Travelling To Antwerp

Antwerp is within easy reach of two international airports and is also on main railway lines and motorways, so the city is very quick and convenient to access. There are also cross-Channel ferry ports near Antwerp, allowing for an alternative method of reaching the city from the British Isles.

By car

Antwerp can be reached via the E19 and the A12 (Brussels), the E17 (Ghent) and the N49 (Bruge and Zeebrugge), all of which intersect the city’s R1 Ring Expressway. These expressways in turn link up to other major motorways that lead into the Netherlands, Germany, France and Luxembourg. The road network is modern, comfortable and safe, and allows for fast connections to major cities and towns in the region.

By rail

Antwerp’s two main train stations, Centraal Station and Berchem Station, are both on the Thalys rapid train system that links Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam via high-speed services. Trains run at least hourly in each direction, making train travel between these European capitals very fast and convenient. From Brussels, you can connect to Cologne and beyond.

By bus

Antwerp’s long-distance bus station is located on Franklin Rooseveltplaats, not far from Centraal Station, and has services to all main western European cities. The bus station also has regular local services to smaller towns and villages in the Antwerp region.

By ferry

There are many ferry ports along the coast between northern France and southern Netherlands, of which Ostend is the most convenient for visitors travelling to Antwerp. Ostend Port has regular ferry services from Dover and Ramsgate in southeast England, with the passage taking around 4 hours. Ostend has regular bus and rail links to Antwerp.

By air

Antwerp has its own international airport that has good connections with airports across the UK via London City Airport as well as links to the Channel Isles, Innsbruck, Milan and Rotterdam. The city is also within easy reach of Brussels’ Zaventem Airport, which has frequent bus and train services linking it with Antwerp.

Antwerp International Airport

Antwerp International Airport is becoming an increasingly busy terminal and now has regularly scheduled flights to many UK and Channel Island airports via London City Airport as well as flights to Milan, Innsbruck and Rotterdam. The terminal building is compact and modern, and it has a great range of facilities and amenities, particularly for business travellers.

Antwerp International Airport transportation

Located just a few miles from the city centre, Antwerp International Airport has fast transfers. Plenty of local buses and shuttles link the airport with destinations across the city, and Berchem Railway Station has a direct link to Centraal Station. There are also plenty of taxis awaiting each arrival at taxi stands outside the terminal building. Visitors staying on the fringes of the city or at nearby towns can rent a car and access their lodgings via safe and fast road networks.