Antwerp With Kids: Zoo, Chocolate, Tunnel
Antwerp With Kids: Zoo, Chocolate, Tunnel
Children rarely forget the wooden escalators that carry you 30 metres under the Scheldt, and that is only the free part of a family day in Antwerp. The attractions below sit close together, mostly around Centraal station, so little legs do not have to go far. Prices are in euros.
ZOO Antwerpen
The zoo next to Centraal station dates from 1843 and covers about ten hectares of listed 19th-century buildings, including the 1856 Egyptian Temple. It is open 365 days a year. Adults pay about €32 to €34 and children aged 3 to 17 about €26 to €28, with under-3s free; prices vary by date, and buying online in advance takes €2 off adults and €1 off children. See zooantwerpen.be for the day’s price.
Chocolate Nation
Across the square at Koningin Astridplein 7, Chocolate Nation takes 60 to 90 minutes and follows a cocoa bean from plantation to factory. It is open daily from 09:30 to 18:30. Adults pay about €19.90 and children aged 4 to 11 about €15.50, and tasting stations hand out liquid chocolate along the way. Book through chocolatenation.be .
The Sint-Annatunnel
The pedestrian tunnel from 1933 is 572 metres long and its original wooden escalators still run. It is free around the clock. On the far bank, the Linkeroever riverside has green parkland, playgrounds and a sandy stretch called the Sint-Annastrand, with a view back at the skyline. Trams do not cross the river until about March 2027, so the tunnel and the free Sint-Anna ferry from Het Steen are the way over.
Free outdoor time
Middelheim is a 30-hectare sculpture park at Middelheimlaan 61 with around 200 works, including pieces by Rodin and Henry Moore; entry is free and it is closed on Mondays. Het Steen, the 800-year-old fortress on the quay, has a free courtyard and rooftop terrace. The MAS rooftop is free too, reached by escalator, though it closes on Mondays.
Getting around with children
A De Lijn day ticket costs €9 from age 12 and €4.50 for ages 6 to 11; under-6s travel free. The single fare is €3. Keep bags zipped around Centraal, De Keyserlei and the Meir.
Suggested day
Morning at the zoo, lunch near the station, then chocolate in the afternoon. If the weather is fine, finish with the tunnel and an ice cream on the Linkeroever. For wet days, look at the attraction tours page , and to compare family-friendly options with a guide, try Antwerp family tours on GetYourGuide .
Tip: buy the zoo ticket online the night before and visit Chocolate Nation after lunch, when morning crowds are leaving.