Antwerp Off the Beaten Path: 4 Day Itinerary
Four days adds a full day southeast of the center, to a street of Art Nouveau facades most first-timers never walk past, plus the reopened fine arts museum that quietly outdoes the closed Rubenshuis. Everything from the 3 day itinerary stays intact underneath. See also the 2 day , 5 day , 6 day and full week versions, or the guide to Antwerp’s hidden gems .
Book these before you go:
- Check rates near Centraal on Booking.com
- Book a diamond district tour for Day 3
- Book an old town walking tour for Day 1
Day 1: Grote Markt and the railway cathedral
Grote Markt, the Brabo Fountain’s hand-throwing legend, and the guild houses ringing the square, then Antwerpen-Centraal, the “railway cathedral” Mashable named the world’s most beautiful station in 2014. Afternoon: the Cathedral of Our Lady (EUR 12, free under 18) for Rubens’ Descent from the Cross and Elevation of the Cross, since the Rubenshuis stays closed until 2030. Evening: a Bolleke of De Koninck at a nearby cafe, roughly EUR 2.50-3.50.
Day 2: The river, for free
The MAS (Museum aan de Stroom) rooftop, free with no ticket (galleries EUR 10 plus EUR 2 for temporary shows), then Het Steen’s free courtyard and rooftop. Afternoon: the free Sint-Annatunnel under the Scheldt (built 1933, 572 meters) out, the free Sint-Anna ferry back, running 24/7 since September 2025. De Lijn’s premetro tram tunnel under the river closes for renovation from May 2026 to roughly the end of March 2027, so stick to this pedestrian crossing this year.
Day 3: Diamonds and prints
Morning: the Diamond District on a weekday (much closes Saturdays for its large Orthodox Jewish community), then the DIVA museum (EUR 12) for the trading-hub story done honestly; Antwerp trades roughly 84 percent of the world’s rough diamonds but does not cut most of them today. Afternoon: the Plantin-Moretus Museum (EUR 12, free first Wednesday), the only individually UNESCO-listed museum in the world, then a walk down Meir shopping street.
Day 4: Art Nouveau and the Rubens redirect
Take the tram or a 20-minute walk southeast to Cogels-Osylei in the Zurenborg district, near Antwerpen-Berchem station: a free Art Nouveau street with 170 protected facades built 1894-1906, including the four “Four Seasons” villas and four “White Palaces,” pulling a fraction of the crowds Brussels’ Horta House does. Spend the rest of the morning in Het Zuid, the artsy, upscale district south of the center.
In the afternoon, visit KMSKA, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, reopened in 2022 after an 11-year renovation and running timed online entry, roughly EUR 12. It holds real Rubens and Van Dyck alongside the rest of Antwerp’s old-masters collection, a genuine second answer to the closed Rubenshuis. Book ahead rather than assuming walk-up access.
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Grote Markt, Antwerpen-Centraal, Cathedral of Our Lady |
| Day 2 | MAS free rooftop, Het Steen, the free Sint-Anna tunnel and ferry |
| Day 3 | Diamond District, DIVA museum, Plantin-Moretus UNESCO print house |
| Day 4 | Cogels-Osylei Art Nouveau street, Het Zuid, KMSKA |
Adding a fifth day picks up with MoMu’s fashion collection and De Koninck’s brewery culture in the 5 day itinerary .