Solo Female Travel in Antwerp

Antwerp, located on the River Scheldt in Belgium's Flanders region, is a charming city renowned for its profound cultural heritage and vibrant contemporary art scene. Often referred to as the "Diamond Capital of the World", Antwerp is a global hub for diamond trading due to its distinct square known as the Diamond District. The city is also famous as the birthplace of Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens, whose work is displayed in the grand Cathedral of Our Lady. With its captivating medieval streets, the sprawling Antwerp Zoo, and the trendy boutiques of the Fashion District, Antwerp flawlessly intertwines history, nature, haute couture, and artistic flair, making it an irresistible destination for travelers.

Travel rating

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Travel index

Safety:Very safe

Antwerp is generally regarded as a safe city for solo female travelers. Normal precautions should be taken as in any other major city, particularly at night. Public transportation is reliable and locals are often helpful. Street crime is relatively rare, but slight risk can mainly come from areas more frequented by tourists. Regardless of these minor risks, many solo female travelers have had positive experiences visiting Antwerp.

Transport:Easy

Antwerp is fairly easy to navigate as a solo female traveler. It has well-organized and efficient public transit including trams and buses which cover nearly the entire city. There are also ample bike hire services if you prefer a more active approach. English is widely spoken, making it easy to ask for directions. However, it can get a bit hectic during peak hours.

Things to do:Interesting

Antwerp offers a diverse range of activities. The city's rich history is reflected in its stunning architecture, particularly in the Cathedral of Our Lady and Antwerp Central Station. Art enthusiasts can enjoy masterpieces at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts and the contemporary MUHKA. For fashion lovers, Antwerp is renowned for its fashion design and hosts the Fashion Museum MoMu. Moreover, the Diamond District can be explored to understand why Antwerp is known as the 'world's diamond capital'. Some might find the limited nightlife options a downside.

Food:Above average

Antwerp offers a rich and wide-ranging culinary scene. From traditional Belgian dishes like mussels and fries, to international cuisines such as Japanese and Italian, there's something to suit every palate. The city also boasts a whole host of charming cafes, perfect for enjoying a coffee and a delicious Belgian waffle. It's noteworthy that Antwerp is also famous for its Belgian chocolate, street food and beer. So, foodies can expect a truly diverse experience. However, note that some of the best flavors might require a bit of exploring off the beaten path.

Budget:Moderate

Antwerp falls in the moderate range when it comes to budget-friendly destinations. Accommodation costs are reasonable with a variety of hostel, guesthouse, and affordable hotel options available, especially if booked in advance. Public transportation is fairly priced, and quite efficient. Dining could be relatively higher, particularly if eating out at upscale restaurants or in touristy areas. However, you can cut costs by opting for street food, smaller cafes, or self-catering. Museums and attractions are also modestly priced, though they can add up over time. Walking around the city is free and highly enjoyable, given its picturesque streets and architecture.

Is Antwerp worth visiting?

Overall rating

3.9 /5

based on 6 experiences

Rating summary

Things to do

4.6/5

Safety

4.7/5

Food

4.6/5

Budget-friendly

3.4/5

Solo travel experience

I always felt very safe in Antwerp during the day but also at night. There is a lot to do a lot of cute cafés, cool museums and also a lot of political events happening all the time. It rains a lot there tho and it is a very windy city as well. The people I have met were all very friendly and spoke great English. A lot of men kept winking at me or whistling at me but never anything more.

Posted: November 20, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 5/5
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Agi

Agi (25)

Hungary

Solo travel experience

I visited Antwerp in September, which was a good choice as the weather was excellent for sightseeing: 20°C and the city itself lends itself to walking. If you only speak English, be prepared for some inconveniences as locals (understandably) might not be able to communicate in that language. Regarding the most important bit: I felt safe in the city and in my hotel, no one bothered me. I really recommend getting the Antwerp pass, as most museums are included in that and they have a great selection in the area and the price is absolutely fair. The city has amazing food, I recommend visiting the chocolate shops and getting waffles from street vendors-much cheaper and even better tasting! The prices can be higher then some other places in Europe, especially in restaurants so I recommend checking your options before going. Otherwise you will not spend too much money on activities if you buy the pass, so you can save money there. I do have to warn you, that the hotel, flights, food, and souvenirs may add up but it's worth it:)) This was my first solo trip, I loved the experience and I gained valuable insight during this short holiday!

Posted: November 2, 2023Experienced: August, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

It was amazing a bit mix of dutch french and german! Love it ! You will like it if you are fond of large cruise and diamonds. The architecture is so different! And people are nice! You can cover different spots nearby there is a castle on walking distance from station its very cool and you can have a view of al lcity!

Posted: October 21, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

To do: - Stadsfeestzaal - Grote Markt - Sint-Annatunnel - The View Antwerp - Central Station Safety: I was alone and felt 100% safe and comfortable. Recommendations: Antwerp is beautiful.

Posted: September 16, 2022
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

Things to do: - Central Station - Stadsfeestzaal - Cathedral of Our Lady - Rubens House - Vlaaikensgang - Plantin-Moretus Museum Safety: The city is incredibly safe. Recommendations: Antwerp is a beautiful and diverse city, I definitely recommend it. Lots of museums, cafes, and shopping spots.

Posted: September 9, 2022
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

To do: - Museum aan de Stroom - The Cathedral of Our Lady - Plantin-Moretus Museum - Rubens House - Antwerp Zoo - Grote Markt - Royal Museum of Fine Arts - Museum of Modern Art - Het Steen Safety: The city is generally safe for women. Recommendations: Antwerp is an incredible city, I highly recommend going there.

Posted: September 2, 2022
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 5/5
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Local tips

Silke

Silke

Belgium

Hi! I’ve always lived in Belgium having Antwerp as the closest big city as from where I always lived. After having studied there when I was younger and spending lots of my time growing up there, I moved to the city of Antwerp in 2018. Antwerp is big enough to have everything you need right here, and also small enough not to get lost or loose time getting from one place to another. There’s a lot of different neighbourhoods with different vibes to them. The South of Antwerp (Het Zuid), definitely offers the cosiest bars, restaurants and atmosphere. But all the neighbourhoods do if you know where to go. Feel free to ask! As a women I don’t always feel at ease walking around at night, but I also didn’t experience any trouble. I have often cycled home late at night after visiting a bar, after a concert or after spending time at a friends. My favourite restaurant is definitely Osaka, I love the minimalist interior and the Japanese influenced cuisine is just amazing. They have also nice wines. When you want to eat something Flemish (Belgian), I would absolutely reccoment the cosy Dansing Chocola. Make sure to reserve a table in time. When you’re on a budget I would reccomend Aahaar or the Chinese neighbourhood to visit restaurants. The quickest way to get around is the ‘Velo Antwerpen’ bicycle sharing system. But the trams and busses will get you there too. There’s also scooters available. In terms of neighbourhoods to avoid I wouldn’t feel pleasant walking near ‘Seefhoek’ at night. Touristy things to do: walk all the way up the MAS, to have a city view. If you like churches you can go see the cathedral and the cute surrounding streets. We also have a big shopping street called Meir. If you’re looking for more cosy shopping go check out ‘Wilde Zee’. It’s impossible to summarise a city I know so much about, so feel free to ask any questions!

Posted: December 18, 2023
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Beautiful buildings (old, with a lot of gold) and best party culture. In the weeks, you can party with the students and all bars are open. In the weekend, special places like the big market square are full of people singing and drinking.

Posted: October 30, 2023
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Meet locals in Antwerp

Meet local women in Antwerp who are open to meet up for a coffee or a drink, show you around, give local advice or practice a language with.
Amy

Amy

About Me

I am an INFJ personality and I am interested in people's stories. Conversation tend to be about nothing or about everything. Basically nothing in between. I don't care about what you do for a living, but want to know what drives you, what keeps you up at night, your biggest dreams and fears. So let's have a coffee or some wine at the beach. Good listener, open, honest, funny, feels deeply, love being in and around nature, love hiking, like to take photos (will inevitably practice my photographic skills on you). Need some alone time now and then to recharge (nothing personal). Absolutely allergic to drama and gossip. Nature reminds me of the beauty of the world. Not the daredevil, adrenaline junky kind of person, but I will hold your beer.

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Nemo

Nemo

About Me

I'm a 26 year old girl / woman living by myself in the city center of Antwerp (Belgium). Just like almost everyone here, I love to explore the world!

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Stay with locals in Antwerp

Stay with local women in Antwerp who offer free accommodation as part of cultural exchange. Couch surfing is a great way to meet new people, learn more about new cultures and experience destinations like a local.
Nemo

Nemo

Antwerp

Can host for:

7 days

About me

I'm a 26 year old girl / woman living by myself in the city center of Antwerp (Belgium). Just like almost everyone here, I love to explore the world!

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fabienne

fabienne

Antwerp

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Hey! My name is Fabienne Schmidt, I'm 23 and currently doing my masters in Architecture in Antwerp. I joined this community because I have been using couchsurfing for so many years but only in Europe. After my exchange in Singapore I wanted to see more of Asia, so I decided to solo travel for a few months on a budget. And because Asia isn't Europa (safety wise) and I'm still a broke student (especially after living in Singapore for 4 months hahaha) I joined the Travel Ladies community. I also didn't wanted to give my mom a heart attack everytime she sees me sleeping at a different man's house (better to be safe than sorry). If there is one thing I love to do it's dancing and cooking and especially both at the same time! I can always go for a nice evening stroll or play board games at home or in a café. I love to share my experience with others or have a good laugh about all the crazy stories that I've gathered over the years whilst traveling. So lots to talk about or if you prefer we can also sit in silence. Xxx

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