Visit Antwerp in 2 days

Where to Stay in Antwerp

When you have only two days in Antwerp, location is everything: choosing a base close to the places you want to see saves precious time and lets you enjoy evening strolls and relaxed coffee breaks rather than rushing between sights. The city is compact, so the right neighborhood can turn a short stay into a calm, efficient experience — you’ll spend more time soaking up atmosphere and less time on transit.

Antwerp is organized around a compact historic core with a few distinct pockets radiating out from it. The medieval streets around the Grote Markt and City Hall are the most atmospheric, the area by the Central Station and the Diamond Quarter feels busy and practical, and the southern bank and museum zones offer a quieter, more cultured alternative. This layout means you can easily mix sightseeing on foot with short tram or bike hops to stretch your legs and see different sides of the city.

For seeing Boerentoren, the City Hall and Rubens statue quickly, aim for the Old Town / Grote Markt area so you’re a short walk from the heart of the city. If you want to be practical and near the Diamond Museum and many jewelers, the neighborhood around Central Station and the Diamond Quarter puts you within comfortable walking distance of both museums and riverfront memorials like the Memorial Theodore Van Rijswijck. If you prefer a calmer, creative atmosphere for evening wandering and good restaurants, the Zuid (south) and museum districts give you space to relax while still being only a tram ride away from the central sights like DIVA.

Getting around is straightforward: Antwerp’s tram and bus network is frequent and user-friendly, bikes are everywhere for short hops, and many of the main attractions are close enough for pleasant walks. Choose accommodation near a tram stop or within a 10–20 minute walk of the center to maximize your sightseeing time; Central Station itself is a convenient transport hub if you plan day trips or arrive by train.

Finally, pick the neighborhood that matches your pace: stay in the Old Town to be in the middle of the action, near Central Station for efficiency, or in Zuid for quieter evenings. Whatever you choose, Antwerp’s compactness and good public transport mean you’ll be well placed to see Boerentoren, DIVA, the Diamond Museum, the City Hall and the Rubens statue in a relaxed, confident two-day visit.

Getting Around Antwerp

Antwerp is wonderfully compact, and using public transport here quickly becomes second nature — even for a first-time visitor. The network is run mainly by De Lijn, which operates frequent trams and buses and a handy underground tram section often called the pre-metro. Most stops are well signed in English, service is frequent through the day, and major hubs like Antwerp Central make connections to regional trains easy. The system feels local and friendly: I love how a short tram hop can save you a sweaty walk in summer, but you’re also rarely more than 20 minutes on foot from sightseeing spots.

A practical tip about tickets: buy before you board when you can. You can purchase fares on board from drivers, at kiosks, or via the De Lijn app, and regional trains use NMBS/SNCB tickets. Single tram/bus rides are inexpensive (expect roughly a few euros each) while a 24-hour pass pays off if you’re hopping between attractions all day 🎫. Always validate your ticket where machines or validators are present — inspectors do check — and keep your ticket until the end of the trip.

Google Maps is a traveler's best friend here: it shows real-time tram and bus departures, platform information at Antwerp Central, and walking times that are often competitive with public transit for short hops. I use Google Maps to compare a 10–15 minute walk against a two-stop tram; sometimes walking is faster and gives you a chance to explore a hidden street. Don’t forget to check the De Lijn app for service alerts and the NMBS app if you’re planning trips outside the city.

To save money, combine walking with targeted public-transport rides. Antwerp’s centre is dense — museums, shopping streets, and the diamond district cluster close together — so a single day pass or a small pack of tickets can be much cheaper than many single fares if you plan multiple journeys. Look for multi-day or 24-hour options if you’re making lots of short trips; you’ll spend less time buying tickets and more time enjoying the city 💡.

I remember stepping out from the Boerentoren and wanting to reach the Diamond Museum (DIVA) quickly. We hopped on a short tram ride on De Lijn, tapped our pre-purchased tickets, and in ten minutes were walking through the diamond quarter — easy, fast, and somehow characterful as the tram rattled past canal bridges. That tiny hop felt like a local secret and made me confident to explore the rest of Antwerp by tram and foot 🗺️.

What to Pack for Antwerp

Two days in Antwerp means a lot of walking between Gothic cathedrals, the Grote Markt, the Diamond District and the dramatic Central Station. I once did two full days of wandering — out for 10+ hours each day and easily covering ~15 miles total — so I pack light but smart. Below are the essentials I actually use and why each one has saved my day (or my shoes) more than once.

1. Comfortable walking shoes (required): I swear by a pair of broken-in leather sneakers (for me it's Ecco Soft 7) — supportive soles, breathable, and still smart enough for a café or church visit. Why: cobblestones and uneven pavements are everywhere; after 10+ hours on foot my cheap flats would have shredded my feet, but these let me keep going all day without blisters.

2. Cross-body bag (anti-theft): Choose a zippered, close-to-body cross-body — I use one with an internal zip pocket and an RFID sleeve. Why: busy spots like Central Station, Meir and the Cathedral area attract pickpockets; once a friend had a wallet lift on a tram. Keeping important items in front reduces hassle and keeps your hands free for photos and waffles.

3. Weather-appropriate layers & packable rain jacket: Antwerp weather flips fast — sunny mornings can turn to wind and drizzle. I bring a lightweight merino tee, a thin sweater, and a packable waterproof (or a compact umbrella). Why: I’ve been soaked mid-afternoon walking between the cathedral and the Scheldt; a tiny jacket stashed in my bag made the rest of the day comfortable.

4. Travel power adapter (Belgium: Type C/E, 230V): A small universal adapter with grounding is a must if you’re charging a camera or laptop. Why: I once arrived with the wrong plug and had to buy an adapter at the station — cost me time and money. Having the right adapter meant I could plug in at the guesthouse and recharge quickly overnight.

5. Power bank (10,000–20,000 mAh): Get a 10,000 mAh minimum — I carry one that comfortably recharges my phone twice. Why: navigation, photos, museum apps and contactless payments eat battery fast; during my long photo stroll along the river my phone hit 5% until I used the power bank and was back to snapping in 20 minutes.

6. Optional — reusable water bottle & pocket map/offline map app: A slim refillable bottle saved me money and waste; preloading an offline map saved time when data was patchy. Why: fountains and cafés often let you refill, and I avoided wandering around looking for streets during a sudden rain shower because my offline map guided me straight to shelter.