Antwerp City Guide

Characterised by its cafe-filled cobbled streets, modern architecture, and sophisticated spirit, it's easy to see why Antwerp is the capital of cool. Antwerp's key draws are its thriving fashion industry, impressive design and architecture culture, and rich history. With over 500 museums and galleries, there's plenty of inspiration to soak up. 

One of the top things to do in Antwerp is to visit its many museums. The city is home to a number of world-class museums, including the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, which houses a collection of paintings by Flemish masters. FOMU (Fotomuseum) in Antwerp is also well worth a visit due to its extensive collection of over 3 million photographs, ranging from the earliest days of the medium to contemporary works by some of today's most innovative photographers. 

Antwerp is known as a hub of fashion and design, with a thriving industry that has produced some of the most influential designers of the past few decades. The city is home to the renowned Antwerp Six, a group of avant-garde fashion designers who gained international recognition in the 1980s and helped put Antwerp on the fashion map. The Antwerp Fashion Academy produced Dries Van Noten and Ann Demeulemeester — just to name a couple. There’s no shortage of fashion boutiques to visit from more stores that offer a high range selection like LOUIS, to contemporary up-and-comers like Rosemary. 

The creativity isn’t limited to fashion. Take a stroll down Kloosterstraat and visit the array of vintage furniture stores — there’s no shortage of classic vintage finds.

If you're a foodie, you'll love Antwerp. We recommend starting the day off with a strong drop of coffee from Andy’s, a welcoming hang-out for cool kids. When the sun's setting, head for a glass of natural wine at Amber Bottle Shop, followed by a delicious bite at Osaka or Bar Peche. A perfect day, in our opinion.  

The Pilot City Guide: Antwerp is a hand-picked collection of our favourites, including the best in food, drink, retail and fun.

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