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Morning
This day of gentle ambling takes in many of the key sights of Antwerp, as well as some of the best shopping streets. Start off at the Vleeshuis and head for the old city centre – the Grote Markt – and the cathedral (see Antwerp Cathedral). Now thread your way to Wijngaardstraat, and the fetching ensemble of the Sint-Carolus Borromeuskerk , before heading on to the Rockoxhuis in Keizerstraat. After this, walk south along Katelijnevest to the Meir. The tower block to your right, with KBC on its crest, is the Boerentoren, the highest building in Europe when constructed in 1932. Head down the Meir to the Rubenshuis ; you can lunch here, or if you prefer at the Grand Café Horta .
Afternoon
Now you’ve done the culture, you can wander the neighbourhood’s shopping streets (see Shopping). Schuttershofstraat is a good place to start. It leads to Huidevettersstraat, the Nieuwe Gaanderij Arcade, Korte Gasthuisstraat and Lombardenvest. If you are up for more museums, the excellent Museum Mayer van den Bergh and the Maagdenhuis are just to the south. Alternatively, head for Nationalestraat and Dries van Noten’s outlet, the beautiful Modepaleis , and then down Reyndersstraat for refreshments at De Groote Witte Arend or De Vagant .
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Morning
A day of wandering. Begin in the Burg and head south across Blinde Ezelstraat. Linger beside the canals on Steenhouwersdijk and Groenerei ; walk through Huidenvettersplein to the Dijver for the prettiest views of the city. Now make your way past Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk to Mariastraat and Katelijnestraat, where you could stop for a divine hot chocolate at De Proeverie. Take Wijngaardstraat to the Begijnhof, loop around the Minnewater, and head back along Katelijnestraat. Note the almshouses that pop up in several places on this street (for instance at Nos 87–101 and 79–83). For lunch, try the Vismarkt area – Café ’t Volkshuis, for example.
Afternoon
Now you are going to pass through the city’s medieval trading centre. From the Markt walk up Vlamingstraat. At Beursplein, there was a cluster of national “lodges” – headquarters of foreign traders – such as the Genoese Lodge (No 33). The world’s first stock exchange, Huis ter Beurze , was at No 35. Take Academiestraat to Spiegelrei . Then walk up Langerei to follow the canal that eventually leads to Damme , where goods were transferred from ships to canal barges. Head back down Sint-Jakobstraat, taking a detour to ’t Brugs Beertje , with its famed collection of beers.
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Morning
SMAK and, when open, the Museum voor Schone Kunsten make a good double act – a stimulating mixture of fine art and pure provocation. Get these under your belt early in the day (note that they’re closed on Mon). Trams 1 and 10 run from the central Korenmarkt to Charles de Kerchovelaan, from where you can walk through or beside the Citadelpark to the museums. These will absorb the greater part of the morning; you can break for refreshments at SMAK’s café. For lunch, head back into the city centre. The Korenmarkt is equidistant from two enticing and contrasting lunch options: the dynamic Pakhuis (see Brasserie Pakhuis), and the medieval Groot Vleeshuis (see Groot Vleeshuis).
Afternoon
Now go to Sint-Baafskathedraal to see the Mystic Lamb (see The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb). Then you can go up the Belfort (see Belfort) to get a view over the city. Now it’s back to the Korenmarkt, stopping off at the Sint-Niklaaskerk (see Sint-Niklaaskerk), then over to the Graslei and Korenlei (see Graslei and Korenlei) to drink in the views. This could be the time to take a canal trip. From the Korenlei, walk along Jan Breydelstraat and take the first right into Rekelingestraat to reach the Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts). Then cross the Zuivelbrug and take Meerseniersstraat to the Vrijdagmarkt (Friday Market) for beer at Dulle Griet (see Dulle Griet) and chips with mayonnaise at Frituur Jozef (see Frituur Jozef).
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Morning
Start off with the essentials: a stroll around the Grand Place and a trip to the Manneken-Pis , stopping for a waffle at the Dandoy shop in Rue Charles Buls on the way. Now head back to the Bourse (see La Bourse), and go west along Rue Dansaert, the street for cutting-edge fashion. Turn right at the Rue du Vieux Marché aux Grains and walk up to the Église Sainte-Catherine, a church designed in 1854 by Joseph Poelaert, who was also responsible for the colossal Palais de Justice. It stands on reclaimed land at the head of a canal now covered over by the Place Sainte-Catherine. This was the site of the old fish market, and is still famous for its fish restaurants. It could be the place to stop for a spot of lunch.
Afternoon
Walk back east, stopping at the Cathédrale des Saints Michel et Gudule before heading up the hill to Rue Royale. Take a stroll in the pleasant Park de Bruxelles, then walk south to the Palais Royal (see Palais Royal and Les Musées Bellevue)and the elegant 17th-century Place Royale, with its statue of the 11th-century crusader Godefroi de Bouillon. You’re now a stone’s throw from both the Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts and the Musée des Instruments de Musique . Take your pick. After this, you’ll probably need some refreshments, so continue down the Rue de la Régence to the cafés and chocolate shops of the Sablon district.
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Morning
Put on your best walking shoes, because you’re going to cover at least 5 km (3 miles) of pavement and take in half a dozen museums. You don’t have to do them all, of course, and don’t try this on a Monday, when most of the museums are closed. Start at the Schuman métro station in the heart of the European Quarter, close to the Justus Lipsius Building. If you’re feeling energetic, stride up Rue Archimède to admire the weirdest Art Nouveau building of them all – the Hôtel Saint-Cyr in Square Ambiorix (see Hôtel Saint-Cyr). Otherwise, head into the Parc du Cinquantenaire (see Parc du Cinquantenaire) and take your pick of the museums. To refresh yourself, go to Place Jourdan, where there are cafés and restaurants to suit all pockets.
Afternoon
Cross the Parc Léopold to visit the wacky Musée Wiertz, then walk about 1km (1000 yd) to the delightful Musée Communal d’Ixelles. If you’ve had enough already, you could slink into the trendy Café Belga in the 1930s Flagey radio building (see Café Belga (Flagey building)); otherwise, push on down the Chaussée de Vleurgat to the Musée Constantin Meunier. Now you’re only 10 minutes away from the Musée Horta (see Musée Horta, Brussels). From here you can get a tram home, or wander around the Art Nouveau houses in the vicinity (see Art Nouveau Buildings in Brussels) and finish the day at the super-trendy Salons de l’Atalaïde (see Les Salons de l’Atalaïde).
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