Antwerp is a seriously cool under-the-radar European city, where cutting-edge fashion, art, local culture, and creative dining come together in a compact, walkable centre.
Your 3 days in Antwerp will be packed with the city’s best: shopping the fashion district, exploring art and architecture, and diving into a dynamic food scene - from Belgian classics on lively terraces to hidden courtyard bistros.
We’ve curated this Antwerp itinerary from our own travels, sharing the spots we loved most and insider tips to help you experience its creative, stylish side.
3 Days in Antwerp
Day 1: Explore Antwerp's fashion district, dine on Belgian classics at a lively terrace and end the night at a legendary jazz bar. Day 2: Discover seven centuries of art, enjoy a chic lunch and boutique shopping, explore the historic centre and dine at a creative hotspot. Day 3: Wander a sculpture park, eat Michelin-level frites, drink by the old docks, dine in a hidden courtyard and cap the night at a retro living-room bar. |
3 Days in Antwerp for Food, Art, & Fashion
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🛎️ Settle into your hotel
Antwerp is a compact city, so if you stay west of Highway N1/N113 in the centre, you’ll be within easy walking distance of most major sights.
In Antwerp, you'll find lots of stylish boutique hotels and apartments that feel like art galleries themselves.
Our Top 4 accommodation picks for design and location:- Musa Antwerp ($) - For apartment-style living in a local part of the city.
- The Greenhouse ($$) - For spacious rooms in a unique 16th-century building with a B&B feel.
- Flora ($$$) - Located in historic 15th-century townhouses with impeccable interiors designed by renowned Belgian interior architect Gert Voorjans.
- Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp ($$$$) - A five-star luxury hotel tucked inside the city’s botanical garden walls.
✔️ Top Tip: you can save a lot by booking an apartment - Antwerp has plenty of chic options, but check reviews for noise since some sit right above bars or cafes that open early. Filter for apartments on Booking.com.
🛏️ Browse more stays.🥂 Celebrate your arrival with apéritifs at Antoine
Toast to your arrival with a glass of bubbly or fresh juice at Antoine. Tucked away on a tiny side street just off Kammenstraat, this quirky cafe-bar has a cute takeaway window and a few tables outside with bright Aperol-orange chairs.
We loved sitting here and watching people go by. If you're hungry, try one of their sweet or savoury snacks.
🛍️ Shop in the heart of Antwerp's fashion district
Renaissance | Morobe
Antwerp has earned its reputation as a global fashion hub, thanks to its cutting-edge designers and iconic Antwerp Six.
Kammenstraat, Nationalestraat, Lombardenvest, and Steenhouwersves make up Antwerp’s fashion district, where you’ll find a mix of street-style shops, designer boutiques and commercial stores.
These were our favourite boutique shops:
This is the flagship store of the iconic Antwerp Six designer known for his eclectic prints, colours and textures. It's designer expensive, but worth visiting just for the creative eye candy!
This local boutique has a fun, laidback mix of clothing and accessories, featuring its own knitwear brand, Howlin’, along with other high-quality labels.
Ari grabbed a matching shorts-and-button-up set with a colourful pattern, and I couldn’t resist a yellow terry-cloth-style shorts and tank combo, perfect for sunny beach days.
Also check out their collection of ambient electronic and psychedelic jazz music on vinyl.
Here you’ll uncover of-the-moment luxury streetwear and contemporary fashion brands, plus cool designer collabs - we spotted Teva sandals reimagined with a high-fashion twist.
I couldn’t help splurging on the purse of my dreams here, and Ari picked up a pair of metallic silver socks.
The Antwerp-based shoe brand and local favourite is known for its handcrafted, architectural shoes. The store is stunning! I didn't intend to buy shoes, but couldn't resist taking home a pair of sheeny maroon heels.
🍽️ Dine on Bourla's happening terrace for classic Belgian dishes
Sitting behind a neoclassical theatre, Bourla is a beloved spot for elegant but unfussy Belgian dining.
Its terrace on Graanmarkt Square is one of the best in the city for outdoor dining, serving classic Belgian dishes in an atmosphere that oozes old European charm.
The atmosphere is lively, attracting a mix of people from celebrities to locals, but also relaxed at the same time.
We shared a chicken Caesar salad and the Belgian rib steak, which came perfectly cooked. We loved how they had so many sauces to choose from: herb butter, bearnaise, mushroom, or pepper cream sauce - mmm!
✔️ Top Tip: request a table outside overlooking the square.
🎷 Listen to live jazz at De Muze
Cap off your night at De Muze, a legendary Antwerp jazz cafe that’s been drawing locals and musicians since the ’60s. The dimly lit space has a warm, wooden-and-brick interior and a mezzanine level lined with tables.
We grabbed a seat right at the bar to watch the excellent jazz group perform up close. We loved De Muze's lively, bohemian atmosphere and its beer list was also solid.
Hours: Live music starts at 9 pm on Tuesday - Thursday, and at 10 pm on Friday - Saturday. They don't take reservations.
Day 2
🖌️ Explore seven centuries of art at the stunning KMSKA
KMSKA blew us away. Reopened in 2022 after an 11-year renovation, the grand 19th-century neo-classical art museum spans seven centuries of art, from Flemish masters like Peter Paul Rubens to Belgian greats like James Ensor.
The architecture alone is worth the visit. The way the minimalist spaces unfold within the ornate historic shell is stunning.
Our favourite part was the temporary contemporary exhibition on the main floor showcasing Jef Verheyen. The massive, beautifully lit rooms were perfect for displaying his large, striking canvases.
What we loved was how uncrowded it was compared to big museums in Florence or Paris. Antwerp really feels like a hidden gem for art lovers.
✨ Enjoy a glamourous lunch at Madonna
After the galleries, grab a relaxed lunch at Madonna, the museum’s glamorous restaurant serving creative Belgian dishes with garden views.
If the weather is nice, be sure to request a seat outside on the terrace.
👜 Shop more of Antwerp's standout boutiques
The Menu | Anne Demeulemeester
After lunch head north to hit these amazing boutique shops:
One of the iconic Antwerp Six, set in a beautifully restored 1880s Beaux-Arts building. Again, it's designer expensive, but the space is inspiring to take a look at at. They also have a small houseware section - I bought Nick and Nora cocktail glasses in an incredible transparent green colour.
This was my favourite store I visited in Antwerp. The curation of independent designers is excellent.
A must for Christmas lovers, with over 3,000 vintage-style, mouth-blown glass ornaments. We went crazy and left with a whole box of ornaments.
Opened in 2024, this boutique has a chic curation of handmade glassware and ceramics. I bought a small dish for making charcuterie and a handblown drinking glass.
An innovative local brand, and the first European label to craft handbags from mycelium, a sustainable vegan leather made from mushrooms.
🏛️ Take in the history and architecture of Grote Markt Square
After shopping, keep walking north to Grote Markt Square in the historic centre, where you’ll be surrounded by beautifully preserved 16th-century guild houses, the Renaissance-style Town Hall and the Cathedral of Our Lady, the tallest Gothic building in Belgium.
The town hall and cathedral are both recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Antwerp’s rich architectural heritage comes from its golden age when the city thrived as one of Europe’s most important trading hubs.
Grab a drink from an outdoor cafe and take in the sights.
🍽️ Dine at one of Antwerp's creative hotspots
Left: Cobra | Right: Misera
Antwerp has a burgeoning food scene, with over 50 restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide - an impressive feat for a city this size.
While it nails the casual Belgian classics like frites and waffles, it’s also an exciting city for creative, contemporary dining.
Choose from one of these two design-forward hot spots - we dined at both and highly recommend them:
Best for creative dining: Misera
A Michelin-starred gem with a minimalist setting, where creative French dishes steal the show. I still dream about the mussels here. Request a seat at the wraparound kitchen table - it’s one of our favourite dining experiences we’ve ever had.
Best for the scene: Cobra
A fashionable, art-inspired restaurant with share plates and a buzzy atmosphere. Request a table on the outdoor terrace for some excellent people-watching. It's also known for its cocktails.,
🎉 End the night on Marnixplaats, where locals gather
Keep the night going with drinks on Marnixplaats, a lively circular plaza lined with bars and packed with locals. Every night we walked past, it was buzzing with people enjoying the scene.
Day 3
Middelheim Museum
🌿 Wander through an open-air sculpture park
Start your day at Middelheim Museum, a gorgeous open-air sculpture park just south of the city.
With over 200 contemporary sculptures scattered across the lush park, it’s a peaceful place to walk and admire outdoor installations that blend art and nature.
After exploring, grab a coffee at Museumcafé MIKA, tucked right in the park.
🍟 Devour perfectly crispy Belgian fries at Frites Atelier
For lunch, head to Frites Atelier, the brainchild of Dutch Michelin-starred chef Sergio Herman.
This isn’t your average fries stand - here you’ll find golden, crispy Belgian frites served with gourmet sauces and toppings, all in a stylish setting.
Look out for their daily features, and try as many dipping sauces as possible! It was so satisfying we went back the next day.
🍻 Sip afternoon drinks by the old docks at Paniek Bar
Paniek Bar
In the afternoon, make your way up to Paniek Bar, set inside a former shipyard by Antwerp’s old docks.
We loved the raw, industrial feel of this area, where old warehouses mix with cool hangouts.
Grab a drink by the water and soak in the relaxed, offbeat atmosphere.
🍽️ Dine in a hidden courtyard bistro of a 16th century building
For dinner, escape the tourist track and tuck into Raapstraat 20, a locals’ favourite set inside the courtyard of a 16th-century building.
Enjoy homemade Mediterranean-inspired dishes in a beautiful setting. It's the kind of spot that feels like a secret find.
Call or email to make a reso.
🍸 End the night with cocktails in a retro living room bar
Wrap up your day at Jones & Co, a playful cocktail bar designed like a retro living room.
Sink into a cozy armchair, sip a well-crafted drink, and enjoy the funky atmosphere to close out your Antwerp adventure.
Enjoy your 3 days in Antwerp!
Get started on booking your trip to Antwerp
- 🛏️ Book your accommodation: Booking.com is our go-to for finding places to stay. Sort by top reviewed.
- 🤠 Browse local tours: through GetYourGuide.
- 🚆 Book your train: compare rates with Trainline.
- 🛫 Book your flight: use Skyscanner to compare flights across different airlines (we recommend booking direct with the airline however).
Don't forget about travel insurance
👩⚕️ For affordable travel insurance: go with SafetyWing - it's budget-friendly and you can even buy it while abroad, but note the max medical coverage is $250,000 USD. 🏥 For comprehensive travel insurance: go with World Nomads - it's more expensive, but the max emergency medical coverage is $5-10 million, depending on the plan.Save and pin this 3 Day Antwerp itinerary for later:
