← Leuven Marathon·2 nights

Antwerp: A Station Like a Cathedral After Leuven

A port city that begins with a famously ornate railway station and has a flat, walkable centre around its cathedral.

Duration2 nights
TransitSNCB train from Leuven to Antwerp-Central, about 35 to 40 minutes
DepartsLeuven station

After the Leuven Marathon: Antwerp

The Route: Leuven → Antwerp → Brussels Airport Logistics: SNCB train, about 35 to 40 minutes. Antwerp-Central is a 15-minute walk from the Grote Markt, or a short tram ride. Marathon Month: April Duration: 2 nights

Leuven ──(35-40 min, SNCB)──> Antwerp-Central
                                    │
Brussels Airport (BRU) <──(about 40 min, SNCB)──┘

Antwerp-Central station was finished in 1905, with a dome 75 metres high and a grand staircase, and it is regularly listed among the finest railway stations in the world. You arrive from Leuven under that dome, with legs that are not happy about stairs, and the stairs are there regardless. A lift exists.

Buy a ticket in the SNCB app or at the station, and check the planner.

April in Antwerp: highs of 12°C to 14°C, with sun and showers. The wind off the Scheldt can be sharp. Check museum opening days, because Monday closures are common.

Night One: Arrival

The Hilton Antwerp Old Town and Hotel Julien are both in the historic centre and offer a calm base. Confirm lifts and breakfast times when booking. Walk only as far as the Grote Markt, with the Brabo fountain and the Gothic cathedral nearby.

Night Two: The Cathedral and the Museums

The Cathedral of Our Lady holds paintings by Rubens, including the Descent from the Cross. Entry is around €8 and prices vary, so use the figure as a guide only. The interior is level, with seating.

The Rubenshuis, the painter's house and studio, is about 10 minutes' walk away. Check the current opening days. The MAS museum, a red-stone tower on the docks, has lifts and a free rooftop terrace with city views.

The Zoo, next to the central station, is flat and compact, with a famous Art Deco building. It is a gentle, seated afternoon.

Lunch can be frites with stoofvlees, a Flemish stew, or a plate of mussels. The streets around the Grote Markt are touristy, so walk toward the Sint-Andries district for better prices.

Getting to Brussels Airport (BRU)

Antwerp-Central to the airport takes about 40 minutes by train, usually direct. Check the SNCB planner. The airport station is below the terminal, with lifts.