A few weeks ago, I took a quick trip to Antwerp, Belgium with a girlfriend. Now I have to admit that the real reason we went was because Britney Spears was in the city for her Piece of Me summer tour, and we really wanted to live out all our preteen fantasies. But we also planned our 24 hours in Antwerp so we could explore some of the city (and take lotssss of pictures).
Antwerp is a beautiful little piece of Belgium. One of the things that stood out most to us was how much the culture was a mix of Dutch and French. Which of course makes sense since Belgium is located between The Netherlands and France. It’s a city with some really lovely architecture, but you can also see how much had to be rebuilt following World War II. Antwerp is known for it’s fashion, but I have to admit that while we were there, we didn’t see that much of it on the streets. Of course, we were only there for 24 hours and probably didn’t go to the right areas for that!
Check out the below to see how we spent our 24 hours in Antwerp, and as always, please leave any advice or recommendations in the comments. I’m always looking for new spots, and I’m sure I’ll be back in Antwerp sooner rather than later!
Xx, Kelsey
HOW WE GOT THERE
European trains are the best. Antwerp is only an hour and 15 minute train ride from Amsterdam Centraal station. We took the Thalys train, which is probably my favorite train to travel on. It goes directly from Amsterdam Centraal to Paris in about three hours. Stops along the way include Antwerp and Brussels. It’s such an easy and comfortable way to travel. If you book in advance tickets can be very cheap.
WHERE WE STAYED
Honestly probably my favorite part of spending 24 hours in Antwerp (besides seeing Britney of course) was staying at Hotel Indigo Antwerp. We picked this hotel because we saw that it had balconies overlooking Antwerp Centraal Station, which is just stunning. The hotel ended up being so much more than a balcony with a view. The interior was super fun and funky. Not going to lie, we had way too much fun taking photos in the flamingo wallpapered elevators. They also have a nice bar downstairs, helpful staff, and complimentary breakfast.
WHERE WE ATE & DRANK
The Bistro – We ate her while we were out walking the shopping streets. We split a bottle of white wine, and I had moules frites for the first time. I have to say I’m actually a fan! Plus you just have to get them while in Belgium. It’s tradition!
Rubens Inn – Just down the street from the Bistro is a cafe with great outdoor seating. We originally tried to get moules frites here, but they didn’t have them. Instead of eating, we ended up going here twice to drink white wine and sit in the sunshine.
ChickPea – We saw this place online and thought we’d like some hummus. We were surprised how busy this family run spot was, but after seeing the food we understood. They’re super friendly to vegans and vegeterians and have so many delicious menu items, it was nearly impossible to choose. I’ll definitely be back next time I’m in town!
Elfde Gebod – We stumbled upon this bar while wandering the city the day after the concert. We noticed it for the ivy covered exterior, but after peeking inside, we realized it was a bar that my friend knew of. The interior is DECKED OUT in religious figurines and paintings. We just had a beer here (cider for me) and some fries, as we really just wanted to experience and explore the wild interior.
Belgian Waffles – It’s not a trip to Belgium without getting a Belgian waffle. They’re super easy to buy from a stand in any of the more touristy areas in Antwerp. Bring cash because they don’t usually take card. I got strawberry with whipped cream. I didn’t get to eat it in the end because I dropped it while taking photos and being chased by a bee.
WHAT WE DID
Britney Spears Piece of Me Tour – Obviously this is the reason we spent 24 hours in Antwerp to begin with. Growing up listening to Brit, it was so fun to see her live and be in a stadium full of people singing her songs. Plus dressing up like the ultimate 90s child complete with vintage Britney tee was so fun. If she comes to your city, you should definitely go.
Antwerpen Centraal – Probably Europe’s most beautiful train station. The interior of this building is just stunning. We got up at 6:30am the morning after the concert to take pictures in this station before it got crowded.
Wandering the Historic Center – Unfortunately we were quite disappointed that the buildings in the main square were under construction, and they had a large stage set up in the middle. But that’s summer in Europe to be honest! We did enjoy wandering the streets and taking pictures of all the beautiful buildings.
Window Shopping – Antwerp definitely has better shopping than Amsterdam. We were super impressed by the number of stores. Neither of us had plans to actually buy anything, but browsing the selection at Zara gave me plenty of insights into the first fall trends.
Vlaeykensgang – This tiny little alley way dates back from the Middle Ages. Antwerp used to be full of alleys like this where the poorest people lived. While many of these alleys were destroyed, this one was preserved and restored to the beautiful state it’s in. The entrance is a tiny little doorway, so make sure not to miss it!
St. Anna’s Tunnel – We made a point of checking out this tunnel because of the wooden escalators that are original to the opening of the tunnel in the 1930s. The escalators are really cool to see and make for great photos. The white-tiled tunnel underneath the water is so long that you can’t see the exit on the other side. We walked all the way through to see what was on the opposite bank, but it honestly isn’t worth making the trek. Just check out the escalators and get a glimpse of the tunnel before turning around.
OUTFIT DETAILS:
Outfit 1: Gap wide leg jeans | Similar button down | Western boots are from a Loavies sample sale (similar pair here and here)
Outfit 2: J. Crew mercantile dress | H&M hat | Ray Ban sunglasses
Outfit 3: Dress is very old Kenneth Cole | Catwalk Junkie heart eye sunglasses | YSL chain strap bag | Enzo Angiolini mules | Hotel Indigo towel
Outfit 4: J. Crew sweater is old, similar option here | J. Crew factory toothpick jeans | Banana Republic loafers (the best! I have them in several colors) | Catwalk Junkie heart eyes sunglasses (and similar pair in the US here) | Henri Bendel bag is several years old
Outfit 5: J. Crew sweater is old, similar option here | America Today faux leather skirt (similar US option here) | Enzo Angiolini mules | H&M sunglasses
Outfit 6: Catwalk Junkie velvet flares (similar US pair here) | Vintage Britney Spears t-shirt from Poshmark | Nike m2k tekno sneakers | YSL chain strap bag
