Antwerp

When travelling to Antwerp from afar, you are most likely to fly to Brussels Airport (BRU) or Charleroi Airport (officially Brussels South Charleroi Airport, CRL). Belgium’s biggest and most important airport is situated 45 km from Antwerp city centre, a 40-minute car trip. The express train from Brussels Airport – Zaventem station to Antwerpen Centraal takes only 30 minutes. Antwerp's own airport (ANR) is only 7 km from Antwerp city centre, a mere 15 minutes by car. Luxair, Tui Fly and Sky Alps offer connections to popular vacation spots, including London. The nearest train station is Mortsel. The local bus stop is right outside the terminal. Brussels South Charleroi Airport is the farthest of the three, around 115 km away. The most cost-effective connection is to take the local bus from the airport to Charleroi Gare Centrale (around 20 minutes) and then take the train to Antwerpen Centraal (1 hour 45 minutes).

Since 2011, you can explore Antwerp with one of the thousand red-and-white city bikes, called Velos. Wherever you are in the city centre, there is always a Velo station within walking distance. You can buy a bike pass for a day, week or year.

Belgium can be visited visa-free for up to 90 days by citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel, UAE and most countries in America. If you are unsure whether or not you need to apply for a visa, we recommend contacting the embassy or consulate in your country. International (non-Schengen) travellers need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the end of their intended trip in order to enter the Schengen zone. Citizens of Schengen countries can travel without a passport, but must have a valid ID with them during their stay.

Antwerp is a pocket-sized metropolis: compact and easy to navigate, even on foot. You can easily explore the city on foot. About 20 percent of the historic centre is car-free, and during many summer events, pedestrians are given absolute priority. Ideal for crossing the city: take the tram or bus from the Flemish transport company De Lijn. De Lijn's trams run for an extra hour on Fridays and Saturdays. As a result, the weekend timetable better matches the schedule of the night buses. Good news for partygoers, who can enjoy the nightlife longer and want to get home safely and quickly. Buy your tram or bus ticket at a pre-sale point (newsagent, supermarket, corner shops, or at the machines at the stops). With pre-sale, a ticket is 20% cheaper. You can also pay the fare with De Lijn mobile app.

In Antwerp, all official taxis have a permit from the City of Antwerp. You can recognise them by an illuminated taxi sign on the roof and a red license plate on the front. You pay a uniform tariff set by the city. The tariff is always visible on the taximeter on the dashboard. When you arrive at your destination, the taximeter automatically prints out a ticket with the taxi company’s name and contact information. There are always taxis on Queen Astrid Square (Koningin Astridplein), immediately north of the central station. Alternatively, book your ride through the taxi.eu app or call +32 3 238 38 38.

Country code: +32 Area code: 3

In Belgium, types C and E are the official standards. The electrical plugs are compatible with type F plug with two round pins. The standard voltage is 230 Volt and the frequency is 50 Hz.