Travelling to Antwerp

RENT 2026 takes place at the Hilton Antwerp Old Town, Groenplaats 32, in the centre of Antwerp. Below you will find information on how to get to Antwerp by air, by train, by bus or by car.

By air

Antwerp Airport

about 4 km  ·  bus and tram  ·  about 30 minutes

Antwerp Airport is located at about 4 km from Antwerp city center. Bus 51, 52 or 53 brings you from Antwerp Airport to Antwerpen-Berchem railway station in 10 minutes, where you can take bus 21 and 32 or tram 9 and 11 to Rooseveltplaats nearby Central Station, which is on walking distance (10 min) from the University of Antwerp, city campus, or tram 4 or 9 to Groenplaats where the Hilton is.

Brussels Airport

about 35 km  ·  direct train  ·  about 40 minutes

The international airport of Brussels (Zaventem) is the most frequently used gateway to Antwerp. There are flights from all major European cities as well as from the most important overseas metropoles.

The direct train to Antwerp Central Station takes approximately 37 minutes and runs twice an hour. From there, tram 3 or 5 from Astrid premetro station reaches Groenplaats in two stops, or it is about 20 minutes on foot along the Meir.

The airport express bus runs every hour and reaches the centre of Antwerp in approximately 45 minutes.

Brussels South – Charleroi Airport

about 90 km  ·  train or shuttle  ·  2 to 3 hours

If you fly with Ryanair, it’s possible that you arrive at the airport of Brussels South, near Charleroi.

You can travel to Antwerp by train (first take a bus to the Charleroi train station), or by bus shuttle. Trains reach Antwerp Central Station, from where tram 3 or 5 takes you to Groenplaats in two stops.

By train

Antwerp is easy to reach by train. International railway lines link Brussels and Antwerp to several other major European cities. High-speed services are run by Eurostar. There are direct rail links with different cities in France, the Netherlands and Germany. Antwerp can be reached from the UK by Eurostar via Brussels.

Antwerp has two main stations: Berchem station and Central Station (on walking distance from University). From Central Station, tram 3 or 5 from Astrid premetro station reaches Groenplaats, where the Hilton is, in two stops, or it is about 20 minutes on foot along the Meir. From Berchem, take tram 4 or 9 to Groenplaats.

Trains in Belgium. Belgium has one of the most dense rail networks in the world. Trains run at regular intervals between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.; later in the evenings only a selection of trains run until about 11 p.m. Trains run less frequently during the weekends. There are first and second class compartments, and a standard return (round-trip) fare is double the price of a single (one-way) fare. Smoking is not allowed. A ticket is only valid for one day. Children under the age of twelve travel for free.

Read more on Belgian Rail for detailed information on time schedules, train connections and travel options.

By bus

Long-distance coaches arrive at several stops in Antwerp, so check which one your ticket names. The two nearest the stations are Rooseveltplaats, about 400 m from Central Station, and Borsbeeksebrug, about 230 m from Antwerpen-Berchem. From either, follow the directions above.

Within the province and the city of Antwerp transport is organized by the public transport company De Lijn. Buses leave to all parts of the city from the bus station Rooseveltplaats which is close to the Central Station. There are direct bus links to various other towns and cities.

Read more on Eurolines or Flixbus for destinations, timetables and prices.

Read more on De Lijn for information about trams and buses.

By car

All destinations are within easy reach by car. Antwerp itself lies at the crossroads of the E17, E19, E34, and E313 motorways.

Antwerp city centre is a low emission zone. If your car has a foreign number plate, you must register it before you drive in, even for a single day.

Parking

Getting around the city

Antwerp is a pocket-sized city. Many of the attractions are within walking or biking distance of each other. Another way of getting around the city is on the trams and buses of De Lijn, the regional transport operator.

Tip: buy your tram or bus ticket in a point of pre-sale (newsagent’s, supermarket, the vending machines at the various stops or in the visitor centres of Visit Antwerp).

You can also buy an Antwerp City Card, which includes the use of public transport in the city for the time your card is valid.

Taxi

Need to get from point A to point B in Antwerp quickly? Then why not take a taxi as it will bring you to your destination in a fast, safe and affordable manner. The Antwerp taxis can transport up to four passengers while taxi buses can transport seven to eight passengers for the same price. The official taxis, with a permit from the City of Antwerp, all have an illuminated taxi sign on the roof and a red plate on the front of the car. You pay a uniform tariff, which is controlled by the city. The tariff is always shown on the taximeter in the car. When you arrive at your destination the taximeter will automatically print out a ticket with the taxi company’s name and phone number as well as the phone number of the local police, for any questions or complaints you may have.

Order a taxi by calling the main taxi companies: Antwerp-Tax on +32 3 238 38 38 or Berchem Taxi on +32 3 239 60 60, or use the Apple and Android app, which can be downloaded at taxi.eu.

Plan your journey

These sites work out how to get from your own city to Antwerp, and what it costs.

  • Rome2Rio – enter your home city to see every route to Antwerp by air, rail, coach and road, with times and indicative prices.
  • Omio – compare and book European trains, coaches and flights in one search.
  • Trip.com – flights, trains and hotels in one search.
  • Kiwi.com, Skyscanner and Momondo – compare flight prices across airlines and booking sites. Kiwi.com also builds connections the airlines do not sell together.

They are listed as a starting point, not as a recommendation.

Plan your stay

More practical information for your stay in Antwerp.