Places to Visit in Antwerp

Antwerp, the second largest city in Belgium, is romantically called ‘the daughter of River Scheldt “. It is the second largest harbor in Europe. The city is often considered as the diamond center of the World. Any time of the year is perfect to visit Antwerp. The winter is, however, damp and cool. The city is more crowded in the summer as the nightlife is especially good then. But if you prefer to avoid crowd, late autumn to early spring is the best time to visit Antwerp.

The best part of an Antwerp tour is that the most of the major tourist attractions are located close to each other. This enables the tourists to avoid long distances to visit the major tourist attractions.

Antwerp Zoo

Antwerp Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world. It is a major crowd puller in Antwerp and records around a million visits annually. There are around 950 different species of animals here. The separate bird house in the premises houses different species of birds as well. Some rare animals like the Okapi, Giraffe, Orangutan, Polar Bear, Siberian Tiger and Indian Lions are housed here. The place is ideal to visit with family and friends.

Grote Markt

Another popular tourist center in Antwerp is the Grote Market. The place has a wonderful 16th century city hall. The place is full of numerous restaurants and shops where you can enjoy some really good dining and shopping. The large fountain in the middle of the City Square pays homage to Brabo, the mythical hero of Antwerp.

Antwerp Cathedral of Our Lady

The Cathedral of Our Lady or “Onze Lieve Vrouwe Kathedraal”, as says the people in Antwerp, is one of the most magnificent monuments in Belgium. It is one of the tallest buildings in Antwerp and a fine example of lace architecture in stone. The church was damaged and reconditioned a number of times. Some famous paintings like Elevation of the Cross (1610), Descent from the Cross (1612) and the Resurrection Triptych (1612) by Rubens re housed in the cathedral. This Gothic architecture styled building is a must visit.

Steen Castle and Fortress

Steen Castle is the oldest building in Antwerp. The name came from the word ‘Steen’ that means ‘stone’ in Dutch and it was one of the earliest constructions in the city that was made of stone. The building was used as a prison from 1549 to 1823. The castle is now the home of National Maritime Museum and is considered a popular tourist spot.

Aquatopia

The Aquatopia is home of over ten thousand fish with huge aquariums and fabulous viewing windows. It was reopened in 2005 after an extensive renovation. Situated opposite to Antwerp Zoo and open except the National holidays, Aquatopia is a confirmed favorite tourist spot with its popular shows and regular events for children.

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