A full day of activities in the city centre of Antwerp
The city of Antwerp is bursting with cute eateries and fun activities!
Do you have a day planned in the city centre of Antwerp? Are you still looking for fun activities and restaurants nearby? We have a collection of nice spots for you!
Arriving in the city centre
Are you taking the train to Antwerp? When you arrive in Antwerp Central Station, you’ll be in a few minutes’ walking distance from the historic city centre. Leave the station through the main or side entrance, make your way down the Keyserlei and cross Opera square, you’ll find yourself on the Meir and in the centre of the city. Prefer your car over the train? There’s plenty of parking spaces where you can safely leave your car for the day. Visitors are, however, not allowed to park on the side of the road, so be mindful of where you leave your car. Check out the website of the city of Antwerp for more detailed information on parking in the historic city centre.
Brunch at HART
Haven’t had breakfast yet? Kick your busy day off right with a full tummy at HART. At this fully plant-based brunch and diner spot, you can enjoy some amazing pancakes, toast, the morning deal and even a full English breakfast. HART welcomes you for brunch from 11am onwards on Monday and Friday through Sunday.
Go out and discover the historic city centre
After that delicious brunch, you’re ready for a full day of discovering the historic city centre. If you came to Antwerp for an event, this is the perfect time to head over there. There’s plenty of interesting events in the different districts every month. Couldn’t get hold of a ticket to that one event you really wanted to go to? Or did you just miss the window? Not to worry, most events return to the city every year.
Even if there’s no particular even that attracted your attention, there’s more than enough other activities in the city centre. You could visit a museum or two. We highly recommend Het Steen and the heritage library! If you want to enjoy the (rare) nice weather, the Plantentuin and the neighbourhood around the MAS are absolutely worth a visit. You even get a beautiful 360° view of the Antwerp skyline from the MAS rooftop terrace, which is a perfectly good reason by itself to pay the museum a visit.
A well-deserved lunch at Croquettenbar Smaeck
Before you know it, you’ll have been strolling through the art or historic books for hours. Time for a tasty lunch! You’ll, of course, want to get the most out of your day in Antwerp, that’s why we looked for a quick but filling bite for you. And find it we did, at Croquettenbar Smaeck. The long list of croquettes and various snacks and tapas will definitely have something to your liking. Obviously, croquettes are the perfect lunch to take out and eat on the go while you continue to discover the city!
Shop ‘til you drop
If there is one thing you absolutely have to do in the city centre, it’s shopping. Wander across the Meir for the big chain stores and step into the many little streets and alleyways to discover cute boutique shops and concept stores. And, of course, you can’t shop all afternoon without a snack. There’s many spot on and surrounding the Meir where you can have ice cream, waffles or other quick bites. If it’s your first time in Antwerp, a definite must is trying some of the local products of Antwerp!
Classy dining at De Sinjoor
At the end of a busy day you’d want to sit down and relax with a delicious meal. De Sinjoor is the place to be for that. Their menu is filled with Belgian dishes, fresh salads and comforting pastas. You’ll have no trouble finding multiple options to your liking.
Stroll back to Central Station
Before you leave, make sure to pass by the Cathedral! Beautiful during the day and absolutely breathtaking at night. The many lights on and around the Cathedral are definitely worth the little detour before you stroll back to Antwerp Central Station or your parked car while taking in the night ambiance.
