Antwerp is well placed for half-day or day visits to the other historic Flemish cities, all reachable by frequent direct trains.
Brussels — 40 minutes by train. The European capital is a different sort of city: grander, more diplomatic, harder to read. The Grand Place, the Magritte Museum, and the Atomium fill a day comfortably.
Ghent — 50 minutes by train. Quieter, older, with the great Van Eyck altarpiece in Saint Bavo's Cathedral and a perfectly preserved medieval centre. Often cited as the most attractive city in Belgium.
Bruges — 90 minutes by train. The most famous Belgian destination, picture-postcard medieval. Best done as an early start or an overnight.
Mechelen — 25 minutes by train. The often-overlooked smaller cathedral city between Antwerp and Brussels, with the country's largest cathedral and an excellent toy museum.
For something different, the Open-Air Museum at Bokrijk (60 km east) is a recreated Flemish village with original buildings moved from across the region — a brilliant family day out.
Lille — 60 minutes by train into France. The Eurostar makes a French day trip practical from Antwerp.
