In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Antwerp is about 40 to 50 minutes from Brussels-Central by train to Antwerp-Central. The cathedral is €12, holds paintings by Rubens and is open Monday to Friday 10:00 to 17:00, shut at 15:00 on Saturdays and open from 13:00 on Sundays, and closed all day on 20 December 2026. The MAS is €12, closed on Mondays, and you book a time slot online. The Rubens House is closed until 2030 at the earliest; only its garden and a video display are open. A tour saves the train: the Antwerp and Ghent coach tour is from €49 and the old-town walk from €20. Or book now: the Antwerp and Ghent full-day tourad is from €49 for 10 hours, and the Antwerp walking tourad from €20 for 2 hours (GetYourGuide).
Getting there
About 40 to 50 minutes · Antwerp-Central · tram 24 to the MAS
- The trains: Brussels-Central to Antwerp-Central takes about 40 to 50 minutes, depending on the train.
- The ticket: SNCB sells single tickets only, priced by distance from €2.60, with no return tickets. Buy in the SNCB app or at a machine. Adults aged 26 to 64 pay 30% less at weekends and on public holidays, and children under 12 travel free with an adult. SNCB’s journey planner gives the fare for your day.
- To the MAS: leave Antwerp-Central above ground and take tram 24 from platform 2 at Koningin Astridplein towards Havenhuis. Get off at the stop Londen and walk past the Londenbrug, about 10 minutes.
- To the cathedral: the cathedral lists trams 3, 5, 9, 15 and 4 to Groenplaats.
- Strikes: rail strikes in Belgium can be announced at short notice, so check the day before.
The main hall of Antwerp-Central station. Photo: T meltzer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Tours
Prices are GetYourGuide’s lowest “from” price per adult. All cancel free.
| Tour | Length | From | Rating | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antwerp and Ghent full-day guided tourad | 10 hours | €49 | 4.6 from 1,261 | Coach from Brussels, a photo stop at the Atomium, guided visits and free time in both cities |
| Antwerp city highlights walking tourad | 2 hours | €20 | 4.7 from 875 | A guided walk through the old town, its churches and the guild houses on the Grote Markt; you travel to Antwerp yourself |
| Best of Brussels, Antwerp and the Atomiumad | 10.5 hours | €45 | 4.5 from 225 | A day split between Brussels and Antwerp, ending at the Atomium; first date 2 April 2027 |
The tour listings do not say which entries are included, so check before you book. On your own the cathedral and the MAS come to €24 plus the train and the tram. A tour saves the train and the planning.
What to see
Go to the cathedral when it opens at 10:00, then take the tram to the MAS for the afternoon: a visit takes 90 minutes to 2 hours and the last access to the galleries is 16:00. On a Saturday the cathedral closes at 15:00, so do it first; on a Sunday it opens at 13:00, so start with the MAS. Skip the Rubens House, which is closed.
Cathedral of Our Lady
€12 · Monday to Friday 10:00 to 17:00 · Saturday to 15:00 · Sunday from 13:00
The cathedral holds paintings by Rubens. The cathedral’s page lists €12 for an adult and €10 for groups of 20 or more, students, over-60s and visitors with disabilities. Under-18s and residents of Antwerp Province go free. It is open every day except 1 January: Monday to Friday 10:00 to 17:00, Saturday 10:00 to 15:00, Sunday 13:00 to 17:00. The exceptions are Sunday 8 November 2026, 13:00 to 16:00; Sunday 20 December 2026, closed to tourism all day; 24 December, 10:00 to 16:00; and 25 December, 14:00 to 17:00. The cathedral offers free guided tours in several languages at regular times during opening hours.
The cathedral tower above the Grote Markt, with the Brabo fountain in front. Photo: Ankermast, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
MAS (Museum aan de Stroom)
€12 · Tuesday to Sunday · book a time slot online
A ticket covers the galleries, the Visible Storage, the Boulevard and the rooftop panorama. The MAS charges €12, €8 for ages 18 to 25 and A-card holders, and nothing for under-18s. Everyone, free visitors included, books a time slot online and swaps it for a wristband at the desk, which is the only valid ticket. The galleries are open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 17:00 with last access at 16:00. The boulevard and panorama are open Tuesday to Sunday 09:30 to 22:00, and until midnight from 1 April to 31 October. It is closed on Mondays (except Easter Monday and Whit Monday), 1 January, 1 May and 25 December, and closes at 15:00 on 24 and 31 December.
The MAS seen across the water of the Eilandje dock area. Photo: Zinneke, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Rubens House (Rubenshuis)
House closed until 2030 at the earliest · garden closed on Wednesdays
The artist’s home closed for restoration on 8 January 2023, and Rubenshuis says it will reopen in 2030 at the earliest. Open meanwhile are the garden, the Rubens Experience, a video and interactive display, and the library. The garden is open Monday to Friday 10:00 to 17:00 and Saturday and Sunday 10:00 to 18:00, and it is closed on Wednesdays, 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
What a day costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Cathedral of Our Lady | €12 |
| MAS | €12 |
| Both | €24 |
| Rubens House | Closed until 2030 at the earliest |
Add the SNCB fare and the tram for your day.
Before you go
- The thing that ruins a visit: Monday, when the MAS is closed, and Saturday afternoon, when the cathedral shuts at 15:00.
- Sunday 20 December 2026: the cathedral is closed to tourism all day.
- Which to take: on your own for the cathedral and the MAS; the Antwerp and Ghent coach tour if you want the train handled and a second city; the walk if you want a guide in the old town.
Day trips from Brussels compares every trip. Ghent pairs with Antwerp on one coach tour, and Bruges is the third Flemish city. Public transport in Brussels covers the way to the station, and hotels near Brussels-Midi put you beside the trains. What to book before you go to Brussels lists the closed days in the capital.
Common questions
How long does it take to get from Brussels to Antwerp?
About 40 to 50 minutes by train from Brussels-Central to Antwerp-Central, with trains throughout the day. The fastest intercity trains take about 40 minutes.
Can you visit the Rubens House in Antwerp?
Not the house. The Rubenshuis closed for restoration on 8 January 2023 and will reopen in 2030 at the earliest. The garden, the Rubens Experience (a video and interactive display) and the library stay open, and the garden is closed on Wednesdays.
How much is Antwerp Cathedral?
€12 for an adult. Groups of 20 or more, students, over-60s and visitors with disabilities pay €10, and under-18s and residents of Antwerp Province go free.
Is the MAS open on Monday?
No. The MAS is closed on Mondays, except Easter Monday and Whit Monday. The galleries are open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 17:00, and you book a time slot online.
Can I do Antwerp and Ghent in one day?
On a tour, yes: the Antwerp and Ghent coach tour takes 10 hours and starts from €49. On your own it is a long day for two cities; Antwerp alone fills one.
How do I get from Antwerp-Central to the MAS?
Leave the station above ground and take tram 24 from platform 2 at Koningin Astridplein towards Havenhuis. The MAS says to get off at the stop Londen and walk past the Londenbrug, about 10 minutes.
