Antwerp Travel Guide: Rubens, the Cathedral and a Magnificent Railway Station
Our day trip by train from Brussels to Antwerp: Central Station, Grote Markt, the cathedral, MAS and the zoo, with prices and local food.
We visited Antwerp on a day trip by train from Brussels. Central Station welcomes you as soon as you arrive and makes an impression from the very first minute.
From the station, walk along the Meir shopping street to the historic centre and Grote Markt. Rubens’s works, the riverfront and the rooftop of MAS are close together, while the zoo right beside the station is another reason to visit with children.
Before you go: key notes
How do you get from Brussels to Antwerp?
The train takes about 40–50 minutes. We visited on a day trip from Brussels too; the train arrives directly at the magnificent Central Station.
What can you do in Antwerp with children?
The historic zoo beside the station, the free MAS rooftop terrace and the pedestrian tunnel beneath the river are favourites with children.
Plan at a family pace: The days below are suggested itineraries. Shorten them to suit the time you spend inside museums and monuments; approximate visit lengths exclude queues and travel. Trains in Belgium are frequent, and children under 12 can travel free with an adult. Admission prices are approximate adult rates as of 2026; museum cards (Musea Brugge Card, CityCard Gent, Antwerp City Card) can offer good value if you visit several museums.
Suggested itinerary
| Plan | Route | How to simplify it |
|---|---|---|
| Day trip: city | Central Station → Meir → Rubenshuis → Cathedral of Our Lady → Grote Markt → Het Steen → MAS | The MAS rooftop is free; finish the day with the view. |
| Alternative with children | Central Station → Antwerp Zoo → Grote Markt | The zoo alone needs half a day. |
Tickets and tours: Timed tickets for popular attractions such as the zoo and cathedral can sell out in advance. Browse Antwerp tickets and tours on Tiqets to compare skip-the-line admission and guided tours.
Where to stay in Antwerp with kids
We visited Antwerp as a day trip by train from Brussels; for those who want to stay, here are the areas. With kids, where your hotel is decides how often you’ll say “shall we head back?”; being able to return for a midday break is a big relief.
| Area | Good for | Watch out | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Station and zoo area | Arriving by train and visiting the zoo | The station area is busy | See on Booking |
| Historic centre (Grote Markt) | Cathedral, square and riverside within walking distance | Crowded at weekends | See on Booking |
| Het Zuid | A calmer neighbourhood with museums and cafés | Tram or a walk to the centre | See on Booking |
| Eilandje | Modern harbour area around the MAS | Quieter in the evenings | See on Booking |
What we look at when choosing: A lift (does the stroller fit without folding?), being close to the train or metro, a family room for three or an apartment with a kitchen, and air conditioning in summer.
Accommodation: Compare hotels and apartments in Antwerp on Booking.com; choosing free cancellation keeps your plans flexible.
Contents
- Before you go: key notes
- Where to stay in Antwerp with kids
- Station and Meir
- Historic centre
- Port district
- Local flavours
- Sources and visitor information
Station and Meir
Antwerp Central Station
.jpg){kind=link}
With marble halls, gold decoration and a huge glass roof, this “railway cathedral” is one of the world’s most beautiful stations. Stepping off the train into the waiting hall is the first surprise of the trip.
Why go? Marble halls, gold decoration and a huge dome make this one of the world’s most beautiful railway stations. It is a sure way to fall for the city before you have even stepped off the train.
Visit summary
- Area: Station and Meir
- Highlight: One of the world’s most beautiful stations
- Suggested visit length: About 20–30 minutes
- Type of visit: Indoors
- Admission: Free
- Nearby stops: Antwerp Zoo
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Antwerp Zoo
One of the world’s oldest zoos, right beside the station, with historic buildings and a wide variety of species for a wonderful day with children. Its 19th-century buildings, such as the elephant house, are interesting too.
Why go? One of the world’s oldest zoos, with historic buildings and many species to fill a whole day for children. Its location right beside the station makes it easy to include even on a day trip.
Visit summary
- Area: Station and Meir
- Highlight: Historic zoo
- Suggested visit length: About 3–4 hours
- Type of visit: Outdoors / indoors
- Admission: Paid admission · adults approximately 29 € (varies by date); reduced rates for children
- Nearby stops: Antwerp Central Station, Meir
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Meir
This broad pedestrian street runs from the station to the historic centre. Its palatial shop buildings make it one of Belgium’s best-known shopping streets, and it naturally falls on your walk into town.
Why go? Lined with palatial buildings, this pedestrian street is the most enjoyable route from the station to the historic centre. It is one of Belgium’s most famous shopping streets.
Visit summary
- Area: Station and Meir
- Highlight: Shopping street lined with palatial buildings
- Suggested visit length: About 30–45 minutes
- Type of visit: Street walk
- Admission: Free (outdoors)
- Nearby stops: Antwerp Zoo, Rubenshuis
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Rubenshuis
The home and studio of the Baroque painter Rubens, with a garden and Italian-style portico offering a glimpse into his world. Some sections may be closed for renovation.
Why go? The home and studio of Rubens, one of the greatest Baroque painters, reveal his world in detail. The Italian-style portico and garden are an artistic oasis in the city.
Visit summary
- Area: Station and Meir
- Highlight: Rubens’s home and studio
- Suggested visit length: About 1 hours
- Type of visit: Indoors / garden
- Admission: Paid admission · adults approximately 12 €; check which sections are open during renovation
- Nearby stops: Meir
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Historic centre
Cathedral of Our Lady
-.jpg){kind=link}
Belgium’s largest Gothic cathedral has an elegant 123-metre tower and four major paintings by Rubens. It also attracts Japanese and Korean visitors as the setting for the final scene of the animated “A Dog of Flanders”.
Why go? Rubens’s four major paintings, especially The Descent from the Cross, are deeply moving inside Belgium’s largest Gothic cathedral. Its 123-metre tower is visible across the city.
Visit summary
- Area: Historic centre
- Highlight: Rubens paintings and Gothic tower
- Suggested visit length: About 45–60 minutes
- Type of visit: Indoors
- Admission: Paid admission · adults approximately 12 €
- Nearby stops: Grote Markt and Brabo Fountain
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Grote Markt and Brabo Fountain
.jpg){kind=link}
Surrounded by the Renaissance town hall and ornate guild houses, the square has a fountain depicting Brabo, who cut off a giant’s hand and threw it into the river. The city’s name is said to come from this legend (“hand throwing”); it is a wonderful story to tell children.
Why go? In a square surrounded by a Renaissance town hall and guild houses, the fountain of Brabo throwing a giant’s severed hand tells the legend behind the city’s name. A wonderful story to share with children.
Visit summary
- Area: Historic centre
- Highlight: Brabo legend and guild houses
- Suggested visit length: About 30 minutes
- Type of visit: Outdoors
- Admission: Free (outdoors)
- Nearby stops: Cathedral of Our Lady, Het Steen
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Het Steen
.JPG){kind=link}
The city’s oldest building, this small medieval castle by the river now serves as a visitor centre. The statue of a giant outside and views of the Scheldt make it a pleasant short stop.
Why go? This small riverside castle, the city’s oldest building, symbolises Antwerp’s medieval beginnings. Its position beside the Scheldt makes it a starting point for a riverfront walk.
Visit summary
- Area: Historic centre
- Highlight: The city’s oldest castle
- Suggested visit length: About 20–30 minutes
- Type of visit: Exterior visit / visitor centre
- Admission: Free
- Nearby stops: Grote Markt and Brabo Fountain, Plantin-Moretus Museum
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Plantin-Moretus Museum
One of the world’s oldest printing houses, on the UNESCO list, tells the history of books through its centuries-old presses and libraries. Seeing how printing works is interesting for children too.
Why go? With the world’s oldest printing presses and centuries-old libraries, this was the first museum inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Seeing how books were printed can be surprising for children growing up in the digital age.
Visit summary
- Area: Historic centre
- Highlight: UNESCO-listed historic printing house
- Suggested visit length: About 1–1,5 hours
- Type of visit: Indoors
- Admission: Paid admission · adults approximately 12 €
- Nearby stops: Het Steen
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Port district
MAS (Museum aan de Stroom)
A tower-shaped museum with red stone and rippling glass façades, MAS is a new landmark in the port district. Riding the escalators up to the rooftop terrace is free and offers Antwerp’s finest panorama.
Why go? You can reach the rooftop terrace of this museum with its rippling glass façade for free and look out over the whole city and port. Even riding the escalators up through the floors is an experience.
Visit summary
- Area: Port district
- Highlight: Free rooftop views
- Suggested visit length: About 1–2 hours
- Type of visit: Indoors / rooftop terrace
- Admission: Rooftop terrace and escalator floors free; exhibitions approximately 10–12 €
- Nearby stops: Sint-Annatunnel (Pedestrian Tunnel)
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Sint-Annatunnel (Pedestrian Tunnel)
.jpg){kind=link}
Wooden escalators lead down to this pedestrian tunnel under the river, built in the 1930s. Walking beneath the Scheldt to the opposite bank and looking back at the skyline is a little adventure for children.
Why go? Descending beneath the river on wooden escalators and walking to the far bank feels like a journey back to the 1930s. The view of Antwerp’s skyline from the other side is an extra reward.
Visit summary
- Area: Port district
- Highlight: Tunnel beneath the river with wooden escalators
- Suggested visit length: About 30–45 minutes
- Type of visit: Tunnel walk
- Admission: Free
- Nearby stops: MAS (Museum aan de Stroom)
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Local flavours
These are some of the flavours associated with Antwerp. Once we add places we have personally tried, this section will become a list of venues like those in our other city guides.
| Food | What it is known for | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Antwerpse handjes | Hand-shaped biscuits and chocolates inspired by the Brabo legend | Around Grote Markt |
| Belgian waffles and frites | Classic street food | Meir and around the square |
| Elixir d’Anvers | Local herbal liqueur (for adults) | Delicatessens and gift shops |
Sources and visitor information
Museum and monument opening hours change with the seasons, and some close on Mondays. Admission prices are approximate; check the official websites before visiting. Individual location links are Google Maps searches using the place name.