Exploring the city of Antwerp and Bruges (Belgium) in 2024
Exploring the city of Antwerp and Bruges (Belgium) in 2024
Table of Contents
A map of Belgium
Informations
Antwerp or Antwerpen is a city in the Flanders region of Belgium and at the same time the capital of the province of the same name. In January 2017, the city had approximately 520,000 inhabitants, occupying, from this point of view, the first place among the communes in Belgium.
Temperature: The high season lasts from mid-April to mid-October. The tourist season reaches its peak in July and August.
Language: The official languages are Dutch, German and French.
Currency: Euro
Food Prices: Meal in a cheap restaurant=15 EUR, Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant=65 EUR
You can find more information about the visa here.
Things to do
Grote Markt
The Antwerp Grote Markt is a central square in the historic old town of Antwerp. In connection with the city’s development into an important trading metropolis in the Middle Ages, many rich merchants and guilds built magnificent buildings around the square. They have been preserved and beautifully restored.
MAS - Museum aan de Stroom
The Museum aan de Stroom, MAS for short, is a museum in the Flemish port city of Antwerp on the Scheldt, which opened in May 2011. The collections of the “Etnographic Museum”, the “Nationaal Scheepvaartmuseum”, the “Folklore Museum” and parts of the collections of the “Museum Vleeshuis”, among others, have been brought together in the MAS. In total, the collection includes more than 470,000 objects
Cathedral of Our Lady
The Cathedral of Our Lady is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Antwerp, Belgium. The construction of the edifice, today the seat of the Diocese of Antwerp, began in 1352 and, although the first stage of the work was completed in 1521, it was never finished.
Antwerp Zoo
Antwerp Zoo is a zoo in the center of Antwerp, Belgium, located near the Antwerpen-Centraal train station. It is the oldest animal park in the country and one of the oldest in the world, established on July 21, 1843.
St. Paul's Church
St. Paul’s Church is a Roman Catholic church located at Veemarkt in Antwerp, Belgium. Its exterior is mainly Gothic with a Baroque tower, while the interior is characterized by its rich Baroque decoration.
The Royal Museum of Fine Arts
The Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp is a museum in Antwerp, Belgium, founded in 1810, which houses a collection of paintings, sculptures and drawings from the 14th to the 20th centuries.
The Plantin-Moretus Museum
The Plantin-Moretus Museum is located in Antwerp, Belgium and is dedicated to the famous printers Christoffel Plantijn and Jan Moretus. He is in their former home and print shop.
Rubenshuis
The Rubenshuis is the former home and studio of Peter Paul Rubens in Antwerp. Purchased in 1610, Rubens renovated and expanded the Flemish house based on Rubens’ own designs. After renovations, the house and courtyard garden had the appearance of an Italian palace, reflecting Rubens’ artistic ideals.
Sint-Pauluskerk
St. Paul’s Church is a Roman Catholic church located at Veemarkt in Antwerp, Belgium. Its exterior is mainly Gothic with a Baroque tower, while the interior is characterized by its rich Baroque decoration.
Belfry of Bruges
The Belfry of Bruges is a medieval belfry in the center of Bruges, Belgium. One of the city’s most prominent symbols, the bell tower formerly housed a treasury and municipal archives and served as a lookout point for spotting fires and other dangers.
City Hall of Bruges
The City Hall of Bruges, West Flanders, Belgium is an iconic building and the seat of that city. Built in a late Gothic monumental style between 1376 and 1421, it is one of the oldest town halls in the former Burgundian Netherlands.
Basilica of the Holy Blood
The Basilica of the Holy Blood is a Roman Catholic basilica in Bruges, Belgium. The church houses a relic of the Holy Blood allegedly collected by Joseph of Arimathea and brought from the Holy Land by Thierry of Alsace, Count of Flanders. Built between 1134 and 1157 as the chapel of the Count of Flanders, it was promoted to a minor basilica in 1923.
The Grote Markt
The Grote Markt is the central square of the Belgian city of Bruges, around which the settlement developed in connection with the lively trade in goods from the 13th century.
Church of Our Lady
The Church of Our Lady is a Roman Catholic church in Bruges, Belgium, mainly dating from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. Its 115.6 meter tall tower remains the tallest structure in the city and the third tallest brick tower in the world.
Brouwerij De Halve Maan
Originally, the square was covered with walls and access doors. It belongs to the oldest core of the city. The reinforced fortress was located at the junction of the possibly Roman road from Oudenburg to Aardenburg (the sand road) and the River Reie.[1] The castle had an area of approx. 1 ha. Arnulf I. (889–965) turned the castle into a power center of imperial format, which covered an area of 1.5 ha. From the 11th to the end of the 13th century, one of the residences of the Counts of Flanders, Het Steen, was located on the western side of the square. Inside the fortification, the castle church was erected in the north, which was dedicated to Our Lady and St. Donatian.
Cathedral of St. Salvator
The Cathedral of St. Salvator, also known as the Cathedral of the Savior and St. Donatus, is the Roman Catholic cathedral in Bruges, Belgium. The cathedral is dedicated to Verrezen Zaligmaker and Saint-Donatius of Reims.
Rosary Quay
For centuries, this street along the canal has borne the name Zoutdijk. In 1390 it was mentioned that salt alley in Eechoutte. So it was probably there that there was a jetty where the ships that delivered salt were unloaded. It was only in the 18th century that Rozenhoedkaai came into use as a name. The reason was that stalls selling rosaries were set up there. Why in some cases ‘kaai’ or ‘dike’ was chosen over the more commonly used word ‘rei’ has not been investigated by linguists.
Where to stay
A good night’s sleep is particularly important when you are travelling. Belgium offers its guests a host of luxurious, charming and also out-of-the-ordinary accommodation.
Whether in the heart of the city, near the lake or surrounded by nature – Belgium’s hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses guarantee a relaxing and invigorating stay.
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Hotels we recommend in Bruges
Hotels we recommend in Antwerp
What to eat
- Frites/frietjes- You’ll need at least a couple of servings of frites on any trip to Belgium.
- Mussels of Mosselen- found in the North Sea are more fleshy than those in France
- The Martino is a Belgian sandwich consisting of filet Americaine–that is, raw minced beef mixed with seasonings, mayonnaise, and egg yolk
- Belgian Endive and Ham Gratin
- Croquettes aux crevettes grises
- Waterzooi – It is a stew or soup made with chicken or fish, vegetables, cream, and egg.
- Meatballs are a Belgian favorite, on both sides of the language divide, and are usually a mixture of beef and pork.
- Flemish stew – stew meat
- Grey shrimp croquettes
- Eel in the green is exactly what it sounds like an eel is prepared in a highly green sauce that is colored that way because of the many green herbs that go into it, such as parsley, watercress, and basil.
- sausage and mashed potatoes
- Tomates aux Crevettes Grises
- Belgian waffles
- Speculaas- Gingerbread
- cannibale is served on slices of sweet white toast called pain de mie and cut into triangles.
- Shortcrust Biscuits
- Belgian Chocolates
- Sirop de Liege
Restaurants
- Antwerp-Album Owners Joris and Toon run a friendly, neighbourhood bistro that doubles as a sourdough bakery. Exposed brick walls and white marble tables are the setting for on-trend dishes with Asian and Scandi slants.
- Bar Bulot -evitalised classics such as grilled veal tongue with Madeira sauce or monkfish meunière. He also runs the tiny, super-exclusive Hertog Jan in the same complex, open 10 days a month, with a pricy set menu.
- Beni Falafel – reshly fried, perfectly spiced falafel, creamy hummus and dips to rival any in Tel Aviv. Pitta bread remains hot and puffy by the ingenious use of flat irons. Kosher. Platters from £7.50.
- Bistrot du Nord – simplicity in dishes such as poached cod with white asparagus, grey shrimps and tarragon – old-school but not old-fashioned. From £140.
- Nage Natural wine and suave seasonal cooking are served up in a minimalist setting at this historic brick house. Talented Koen Lenaerts works hard – homemade charcuterie, smoked butter, seven-week aged beef. Five-course set menu from £58pp; wine flight from £33pp.
- Bruges/ First dinner of our holiday was at Bistro Christophe – a charming and homely bistro popular with locals. We tucked into homemade shrimp croquettes followed by the chateaubriand for two with fries. Looking back now at our Bruges trip, we realised that our favourite order on repeat for nearly every meal was shrimp croquettes followed by steak.
- Au Petit Grand – The menu is typical Belgian fare and was pretty good. The candlelit tables and floral decor makes it a perfect venue choice for a romantic date night.
- Cambrinus is a buzzy and thriving brasserie with hundreds of Belgian beers on tap, as well as authentic Flemish food. You are guaranteed to have a good time here.
- If you need a break from beer guzzling, Blend offers a lovely alternative. A stylish and sophisticated wine bar, with good selection of wines, ideal for a pre-dinner drink or a night cap.
Saving Tips
- In popular parts of the country, restaurants can be particularly expensive on weekends and in the evenings
- This country has so many breweries (the most per capita in the world!) that beer is the cheapest form of alcohol
- If you’re going to eat out, stick to things like sandwiches, kebabs, and frites. These meals cost between 5-7 EUR
- Every Thursday is “vegetarian day” in plant-based paradise Ghent
- Budget bus companies like Flixbus can take you across the country for cheap
- the museum of military history and touring the European Parliament are open to the public at no cost.
- Get a city tourist card
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Shopping
Shopping in the centre of Antwerp
Where is the best place to shop in Antwerp? This depends on what you are looking for. A good starting point is the centre of Antwerp, within walking distance of Antwerp Central Station. Here you will find the famous Meir, the longest shopping street in the city which is mostly filled with the well-known chain stores. If you go shopping on the Meir, you should definitely drop by the Stadsfeestzaal Shopping Mall. This beautiful shopping centre will undoubtedly amaze you.
If you prefer smaller boutiques, take a stroll down Kammenstraat for some unique shops. And the car-free shopping zone ‘de Wilde Zee’ is also a must-visit as well as the Groenplaats. In the Kloosterstraat, you can shop for antiques, vintage and brocante.Antwerp has long been known as the fashion city of Belgium. The Royal Academy of Fine Arts with a Fashion specialisation is located in the city. There is a reason that the greatest Flemish designers come from Antwerp. Do you want to shop for high fashion? Then the Fashion District is the shopping area for you. Here, you will find many Flemish designers such as Ann de Meulemeester, Dries van Noten and Dirk
- Shopping streets in Bruges
- 1. Steenstraat & Zuidzandstraat The most famous shopping streets in Bruges are Steenstraat and Zuidzandstraat. In these winding streets, you will find international chains, boutiques and local shops with the latest fashion trends, accessories, books, chocolates and much more. Steenstraat is the ideal place to start shopping and soak up Bruges’ lively atmosphere.
- 2. Noodzandstraat & Geldmuntstraat There are some great places on Noodzandstraat and Geldmuntstraat if you are looking for cosmetics, gift shops and jewellers. From Noordzandstraat, also walk down the side street that leads to Zilverpand. Around the courtyard are even more lovely shops and coffee shops.
- 3. Sint-Jakobsstraat & Ezelstraat Here, you will find an array of fashion boutiques, lifestyle and interior design items, bookshops and local delicacies. So, are you looking for some unique shopping spots in Bruges? Then walk down one of these streets.
- 4. Wollestraat & Katelijnestraat A street for the sweet tooth among us. Wollestraat and Katelijnestraat are home to one chocolate shop after another.
- 5. Langestraat & Hoogstraat If you love vintage, antiques and the retro feel, Langestraat and Hoogstraat are the place to be. In these streets, do not just look into the showcases, but remember to occasionally look up. The façades themselves are often works of art.
Getting Around
Travelling around Belgium is almost always easy: it’s a small country, and there’s an extremely well-organized – and reasonably priced – public transport system in which an extensive train network is supplemented by (and tied in with) a plethora of local bus services.
Tram and metro are the ideal means to get around in the city. They encounter little or no hindrance from other forms of traffic and bring you safely and quickly to numerous destinations in the city. You can travel by tram in the cities of Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and Charleroi.
The bus is a convenient means of travel and the network covers a wide area not served by other forms of public transport. The bus routes in Belgium are handled by 3 different companies.
The car-free city center of Ghent is tailor-made for pedestrians and cyclists. With bus and tram, you can reach any part of the city quickly and easily (even on weekend evenings) and taxis are also readily available. Of course, you can also rent a car to explore the surroundings.
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Getting Here
Ghent does not have its own airport but can be easily reached from Belgium’s two main airports: Brussels Airport and Brussels South Charleroi Airport. Brussels Airport (Zaventem) is 14 km east of Brussels and has flights to hundreds of international destinations. Brussels South Airport is in Charleroi, 46 km from Brussels, with flights to 26 European destinations.
Flying is the easiest and most time-efficient way to travel to Belgium. The most popular option is to fly to the capital city, Brussels which has good rail and bus links with the rest of the country. Brussels Airport (Zaventem) is the country’s main international airport with flights to over 220 European and international destinations. Another option is to fly into Brussels South Airport in Charleroi – roughly 50 kilometres outside of Brussels – which connects Belgium with 190 destinations.
UK travellers are spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding how to get to Belgium. There are flights to Brussels from London and a string of regional airports; Eurostar trains direct from London to Brussels; ferries from Rosyth and Hull to Zeebrugge, near Bruges, and from Ramsgate to Ostend; Eurotunnel services from Folkestone to Calais, a short drive from the Belgian coast; and frequent international buses from London to Brussels and Antwerp. Buses are usually the least expensive means of transportation, but the train is faster and often not that much more expensive, and there are all sorts of great deals on flights too.
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