Cheap flights from Barcelona to Amberes

Flying from Barcelona, you'll typically arrive at Brussels National Airport (Zaventem), approximately 110 kilometres north of Antwerp. The most convenient onward journey is by train – direct services depart every 30 minutes to Antwerp Central Station, taking just over one hour.

From the airport, you have several options: the Thalys express train reaches Brussels city centre in 25 minutes, whilst local trains cost around €5–10 per journey. Alternatively, airport buses connect directly to Antwerp in roughly 90 minutes for €15–20, or a taxi will cost approximately €110–150 depending on traffic.

Antwerp Central Station sits beautifully positioned near the city's historic core, making it an ideal arrival point. Once in the centre, the compact medieval layout means most attractions are within walking distance or a short tram ride away.

Arriving in Antwerp from Barcelona, you'll discover a city where Flemish heritage and Renaissance grandeur define every corner. The city's most iconic landmark, the Cathedral of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwkathedraal), towers over the Grote Markt with its soaring spire and houses masterworks by Rubens inside.

Begin your exploration at the Grote Markt, the animated heart of the city, surrounded by gabled guild houses and lively cafés. The Rubens House offers intimate insight into the master's creative world, whilst the innovative MAS (Museum aan de Stroom) showcases six centuries of Antwerp's maritime history across seven storeys overlooking the Scheldt River.

Don't miss the Diamond District around Hoveniersstraat, where skilled cutters still work today, or the atmospheric Sint-Pauluskerk with its baroque treasures. Wander the narrow, lantern-lit lanes of Twee Sint-Annastraat for independent galleries and intimate bars.

• Cathedral of Our Lady
• Rubens House
• MAS Museum
• Diamond District
• Sint-Pauluskerk
• Twee Sint-Annastraat

When you arrive from Barcelona, Flemish cuisine offers a delightful contrast to Mediterranean flavours—hearty stews, fresh seafood, and rich brews reflect centuries of prosperity as a global trading port. The region's bounty showcases warming comfort foods and refined preparations shaped by access to North Sea ingredients and local agricultural traditions.

Waterzooi – a creamy vegetable and meat stew – and stoofvlees (beef braised in dark beer) are quintessential comfort dishes, whilst moules à la marinière (mussels steamed in white wine and herbs) reflect Antwerp's maritime heritage. Belgian waffles drizzled with chocolate are iconic, and locally-roasted Belgian chocolate remains world-renowned.

Pair your meal with a Trappist or Abbey ale – distinctive Belgian beers with rich, complex profiles – and finish with crispy Belgian frites from a street vendor, traditionally topped with tangy sauces like remoulade or aioli. Local croquettes round out the street-food experience.

• Waterzooi
• Stoofvlees
• Moules à la marinière
• Belgian chocolate
• Belgian waffles
• Trappist ale