How to See Antwerp on a Budget
- Barry Pickard
- Oct 29
- 10 min read
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Regardless of this, please be advised that all opinions expressed in this blog post are genuine and authentically my own.
Author: Barry Pickard
Barry Pickard is the owner of Tailor-Made Itineraries and has been designing bespoke self-guided tours for adventurous and curious travellers since 2015. He is a history graduate with a passion for travel.
Contents
Don’t forget that Tailor-Made Itineraries delights in creating bespoke self-guided tours. So, if visiting any of these attractions appeals to you, reach out to me by email. I would be more than happy to design a self-guided tour around your requirements incorporating the wonderful sights of Antwerp, or indeed, a general tour of Belgium itself.
Is it possible to discover Europe's diamond capital without spending a fortune? The answer hits you the moment you step off the train at Antwerp Central Station – where the sweet aroma of Belgian chocolate mingles with the musty smell of centuries-old stone, and the distant chime of cathedral bells competes with the gentle hiss of steam from the ornate station café, all under a soaring iron and glass dome that rivals any expensive museum entrance you'll never need to pay for.
I'm Barry Pickard, and during my years of designing budget-friendly European itineraries, I've learned that some cities reveal their greatest treasures to those willing to walk rather than ride, to explore rather than simply tick off attractions. When I discovered that Antwerp – overshadowed by its more famous Belgian neighbours – offered world-class art, stunning architecture, and authentic experiences for the price of a single train ticket from Brussels, I knew I'd found something special.
That first glimpse inside Central Station taught me everything I needed to know about Antwerp's approach to beauty – it doesn't hide behind admission fees or velvet ropes. Instead of rushing through what Newsweek called the fourth most beautiful train station in the world, we spent half an hour simply absorbing Louis Delacenserie's stone artistry and Clement van Bogaert's soaring ironwork, realizing we'd just experienced our first major attraction for the cost of absolutely nothing.
You've found the perfect guide to unlock Antwerp's secrets without breaking your budget. Every strategy in this post comes from my own trial-and-error exploration, every free discovery tested with my own walking boots, and every money-saving tip proven during a full day of authentic city exploration. I've learned which "last Wednesday of the month" deals actually exist, where to find world-class street art that rivals expensive galleries, and how to experience Rubens' legacy without paying museum prices.
Whether you're backpacking through Belgium on a tight budget or simply believe that the best European experiences shouldn't require premium prices, these personally tested tips will show you how to experience Antwerp's diamond-trade heritage, discover photorealistic street murals by internationally acclaimed artists, and explore medieval squares that once hosted Europe's most important markets – all for less than the cost of a single expensive guided tour.
Antwerp is perhaps best known as a busy port or as a commercial city, especially in the trade of diamonds. Overshadowed by its more popular Belgian neighbours of Bruges, Ghent or Brussels, we were, however, pleasantly surprised to find that Antwerp had much to offer visiting travellers.
Antwerp is only a 35-minute train journey from Brussels, where we were based, and our plan was to see as much of this busy city on the River Scheldt, with as little expense as possible, within a day. What we found was that there was plenty to see in this fine municipality for free and would make a really good long weekend destination.
Meir
On leaving the station, we walked along De Keyserlei, which eventually leads to Meir, the vibrant main shopping avenue of Antwerp. It is worth stopping and taking in the beautiful architecture. Our eyes were first focused on the shop fronts of the many large international chains; however, we soon learned to look above this and study the stunning Rococo designs of the these stately 18th and 19th century buildings.
Stadsfeestzaal
Just twenty metres along Meir, we came upon the Stadsfeestzaal shopping mall. Now, on our travels, we tend not to visit shopping malls. After doing our research on Antwerp, however, we realised that we would have to make an exception and check out Stadsfeestzaal. We weren’t concerned about the goods on display, rather we were captivated by the beautifully restored hall the shops are housed in. Originally the building served as a large party and exhibition hall and was restored to its former glory in 2007. We also took the opportunity to have a light lunch at the Delifrance canteen, which we found to be very reasonably priced.
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Street Art
Coming out of the mall and just off Meir, we found our first piece of Antwerp street art. The photo-realistic mural, called “Dreamin’ of inspiration”, can be seen on the blind wall of a big department store. We always like to seek out the street art of any city we visit, and we were not let down by Antwerp, which is full of great art. This particular mural was created by one of our favourite artists – Sam Bates aka SMUG or Smug One. He recently decorated our home town of Aberdeen with a fantastic mural, and this Australian born artist is very famous for his other murals that he has created in his home base of Glasgow, Scotland.
Rubens House
Just off Mier we found the house of perhaps Antwerp’s most famous resident - the 16th-17th century Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens. Today you can visit the Rubens House, which is now a museum, and see where he created his masterpieces. Normally the museum charges €8 for entrance, but, if like us, you visit on the last Wednesday of the month, you will receive free entry.
Rubens designed the house himself and it is a surprisingly large house. The size was due not only for the accommodation of his family, but also the team of professional artists that he used during the height of his fame. The interesting history of the house did not stop with Rubens though. Following his passing, the family rented the building our as a popular equestrian centre. Then, at the end of the 18th century, the French even confiscated the property to use it as a prison. In 1937, Antwerp bought the property and turned it into a museum.
Paleis op de Meir
We re-joined Meir and headed for the Paleis op de Meir to indulge our love chocolate. Part of the ground floor in this majestic building is held by the Chocolate Line by Dominique Persoone. The sweet treats on sale are mouth watering and the chocolate sculptures are also quite eye catching. It is well worth checking out the building as well. Due to its favourable location, the palace attracted the attention of Emperor Napoleon, who acquired it in 1811. Napoleon never actually stayed in the palace, but during the exile of the French emperor on the island of Elba, his rival Alexander I of Russia did live there.
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More Street Art
We carried on along Meir, with some small diversions down the side streets to take in the colourful murals, such as El Mac’s “Mural for my Father”; an intricate wording of Antwerp by Rise One; and a cute pup designed by Lazer.
Kapel Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Geboorte
A quick diversion was also made to the quaint small chapel of Kapel Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Geboorte, which was built near the old Shoe Market. It would be easy to miss the chapel and walk past it, but it is well worth stopping by this little sanctuary, also known as the Little Shoemaker’s Chapel. The chapel is devoted to the mother Mary and is a lovely oasis of calm within the busy city.
Cathedral of Our Lady
However, the sacred site that most visitors to Antwerp head for is just metres away – the Cathedral of Our Lady. This imposing cathedral took 169 years (1352-1521) to build and the steeple rises 123m heavenward, making it the highest Gothic building in the Low Countries. As impressive as it is outside, we found that the interior was just as awe inspiring, being a treasury of major art works, including a series of paintings by Rubens including the ‘Elevation of the Cross’ and his ‘Descent from the Cross’.
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Nello & Patrasche
Just in front of the cathedral, we also made a stop at the quirky statue of Nello & Patrasche. It is a statue of a boy and his dog, created by artist Batist Vermeulen. The two were the main characters in the 1872 novel A Dog of Flanders, which is a story of pride and unconditional friendship.
Grote Markt
The area surrounding the cathedral is a wonderland of medieval buildings and architecture and just a two-minute walk took us to the Grote Markt. This bustling square seems to be a magnet for local and visitor alike. Originally this was a forum or square just outside the medieval residential quarter, when, in 1220 Duke Henry I of Brabant (1165-1235) donated this community land to the city. Soon the square became home to annual markets (Brabant fairs), where merchants from all over Europe would congregate and do their business. It was partly due to these fairs that by the end of the fifteenth century Antwerp overtook Bruges as the most prominent city of the Low Countries and the wealth of this city becomes obvious when you study the architecture around the market.
Brabo Fountain
The focal point of the market is the Brabo Fountain. There is an interesting story behind this feature which was unveiled in 1887. The statue on top of the fountain is based on the legend of the giant Druon Antigoon. The giant is said to have cut off the hands of all ship captains refused to pay his toll when they moored in the area, throwing their hands into the Scheldt. The giant, however, received his comeuppance when the captain of the Roman army.
Carolus Borromeus Church
We took our time checking out the Grote Markt and wound our way through the medieval town until we arrived at what only could be described as a charming Italian piazza! The square in front of the Carolus Borromeus Church was a delight, and along with the façade of this Jesuit church, it really transported you to Rome. Inside the church, we learned that there had been a set of stunning ceiling paintings created by Peter Paul Rubens. The 39 paintings led to the church being described at the “the eighth world wonder” and attracted visitors far and wide during the seventeenth century. Unfortunately, the paintings were destroyed in a fire, but it is still a beautiful church to visit.
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Even More Street Art!
Leaving the ‘piazza’ we headed toward the port area and MAS (Museum aan de Stroom), but on the way we encountered more exceptional street art, such as Larsen Bervoets “Whale or Giant?”, Gun T’s birds in flight; and Hendrik Conscience’s cartoon inspired mural.
MAS
The MAS building towers over the port of Antwerp and this modern museum tells the story of the city, the river and the port. The collection boasts over 500,000 museum pieces. At the top, on the tenth floor, you can also enjoy a 360-degree panorama. Tickets are €10, however, similar to the Rubens House, if you visit on the last Wednesday of the month, you get in for free.
The Beguinage & The Diamond District
By now we were getting into early evening and had our mind on getting the train home to Brussels. However, on the way back from the port area, we had a chance to walk through two interesting areas – the Beguinage and the Diamond District.
The Beguinage is a community of tiny houses which offers a haven of silence, having been built to house local devout women. The Antwerp sanctuary was built in 1545, with beautiful homes, connected by cobbled streets. The last Antwerp beguine, Virginia Laeremans, died in 1986, but the original character and tranquillity of the Beguinage has been preserved.
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Antwerp has been the largest and most dependable diamond centre in the world for more than five centuries. It controls no less than four-fifths of the rough diamond market and half of the polished market. The district is adjacent to the Central Station, and it is an interesting walk, seeing the diamond exchanges, stores and the general hustle and bustle of the place.
Conclusion
As my train pulled away from that magnificent Central Station toward Brussels, I reflected on how Antwerp had challenged every assumption about budget travel in Belgium. This supposed "commercial city" had gifted me world-class Rubens paintings, internationally acclaimed street art, medieval architecture that rivals any European capital, and authentic cultural experiences – all discovered through the simple act of walking with curiosity rather than rushing between expensive attractions. From stumbling upon SMUG's photorealistic masterpiece to experiencing the Italian elegance of Carolus Borromeus Church, every free or low-cost discovery proved that Antwerp's true treasures aren't hidden behind admission fees, but scattered throughout its streets, waiting for independent travellers who understand that the best European adventures often come to those who choose exploration over expenditure.
Related Blog Posts
If you are interested in finding out more about the fascinating cities of Belgium, please view the Tailor-Made Itineraries posts below:
Share your own budget discoveries from Antwerp or other Belgian cities in the comments below – which free attraction surprised you most?
Don’t forget that Tailor-Made Itineraries delights in creating bespoke self-guided tours. So, if visiting any of these attractions appeals to you, reach out to me by email. I would be more than happy to design a self-guided tour around your requirements incorporating the wonderful sights of Antwerp, or indeed, a general tour of Belgium itself.
Tailor-Made Itineraries posts every two weeks, and you can subscribe to the latest blog and newsletter here. Until then, happy reading and safe travels.
Barry
Contact Me: tailoritineraries@gmail.com
Tailor-Made Itineraries creates one-of-a-kind bespoke self-guided travel itineraries for adventurous and curious travellers.
These self-guided tours deliver a personalised and exciting holiday experience that takes the effort out of trip planning.
#Antwerp #Belgium #AntwerpCentralStation #Meir #Stadsfeestzaal #StreetArt #RubensHouse #PeterPaulRubens #PaleisopdeMeir #ChocolateLinebyDominiquePersoone #SMUG #ElMac #RiseOne #Lazer #KapelOnzeLieveVrouwevanToevlucht #CathedralofOurLady #NelloPatrasche #GroteMarkt #BraboFountain #CarolusBorromeusChurch #MASMuseumaandeStroom #LarsenBervoets #GunT #HendrikConscience #Beguinage #DiamondDistrict
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