WHAT TO SEE IN ANTWERP WITH A DOG IN 1 DAY 

We have prepared this optimised itinerary of qué ver en Amberes with a dog in 1 day with which you will be able to see the essentials without wasting too much time. This is just a suggestion, you can add and subtract what you want. We have added to the itinerary the possibility of entering the main attractions, but you also have to take into account that in most dogs are not allowed. The itinerary is designed to see everything in a more panoramic way, so you can adapt what you want.

We took the guided tour departing from Brussels, where pets are NOT accepted when travelling by bus, so our recommendation is to take the train from Brussels, paying the supplement for your pet.

We had to get up very early, because it was going to be a long day. And the truth is that going with a dog seemed like a lot of work, so the best thing to do is to dedicate a day to each city, and not like us, who did a very hectic 12-hour guided tour.

Para viajar a Amberes desde Bruselas, you need to take the train from the central station, and then choose the Ghent route.

But now I'm sure you're wondering: ‘I'm not going to find out anything because no one will explain things to me’. Well, I have a very easy solution: book a Free Tour directamente en Amberes. Duran 2 horas y al ser a pie you will be able to go with your dog.

You need to know something about the Free Tourand is that in Civitatis it says that they DON'T allow dogs, but it's a mistake because we spoke with the company, and they DO allow dogs. In fact, our guide told us that they would never refuse a tour to someone with a dog, that all the guides love dogs and are happy to have them on the tour.

So you can safely book using this Civitatis because no one will complain.

A continuación, os dejamos nuestros imprescindibles de Amberes:

• Groote Markt: se trata de la plaza más importante de Amberes, la que se ve en todas las fotos en internet. Puedes disfrutar de sus restaurantes, de sus tiendas, de su bullicio, de sus edificios medievales, pero sobre todo, de su arquitectura tan característica. Sin ninguna duda es una de las plazas más bonitas en las que hemos estado. Cuando se hace de noche y la iluminan es quizá más bonita aún.  Nosotros además fuimos en época navideña, así que estaba todo lleno de puestos de comida, bebida, artesanías, etc.
• Fuente de Silvio Brabo: se trata de un soldado romano quien, según cuenta la tradición y la leyenda, explica el nombre de la ciudad a raíz de su historia.

• Vleeshuis: This museum brings together all the stories and sounds of the city: from the old opera houses and bandstands to the carillon in the cathedral tower. 
• Steen Castle: the castle is the oldest building in the city, situated on the banks of the river Scheldt near the old peninsula called De Werf (dockyard). The castle stands on the site of a fortification dating back to the 9th century, which was the beginning of the rest of the town. Of course, Steen has been rebuilt many times over the centuries. The only thing that has survived to the present day is the entrance gate and the front part.
• Cathedral of Our Lady: Gothic in style, the slender one,  construction began in 1352 on the site of an old Romanesque church.

• Church of St Charles Borromeo: This triumphant baroque church immediately catches your eye when you set foot on the picturesque Conscienceplein. Admire the impressive high altar, the beautiful Lady Chapel and walk down to the crypt and canals of Antwerp.
• Skyscraper Boerentoren: Built between 1929 and 1932, the Boerentoren was the first skyscraper on the European continent. It was originally a residential tower before becoming a bank headquarters after World War II. 
• Rubens House: museum house dedicated to the author, but it is temporarily closed.

• Stadsfeestzaal: the shopping centre is huge and dog friendly, so it's a great place to go on a rainy day.
• Meir Street: the most important shopping street in Antwerp. It is the most important shopping area in the country, both in terms of number of shoppers and rental prices. The street has been almost entirely pedestrianised since 1993.
• Port of Antwerp: Antwerp is landlocked and has one of the most important ports in Europe. Therefore, your visit becomes a tour of the most genuine Antwerp, the Antwerp bathed by the eternal and immense Escalda river, a river that not only dresses the city, but is also the motor and fluid traffic of transport and commerce. 
• Diamond Neighbourhood: Around 84% of the world's uncut diamonds pass through Antwerp's Diamond Quarter. Each year, more than $32,000,000 worth of polished and cut diamonds pass through the four trade exchanges regulated by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre, bringing massive wealth to the city.

This guide is focused on what to see in Amberes con perro, but if you want an itinerary through Belgium, we invite you to read our big post about what to see in Belgium with a dog.

From Brussels, you have trains to many cities, both in Belgium and in other countries such as Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, etc. Therefore, we have left you some other important cities that you can visit:

• Amsterdam: the capital of the Netherlands, and a day trip option from Brussels. Obviously, it's not the same as travelling directly to the city and staying there for 2–3 days, but if you're planning a longer trip, you can still make the most of it.
• Mechelen and Leuven: the two cities of Flanders, full of history, art, and culture. The tour is done by train, so it is quicker and more comfortable than by bus. The guides in Antwerp and Ghent told us that this was a very good option as well. As it is by train, ask if pets are allowed, because you might be able to take them with you for a supplement.
• Luxembourg: one of the most expensive countries in the world. We are looking forward to visiting it, as they say it is a beautiful country. Besides, we know a girl who went with her dog, and she only speaks wonders about the country. Dogs are not allowed in Civitatis, but they are allowed on the trains, so ask if you can do something to make sure they are allowed.
• Leuven: one of the university towns in all of Flanders, so it's well worth a visit. It is done by train, so in principle you shouldn't have any problem to go there with a dog.

Even if it is a short trip, think that many things can happen, such as your dog getting sick, getting cut by a bottle (in Brussels there was a lot of glass on the ground), or simply getting sick because of the change in temperature or for any other reason. For this very reason, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you hire travel insurance. We recommend you IATI, as it is one of the few insurances that not only offers a very competitive price, but also covers practically everything, including your pet. Remember, you have a 5% of discount if you book using our link