Antwerp cruise port guide

Arrival & Getting Ashore

Getting to the centre: The Antwerp Cruise Pontoon connects through Het Steen to the historic centre, with Grote Markt as the sightseeing destination.

• Walk: realistic through the terminal at Het Steen into the historic streets; use the covered passenger zone on the pontoon.
• Step-free: the city describes the terminal as wheelchair-accessible, but the pontoon access bridge can slope up to 10°; assistance may be needed on the incline.

Sources: City of Antwerp cruise terminal, Antwerp City Port cruise FAQ.

Orientation, not a walking route

The city authority confirms that seagoing cruise ships berth at a floating cruise pontoon connected to the terminal at Het Steen. Passengers reach the historic centre through the visitor-centre complex. This is alongside access; a tender crossing is not part of the terminal arrangement.

Use the exit directed by terminal staff, and identify the entrance you will use on return. Ships use their own gangways; arrange any gangway or bridge assistance with the ship before disembarking.

About this port

Antwerp's central cruise landing makes a visit to the historic centre a practical use of a short call. Our recommendation is to stay in the city: an onward rail trip adds station transfers and a separate return connection to a day that can otherwise start at the waterfront.

Choose your museum before leaving the ship. Rubenshuis currently offers a different visit from the historic house described in older guides.

Getting Around

For the old town, begin at Het Steen and walk towards Grote Markt and the cathedral area, then return to the pontoon through the visitor-centre complex.

Antwerpen-Centraal is a separate destination from the waterfront terminal. Agree any vehicle pick-up point on the public side of the terminal.

Things to Do

• Keep the visit local: explore the streets around Grote Markt and the cathedral, then return towards Het Steen. This is the simplest plan to shorten if disembarkation takes longer than expected.
• Visit Rubenshuis with the right expectations: on 2026-09-07 the museum operator confirms that the historic artist's residence is closed for restoration. The garden, Rubens Experience and library are open; the house is expected to reopen no earlier than 2030. Check the operator's admission information before booking.

For a short call, combine the old-town walk with one booked interior, leaving space for a meal and the return. Do not build a programme around viewing rooms inside Rubens's house while the closure remains in force.

Getting back to your ship

Return: keep the terminal name and the ship's all-aboard time available offline.

Practical Information

• Currency: euro.
• Emergencies: call 112.
• Tickets and hours: use the venue's own visitor information.
• Return: keep the terminal name and the ship's all-aboard time available offline.

Frequently asked

Can you walk from Antwerp cruise port to the old town? Yes. The cruise pontoon connects through Het Steen to the historic centre; head towards Grote Markt and the cathedral area.

Do cruise ships dock or tender in Antwerp? They dock at the floating Antwerp Cruise Pontoon, connected to the terminal at Het Steen.

Is Antwerp cruise terminal accessible to wheelchair users? Yes, the city describes the terminal as wheelchair-accessible. The pontoon access bridge can slope up to 10°, and ships use their own gangways, so arrange any assistance before disembarking.

Where is Antwerp's cruise pontoon? It is on the waterfront at Het Steen, directly connected to the historic centre.