Getting Here & Around

Getting Here & Around

By Air

Only one carrier, VLM, serves Antwerp's Deurne Airport. It's generally easier to fly into Brussels's Zaventem airport. Zaventem serves many airlines and has convenient transportation connections to Antwerp.

By Bus

De Lijn operates Antwerp's city bus service; it's an easy system to use. Most lines begin outside Centraal Station on the Koningin Astridplein. All stops are clearly marked with a yellow pole. Single-ride tickets cost EUR 1.60 when bought on the bus, or EUR 1.20 bought in advance at metro stations. Other options include a day pass (EUR 6 on board, EUR 5 bought in advance), which are good on all forms of public transportation. These are available at De Lijn offices, the tourist office, and at some metro stops. Ask for a transit route map at the tourist office or metro stations. Buses run frequently, roughly from 6 AM to midnight.

By Car

Antwerp is surrounded by a ring road from which expressways shoot off like spokes in a wheel. At this writing, the ring road was being renovated, so you may run into some roadwork delays. The city is 48 km (29 mi) north of Brussels on the E19; 60 km (36 mi) northeast of Gent on the E17; 119 km (71 mi) northwest of Liège on the A13.

A car isn't necessary—and is more often than not a burden—when exploring Antwerp's central area. The city's streets may not be quite as busy as those in Brussels, but they're crowded enough to make driving difficult. An ongoing construction project along the connected thoroughfares known as "de Leien" (Italielei, Frankrijklei, and Amerikalei) makes things even more snarly. Avoid rush hours, generally 6:30-9:30 AM and 4-7 PM, and keep a sharp eye out for one-way streets and aggressive drivers. Remember that drivers have priority from the right. Street parking is rare but there are several central parking lots, including some near Grote Markt and Groenplaats.

By Public Transport

Antwerp's tram and metro public transit system is extensive and reliable. Some segments operate as the pre-metro system, which is basically a tram running underground for part of its route. The most useful subway line for visitors links Centraal Station (metro: Diamant) with the left bank, which is the other side of the river (Linkeroever), via the Groenplaats (for the cathedral and Grote Markt). A EUR 1.20 (EUR 1.60 bought on board) ticket is good for one hour on all forms of public transport, including buses; a EUR 5 (EUR 6 bought on board) pass buys unlimited travel for one day. Tickets are available at De Lijn offices, the tourist office, and at the Diamant, Opera-Frankrijklei, and Groenplaats metro stops. The metro system is open 6:30 AM-midnight. Stations are marked by large arrows indicating the entrances.

By Taxi

There are taxi stands marked with a "taxi" sign at every principal point in the city center, such as Groenplaats and in front of Centraal Station, but it's often easier to call for one. All taxis are metered, starting with a base rate of EUR 2.70 plus EUR 1.20 per km. The rates are higher at night (10 PM-6 AM).

By Tour

Flandria operates 50-minute boat trips on the river Scheldt, departing from the Steenplein pontoon, next to the Steen. These run Easter weekend and daily May-September. The company also offers 2½-hour boat tours of the port, which leave from Quay 14 near Londonstraat. These tours run Easter weekend, daily from May through August, and September through October on weekends. Both tours have English-speaking guides.

Touristram operates hour-long tram tours with cassette commentary in the Oude Stad and old harbor area. Tickets are sold on the tram, and tours leave on the hour. Departure is from Groenplaats. From mid-February to mid-March, and November to mid-December, tours run only on weekends 11-4; from mid-March to September they run daily 11-5; in October, daily 1-4.

You can arrange for a personal English-speaking guide through the Toerisme Antwerpen (the city tourist office). This requires two days' to three weeks' notice, depending on the season. You can ask your guide to show you any part of the city that interests you, either by neighborhood or by theme (fashion, history, architecture, etc.) The tourism bureau also sells booklets that sketch out walks through the city focusing on fashion and architecture.

By Train

NMBS/SNCB, the national railway, connects Antwerp with several trains a day to all other major Belgian cities. There are four to five trains an hour between Antwerp and Brussels, and hourly trains make the 15-minute trip between Antwerp and Lier. International Thalys trains arrive and leave only from Berchem Station, south of the city center, rather than using the downtown Centraal Station. Among other routes, the Thalys trains run seven times a day between Antwerp and Paris and six times a day to and from Amsterdam.