-see in this world-famous diamond capital.

From Grote Markt, you can already distinguish the tower of Antwerp’s majestic Cathedral of our Lady, the largest Gothic building in the Low Countries. No visit to Antwerp is complete without stopping in the Cathedral. Next, we recommend walking to Hendrik Conscienceplein, a lovely square that is dominated by Antwerp’s most Rubentian church: St. Charles Borromeo’s Church.

Hungry for lunch? Make your way to the trendy Eilandje neighbourhood through the picturesque streets. This actually used to be the old port neighbourhood. It’s a great place for a stroll along the cobbled quays, which are lined with monumental warehouses and lamp posts. Besides the many great places to eat, this neighbourhood is also home to three major must-sees, including the MAS (Museum Aan de Stroom), the Red Star Line Museum and the awe-inspiring Port House.

Hop on Tram 7 to get to the De Koninck city brewery, where they have been brewing the famous Antwerp “Bolleke” beer for as long as Antwerpians can remember. Follow the interactive experience trail to learn more about the brewing process. Don’t forget to explore the rest of the site, which has been transformed into a culinary mini city. The PAKT sustainable food hub in Groen Kwartier is also nearby.

Kick off your second day in Antwerp in the trendy Zuid district, with its stately townhouses and wide boulevards. Stop in one of the many nice little bars for breakfast after which you can enjoy some art in one of the many museums - such

 as the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA), Fotomuseum (FoMu) or the Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (M HKA) - and art galleries in the neighbourhood. At the Fashion Museum MoMu, discover the story behind Antwerp's world-famous fashion and the DNA of Belgian fashion.

If you still have some time on your hands, check out a famous UNESCO World Heritage Site: Museum Plantin-Moretus. This authentic mansion, with the old workshops of a family of renowned printers and publishers will give you a unique insight into life in Antwerp in the Golden Age. After your visit, you can stroll through the neighbourhood’s cosy streets and stop off for some lunch. 

Another famous house in Antwerp is the Rubenshuis: the home and workshop of Antwerp’s most famous painter. You can find this imposing building near the city’s centrally-located shopping street, called Meir. But there are plenty of other historic gems to see here, such as the superb Stock Exchange, the opulent Palace in Meir and the first skyscraper to be built on the continent: the Boerentoren! It’s also a great place to shop in style, in a unique building: the city’s Stadsfeestzaal or Festival Hall.

After your busy day, you can give your feet a break in the Botanic Garden, a unique verdant oasis in the centre of the city. Feet permitting, you can also take a stroll through the lively Quartier Latin. Some people also call it the Theatre neighbourhood because of the large number of theatres. Time to find a restaurant for some dinner, followed by a play or an opera afterwards perhaps?