On a road trip to the heart of Antwerp

Located on the river Scheldt and with a long maritime and trading history, Antwerp is one of Belgium’s most beautiful cities, boasting impressive architecture and magnificent museums and churches. Fashionistas can explore the stores of Antwerp's designers, whose stylish creations are revered all over the world, art lovers revel in the works of Rubens, while foodies will enjoy the warm welcome of Antwerp's cosy cafés and restaurants. 

Interested in visiting Antwerp? Find all information about current exhibitions and events on the Visit Antwerp website.

What’s more, it’s easy to drive to Antwerp from the LeShuttle terminal in Calais! 

Driving from Calais to Antwerp

To reach Antwerp from Calais by car, take the A16 towards Dunkirk from Calais. Then use the E40. There are no tolls on this route, and in fact that there are very few tolls when you are driving in Belgium. The only one to be aware of on this trip is the toll on the Liefkenshoek Tunnel under the port in the centre of Antwerp. 

Make sure you have everything that is legally required in your vehicle, such as a reflective safety jacket for everyone travelling, a warning triangle and headlamp beam deflectors. On the way to Antwerp, you pass close to the equally stunning cities of Bruges and Ghent. This is the most direct route, but the beauty of taking your own car is that you can discover new places along the way and set your own pace.

The Grote Markt

Is there a low emission zone in Antwerp?

To improve air quality, like many European cities Antwerp city centre has been designated as a low-emission zone. This means that the most polluting vehicles are banned from entering the city centre, and so before travelling UK drivers should register their vehicle. If your car does not fulfil the conditions for the low emission zone, you can still request access, but you may need to purchase a permit to do so. 

How long does it take to drive to Antwerp?

Driving from Calais to Antwerp only takes around 2 ½ hours. 

Things to see and do in Antwerp

Cathedral of Our Lady

Antwerp Cathedral 

It took 169 years (1352-1521) to raise the 123m heavenward-reaching steeple of Antwerp’s Cathedral, the highest Gothic building in the Low Countries. The Cathedral is an iconic treasury, with an impressive collection of major art works, including four paintings by Rubens, including De Kruisoprichting (Elevation of the Cross) and De Kruisafneming (Descent from the Cross). There is an admission charge to the cathedral, but any visit to Antwerp remains incomplete without it. Plus, outside the entrance you also get to see the amazing sculpture of the children’s fictional characters Nello and Patrasche, under their cobblestone blanket! 

The Grote Markt

The Grote Markt is the beating heart of the historic Antwerp old town. In 1220 Duke Henry I of Brabant donated this huge area to the city and today it comes alive with an annual Christmas market and an ice rink through winter. The square is home to Antwerp’s monumental city hall, elaborate 16th-century guild houses, and some lovely restaurants and cafés. From here you can also walk easily to the banks of the Scheldt. 

The Rubens House

The house of Peter Paul Rubens

Peter Paul Rubens was a world-renowned artist who lived almost his entire life in Antwerp. Almost 400 years after his death, his presence can still be felt in many places around the Flemish city. He lived and worked in this house, now the Rubenshuis museum, creating many of his most famous paintings here. There are several different areas to the museum – the artist’s residence, the Rubens Experience (an audio visual presentation), the garden and the library. Check the museum website for details of opening times. 

Thousands of visitors come to Antwerp just because of Rubens, and the chance to see some of his most celebrated works in the locations he intended them to be displayed.

Red Star Line Museum 

The Red Star Line was an ocean passenger line founded in 1871. Two million passengers travelled from Antwerp, the Red Star Line's main European port, to North America, most emigrants seeking a better life across the Atlantic. Today you can visit this museum, housed in the very building where they embarked, and hear their stories. Through photographs, written accounts, objects and interactive displays, you get to know these passengers and find out what the future had in store for them.  

KMSKA - Royal Museum of Fine Arts 

After more than ten years of restoration, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts (KMSKA) recently reopened. In the beautifully renovated building, there is a fantastic art collection to admire. In the historic rooms discover works by Rubens, Van Dyck and Van Eyck, and the breathtakingly beautiful Madonna by Fouquet, the KMSKA’s masterpiece. After that, you can explore the largest collection of James Ensor in the world in ten new contemporary rooms, as well as pieces by Rik Wouters, Magritte, Modigliani and many others. 

The diamond district 

Did you know Antwerp is the diamond capital of the world, and has been since the 15th century? 80% of the world’s rough diamonds pass through its diamond district (Diamantkwartier) each year. There are 380 workshops that serve 1,500 companies and around 3,500 brokers, merchants and diamond cutters. Spend an afternoon browsing this ‘Square Mile’ of sparkling windows, full of beautiful jewellery. Many of the workshops also offer tours which can reveal some of the history of the area too.

Centraal Station 

The ‘railway cathedral’, Antwerpen-Centraal

Voted the most beautiful railway station in the world several times, Antwerpen-Centraal deserves more than just a passing glance as you change trains. The stone frontage and station hall is inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, and its elegant stairways, marble pillars and arches certainly give the station a classical grandeur. Locals call it the ‘Railway Cathedral’, with much pride. It was built in the late 1890s and early 1900s and is just about the most impressive gateway to a city you can imagine.  

Shopping and fashion in Antwerp

Antwerp is also Belgium’s fashion capital, home to academies, museums and world-leading designers. Naturally, it has a wonderful array of shops, from independent designers to major fashion chains, as well as no fewer than seven fashion districts, each with its own personality. They include Nationalestraat, Lombardenvest and Steenhouwersvest, the fashionable heart of Antwerp, and the high-end boutiques of Kammenstraat. Colourful streetwear fills the windows here, making it the go-to area for hip young trendsetters.

Family-friendly attractions

Antwerp also has plenty of things to do for the whole family. 

Antwerp Zoo 

One of the oldest zoos in the world, Antwerp Zoo was founded in 1843. You’ll find it right in the city centre next to the railway station and it’s a wonderful place to spend a morning, afternoon or the whole day. Highlights include the butterfly garden and marine-life area.

Chocolate Nation

Across the Koningin Astridplein from the zoo, take your tastebuds to Chocolate Nation and experience the world’s largest interactive chocolate museum, dedicated to the story of Belgian chocolate. Of course, you will certainly want to conclude your visit by sampling all the different types of chocolate! 

Eating and drinking 

Antwerp has a thriving café culture 

Antwerp locals love eating and drinking. In summertime café terraces are popular until the later hours and the city plays host to culinary events all year round. Antwerp is a melting pot of cultures and this is reflected in an extensive multicultural cuisine. 

Restaurants

From Michelin stars to classic brasseries, Antwerp’s restaurant scene has it all. Zilte sits on the top floor of the MAS | Museum aan de Stroom, offering a pure gastronomic experience with the skyline of Antwerp as its backdrop. Next to the cathedral, Restaurant Brasserie Appelmans serves Belgian cuisine with an Asian touch, while the Black Smoke Steakhouse brings serious BBQ to the rooftop of the De Koninck brewery. For that authentic Belgian bistro experience, book a table at Bistrot du nord, and dine amid colourful tiles and wood panelling.

Brewery tours  

As well as great food, there is of course a strong beer culture in Antwerp with two breweries right in the city itself, offering tours and tastings of some heady Belgian brews. 

For almost 200 years, the beers of De Koninck, including the famous ‘Bolleke’, have been brewed in a historic building in the south of the city. In the brewery you follow a tour where you hear, see and taste the brewery’s history. There is a cheese shop, chocolatier, butcher’s shop and even a Michelin-starred restaurant on site! The Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie is the undisputed independent brewery of Antwerp. Home to the legendary Seefbier, beer lovers here will be like, well, beer lovers in a brewery!

Hotels 

There is so much to discover in bustling Antwerp, so be sure to stay over for a night (or longer) in order to experience the city to the full. From intimate boutique hotels to cosy B&Bs, Antwerp is guaranteed to give you the night of your dreams. Have you come with your loyal four-legged friend? Dogs are more than welcome in many of the city’s hotels, including the newly opened Moxy. 

Experience more with the Antwerp City Pass

Looking to enjoy Antwerp to the full? With the Antwerp City Pass you have access to 16 museums, 4 churches and 3 attractions. You can also travel free of charge on public transport and enjoy a wide range of discounts. Choose from packages of 24, 48 or 72 hours. You can buy your pass online or in one of the visitors centres at Steen Castle and Central Station.

Start your road trip to Antwerp with LeShuttle 

If you’ve never considered travelling to Antwerp before, you really should! It’s only 2 ½ hours away by car from Calais, and has everything you need for a weekend city break. Plus, the crossing from Folkestone to Calais takes just 35 minutes!