Explore Antwerp

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Plan your visit

Why offline?

It's often said that ‘Offline is the new luxury’. Travel is about connecting with places and people, not technology. You don’t need Internet. Everything’s indicated on signs. You can ask people. Going offline has a surprising number of benefits.

• You see and experience more – you're more aware of everything.
• You meet new, real people.
• You're more in the moment, so you enjoy things more.
• You step out of the rush of always having to be alert; you slow down and relax.
• You save on roaming charges.

How do you begin?

Going offline is surprisingly simple! Just switch off your laptop, tablet or smartphone. Leave it in your bag or in your hotel before you head out into the city. Instead, bring a notebook or sketchbook and some pens or pencils with you. Maybe a city map too.

Go out and let yourself be guided by what you feel, see, hear or smell. Talk to a local. Ask for directions. Or get lost and discover places you might otherwise never have seen. Record your experiences in writing or make drawings of what you see. Forget your posts and likes on social media: what matters is that you’re here and enjoying yourself right now!

Still need some ideas on how to organise your day?

Morning: discover a quiet spot in the city

On the you can find a number of . These are public places, each with its own specific sounds, but where you can relax. Choose one to start your day. Have a seat or walk around. Here's a small selection to inspire you:

• : an exotic area of flora where you can escape the crowds in the middle of the city.
• : an alleyway steeped in romance and a living witness of 16th century Antwerp.
• : 90 hectares of green space in three parks: Vogelzang, Den Brandt and Middelheim.
• The Old Exchange: a hidden treasure from the 16th century, behind an inconspicuous façade near the Grote Markt (Hofstraat 15).
• Lillo: a small village in the midst of the large port, a place with a history a little further away from the city centre.

Afternoon: time for slow art

In the afternoon, pick out one of . Slow art is a new trend in which you really take your time over a selection of artworks. Instead of hurrying through all the rooms and glancing at (and possibly photographing) hundreds of works, select a few to really take in properly. The result will be that you see far more. Ignore all the explanatory texts and don’t be afraid to skip a few rooms. A few tips.

• Walk into a room and choose a work that appeals to you.
• Examine its form, colours, characters, story, details. Allow questions to form in your mind.
• Make notes or a drawing if you wish.
• Change your position and look from a different angle. Or walk around the work.
• Finished looking? Consider what has stayed with you. What has surprised or amazed you?