Best Photo Spots In and Near Antwerp
Antwerp gives photographers a rare mix of grand architecture, a working river, and an Art Nouveau quarter, and the day-trip towns add canals on top. Here are the strongest frames in the city and a few worth the train, with timing notes.
Antwerpen-Centraal
The single best interior in the city. The 1905 “spoorwegkathedraal” pairs a stone-domed waiting hall with a vast iron-and-glass train shed. Shoot from the upper level down across the platforms; mid-morning light through the shed roof is the pick.
The MAS rooftop
Free, and the best skyline vantage in Antwerp. The spiralling tower in Eilandje gives a 360-degree sweep over port, river, and old town. Go at golden hour for the warmest light on the cathedral spire.
Cogels-Osylei
In Zurenborg, this free-to-walk Art Nouveau street and its neighbours pack 170 protected facades into a few blocks, including the ornate “Vier Jaargetijden” villas. Soft, overcast light actually suits the detail better than hard sun.
Het Steen and the Scheldt quays
The medieval fortress of Het Steen against the wide river is a classic Antwerp frame, and the renovated quays give clean foregrounds. Cross to Linkeroever on the free Sint-Anna ferry for the full old-town skyline from the water’s edge, best at sunset with the light behind you.
The Grote Markt and the cathedral
The Brabo Fountain and guild houses on the Grote Markt reward blue hour, when the facades light up. A block away, the Cathedral of Our Lady’s 123m spire needs a wide lens and a step back down a side street to frame cleanly.
Ghent, one hour out
For canal photography, Ghent’s Graslei and Korenlei waterfront is the best day-trip frame from Antwerp, under an hour by direct train, with far fewer crowds than Bruges.
Bruges, the postcard
Bruges (1h25 to 1h35) delivers the Rozenhoedkaai canal bend and the Markt with the Belfry. Shoot early, before the midday coach crowds, to get the reflections clean.
A timing note
The premetro tunnel under the Scheldt is closed until roughly March 2027, so reach the Linkeroever viewpoint by the free ferry or pedestrian tunnel, not a tram.
Read more: our Antwerp travel guide has the context on every city sight above, and the day trips are in our Antwerp, Belgium guide .