How to Get to Antwerp from Brussels

Antwerp is a city located in the Belgian region of Flanders, just 56 kilometres from Brussels, and is known as the 'diamond city', a leading manufacturer of diamond jewellery.

Antwerp has a small airport, which only serves the UK, making Brussels Airport the best option for getting to Antwerp from anywhere in the world, although you also have the option of travelling by train, bus or car (either by taxi, private car or hire). If you' re travelling to Brussels for more than a day, it's worth setting aside a day to visit Antwerp. Here are some things to do.

The day trip to Antwerp and Ghent from Brussels is a highly recommended option to enjoy a relaxing bus trip with a professional guide who will show you the best recommendations to get to know the cities. On the way, you will also be able to see the wonderful landscapes of Flanders.

On this tour you will visit all the monuments and must-see places in Antwerp and Ghent and you will have time to take as many photos as you want.

• Duration: Full day
• Price: From 48€.
• Recommended if: You are looking to get to know the city of Antwerp and Ghent and make the most of your short stay.

The fastest way to visit the city of Antwerp is by train. A ticket from any of the train stations in Brussels to Antwerp costs approximately €12 and takes about 45 minutes to reach the city. A fact: there are about 25 trains per day.

Direct trains depart from Brussels Midi Station to Antwerp (Antwerpen Central) and run every 30 minutes, with a journey time of between 36 minutes and 40 minutes, depending on which train you choose. An adult 2nd class single ticket costs €6.70. If you need to travel from Brussels Airport, take the train from Brussels Noord (Bruxelles Nord) to Antwerpen Centraal. It takes 45 minutes and there are daily departures, every 32 minutes. The adult 2nd class single ticket also costs €6,70.

• Duration: 45 minutes
• Price: 12 €.
• Recommended if: You are looking for comfort and affordability.

There is a direct bus service departing from Brussels airport every hour, specifically from platform B. On weekdays the first departure is at 5 a.m. while on weekends it is at 7 a.m.

Once you have enjoyed your trip and tour to Antwerp and decide to return to Brussels you should take a bus from the "De Keyserlei" stop or the "Crowne Plaza" stop. The bus leaves every hour, starting at around 4am, and usually arrives at its destination in about 60 minutes (check the companies' websites for information in good time). Fares are usually around 7€ for adults and 5€ for children or minors.

To buy bus tickets I recommend the following websites: Omio, Flixbus and Busbud. On these websites you can also get more detailed information about timetables, prices...

• Duration: 1 hour
• Price: 7€.
• Recommended if: You are looking for the cheapest option

The most comfortable and luxurious way to get from Brussels to Antwerp is to take a taxi, which will take about 30 minutes and costs between 100 and 130 euros. For this you can count on the companies Kiwitaxi and Airporttaxis.

If you go by car you should know that the distance between Antwerp and Brussels is 44.78 km. If you travel by car with an average speed of 100 km/hour, the travel time will be about 27 minutes. For the latter case you have the options of Rentalcarsy Europcar.

• Duration: 30 minutes
• Price: 100€-130€.
• Recommended if:If you are looking for an option that depends exclusively on your planning

If you have chosen the organised tour option, the tours usually last about four hours. If you go on your own, the length of the tour will obviously depend on whether you are returning to Brussels on the same day. Regardless of how you go about your visit, there are several places you should not miss during your stay in the city:

• The Central Train Station, known as the "iron cathedral" and considered one of the most beautiful train stations in the world.
• The diamond district, where you will learn about the history and process of diamond cutting, and admire some unique pieces of jewellery.
• "The Meir, Antwerp's main shopping street where you can admire fashionable shops in a beautiful architectural setting.
• The "Meir Palace", a rococo mansion that used to be Napoleon's palace. I recommend tasting the artisan coffee and handmade chocolate in what is now one of Belgium's most famous chocolate shops.
• Cathedral of Our Lady, the largest Gothic church in Belgium and famous for its striking tower. Inside, you can see an art collection that includes four masterpieces by Paul Peter Rubens.
• Church of St. Charles Borromeo, a jewel of baroque architecture in the city that houses one of the most beautiful baroque confessionals in the world.
• The "Het Steen", a medieval castle located in the old harbour of the city, from where you can admire the Scheldt river and watch a sunset by the water.

When to go to Antwerp from Brussels

If you are looking for that sweet spot of good weather and fewer tourist crowds to visit Antwerp from Brussels, I recommend you make the most of the post-summer break and visit the city in September.

What is the cheapest way to get to Antwerp?

The cheapest way to get to Antwerp from Brussels is to take a bus, which can cost as little as €6. The disadvantage is that you can hardly know exactly what time you will arrive in Antwerp. There can be a margin of error of up to 15 minutes due to traffic, weather conditions...

What is the best way to travel from Brussels to Antwerp?

The most sensible and pleasant way to travel to Antwerp from Brussels is by train; indeed, I would recommend that you opt for this option in a heartbeat, unless you are particularly keen to use another mode of transport.

Which are the cheapest operators to travel from Brussels to Antwerp?

While it is true that ticket prices tend to vary according to date, day of the week, time of day, and even supply and demand, these variations are usually not so drastic. The cheapest option by bus is on Flixbus, where prices can be as low as €5 per trip. While by train, the cheapest option is with SNCB, where tickets can be as low as €10 a trip.