Antwerp – the city on the border between the Netherlands and Belgium and the next stop on this Eurotrip. I had heard a lot of the city and while it isn’t a capital, it is one of the most important cultural and trade centers in Europe. The story behind the city, that of a brave soldier named Brabo who cut off the hand of a giant who oppressed those who went through the area, is also probably one of my favorites along this journey.

Getting to this city is easy by train or by bus, and both modes bring you to the Antwerp Central Station, named by Mashable as the most beautiful train station in the world. It truly is magnificent, and while I cannot attest to being able to compare it against every train station in the world, I will agree that is architecturally very outstanding both on the exterior and the interior.

As you make your way towards the Old City, where most of Antwerp’s culture and history resides, you’ll inevitably find your way on Meir Street. Now, I don’t go shopping a lot, but even I had to spend some time on this street simply because of the magnificence of the buildings housing the retail outlets here. You’ll find adorned neoclassical buildings occupying your every sight, and you may not even notice the retail outlets as you keep your eyes focused up.  Antwerp is also one of the largest diamond trading cities in the world, and while the diamond district is closer to the Central Station, you may want to add that to your shopping list too.

At the other end of Meir Street, is the Antwerp City Hall. This is honestly one of my favorite small-city city halls, especially since it brings together both Flemish and Italian architectural styles. It’s on the UNESCO World Heritage list and towers over the Great Market in front of it. It’s also supposed to be a visible sight for those coming into the nearby port (since moved) of the great port city. In the adjacent Great Market also lies the Statue of Brabo, the famous soldier mentioned earlier and a symbol for the city.

Not too far from the church is the Cathedral of our Lady, built in the 1300s in a bold Gothic style. It towers over the whole city and is truly an overwhelming sight. However, go inside and you’ll continue to be delighted by the famous Baroque paintings of Rubens.

One of my favorite sights in this city was the street art, especially this sculpture of A Boy and his Dog, right in front of the Cathedral. This is based on the novel A Dog of Flanders, based in Flanders but interestingly enough was popularized in Japan.

A short walk from the Cathedral will bring you to the Steenplein, a ramp overlooking the Schledt. The Schledt is the main waterway that ships used to go through when the port was nearby before it got moved. Now you can take cruises or tour boats, but honestly both the waterway and the tours looked uneventful. What is really cool though is the view back into the city, especially with the tall tower of the church.

Finally, head to the Museum aan de Stroom, which is a museum with a mishmash of exhibits mostly covering Antwerp city’s history and evolution. Most of their exhibits require a paid ticket but some are free, and more importantly, the rooftop is public access. From the rooftop you get a pretty good view of the city and the surrounding area., especially the adjacent harbor.

Onto the food! One of the more unique dishes you’ll find in Belgium are these giant meatballs. While in no way traditional, you’ll find this dish only in Belgium and the Antwerp location has some of the best views near the harbor. At Balls & Glory, you’ll find locally sourced ingredients put together in a delicious plate. They have a rotating menu but the traditional serving normally includes a giant meatball, mash with vegetables and a savory gravy.

I had to make some executive decisions on what I wanted to try in Antwerp vs other cities in Belgium simply because Belgium is home to a range of great food. The problem was easier to solve when my eyes got pulled to a tiny (actually!) store hidden away from sight near the city center. Instead of having exorbitant prices as most stalls around there had, Fish a’Gogo was well-priced. Not only that, it had a menu of fresh seafood that rotated regularly. I had the mussels in white wine sauce, paired with more white wine. This is a traditional Belgian dish, but I feel like I had an extremely made version here for a much cheaper price than you’d find elsewhere.

Finally, you’re going to smell waffles everywhere in Belgium so you might as well get some in Antwerp. Personally recommended by a friend, Creme de la Creme does Liege Waffles great. One should note that these aren’t Brussels Waffles, which is made from batter. Liege waffles are made from a batter with a consistency closer to dough and are consequentially thicker. The touristy (and honestly, unashamedly better) way to eat is to add a dollop of ice cream, syrup and perhaps, fruits. This place does it well. If you want to know more about the difference between the waffles, go here.

My last recommendation was an accidental find on my way towards the Central Station, but Vespa Bar has some of the best hot chocolate I’ve had. They do it Belgian style, with a bar of dense chocolate that melts in steamed milk, and this place really kills it. Also, the Vespa in the bar is a quirky addition.

There’s more I wish I had time to do, including checking out the nightlife and bars which I’ve heard are great. I took Antwerp as my rest day though, opting to stay in rather than head out. Additionally, I heard the Rubenshouse is also worth checking out.

Here are my additional tips:

• The city is very walkable, you wouldn’t need to use public or private transportation to explore the main sights.
• The city is also very safe, especially if you stay in the main city.
• For accommodation, I stayed at Antwerp City Hostel, and honestly, for the price you pay, it’s a great deal. You’re right in the city center, you get a free breakfast and the rooms are decent. The downside is that the ventilation is poor in the room and the bathrooms are on a different floor but I can deal with those things for one night.

If you’re in Belgium for an extended period, I’d strongly recommend adding Antwerp to your itinerary somehow. It’s a very charming city and I’m glad I made my way there.