Some would say Antwerp is the economic driver of Belgium, others would remember Antwerp for the creative minds, fashion, and buzzing atmosphere. Do you want to have a nice walk watching the sunset by the Scheldt river or party hard in one of the many dance clubs? Antwerp has all that to offer. Even a rooftop view from the MAS museum. We will give you a list of the best things you can do in Antwerp that is 100% covid friendly.
Exotic Food Market
Start your stroll with a brunch at the Exotic Food Market, where you can find Moroccan, Turkish and local delicacies. Make yourself a plate of olives, biscuits and snacks. If you fancy some potatoes and chicken in an easy-to-eat bowl, you can also go for that. Just do not forget to get a Moroccan tea in one of the Moroccan tents. Enjoy!
Best bars & coffee places in Antwerp
After being closed for a too long time, bars & coffee places finally reopen, well only terraces opened but what more do you need on a summer day? I am amazed by all the choices you have for drinking famous Belgian beer, a nice cocktail, a glass of wine or a coffee, that it would be a tough job naming just a few. But let’s try;
- Black Smoke for a nice view over the city and a cold beer,
- Sommar or Bocadero for watching the sunset,
- Barok Antwerp for delighting cocktail,
- Grand Cafe Capital for a nice coffee in the park,
- places around MAS for a nice atmosphere
Also, there are three roundabouts at Antwerp Zuid with plenty of bars and the dashing atmosphere you need to visit. Just search this address and find 3 roundabouts with places like Revista, Den Artist, Café Hopper, Soho and many others.
Best parks in Antwerp
Let’s all agree that in the time of pandemic parks were our best friends. Have you ever before felt so excited to see an empty bench? I would say benches & parks were underrated before corona came. Lucikly for you Antwerp is full of nice parks to relax, make a picnic, drink with your friends or even sunbathe. So corona or not corona, here are some of the nices parks you should go see: Provincial Domain Rivierenhof, Park Spoor Noord, Droogdokkenpark, Stadspark & Koning Albertpark. These are only some of the parks so feel free to enjoy others and let us know which one do you recommend.
Explore the city on the bike
In case you don’t stay long in Antwerp I would recommend you to grab a bike and explore the city in a faster way! No need to find some bike rental shops because there is a city bike available to rent in almost every corner - Velo Antwerp. It’s a type of bike where you pay for a tariff (one day/ one week or yearly pass) get a code and you’re free to go. It costs 5€ per day, 11€ per week and only 55€ for a whole year. There are stations everywhere and it helps you move around the city. One of the nicest places to bike is definitely by the river down from Antwerp Zuid all the way up to Red Star Line Museum.
MAS Museum
The Museum Aan de Stroom and its 470 000 alternating museum pieces are one of the things to feel proud of Antwerp. The majestic architecture and a free entrance to the Rooftop are for sure a big must-see. You can also find bars outside where you can have a beer or a piece of pie while admiring the Scheldt river. How lovely!
Admire Antwerp’s architecture
Antwerp is full of breathtaking points where you can just admire the architecture or nice scenery. As we already mention MAS museum itself is a work of art, but one more building that I found impressive is Zaha Hadid Port House - Havenhuis. They say it is a place where the Antwerp port’s past and future come together. With a striking and contemporary superstructure in the shape of a diamond, it’s definitely something you must see. In case if you wonder why diamond, it’s cause Antwerp has been the capital of the world diamond trade for more than five centuries!
Apart from the Port house, there are many more breathtaking buildings like Central Station, buildings around Grote Markt, Opera Antwerp and many more.
Groenplaats
The statue “A boy and his Dog” is a must-see at Groenplaats, the old town of Antwerp. The statue depicts Nello and Pastrasche, two characters that are part of the 19th-century novel “A Dog of Flanders”. The novel has Antwerp as its scenario and it became very famous in Japan. Boy and dog are covered by a brick blanket, where they seem to be having a calm sleep on a breezy night. The white marble monument can be found in front of the Antwerp Cathedral, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal. You can also download the novel for free here.
Middelheim museum
Art for all tastes. Sculpture, photography and drawing can be found among others outdoors in a beautiful green park and inside of a dreamy, modern building. Do take a look at the Museum’s website to check the highlights and the exhibition dates. BTW, be sure to book in advance for every museum you want to visit, that’s the new corona rule.
Tunnel Sainte-Anne
The Sainte-Anne tunnel is only for pedestrians and cyclists. This 572 meters long tunnel is located under the Scheldt river and it connects the city centre to the left bank side of Antwerp. It is a gem in the heart of the city and one of the nicest things to do when in Antwerp.
This is a view from the left bank of the city. If you are the kind of person who likes a more quiet place, this is where you’ll enjoy looking at the river as the day goes by.
Kloosterstraat
The Kloosterstraat is a long street that offers a variety of shops, such as antique shops and unique fashion shops. Walking down the street you can also find art galleries, book shops and cute bars to have a coffee or drink a beer. Your eyes will never be tired while walking down Kloosterstraat. The first time I went there it was because an Antwerpen (that’s how people from Antwerp like to be known), a dear friend of mine, said that was his favourite street in the city. Who would have guessed that it would become my favourite street as well?
FOMU Museum
Fomu is a Museum of Photography in Antwerp. It is located in Antwerpen-Zuid, another cute side of the multi-facet Antwerp. At FOMY you can appreciate exhibitions of many Belgian artists but also artists from all over the world. Insider tip: when you finish the tour, you can also take a picture in their Photo Booth. A nice memory from a nice place, huh?
Why not travel to Antwerp by train?
Do you wanna travel to Antwerp and other European cities by train? Interrail Global Pass offers you a great opportunity to travel around Europe at a reasonable price. Click the image and check out the detail more.
UNBLND in Antwerp
By the way, did you know that the promotional video of UNBLND was recorded in Antwerp? You can see the MAS Museum and some other adorable footages of Antwerp. How about downloading the UNBLND app to find friends and visit charming Antwerp?Our app is available on Apple Store and Google Play.
> Are you passionate about Antwerp and would like to become an ambassador for the city? Let us know here!
