Why Antwerp Is Perfect For A Flight-Free City Break

If you need a bit of respite from the stress of daily life, the spa is the ideal retreat. You can wile away a couple of hours in the 18m swimming pool, laze in the sauna, steam room and botanical showers, or take a dip in the ice fountain. There’s also a menu of cutting-edge facials and body treatments available in the ten treatment rooms – these are mainly holistic using natural Saint Charles products (available to buy in the apothecary) that have been developed from the monastery’s history when the monks and nuns grew plants and herbs for medicinal purposes. You can also book in for osteopathy and acupuncture; other preventative medical treatments are in the pipeline.

For more budget-friendly, yet luxe, hotels, we also like August Antwerp, a former Augustinian convent; Hotel Julien, a terrace-topped townhouse; and Hotel Flora in the historic centre and overlooking spacious gardens.

With four Michelin stars on site, Botanic Antwerp epitomises the exceptional food scene that has made Antwerp one of Europe’s leading culinary centres, so you’d be forgiven for not venturing elsewhere to eat. Hertog Jan, the two-Michelin-star restaurant with head chef Gert De Mangeleer at its helm, is nestled in an intimate setting in the former cloister. If you’re lucky enough to get a table (it is only open ten days each month), you’ll embark on a gastronomic journey which allows the chefs to express their creativity and culinary artistry in full. Each course is a surprise, an inventive blend of local, seasonal ingredients and global culinary techniques featuring the freshest produce from the restaurant’s own garden and greenhouse. Michelin-starred Fine Fleur is a more contemporary space and the menu features seasonal and regional ingredients and rare spices. Pre or post dinner, the cosy bar area at Henry’s Bar & Bistro is furnished with red velvet sofas and leads onto the restaurant which is housed in a bright, plant-filled conservatory (with tables on the terrace for warmer days) – here, the international menu features the likes of filet of cod, Dover sole and filet of hare. Chic brasserie Bar Bulot is decked out in blue and white and offers classic Flemish dishes. Locals head for lunch and afternoon tea at Het Gebaar which is located at the entrance to the hotel grounds in what, from the outside, resembles a cute gingerbread cottage with stained glass windows. Roger van Damme, who holds one Michelin star and has also won the accolade of best pastry chef in the world, creates works of art both savoury and sweet – opt for the tasting menu and paired wines to experience the full range of his genius and meticulous craftmanship.

A few of our favourite places to eat around town include Au Vieux Port, a dockside restaurant that serves Belgian and French classics like steak and frites; Bourla, located on a leafy square behind the Bourla theatre and the place for large bowls of North Sea mussels with perfects fries and homemade mayonnaise; Arte for traditional pizzas; Ciro’s for classic Belgian dishes; and De Arme Duivel, a former bar on a chic shopping street where locals come for steaks and stews.

Antwerp is one of the great art cities of Northern Europe. If you arrive by train at Antwerp Central Station, you are guaranteed to be bowled over by what is often considered to be one of the world's most beautiful train stations. Built between 1899 and 1905 and designed by the Bruges architect Louis Delacenserie, its dome and ornate façade blend Neo-Renaissance and Art Nouveau styles, while the grand hall has intricate mosaics, gold decorations, marble flooring and soaring ceilings. Worth seeing even if you arrive by air. 

From Botanic Sanctuary, a ten-minute walk takes you to the historic centre in and around Grote Markt, the city’s main medieval square which dates back to the 12th century. The pedestrianised area is home to the famous Brabo Fountain by sculptor Jef Lambeaux, and Stadhuis, the town hall which is now a Unesco World Heritage Site. Just around the corner, you’ll find the Cathedral of Our Lady, a beautiful gothic cathedral which houses three important works by Peter Paul Rubens and looks particularly majestic lit up at night. Rubens’ house is temporarily closed until 2027 for renovations, but you can book the Rubens Experience to find out more about the artist – the presentation includes life-like videos and interactive tools, after which you can tour the baroque gardens and library. 

A 20-minute walk in the opposite direction takes you to the KMSKA (Royal Museum of Fine Arts) which reopened in September 2022 after an 11-year renovation. The impressive permanent collection includes many works from Flemish masters such as Rubens, Hans Memling, Jan van Eyck and Anthony van Dyck, the world’s largest collection of works by James Ensor and several pieces from international artists, most notably by Fouquet, Titian, Modigliani, Rodin and Chagall.

Other highlights for art lovers include Museum Mayer van den Bergh where you will find 'Mad Meg' by Pieter Bruegel and the Plantin-Moretus Museum, which houses the oldest printing presses in the world. If time allows, make your way to Middelheim Museum – this open-air sculpture park is home to over 400 pieces of artwork and features an impressive collection of sculptures by renowned artists like Rodin, Henry Moore and Ai Weiwei. 

One of the hippest parts of the city is the recently developed dockland area, known as Eilandje (or “little island”). About 20 minutes’ walk from the historic centre, head to the Museum aan de Stroom (MAS), located along the river Scheldt. Set over seven floors, the strikingly modern, Lego-esque building houses contemporary art installations and has a rooftop terrace with incredible views of the skyline and the harbour below. From here you can also spot the Havenhuis in the distance, the futuristic headquarters of the Antwerp Port Authority, designed by the late Anglo-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid in homage to the city’s diamond trade. A couple of blocks away, the Red Star Line Museum is on the site of the historic shipping company where millions of Europeans came to embark on their journey to America –  the museum tells the story of many of the emigrants based on their personal stories. 

Fashionistas should not miss MoMu in the heart of the fashion district. Occupying a grand 19th-century building, the museum has an important collection of Belgian fashion and organises exhibitions that focus on the fashion industry and iconic designers.