A Weekend in Antwerp: Touring De Konick Brewery

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We recently spent a weekend in Antwerp, Belgium. I’ve created this itinerary for anyone who may be visiting soon and looking for a plan. This itinerary if for those who may enjoy biking and visiting breweries.

For some reason, I always have the hardest time writing about my favorite places. I think it’s because I want to make sure that I deliver it correctly. Antwerp is one of those cities that I just knew I loved the first time that I visited it. If I could visit it a million times to keep exploring, I would definitely be on board!

Where to Stay for a Weekend in Antwerp:

Treat Yourself! If you want great location for walking to the train, center-city, and luxurious rooms, then we recommend Hilton Antwerp Old Town.

Mid-Range: NH Collection is a brand new hotel conveniently located right beside of the train station.

Don’t forget your travel insurance! We recommend World Nomads. Make sure to have coverage that includes medical expenses, trip cancellations, and coverage for your belongings from theft or damage. If needed, you may also want to include car rental insurance as well.

Everytime that I visit the Centraal Train Station of Antwerp, I take a million pictures of it. It has been voted as the world’s most attractive train station. So stop in for a beverage or coffee even if you aren’t traveling by train.

Friday Night: The Square of Antwerp

After checking in, walk from the hotel to Grote Market. It’s the main square of the city. Look for the St-Carolus Borromeuskerk here. We’ve visited a lot of European cathedrals, but this one is completely different. Also make sure to see the Cathedral of Our Lady Antwerp. Its does have a small fee of €six euros.

Saturday Morning : Biking Through Antwerp

I always find it helpful to start with a free walking tour in a new city, but we chose to ride bikes instead because it was a no car day! Here’s the link for a walking tour if you prefer walking over biking.

So below I’ve provided our own biking tour that we created through Antwerp!

Where to Brunch

We started off with brunch at Horta. They have vegan options and you also get a glass of sparkling cava with your meal if you are feeling like having a brunch bubbly. ? If its a Saturday morning, you will see the weekend markets set up. They had some strange items for sale I must say.

Where to Ride Bikes

As we were walking, we saw a TON of cyclists. We were immediately ready to join in all of the fun. It just so happened to be that the roads were closed and that EVERYONE was on their bike. So we grabbed rental bikes right by the Het Steen Castle. Het Steen is one of the other historical main attractions in the city and its Antwerp’s oldest building. It’s undergoing substantial renovation as of fall 2019, but don’t let that deter you from visiting this part of the city. You can still walk around it and see the Port of Antwerp.

TIP: Download the Velo app before visiting, so that you can grab a bike quickly. Also go to Antwerp on a “No Car Day” for the best cycling site seeing type of day.

Then continue to bike through Park Spoor Noord and head towards the bridge and cross over to Port Authority. From Port Authority, you will continue along the bike path and come to Paniek. It’s a bar within an old warehouse right on the water.

Saturday : Evening Brews

After visiting one of the few warehouse bars along the water, ride your bikes to StadsPark. You can relax there and enjoy the greenery or stop at the park cafe. It’s only a short ride back to the hotel, where there are plenty of bike rental return stations.

Of course end the night with a Belgian beer in the Square. Here are two that we recommend:

1.Den Engel is a nice pub in the square where you can people watch. While you are there, try the Triple d’Anvers.

2.Het Elfde Gebod is also a great spot in the center of town. I recommend trying the Belgian vegetarian bitterballs. Het Elfe Gebod literally means 11 Commandments. It has really eccentric decor. It’s filled with unique statues and figurines of angels, apostles, and Jesus.

Weekend in Antwerp: Sunday Brewery Tour

Tip: Try to visit Antwerp in October for the Modeste Bier Festival.

On our third day, we visited the De Koninck Brewery. We have visited several breweries in Belgium and this one is by far the best tour! They serve you a beer at the beginning of the tour and at the end of the tour, so its fun to walk around with a tasting in hand. It’s also a really interactive tour. There are funny videos, vibrating floors, a simulated van experience, and an old fashioned pub with videos and weathered leather couches. The doors are automated and each room has a different feeling to it. It almost feels like a haunted house but without the scary stuff.

I hope this will help you to plan your weekend in Antwerp. If you are searching for another Belgian town to visit, check out my Mechelen blog post or my Wallonia Belgium post.

If you check out this bike route or any of our favorite spots listed, please let us know in the comments!

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