Antwerp 1 Day Itinerary: Why Antwerp Beat Bruges for Our Family Travel
Our Favourite Belgian City
In July 2026, on our way to the Netherlands, we decided to spend two days exploring Belgium. We stayed in Antwerp for 2 nights and explored Bruges one day and Antwerp the next. Here is what we did in Antwerp.
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Arriving in Antwerp
- Via Train or Bus: Antwerp is centrally located in Europe with excellent rail connections through Paris, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Frankfurt, arriving right at the iconic Antwerp-Central Station. To check schedules and book your ticket, use the Busbud platform here.
- Via Flight: Fly into Antwerp International Airport (or nearby Brussels Airport for broader international routes) to experience the stunning city of Antwerp while enjoying Halal food. To find the best deals on airfare, search and book your flights here.
Getting Around and Staying in Belgium
- Going Around:
- Taxis & Private Transfers Secure a reliable, fixed-price ride with professional drivers. Avoid the airport queues by booking in advance. Book your taxi/transfer here.
- Car Rentals Enjoy the freedom of the open road. Compare the best rates from top brands to find your perfect vehicle here.
- Public Transport Travel like a local and save money. Skip the station lines by securing your train and bus tickets here.
- Stay Connected: To navigate the city like a local and share your photos in real time, we recommend getting an eSIM. Pick the option that suits your needs:
- We recommend Airalo for a budget-friendly and basic plan. Get your Airalo eSIM here.
- Yesim is our top-pick for unlimited data needs. Get your Yesim eSIM here.
- Where to Stay: To make the most of your trip, I recommend booking one of these hotels.
Antwerpen-Centraal Station
We started our exploration of Antwerp with its overhyped, Instagram sensation Antwerpen-Centraal Station. We had seen so many videos of how this is the best train station in the world. Sadly, the all-hyped stunning structure is just a small square in the station and is just there for show. The rest of the station is okayish. It is hilarious how no one pointed out that the most beautiful station part is just a few square meters big.
Anyways, we were not impressed by the station. Living in Europe, we have come across stunning train stations with beautiful architecture, and this just was not it for us. Next, we drove to the Grote Markt Parking, parked our car there, and did a walking tour of the rest of the city.
Cathedral of Our Lady
Our first stop on the walking tour was the Cathedral of Our Lady. We loved the architecture from the outside and were impressed by it. The best thing about this cathedral was that it was so tall that it was visible almost the whole time during our walking tour. The architecture was magnificent. We did not go inside, but loved the exterior a lot. Outside the cathedral, we saw a sculpture of a child with its dog, and we loved it.
Grote Markt
While we were unimpressed by the Grote Markt of Bruges, we loved the Grote Markt of Antwerp. This had beautiful stalls, outdoor seating areas, and a very cozy vibe. The weather was nice and we loved walking around the Markt.
Vlaeykensgang
Vlaeykensgang is a secret hidden alley that was not on our tour plan. We stumbled on it randomly while going to our next destination and were pleasantly surprised. This was a breathtaking hidden alley that led to a courtyard. We were so glad that we ran into it. This was definitely a gem so hidden that even I did not come across it while doing my itinerary research.
Sint-Carolus Borromeuskerk
As we walked towards Sint-Carolus Borromeuskerk, we came across two Halal restaurants. If you are looking for a quick bite, visit onlyKebap and It’s Mo.
Sint-Carolus Borromeuskerk had beautiful architecture. It was not a very popular tourist attraction, but we always welcome a lack of crowds, so we had a lot of fun.
Het Steen
Our last destination was Het Steen, which used to be a fortress on the banks of the Scheldt River back in the day. It was well-maintained and had a beautiful structure. It also had an observatory at the top, and you could go up to get a view of Antwerp and the Scheldt River. We spent half an hour enjoying the view and walk at Het Steen before heading back to our car parking area.
Halal / Muslim-Friendly Food
Uyghur Noodles Halal Food
- 🥘Cuisine: Authentic Uyghur Hand-Pulled Noodles & Central Asian Cuisine
- ⭐ Our Rating: ⭐⭐
- 🌙 Halal Status: 100% Halal
- 🌐 Website: https://uyghurnoodles.com/
- 📸Socials: Instagram
- 💰Budget: €18–€30 per person
We had dinner at Uyghur Noodles Halal food in Antwerp. We had read extremely good reviews about the restaurant, and we were looking forward to trying it for dinner. We ordered Uyghur Dumplings, Beef Noodle Soup, Rice Noodles Beef, and Rice Noodles Chicken. The Uyghur Dumplings were delicious, but unfortunately, that is where the goodness ended. The Beef Noodle Soup lacked taste and had no flavor. The Rice Noodles Beef had too much salt in it, and the Rice Noodles Chicken was just ok. We left the restaurant extremely disappointed. The pricing was on the expensive side, and the taste did not do justice to what we paid at all.
District 13
- 🥘Cuisine: Premium Halal Street Food & Smash Burgers
- ⭐ Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- 🌙 Halal Status: 100% Halal
- 🌐 Website: https://district13.be/
- 📸Socials: Instagram
- 💰Budget: €12–€25 per person
District 13 is a 100% Halal restaurant in Antwerp. There was plenty of seating available indoors. I saw Mac and Cheese on their menu and realized I had never had a Mac and Cheese. We ordered Mac and Cheese, chicken burger, beef burger, chicken tenders, and fries. The whole spread was extremely delicious. The burgers were juicy, the sauces were spot on, and the tenders were soft. The Mac and Cheese was so good that my daughter and I were competing to eat it. Overall, this was a 10/10 dining experience.
Ocaprices
- 🥘Cuisine: Moroccan & Mediterranean Halal Fine Dining
- ⭐ Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- 🌙 Halal Status: 100% Halal
- 🌐 Website: https://ocaprices.be/
- 📸Socials: Instagram
- 💰Budget: €20–€35 per person
Ocaprices Antwerpen is a Halal restaurant that offers extremely delicious and fresh brunch. We wanted to have a good brunch and were delighted to find a Halal place. We ordered Nutella-Strawberry Pancakes and Nutella-Banana Pancakes for the kids. For ourselves, we ordered Chocolate Frappuccino, Chocolate Milkshake, Tunisian Breakfast, and Mamamia. The food was extremely delicious and did not take too long to come. The highlight for the kids was the robot that was delivering the food. Our 2-year-old could not hide his excitement and kept on following the robot with his eyes. This was definitely an extremely good dining experience for the whole family.
Sweetsie’s Antwerpen
- 🥘Cuisine: Belgian Waffles & Specialty Desserts
- ⭐ Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- 🌙 Halal Status: Vegetarian & Muslim-friendly Options
- 📸Socials: Instagram
- 💰Budget: €7–€15 per person
We could not have left Belgium without trying authentic Belgian waffles. So, the last thing we did before leaving Belgium was to go get waffles at Sweetsie’s. The waffles, the chocolate sauce, the ice cream, and the fresh strawberries: everything was spot on, and we left with big smiles on our faces.
Final Remarks
Antwerp turned out to be a wild card for us. We had been feeling disappointed about Bruges, but Antwerp delivered above our expectations. We also loved the fact that Halal food was so readily available in Antwerp.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Antwerp worth visiting instead of Bruges?
For our family, Antwerp was much more enjoyable than Bruges. Antwerp offered better atmosphere, less crowded sights like Sint-Carolus Borromeuskerk and Het Steen, and fantastic Halal food options.
How easy is it to find Halal food in Antwerp?
Halal food is very readily available in Antwerp. Options range from fast bites like onlyKebap and It’s Mo to seated restaurants like District 13, Ocaprices for brunch, and local waffle spots like Sweetsie’s.
Is Antwerpen-Centraal Station worth visiting?
While the main architecture hall is beautiful, it is relatively small compared to the social media hype. It is worth taking a quick look if you are nearby, but we recommend spending more time exploring the rest of the city center.
