Experience the best of Antwerp with Withlocals

Go Shopping For Antiques And Vintage Design

The Meir, Antwerp’s biggest shopping street, is the place to be if you want to shop in big clothing stores like H&M, Zara and Urban Outfitters. However, Antwerp is really famous for its vintage stores, so we think you should really let your guide lead you to these as well! The Kloosterstraat has many vintage and antique stores, and if you’re in for something unique, you’ll definitely find what you’re looking for there!

Next to permanent stores, Antwerp also boasts flea markets. Take the one at Sint-Jansvliet, for example, in front of the Sint Annatunnel. Ask your local guide for tips when shopping antiques and vintage stuff. It’s truly one of the top things to do in Antwerp!

Immerse Yourself In Antwerp’s Literature

Do you like to read? So do the people of Antwerp. The ones that are proud of their city’s cultural heritage, at least! ‘Cause Antwerp has spawned a great deal of famous writers. The most famous of them all was Hendrik Conscience, the fella who wrote ‘The Lion of Flanders’. If you really want to impress your local guide, mention that you’d like to visit the Hendrik Conscience square, ‘cause you’re a huge fan! We’re not sure if he’ll believe you, but at least you’ll get a free beer for the effort.

The most important literature sight in Antwerp is the House of Literature, the literary archive of Flanders. Next to an elaborate museum, the House of Literature organizes events and exhibitions about Flemish writers and literary movements. Antwerp has so much to offer when it comes to literature. Let your local guide tell you about it over a coffee in the Buchbar!

Wander Around In Park Spoor Noord

Borgerhout in northern Antwerp has long been a neglected district. Now, however, as your local, guide will tell you, it’s a cool up-and-coming neighborhood increasingly attracting young urbanites! The Park Spoor Noord, a park that used to be an industrial area for the construction of trains, had something to do with this transformation.

The park is a big, modern, environmental-friendly Landscape Park that offers plenty of leisure, culture and sports. It has a covered hall where sometimes flea markets take place and a summer bar that occasionally offers free live music and film. In short, Park Spoor Noord is a true hidden gem you should definitely explore with your local guide!

Delve Into The History Of Antwerp

History is not just for Indiana Jones; it’s for everyone! Learning about the city’s history deserves a spot on your things to do in Antwerp list! Let your guide tell you all about Antwerp’s rich history. Visit ‘Het Steen’, a fortress turned port, Antwerp’s town hall and the gorgeous Saint Carolus Borromeus Church.

If you’re a fan of the Baroque paintings of Peter Paul Rubens, you should really go to the Cathedral of Our Lady, as well. And if you’re a fan of gruesome legends – who isn’t? – ask your local guide about Brabo, the supposed founder of Antwerp. His statue is in front of the town hall, by the way. We dare you to take a selfie with Brabo!

Stare Up At Antwerp’s Cool Architecture

This shouldn’t be missing on your list of things to do in Antwerp! The city has some bad-ass buildings you should definitely go see with your local host! The MAS for instance, a museum about Antwerp’s history, is located in a pretty sweet building. From afar, the MAS looks like huge pieces of floating Lego!

If you’re more into historic architecture, however, you’re certainly going to be amazed by the Cathedral of Our lady. This Gothic cathedral is on the UNESCO list of World Heritage, by the way.Antwerp has such cool architecture on display! If you’re interested (as you should be), check it out with your local guide!

Get All Social At Plein Publiek

Plein Publiek should be on your top things to do list when visiting Antwerp. For realz: don’t forget to visit it with your local guide! It has been described as a ‘green oasis in the midst of the city’, but also boasts a gallery, an artists’ work place, a café and a restaurant. Plein Publiek regularly organizes events like comedy nights and concerts, so you shouldn’t get bored here. Quite the contrary.

Plein Publiek is the perfect spot to relax with your host. Have a bite, get some drinks and enjoy your conversation! Who knows what the night will bring? Everything’s possible in Antwerp (or so they say).

Don’t Forget To Go South

Southern Antwerp is by far the most fashionable area of the city. We’re not making this up: just ask your local guide. Given that all of Antwerp is pretty fashionable already, it’s quite the achievement!

The neighborhood of southern Antwerp was revived in the mid-1980s. Currently, it’s mostly famous for its art scene: it has a few art museums and numerous commercial art galleries. Also, for the girls among you: the south is thé place to be if you want to run into Matthias Schoenaerts. Indeed, Schoenaerts is from Antwerp, although we suspect he’s spending a lot of time in Hollywood these days.

Have Some Beer & Chocolate!

You can’t say you’ve been to Belgium without having tasted Belgian chocolate and beer. This is not just one of the top things to do in Antwerp, it’s a moral obligation! Let your local guide take you on a beer tasting. He will tell you all about the Belgian breweries. Did you know that the popular Trappist beers are still being made in monasteries?

Our local guides also offer chocolate tastings! This is an absolute must as well. Don’t fall into tourist traps when it comes to Belgian chocolate – oh, yes, there are some. Rely on the expertise of your host!

Local tipDrop by at Het Oud Arsenaal for a bar with a cozy authentic atmosphere and a wide variety of Belgium beers.