Antwerp Cruise Port
Antwerp, Belgium · Northern Europe
Cruise ships dock at Steenplein cruise pontoon (Het Steen), Antwerp.
Plan my port daysDocked port in the city centre: ships up to about 265 m tie up at the single cruise pontoon on the Scheldt beside Het Steen, where the cruise terminal and Visit Antwerpen visitor centre are. The Grote Markt is 5 minutes on foot, the cathedral 8 and the MAS 15. Larger ships calling at 'Antwerp' actually dock at Zeebrugge, over an hour away.
At a glance
Port summary
Antwerp grew rich in the 16th century as one of Europe's great trading cities, and the old town still shows it: guild houses around the Grote Markt, the Cathedral of Our Lady with its 123 m spire and four Rubens altarpieces, and the Plantin-Moretus printing house, a UNESCO site. Ocean cruise ships use a single pontoon on the Scheldt quays at Steenplein; the cruise terminal is built into Het Steen, the city's medieval castle, which also houses the Visit Antwerpen visitor centre and The Antwerp Story exhibition. Everything in the historic centre is walkable: the Grote Markt in 5 minutes, the cathedral in 8, Plantin-Moretus in 10 and the MAS museum on Het Eilandje in 15. For the Meir shopping street, Antwerp Central Station and the zoo, walk 25–30 minutes or take the premetro tram from Groenplaats. Ghent (about 50 minutes) and Brussels (about 45 minutes) are easy train trips from Antwerp Central. Only ships up to about 265 m fit the city berth; bigger ships with 'Antwerp' or 'Brussels' itineraries usually dock at Zeebrugge, so check your berth.
Cruise dock
Steenplein cruise pontoon (Het Steen)
Single ocean-cruise pontoon on the Scheldt quays at Steenplein, beside Het Steen (city berth code BEANR-0514). Coordinate from OSM/Nominatim (Steenplein square, Overpass had no tagged pier); the city publishes 51.2239 N, 4.3972 E for the pontoon, about 200 m further north. Max ship about 265 m LOA, 35 m beam, 8 m draught; one ship at a time.
Latitude: 51.222981, Longitude: 4.396542
See dock on port map →Getting to Antwerp
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Bring a contactless card or phone and a few euros in coins for public toilets and the odd frituur; you will not need much cash.
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Inside the North Sea & Low Countries collection
Here's a peek at everything waiting for your Antwerp cruise day.
Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Excursions compared
3 comparedAntwerp panoramic drive and Old Town walk with Our Lady's Cathedral
≈ 4.5 h · sold by 1 cruise line
Cruise line
€120$134
Do it yourself
€33$37
Save ≈ €87Save ≈ $97 (73% off)
The Steenplein cruise terminal is a 5-minute walk from the Grote Markt, so the Old Town needs no transport at all. The Cathedral of Our Lady charges €12 (weekdays 10:00–17:00, Saturday 10:00–15:00, Sunday from 13:00); the MAS rooftop panorama on the Eilandje is free and a 20-minute walk north. Walk on to Antwerpen-Centraal (about 30 minutes via the Diamond Quarter) and take the premetro back from Diamant to Groenplaats (De Lijn ticket €3 in the app), 10 minutes from the pier.
See the DIY plan →
Medieval Ghent: canal boat ride, guided walk and Belgian pralines
≈ 6 h · sold by 1 cruise line
Cruise line
€180$201
Do it yourself
€73$82
Save ≈ €107Save ≈ $120 (59% off)
Walk 10 minutes from the Steenplein terminal to Groenplaats and take the premetro to Diamant (Antwerpen-Centraal), €3 with a De Lijn ticket. Direct SNCB trains run to Gent-Sint-Pieters about twice an hour in 56–60 minutes (about €11 each way); tram 1 runs from the station to Korenmarkt in 15 minutes (€3). The 40-minute canal boats leave from the Graslei/Korenlei every ~20 minutes in season (about €13), the cathedral nave is free and the Gravensteen can be admired from outside.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
12 plansThe Antwerp Old Town Classic
Castle, guild-house square, Rubens' cathedral and a secret 16th-century alley, all within ten minutes of the gangway.
Antwerp for Free
A full half day that costs nothing: guild houses, a hidden alley, the free MAS rooftop panorama and the old emigrant docks.
Rubens and the Flemish Masters
Rubens' cathedral altarpieces, the garden and new visitor centre at his house, and the reborn Royal Museum of Fine Arts.
Antwerp in the Rain: MAS and Red Star Line
Two of Belgium's best museums, side by side on the old docks, with a warm Eilandje lunch between them.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Antwerp?
- Your ship docks directly at the Antwerp cruise terminal in Belgium.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Antwerp?
- Yes. Antwerp is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Antwerp centre?
- Typical options include On foot, Tram, Train, Taxi, Bike rental. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Antwerp?
- Plan for at least 2 hours ashore to see Antwerp independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Antwerp and are cards accepted?
- Antwerp uses the Euro. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Wi-Fi isn't reliably available at the Antwerp cruise terminal. Consider a local SIM or your cruise line's data package.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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