Overview
Antwerp is Belgium's diamond capital and one of Europe's most rewarding city breaks — a walkable mix of Flemish Old Master art, cutting-edge fashion, grand cafés and a lively riverside on the River Scheldt. It sits under an hour by train from Brussels, pairs easily with Bruges or Ghent, and with English widely spoken and just one hour ahead of the UK it makes a straightforward long weekend.
Best time to fly to Antwerp
Antwerp has a mild, changeable maritime climate with a chance of rain in any month, so pack a light waterproof. Late spring (May and June) and early September are the sweet spot, with temperatures around 18–22°C, long days and lighter crowds. July and August are the warmest and busiest, while December brings festive markets and lights. January and February are cold, quiet and often the cheapest — see the When to book chart above for how fares shift through the year.
Airlines and routes
Direct scheduled flights between the UK and Antwerp Airport have come and gone over the years, and there is currently no dependable year-round nonstop, so most travellers connect. The easiest route is to fly into Brussels Airport (BRU) — served from several UK airports by British Airways and Brussels Airlines, with Ryanair flying to Brussels South Charleroi — then take a direct train to Antwerpen-Centraal in about 35 to 50 minutes. Amsterdam Schiphol (KLM, easyJet, British Airways) works well too, with trains reaching Antwerp in just over an hour. Flight time from London is roughly 1 hour 10 minutes to Brussels or about 1 hour to Amsterdam; allow around 1.5 hours from Manchester, Edinburgh or Glasgow. Eurostar to Brussels with a short onward train is a popular no-fly alternative.
Things to do in Antwerp
The historic centre is compact and best explored on foot over a day or two.
- Cathedral of Our Lady: Belgium's largest Gothic church, home to several monumental altarpieces by Peter Paul Rubens.
- Antwerpen-Centraal station: a gilded 1905 landmark regularly named among the most beautiful railway stations in the world.
- MAS (Museum aan de Stroom): a bold red-sandstone tower on the old docks with a free rooftop panorama over the city and port.
- Plantin-Moretus Museum: a UNESCO-listed former printing house holding the world's oldest surviving printing presses.
- Het Steen: the medieval riverside fortress on the Scheldt, now the city's visitor centre and a fine spot to begin a waterfront walk.
At Antwerp Airport (ANR)
Antwerp Airport sits in the Deurne district, only about 5km (3 miles) south-east of the centre — one of Europe's closest airports to a major city. A taxi into town takes roughly 10 to 15 minutes, and local buses run towards Antwerpen-Centraal and the Diamond District for onward trams and trains. If you arrive via Brussels or Amsterdam, mainline trains run straight into Antwerpen-Centraal, a short walk from the main shopping streets and a quick tram ride from the old town.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Antwerp
- Book peak dates early: for summer, half-term and the weeks before Christmas, booking about two to four months ahead tends to give the best mix of price and choice.
- Fly midweek and off-peak: Tuesday and Wednesday departures, and early or late flights, are usually cheaper than Friday and Sunday.
- Use flexible dates: moving your trip by a day or two can cut the fare noticeably, especially outside school holidays — the price charts on this page make the pattern clear.
- Compare gateways: check fares into both Brussels and Amsterdam and weigh the total cost, including the onward train, rather than the headline airfare alone.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders do not need a visa for short stays: you can spend up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area for tourism. Your passport should be issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least three months after you leave. Under the EU's new Entry/Exit System you may have fingerprints and a photo taken at the border, and the ETIAS travel authorisation is expected to be introduced during 2026 — check GOV.UK before you travel. The currency is the euro, with cards and contactless accepted almost everywhere. Bring a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) alongside travel insurance; no special vaccinations are required.