Getting to Antwerp, Belgium

Antwerp is a very famous city in Belgium. Every year lots of tourists from all over the world are coming here as the aim of their visit is various. Most of the visitors come together with organized groups, but others prefer to arrange on their own the trip. Considering that it is essential for them to have basic information about the means of transport in the place they are going to visit. In this blog will be described the main ways to get to Antwerp depending on the transport you use.

·        Getting to Antwerp by Plane

Antwerp has a small airport, located close to the city center. A couple of airlines maintain connections to a handful of airports, including London City and Manchester.

→ Zaventem National airport

Belgium's national airport is about 40km from Antwerp's city center. Flight schedules can be found on the airport's website. The airport can be reached either by train or bus. The most convenient is the SN Brussels Airlines Airport shuttle which departs every hour from the bus stop on the De Keyserlei Street, near the Central Station. There is no direct train between Antwerp and the Zaventem airport (yet - it is planned for June 2012). You have to transfer at the north station in Brussels. You can use the railway route planner from the national railways - use 'Brussels airport' for the airport and 'Antwerpen Centraal' for the central station in Antwerp.

·        Getting to Antwerp by Train

→ From Paris - A direct high speed train (Thalys) brings you in less than two hours from the Gare du Nord in Paris to Antwerp's central station.

→ From London-The Eurostar, a high speed train, connects London St. Pancras Station to Brussels South Station. From there, you can take a regular train directly to Antwerp Central Station.

→From Amsterdam- The high speed train route between Antwerp and Paris stops at Antwerp's Central Station. Since December 2009 it only takes 1 hour 12 minutes to go from the Amsterdam Central Station to the Antwerp Central Station. Seats must be reserved on the high speed trains. You can also take a slower but slightly less expensive regular intercity train, which connects Amsterdam with Antwerp in about 2 hrs. The trains also stop at the Schiphol National Airport.

→From Other Cities- The Thalys high speed train connects Antwerp to several cities. For connections to other cities, check out the railway route planner of the NMBS, the local railway.

No matter what kind of transport you use, if you intend to stay in Antwerp for more than one day you have to choose a place for accommodation. The best alternative is to stay in a hotel in Antwerp. There is a wide range of hotels in Antwerp and usually they are full of foreigners during the high season. Considering that I recommend you to make an online reservation for the chosen hotel in Antwerp so that your stay will be guaranteed. So the decision is up to you but for sure you will have an unforgettable experience in Antwerp.