The best things to do in Antwerp in 2025

What is it? Antwerp’s most multicultural and creative neighbourhood, buzzing with food, art and nightlife.

Why we love it: Borgerhout, or BoHo, is Antwerp at its most authentic: Moroccan grocers and Turkish bakeries mix with vegan cafés, trendy wine bars and contemporary art spaces like Base-Alpha, DMW and Lichtekooi. Add in community spirit, concerts at the restored De Roma, and bars like Bar Leon or Bakeliet, and you’ve got the city’s rawest but most welcoming corner.

Time Out tip: You’ll find bike rental spots all over this neighbourhood – grab a day pass to explore it properly. 

Address: 2140 Antwerpen

What is it? A neoclassical art temple with contemporary minimalist touches reopened in 2022 after 11 years of renovations.

Why we love it: Here, seven centuries of European art history meet the city’s most famous son, Baroque master Peter Paul Rubens. Step into galleries showcasing Flemish Primitives, Expressionists, and the world’s largest collections of James Ensor and Rik Wouters.

Time Out tip: Don’t miss the tranquil museum garden and the late-night Thursday openings mixing art with music, performances, and cocktails.

Address: Leopold de Waelplaats, 2000 Antwerpen

Opening hours: Monday-Wednesday 10am-5pm, Thursday 10am-10pm, Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-6pm

Price: €20 for adults, free for under 18s 

What is it? A 572-metre pedestrian and cyclist tunnel running beneath the Scheldt River, connecting Antwerp’s left and right banks since 1933.

Why we love it: Its tiled walls, vintage lifts, and classic Art Deco design make it a striking piece of city infrastructure that is still very much in use today. Walk or cycle underground to Linkeroever, then emerge to sweeping views of the Scheldt and city skyline. Few places in the world still let you ride original wooden escalators – an unmissable Antwerp experience.

Address: Sint‑Annatunnel, Frederik van Eedenplein, 2050 Antwerpen

Opening hours: Open 24 hours daily 

Price: Free entry 

What is it? Antwerp’s Fashion Museum, founded in 2002, holds the world’s largest collection of contemporary Belgian fashion, comprising 35,000 pieces.

Why go? The city became a global fashion capital in the 1980s with the famed Antwerp Six, and at MoMu you can explore the history and present of avant-garde Belgian and international fashion. Take a break with a locally roasted coffee at the stylish museum café. 

Time Out tip: Visit Het Modepaleis down the street, Dries Van Noten’s flagship store, for a full-circle experience.

Address: Nationalestraat 28, 2000 Antwerpen

Opening hours: Tuesday‑Sunday 10am‑6:00pm, last entry 5.30pm, Closed Mondays

Price: €8 for adults, €5 for ages 18-25, free for under 18s 

What is it? The city’s first falafel shop and a family-run institution in Antwerp’s Jewish district, founded by Tel Aviv native Beni Barnatan in 1968.

Why we love it: From pushcart beginnings to being voted the world’s best falafel shop in 2017 – at Beni Falafel, recipes and methods haven’t changed: the juicy chickpea balls are freshly fried upon ordering, and the bread is toasted with vintage flat irons. Some customers have been coming here since they were kids – an authentic (and still affordable) cornerstone of Antwerp’s culinary history. 

Address: Lange Leemstraat 188, 2018 Antwerpen

Opening hours: Monday‑Thursday 11.30am‑3.00pm and 5pm‑9pm, Sunday noon-9pm. Closed Fridays and Saturdays

Price: Bites from €2-€8, falafel and mains from €6.50-€15

What is it? A bold stack of red sandstone and glass, the Museum aan de Stroom (Museum at the River), opened in 2011, features the city’s best views.

Why we love it: Inside, the city’s ethnographic, maritime and local history collections are brought together, but the highlight is the rooftop: glide up nine levels of escalators to 62 metres for a free 360-degree panorama of the river, port, the historic centre, and the trendy Het Eilandje district below. 

Time Out tip: Head there for sunset – the reviews are unbeatable, and this spot is open late too. 

Address: Hanzestedenplaats 1, 2000 Antwerpen

Opening hours: Museum galleries are open Tuesday‑Sunday 10am‑5pm, rooftop panorama and boulevard are open Tuesday‑Sunday 9.30am‑10pm (weather permitting), closed Mondays

Price: Museum entry: €10 for adults, €6 for ages 18-25, free for under 18s, Terrace entry is free

What is it? An over-80-year-old corner bar home to a rare 1937 Decap dance organ, a protected piece of cultural heritage.

Why we love it: In the early 20th century, Belgian cafés were filled with mechanical dance organs, but today only a handful survive. Café Beveren’s is one of the last still playing: a self-powered mini-orchestra of accordion, drums and saxophone built by Antwerp’s famed Decap Brothers. Pair that with cheap beer and a lively, mixed crowd, and you’ve got one of the city’s most atmospheric nights out.

Address: Vlasmarkt 2, 2000 Antwerpen

Opening hours: Thursday 3pm-10pm, Friday 3pm-midnight, Saturday 1pm-1am, Sunday 1pm-10pm, closed Monday‑Wednesday

Price: Approx €10-20 per person

What is it? Antwerp’s historic heart, featuring the UNESCO-listed Renaissance town hall from the 16th century.

Why we love it: Surrounded by gorgeous guild houses rebuilt in the 19th century, the square echoes the city’s medieval past. In its midst, a fountain tells the story of Roman soldier Brabo, who cut off the hand of giant Antigoon and, according to folklore, paved the way for the city to prosper. 

Time Out tip: Soak it all in from the terrace of Café Den Engel, operating since 1903 in one of the city’s oldest buildings.

Address: Grote Markt, 2000 Antwerpen

Opening hours: Open 24‑hours daily

Price: Free entry to the market

What is it? A vibrant cultural house on Antwerp’s Eilandje, born from the artist collective Scheld’apen.

Why we love it: Step into a lively former warehouse near the MAS where art, music, theatre, nightlife, food and film intersect. Spend any time of day at Het Bos: sip coffee on the sunny terrace, enjoy a relaxed Sunday brunch, see an exhibition, or dance the night away. Sustainable and inclusive, Het Bos combines culture, socialising, and creativity under the same roof.

Address: Ankerrui 5‑7, 2000 Antwerpen

Opening hours: Wednesday‑Friday 4pm‑midnight, check website for event schedule

What is it? The city’s standout skyline jewel, a Zaha Hadid-designed masterpiece.

Why we love it: For the Havenhuis (Port House), which houses the city’s port authority, celebrated British-Iraqi architect Hadid, the first woman to win the prestigious Pritzker prize, combined the restored 19th-century fire station with a futuristic, diamond-shaped, shimmering glass structure. The iconic architectural eye-catcher with its wave-like facade perfectly embodies Antwerp’s heritage as the world’s diamond capital. 

Time Out tip: While the ground floor is accessible, it’s best admired from outside.

Address: Zaha Hadidplein 1, 2030 Antwerpen

Opening hours: Tuesday‑Sunday 10am‑5pm, closed Mondays

Exepect to pay: Free entry to the groundfloor