RunCity

Antwerp on foot: a self-guided walking route

This route takes you past 9 of Antwerp's best-known sights, including Antwerp Central Station, Rubens House, Meir and more. It is about 6 km on foot, roughly 2 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Follow the list on your own, or play it as a free GPS checkpoint game with RunCity and race the clock on the Antwerp leaderboard.

  • 9Stops
  • about 6 kmDistance
  • 2 hoursWalking
  • about 54 minRunning
Play Antwerp in RunCity

Free during launch. Runs in your phone's browser; the app is in English, German and Hungarian.

Antwerp
Photo: LBM1948 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Antwerp's route runs from the Art Nouveau streets of Zurenborg through the centre to the old docks, about 6 km. It starts at the bonus stop, Cogels-Osylei in Zurenborg, a street of extravagant Art Nouveau houses, and reaches Antwerp Central, a station often called one of the most beautiful in the world, with its great dome. The Rubens House, where the painter lived and worked, sits just off the Meir, the main shopping street.

The baroque Saint Charles Borromeo Church, the single tall spire of the Cathedral of Our Lady, which holds four Rubens altarpieces, and the Grote Markt with its Brabo fountain lead to Het Steen, the medieval castle on the Scheldt. The route ends at the Museum aan de Stroom, the MAS, whose rooftop terrace is free and looks over the whole city and port. Try fries with mayonnaise; Antwerp takes them seriously.

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Download the route as GPX (for Komoot, Strava or a watch)

The stops

A suggested order. In the game you can visit them in any order.

  1. Zurenborg

    Zurenborg Bonus Photo

    The ornate Art Nouveau houses along Cogels-Osylei.

    Photo: Stomme · CC BY-SA 4.0

  2. Antwerp Central Station

    Antwerp Central Station Photo

    The grand station hall with its big dome, seen from the square.

    Photo: Fred Romero from Paris, France · CC BY 2.0

  3. Rubens House

    Rubens House

    The painter's baroque house and courtyard garden.

    Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0

  4. Meir

    Meir

    The busy pedestrian shopping street lined with grand façades.

    Photo: G.Lanting · CC BY-SA 4.0

  5. Saint Charles Borromeo Church

    Saint Charles Borromeo Church

    The baroque church façade on the Hendrik Conscienceplein.

    Photo: Rolf Kranz · CC BY-SA 4.0

  6. Cathedral of Our Lady

    Cathedral of Our Lady Photo

    The single tall Gothic spire of the cathedral.

    Photo: Yair Haklai · CC BY-SA 4.0

  7. Grote Markt

    Grote Markt Photo

    The Brabo fountain in front of the guild houses and the town hall.

    Photo: Maros M r a z (Maros) · CC BY-SA 3.0

  8. Het Steen

    Het Steen

    The medieval castle on the river bank, with its small gateway.

    Photo: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT · CC BY-SA 3.0

  9. Museum aan de Stroom

    Museum aan de Stroom

    The red sandstone tower stacked with glass boxes on the old docks.

    Photo: Zinneke · CC BY-SA 3.0

Play Antwerp in RunCity

Leaderboard

    Questions

    Can you see Antwerp on foot in one day?

    Yes. The 9 stops on this route add up to about 6 km, roughly 2 hours at an easy pace with short stops.

    Is this self-guided walking tour free?

    Yes. The route and map on this page are free, and the RunCity game for Antwerp is free during launch.

    How does the RunCity game work in Antwerp?

    Open Antwerp in RunCity, walk to a stop and tap Validate: your phone's GPS confirms you are there. Some stops also ask for a photo. Timed runs go on the Antwerp leaderboard.

    Where does the route start?

    This page suggests starting at Zurenborg and finishing at Museum aan de Stroom. In the game you can take the stops in any order.

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