Belgium Tours

Private Tours in Belgium with Andrew

+32 487 670 312

info@toursinbelgium.com

Private Antwerp Shore Excursion from the Cruise Terminal
previous arrow
next arrow

Shore Excursion Walking Tour: Antwerp’s Treasures from Port to Heart

Antwerp’s Cultural and Historic Highlights in One Walk

OVERVIEW

Step ashore and step back in time on a walking tour that will enchant your senses and awaken your curiosity. “Antwerp’s Treasures – From Port to Heart” invites you on a delightful 3-hour journey through one of Europe’s most dazzling cities, where every square, street, and spire whispers stories of grandeur, art, and legend.

From the moment you’re greeted at the port, you’ll be swept into the elegant rhythm of Antwerp: strolling along the Scheldt River, admiring the soaring Cathedral of Our Lady, uncovering the playful legend behind the Brabo Fountain, and losing yourself in the golden charm of the Grote Markt. As we meander down the splendid Meir boulevard, past baroque mansions and royal palaces, we’ll pause to savour the present as much as the past.

DURATION

3 HOURS

BOOKING DAYS

EVERY DAY, STARTING BETWEEN 8 AM & 3 PM

LANGUAGE

ENGLISH

HIGHLIGHTS

More information

ITINERARY

A warm welcome awaits you directly at Antwerp Cruise Terminal, beside historic Het Steen on the banks of the River Scheldt. From here, we begin our journey into the heart of the city while discovering how the Scheldt helped transform Antwerp into one of Europe’s great commercial centres during its 16th-century Golden Age. As we approach the Grote Markt, I will introduce you to one of Antwerp’s most famous legends – the story of the giant Druon Antigoon and the Roman soldier Silvius Brabo. According to popular tradition, this dramatic tale of a severed and thrown hand became associated with the name “Antwerpen”, a story we will encounter again at the spectacular Brabo Fountain.

We soon arrive at the magnificent Grote Markt, surrounded by ornate guild houses and dominated by Antwerp City Hall. Inaugurated in 1565 and designed under the direction of Cornelis Floris de Vriendt, the City Hall is one of Antwerp’s great Renaissance landmarks, combining Italian Renaissance ideas with the architectural traditions of the Low Countries. At the centre of the square, the dramatic Brabo Fountain brings Antwerp’s most famous legend vividly to life.
 
Nearby stands the magnificent Cathedral of Our Lady, one of Antwerp’s defining landmarks. Construction began in 1352, and the cathedral was consecrated in 1521. Its extraordinary 123-metre north tower, the only tower to reach its intended monumental height, dominates Antwerp’s historic skyline and forms part of the UNESCO-listed belfry tradition. If opening hours and your preferred pace allow, you may choose to visit the interior, where four major works by Peter Paul Rubens are preserved, including The Elevation of the Cross and The Descent from the Cross. Nearby, we also encounter the touching Nello and Patrasche sculpture, inspired by the famous story A Dog of Flanders.
 
From the Cathedral area, we continue through the atmospheric historic centre towards Hendrik Conscienceplein, one of Antwerp’s most charming squares. Here we admire the magnificent Baroque façade of Saint Charles Borromeo Church before continuing towards the historic Handelsbeurs, a powerful reminder of Antwerp’s centuries-old role as an international centre of commerce and finance.
 
We then stroll along the Meir, Antwerp’s famous shopping avenue, where centuries of wealth and architectural ambition are still visible in its grand façades. Along the way, we pass the magnificent Stadsfeestzaal, opened in 1908 as a grand city festival and exhibition hall; the Paleis op de Meir, an elegant 18th-century Rococo city palace purchased by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1811; and the impressive Osterrieth House, another remarkable example of Antwerp’s aristocratic Rococo heritage.
 

If time allows, we may pause briefly for a coffee, Belgian waffle or other refreshment along the route. Food and drinks are optional and are not included in the tour price.

Our walk reaches its architectural finale at Antwerp Central Station, one of the city’s most spectacular landmarks and frequently nicknamed the “Railway Cathedral”. Completed in the early 20th century, the monumental passenger building was designed by Louis Delacenserie in an eclectic style with strong Neo-Baroque influences, while the enormous iron-and-glass train hall represents the remarkable engineering work associated with Clément Van Bogaert. Together, stone, steel, glass and monumental scale created one of Belgium’s great railway landmarks.
 
The standard itinerary can finish at Antwerp Central Station if you would like to continue exploring the city independently. If you prefer to return directly to your ship, I can adapt the route and timing so that the tour concludes back at the Antwerp Cruise Terminal.
PRICE
The price for this private tour depends on the size of your group. Prices are per group, not per person. The price includes my private tour guiding services for 3 hours, based on the itinerary described above. Entrance fees, food and drinks are not included and, where applicable, are paid directly at the attractions or establishments visited.
  • The price per group of up to 4 people: € 120 per group
  • The price per group of 5 to 8 people: € 140 per group
  • The price per group of 9 to 15 people: € 160 per group
  • For groups of more than 15 people, please send me an email or complete the booking form, indicating the exact number of people in your group.
     

Please note: Each additional hour is charged at €40 per group for groups of up to 15 people. For groups of more than 15 people, extended-tour pricing is quoted individually.


 

OPTIONAL INTERIOR VISITS

The standard 3-hour shore excursion is designed primarily as a walking overview of Antwerp’s historic centre. Depending on opening hours, your walking pace and your preferred itinerary, one short interior visit – such as the Cathedral of Our Lady – may be included. A full museum visit will normally require additional tour time.

If a particular museum or attraction is important to you, please let me know when making your booking request so that I can advise you on the most suitable itinerary and duration.
 
 
  • Antwerp’s Cathedral of Our Lady – € 12 per person
  • DIVA  Museum /diamonds, jewellery and silver/ – € 12 per person
  • Museum Plantin-Moretus – € 12 per person
  • Snijders&Rockox House – € 10 per person
  • Rubens Experience & Garden – € 12 per person
  • Museum De Reede – € 15 per person
  • MoMu – Fashion Museum Antwerp – € 13 per person
  • Red Star Line Museum – € 10 per person
  • KMSKA – Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp – € 20 per person
MEETING POINT
The standard meeting point for this private shore excursion is directly at Antwerp Cruise Terminal, Steenplein 1, beside Het Steen. I will meet you as you leave the cruise terminal so that we can begin the tour immediately.
 

View the exact suggested meeting point on Google Maps.

If your ship is assigned to another berth in Antwerp, please send me your ship name and docking information in advance so that I can confirm the most convenient meeting point.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
  • The Private Antwerp Shore Excursion Walking Tour has a standard duration of 3 hours. Additional hours can be arranged in advance, subject to availability.
  • When booking, please provide the name of your cruise ship, its scheduled arrival time, departure or all-aboard time, and your preferred meeting time. This allows me to adapt the itinerary carefully to your ship’s schedule.
  • The route can be adapted to finish either in the city centre or back at Antwerp Cruise Terminal, depending on your plans and the time available before your ship departs.
  • If your ship arrives later than scheduled, please contact me as soon as possible. Where possible, I will adapt the route and duration according to the remaining available time.
  • The itinerary may be slightly adjusted according to monument opening hours, religious services, public events, roadworks or other circumstances.
  • If you would like to include a museum or interior attraction, please let me know in advance. Depending on your choice, additional tour time may be required.
  • The best way to book your tour is by using the booking form on my website. I will carefully check your request and confirm availability within 24 hours.
  • You may also send your booking request by telephone at +32 487 670 312, via WhatsApp or Viber, or by email at info@toursinbelgium.com
  • If you have special requirements or reduced mobility, please let me know in advance so that I can adapt the walking route where possible.
  • Upon confirmation, I will send you a booking reference number by email together with payment instructions.
  • Please check the weather conditions before the tour and dress accordingly. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, as parts of Antwerp’s historic centre have cobbled or uneven surfaces.

SEND YOUR INQUIRY

This inquiry form is for the Shore Excursion Tour: Antwerp’s Treasures from Port to Heart.

I will carefully check your request and confirm availability within 24 hours.

Check my other tours of Antwerp

Private Tour of Antwerp by Night

Private Tour of Antwerp's Art, Aristocracy and Architecture

Antwerp's Culinary and Beer tasting Experience
Scroll to Top