🇧🇪 Discovering Antwerp in 24 Hours: A Guide to Waffles, Diamonds, and Must-See Instagram Spots

✨ One Perfect Day in Antwerp 🇧🇪🍫📸

Welcome to Antwerp, Belgium’s sparkling diamond 💎—a city where history, art, fashion, and chocolate collide. Whether you’re here for a day trip or staying overnight, Antwerp will charm you with its cathedrals ⛪, canals 🚤, waffles 🧇, and vibrant nightlife 🌙.

But before you pack your bags 🎒, here’s your Schengen Entry Checklist:

✅ Passport (valid 3 months beyond stay)

✅ Schengen Visa (if required 🌍)

✅ Hotel/Airbnb Booking 🏨

✅ Return Ticket 🎟️

✅ Travel Insurance (recommended for EU trips 🛡️)

💡 Travel Tip: Flying into Brussels Airport ✈️ is the easiest route—Antwerp is just 40 min by train 🚆.

🕰️ One-Day Antwerp Itinerary

☀️ Morning – A Dreamy Start

🍽️ Breakfast at Goossens Bakery – Start your day like a local with freshly baked croissants 🥐, Belgian waffles 🧇, and artisanal bread 🍞 at this 19th-century family-run bakery.

📍 Address: Korte Gasthuisstraat 31

💡 Tip: Go early, it gets busy!

📸 Insta-spot: Snap your croissant + coffee combo against Antwerp’s cobbled streets ☕📸.

🏰 Mid-Morning – Antwerp’s Heartbeat

⛪ Cathedral of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal) – The tallest Gothic cathedral in Belgium (123m!) filled with Rubens’ masterpieces 🎨.

🎟️ Ticket: ~€12 → Book here

📍 Location: Groenplaats

📸 Insta-spot: Cathedral towers against Antwerp’s skyline 🌆.

💡 Travel Hack: Book tickets online to skip the queue—especially in summer.

🍫 Late Morning – Chocolate Time!

🍫 The Chocolate Line – Antwerp’s most famous chocolate house. Expect quirky flavors (tequila lime, bacon 😲) alongside Belgian classics.

📍 Address: Meir 50

💡 Don’t leave Belgium without chocolate souvenirs 🎁—trust us, your suitcase will smell divine.

🍴 Lunch – Belgian Classics

🥘 Frituur No. 1 – Authentic Belgian fries 🍟 with sauces that will blow your mind. Pair it with a local beer 🍺.

📍 Hoogstraat 1

OR

🍴 Elfde Gebod (The Eleventh Commandment) – Quirky restaurant filled with religious statues, serving hearty Belgian stews 🥘 & mussels 🦪.

🎨 Afternoon – Culture & Diamonds

💎 Diamond District – Antwerp = World’s Diamond Capital 💍. Walk around, explore glittering shop windows.

🖼️ MAS Museum (Museum aan de Stroom) – Iconic modern museum with panoramic rooftop views of Antwerp 🌆.

🎟️ Ticket: €12 → Book here

📸 Insta-spot: Sunset from MAS rooftop 🌅.

🌇 Evening – Romantic Strolls

🚤 Canal/Port Area Walk – Antwerp has a modern riverbank vibe with the Scheldt River 🌊. Perfect for sunset strolls.

💡 Tip: Grab a waffle cone 🍦 from a street vendor while walking.

🌙 Night – End with a Spark

🍷 Dinner at The Jane – Michelin-starred restaurant 💫 (reservations essential!) for a once-in-a-lifetime foodie experience.

OR

🍕 Pasta HippoVino – Cozy, fun dinner spot with amazing pasta 🍝 + wine 🍷.

🍻 End at Café d’Anvers – Legendary nightlife spot 🎶 for those who want to dance the night away.

Brabo Fountain in the Grote Markt (MainSquare),Antwerp

🏨 Where to Stay in Antwerp

If you decide to stay overnight (highly recommended 💤):

• 💎 Hotel Julien – Stylish boutique stay near the Cathedral.

• 🏨 Hampton by Hilton Antwerp Central Station – Perfect for train travelers 🚆.

• 🌍 Budget Tip: Stay in Antwerp & make a quick 40-min train trip to Brussels the next day!

💡 Travel Tips for Antwerp

🚆 Buy a day transport pass (bus/tram/metro) – €8 saves you money compared to single tickets.

📱 Download De Lijn app for easy tram/bus tickets.

🍫 Buy chocolates in Antwerp (less crowded) instead of Brussels’ touristy shops.

📸 Visit early morning or late evening for the best light + fewer crowds.

💡 If you’re short on time → focus on Cathedral, Chocolate Line, MAS Museum, & sunset at the riverbank.

✨ And there you have it—one dreamy, delicious, and Insta-perfect day in Antwerp! 🇧🇪

From waffles 🧇 to diamonds 💎, from Gothic towers ⛪ to sunset strolls 🌅, Antwerp is that city you’ll always want to come back to.

👉 Stay tuned with Wandering Furies for more couple travel diaries filled with food, fun & stories across Europe 💃🌍🕺.