karens

Hi all. I am staying at the Crown Plaza Antwerpen, which is on the outskirts of Antwerp. (Address is Gerard le Grellelaan, 2010 Antwerpen).

I want to go to Brussels, and wanted to know if I can catch a bus from the Crown Plaza to central Brussels. (I know there is a bus that goes from the Brussels airport to the Crown Plaza). I can't figure out the bus website I found, b/c it is only in Dutch.

One day, I'd also like to visit Lier, and wanted to know if I can avoid going into central Antwerp to catch a bus to Lier.

lavandula

Hi, why don't you catch the bus to the airport and then just take a train into Brussels? It's very easy because there are lots of trains, and not terribly expensive:

http://www.b-rail.be/nat/E/tarifs/ti...port/index.php

Alternatively post your Dutch link here, several people here can read Dutch.

For Lier I have called up the De Lijn website (in English - many websites have FR-NL-EN(-DE) options at the top right hand side of the page). This is the major bus company in Flanders and you can put in the destinations and addresses yourself:

http://www.delijn.be/en/index.htm

Lavandula

karens

thanks for those links, Lavandula.

Do you know the name of hte stops I should look for? I need the one closest to the Crown Plaza and one in central Brussels (near Grand Palace). I tried putting in streets to the location founder and it kept saying "location not found".

To get to Brussels, I could also take a bus to Antwerp's Central train station, and catch a train to central Brussels. I think that would faster than going through the airport?

PalenQ

antwerp Crown Plaza I believe is less than a mile from the Antwerp Berchem train station with trains to Brussels Nord, Central and Midi - might be the best way to go to get to central Brussels at least? That is if I am remembering the same Crown Plaza on the southern outskirts of Antwerp about 2.5 miles from city centre.

karens

Hi PalenQ. From the map, it looks like the Antwerp Central station (which I assume is "Antwerpen Centrum") is a bit closer to the Crown Plaza than the town of Berchem. But, yes, the Crown Plaza is south of Antwerp - and slightly SE of Antwerpen Centrum.

karens

Wait, I may have posted too soon. I see two Berchem's on the map - one is closer to the Crown Plaza and one is further down the road.

lavandula

Hi again karens,

I just tried using the route planner with your address and for argument's sake I plugged in De Brouckère in Brussels as the end stop (lots of buses stop there and it's close to Grand' Place). I got no less than 5 changes, which is frankly overkill, and the results were not much different with a later time selected. I would go with the option of bus (or taxi) to Central or Berchem and then the train into Brussels. Redoing this just with your address and then Antwerpen Centraal you apparently walk to Antwerpen Desguinlei, which is a bus stop on a street very close to your street (check Google Maps), and then take bus 17 direction Rijnkaai (17 UZA Centraal Station Rijnkaai) to the station. It takes 11 minutes and then you have to walk another 100-odd metres which I guess could even be inside the station. To make sure I would ask at the hotel if that's the best way. Good luck and enjoy your time in Belgium.

Lavandula

Tulips

Antwerp Berchem is a lot closer than Centraal, and nearly all trains to Brussels stop there. It's about 2,5 kilometers from your hotel. I'm sure there will be a bus along the Singel (it's a major road), or take a taxi, or even walk when the weather is good. It's not that far.

If you go to Antwerp Centraal Station, the train will go back in the direction of your hotel and most likely stop at Berchem anyway.

If you put in the address of your hotel and Berchem station on Mappy.com you will see.

If you go by bus to Brussels, you will be stuck in traffic.

To Lier; again Berchem Station. Several non-stop trains every day. See www.nmbs.be for schedules (there's an English version).

By the way; Berchem has a beautiful art-nouveau district; walk around the Cogels Osyslei.

If you happen to be in Belgium this Monday 30th January; don't go anywhere. There's a national strike.

PalenQ

2nd taking a look at Cogels Osylei near Berchem station - stunning art-nouveau facades up and down the whole street. A real gem IMO!

karens

Hi all. This is great info - thanks so much for your effort and time in looking this up for me - and posting the info. I will look further into this now.

MyriamC

It's much easier to reach Antwerpen-Centraal by bus than Antwerpen-Berchem. Bus no. 17 (direction Rijnkaai) has a stop almost in front of the hotel and it takes only 14 mins. to get you to Antwerp Central Station. From there you can take the train to Brussels-Centraal (every 10/15 mins.)
http://appl.delijn.be/dienstregeling...1017020112.pdf

PalenQ

And I believe that not all trains from Antwerpen Centraal stop at Berchem any more? So Centraal where the trains probably begin is better - better seat selection as well by boarding where train originates - no seat reservations possible I believe on those trains - and by all means do NOT mistakingly board any train marked Thalys to Brussels from Antwerp because it could well cost you a fortune and you will have needed a seat reservation.

MyriamC

All the trains from Antwerp to Brussels do stop in Antwerpen-Berchem but it's not so easy to get from the hotel to Berchem by public transport. Indeed no seat reservations possible on those commuter trains unless you travel with a large group (e.g. school excursions).