How many days · Antwerp · Belgium
How many days do you need in Antwerp?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
3 days is the sweet spot for Antwerp, and 2 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Two days covers the Grote Markt, the cathedral, Plantin-Moretus, the MAS and the station. A third day adds the KMSKA, the fashion district and Zurenborg's Art Nouveau streets; with four or five days you can add Ghent, Bruges, Brussels or Mechelen by train.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 3 days
- Minimum
- 2 days
- Day trips available
- 7
- Daylight
- 7.9 h (Dec) to 16.6 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Cathedral of Our Lady, Grote Markt and City Hall, Antwerp Central Station and KMSKA (Royal Museum of Fine Arts) |
| 2 days | Good | KMSKA (Royal Museum of Fine Arts), Museum Plantin-Moretus and MAS (Museum aan de Stroom) |
| 3 days | Ideal | Red Star Line Museum, MoMu Fashion Museum and Het Steen |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Brussels |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Brussels and Ghent |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Antwerp add up to roughly 15–19 hours of visiting time — about 2–3 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Antwerp Zoo (Half a day), KMSKA (Royal Museum of Fine Arts) (2–3 hours) and MAS (Museum aan de Stroom) (1–2.5 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Cathedral of Our Lady | 1 hour | Oude Stad |
| Grote Markt and City Hall | 30 minutes | Oude Stad |
| Antwerp Central Station | 30 minutes | Stationsbuurt and Diamond Quarter |
| KMSKA (Royal Museum of Fine Arts) | 2–3 hours | Het Zuid |
| Museum Plantin-Moretus | 2 hours | Oude Stad |
| MAS (Museum aan de Stroom) | 1–2.5 hours | Eilandje |
| Red Star Line Museum | 1.5–2 hours | Eilandje |
| MoMu Fashion Museum | 1.5 hours | Sint-Andries |
| Het Steen | 45 minutes | Oude Stad |
| Antwerp Zoo | Half a day | Stationsbuurt and Diamond Quarter |
| St. Charles Borromeo Church | 30 minutes | Oude Stad |
| St. Paul's Church | 45 minutes | Oude Stad |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 3 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 2 days | Focus on Cathedral of Our Lady and Grote Markt and City Hall |
| With children | 4 days | Slower days and time for Antwerp Zoo |
| With day trips | 5 days | Add Brussels and Ghent |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 7.9 hours of daylight) than in June (about 16.6 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Antwerp with other destinations
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in Antwerp?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 3 days is more comfortable. Two days covers the Grote Markt, the cathedral, Plantin-Moretus, the MAS and the station. A third day adds the KMSKA, the fashion district and Zurenborg's Art Nouveau streets; with four or five days you can add Ghent, Bruges, Brussels or Mechelen by train.
+Is a week too long in Antwerp?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Brussels and Ghent.