Antwerp: Travel Tips for the City
Antwerp is an easy, safe city to visit, but a few local facts save time and mistakes. These are the ones worth knowing before you arrive.
The language is Dutch
Antwerp is in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking region, so this is not French-speaking Belgium. Menus and signs are in Dutch, though English is spoken everywhere in the tourist core. A “dank u” goes further than a “merci” here.
Pay in euros, tap to pay
Belgium uses the euro, and contactless cards are accepted almost everywhere, more readily than in some neighbours. Carry a little cash for market stalls and the smallest frituren. Tipping is not obligatory; round up or add 5 to 10% for good sit-down service, never US-style.
The 2026 tram-tunnel catch
The single most important 2026 planning note: the De Lijn premetro tram tunnel under the Scheldt is closed for renovation from May 2026 until roughly the end of March 2027, so there is no tram across the river. Cross on the free Sint-Anna pedestrian tunnel or the free Sint-Anna ferry, both 24/7 and both carrying bikes.
Getting around
De Lijn runs the trams and buses; a single ticket is about EUR 3, valid 60 minutes with transfers, with a day pass around EUR 9. The historic centre is compact and walkable, roughly 20 to 25 minutes from the Grote Markt to Centraal Station up the Meir, and cycling is flat and easy.
Arriving without a big airport
Antwerp has no major airport of its own. Most visitors fly into Brussels (BRU) and take a direct train to Antwerpen-Centraal in about 25 to 40 minutes, or into Charleroi (CRL), which is a 2-hour-plus haul by shuttle and train.
Diamond District etiquette
The diamond quarter near the station is a working trade district with heavy security, not a photo backdrop. Keep a respectful distance, do not photograph traders, and note that much of it closes Saturdays and Jewish holidays given the large Orthodox Jewish community.
Skip the Rubenshuis this year
Rubens’ house is closed for renovation until roughly 2030. See his altarpieces in the Cathedral of Our Lady instead, which is where the real works hang anyway.
Stay street-smart after dark
Crime is low and lower than Brussels, but the blocks north and northeast of Centraal (De Keyserlei, Kievitwijk) can feel edgy at night; stick to lit main streets. The centre and Het Zuid stay safe and lively.
Best time to come
The reliable-weather window is roughly May to September; pack a rain layer any month, since this is maritime weather.
Read more: put the tips to work with our Antwerp 3-day itinerary , or the full Antwerp city guide .