What to Do in Antwerp in a Weekend: A Complete 48-Hour Guide

You land in Antwerp on a Friday afternoon, and by Sunday evening you will have a very clear answer to the question of what to do in Antwerp in a weekend. This city rewards the curious. It is compact enough that you can walk from the river to the diamond district to a 17th-century printing museum in under thirty minutes, yet layered enough that you will keep finding new details on your second visit. I have lived here for over a decade, and I still turn a corner on a side street in the Zurenborg neighborhood and spot something I have never noticed before. This guide is the version of Antwerp I would hand you if you showed up at my door on a Friday night with two free days and a good pair of walking shoes.

Friday Evening: Dinner in the Zurenborg District

Zurenborg is the neighborhood most people walk right past on their way to the more obvious attractions near the Grote Markt, and that is a mistake. The architecture here, a dense concentration of Art Nouveau and Neo-Renaissance townhouses built between 1894 and 1906, tells the story of Antwerp's late-19th-century diamond wealth. The streets around Cogels-Osylei are essentially an open-air museum of bourgeois ambition.

I had dinner last week at Fiskebar on Marnixplaats 12, just at the edge of Zurenborg. It is a small seafood-focused spot run by a couple who source directly from the Belgian coast. The menu changes almost daily, but the North Sea crab with brown butter and the grilled sole meunière are almost always there. I sat outside on the square, which is quiet on a Friday evening before the Saturday night crowd arrives. The square itself, Marnixplaats, was once a working-class market area and has slowly transformed into one of the most interesting dining spots in the city without losing its rough edges. You will still see older residents buying vegetables at the Saturday morning market while the restaurants fill up by evening.

Local Insider Tip: "If you go to Fiskebar on a Saturday, ask for the fish of the day that is not on the printed menu. They often have a whole fish they just received that morning, and if you are sitting at the bar, they will prepare it however you want."

The one complaint I have is that the outdoor tables on Marnixplaats can get quite cold if the wind comes off the nearby docks, even in late spring. Bring a layer.

Saturday Morning: Breakfast and the Plantin-Moretus Museum

Start your Saturday at Bakkerij Goossens on Kammenstraat 64 in the old city center. This bakery has been here since 1984, and the owner, Johan, still pulls the croissants out of the oven himself on weekend mornings. Order a pistolet, the small round roll with butter and jam, and a coffee. The line moves fast, and the bread is the kind that makes you understand why Belgians are particular about their bakeries. Kammenstraat itself is one of the oldest streets in Antwerp, running from the Grote Markt toward the cathedral, and the buildings here date back to the medieval period.

From there, walk five minutes to the Plantin-Moretus Museum on Vrijdagmarkt 22. This is the only museum in the world that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site specifically for being a printing house. Christophe Plantin ran one of the most important printing operations in Europe from this building in the 16th century, and the museum preserves his original presses, type cabinets, and the family home. I visited last Saturday morning and spent nearly two hours here, which is longer than most people allocate. The guided tour at 11 a.m. is worth waiting for because the guide demonstrates the actual printing process on a working replica press. The museum connects directly to Antwerp's identity as a center of intellectual and commercial publishing, a role the city played long before it became known for fashion and diamonds.

Local Insider Tip: "Go to the Plantin-Moretus on a Saturday morning before 10:30 a.m. The light through the old workshop windows at that hour is extraordinary, and you will have the press room almost to yourself. Most tour groups arrive after lunch."

The museum shop sells beautiful letterpress prints, and the courtyard garden is a quiet spot to sit if you need a break. One thing to note: the stairs inside the historic building are steep and narrow, so if mobility is a concern, ask at the front desk about the accessible route.

Saturday Midday: Lunch and the Diamond District

Antwerp's diamond district, centered around Hoveniersstraat and Rijfstraat near the Central Station, is one of the most concentrated diamond trading areas in the world. Over 80 percent of the world's rough diamonds pass through this neighborhood. Walking through it on a Saturday midday is an experience in contrasts, Hasidic Jewish diamond dealers in traditional dress passing fashion students from the nearby Royal Academy of Fine Arts, all within a few blocks.

For lunch, I recommend De Broers on Kammenstraat, just a short walk from the diamond district. They serve what they call "slow fast food," elevated Belgian classics. The stoofvlees (beef stew) with fries is the thing to order here, and it is the version that most locals would point to as the benchmark. The interior is modern and bright, a deliberate contrast to the old-world feel of the neighborhood. I went last Saturday around 1 p.m. and waited about fifteen minutes for a table, which is typical for weekend lunch.

Local Insider Tip: "Walk down Rijfstraat on a Saturday afternoon and look up at the upper floors of the buildings. Many of the diamond workshops are still active up there, and you can sometimes see the cutting and polishing happening behind the windows. It is not a tourist attraction, it is just the neighborhood working."

The diamond district is also where you will find the DIVA Antwerp museum on Suikerrui 17-19, which tells the story of Antwerp's diamond trade in a modern, interactive way. I would not prioritize it on a short break Antwerp visit unless you are specifically interested in gemology, but it is worth knowing it exists if you have extra time.

Saturday Afternoon: The MAS and the Eilandje Neighborhood

The MAS (Museum aan de Stroom) on Hanzestedenplaats 1 is the building that defines Antwerp's skyline on the northern edge of the city. It is a 60-meter-tall red sandstone tower designed by Neutelings Riedijk, and the rooftop is free to visit. I went up last Saturday around 3 p.m., and the view across the Scheldt River and the old port is the best panoramic perspective you will get in the city. The museum inside covers Antwerp's history as a port city, and the permanent collection includes objects that trace the city's global trade connections back centuries.

The surrounding Eilandje neighborhood is where Antwerp's old docklands have been redeveloped. It is a mix of converted warehouses, new architecture, and waterfront cafes. Walk along the Ruien (the old covered canals that run under the streets) if you can find the entrance near the MAS. These underground waterways were once the city's main drainage system and are a piece of infrastructure most visitors never know about.

Local Insider Tip: "On Saturday afternoons, the terrace at 't Zilte on the 23rd floor of the MAS is open for drinks. It is the highest restaurant in Belgium, and a glass of cava with that view is one of the best things you can do on a weekend trip Antwerp. Book ahead, but even if you cannot get a reservation, the bar area sometimes has walk-in space."

The Eilandje area can feel a bit sparse on weekends because some of the smaller shops and galleries close early. The neighborhood is still evolving, and parts of it have a construction-site quality that might disappoint visitors expecting a polished destination.

Saturday Evening: Drinks in the Het Zuid Neighborhood

Het Zuid, the area south of the boulevard that was once the city's defensive wall, is where Antwerp's cultural and nightlife energy concentrates. The Leopold de Waelplaats is the central square, and the streets around it are lined with galleries, wine bars, and restaurants. This neighborhood was historically the more affluent part of the city, and the 19th-century townhouses reflect that.

I had drinks last Saturday at Bar Burbure on Burburestraat 4, a small wine bar that focuses on natural and low-intervention wines. The owner, Joris, is usually behind the bar on weekends and will pour you something unexpected if you tell him what you like. The bar seats maybe twenty people, and by 9 p.m. on a Saturday it is full of locals who have been coming for years. The square outside, Leopoldsplaats, is a good place to sit if the weather is nice, and the Royal Museum of Fine Arts on de Waelplaats is worth a daytime visit for its Rubens collection.

Local Insider Tip: "If you are in Het Zuid on a Saturday evening, walk down Louizalaan toward the Middelheim Park entrance. There is an open-air sculpture park there that is lit until 10 p.m. in summer, and walking through it at dusk with a drink from a nearby cafe is something almost no tourist does."

The one thing to watch for on a Saturday night in Het Zuid is that the popular spots along Marnixstraat and its side streets can get very crowded after 10 p.m., and service at the bars slows down noticeably. If you want a quieter evening, stick to the smaller side streets off the main square.

Sunday Morning: The Cathedral and the Grote Markt

Sunday morning in Antwerp belongs to the Cathedral of Onze-Lieve-Vrouw on Handschoenmarkt. It is the largest Gothic church in Belgium, and the tower, at 123 meters, dominates the skyline. Inside, you will find four major Rubens altarpieces, including the Descent from the Cross, which is one of the most important paintings in Western art. I visited last Sunday at 10 a.m., just after the morning Mass, and the light through the stained glass was at its best. The cathedral has been a center of Antwerp's religious and civic life since the 14th century, and standing in the nave, you feel the weight of that history directly.

The Grote Markt, the main square in front of the cathedral, is where Antwerp's medieval commercial power was concentrated. The Stadhuis (City Hall) on the square was built in the 16th century in a Renaissance style that was unusual for the Low Countries at the time, and the Brabo Fountain in the center depicts the legend of the city's founding. The guild houses that line the square are among the most photographed buildings in Belgium, and on a Sunday morning they are less crowded than on Saturday.

Local Insider Tip: "On Sunday mornings, the Vlaeykensgang, the narrow medieval alley just off the Vrijdagmarkt, is open to walk through. It connects to a small courtyard with a restaurant and a few old houses, and it is one of the oldest surviving residential alleys in Antwerp. Most people walk right past the entrance without noticing it."

For coffee and a pastry after the cathedral, walk to Caffènation on Graanmarkt 7, just a few minutes from the Grote Markt. This is one of the original specialty coffee shops in Antwerp, and the espresso is consistently excellent. The space is small and minimal, and on a Sunday morning you might have to wait for a seat, but it is worth it.

Sunday Midday: Lunch in the Vlaams-Hoofd Neighborhood

The Vlaams-Hoofd neighborhood, just west of the old city center along the Koolkaai, is one of Antwerp's most underrated areas. It was historically a working-class district tied to the port, and in recent years it has become a hub for creative businesses, small galleries, and interesting food spots. The streets here are quieter than the center, and the architecture is a mix of 19th-century industrial buildings and newer residential developments.

I had lunch last Sunday at Pasta on Vlaams-Hoofdstraat 14, a small Italian-run pasta shop that serves fresh pasta with simple, well-executed sauces. The cacio e pepe is the standout, and the portions are generous for the price. The owner, Marco, is from Naples and has been in Antwerp for over fifteen years. The shop is casual, with a few tables inside and some outside on the street when the weather cooperates. It is the kind of place that locals in the neighborhood rely on, and on a Sunday at noon it fills up with families and couples who live nearby.

Local Insider Tip: "After lunch, walk south along the Koolkaai toward the Sint-Andries neighborhood. The streets around Sint-Andriesstraat have some of the best vintage and secondhand shops in Antwerp, and on Sunday afternoons many of them are open. It is a good place to find Belgian design pieces and old books."

The Vlaams-Hoofd area is still somewhat rough around the edges, and some visitors might find it less immediately appealing than the historic center. But that is precisely what makes it interesting on a short break Antwerp visit, it shows you a side of the city that is not curated for tourists.

Sunday Afternoon: The Red Light District and the Scheldt River Walk

Antwerp's Schipperskwartier, the historic sailors' quarter near the old port, has a complicated reputation. Parts of it function as the city's red light district, and other parts have been redeveloped into residential and commercial spaces. Walking through it on a Sunday afternoon is a reminder that Antwerp has always been a port city, and port cities have always had rough edges. The contrast between the old sailors' bars and the new apartment buildings is striking.

From the Schipperskwartier, walk to the Scheldt River and follow the waterfront promenade south toward the Steen, the medieval fortress on the riverbank that is the oldest building in Antwerp, dating to around 1200. The Steen now houses a small maritime museum, but the real draw is the terrace in front of it, where you can sit and watch the river traffic. On a Sunday afternoon, the promenade is full of families, cyclists, and people walking dogs, and it feels like the city exhaling after a busy weekend.

Local Insider Tip: "On Sunday afternoons, take the Steenplein ferry across the Scheldt to the Linkeroever (Left Bank). It is free, it takes three minutes, and the view of the Antwerp skyline from the other side is one of the best in the city. Almost no tourists do this, and the Left Bank has a few good cafes where you can sit with that view."

The Scheldt promenade can be windy and exposed, so dress accordingly. And the Schipperskwartier, while safe during the day, is not a neighborhood I would recommend wandering through late at night unless you are comfortable in urban environments that are still working through their transitions.

When to Go and What to Know

Antwerp is a year-round destination, but the best months for a weekend trip Antwerp are May through September, when the outdoor terraces are open and the light on the Scheldt is at its most beautiful. October and November can be grey and wet, but the museums and indoor spaces are less crowded. December is worth it for the Christmas market on the Grote Markt, which runs from early December through early January.

The city is walkable, and most of the places in this Antwerp 2 day itinerary are within a 20-minute walk of each other. The tram system is efficient if you need to cover more ground, and a day pass costs about 8 euros. Taxis are available but not necessary for most visitors.

If you are planning what to do in Antwerp in a weekend, the most important thing is to not over-schedule. This is a city that rewards wandering. Leave time to sit in a square, to walk down an alley you did not plan to visit, to order a second coffee at a bar where the owner knows your name by the second visit. That is the Antwerp I have come to know over the past decade, and it is the Antwerp I think you will fall for too.