Antwerp works as a weekend trip from several different cities, not just one — Metz, Paris, Amsterdam, and Luxembourg all reach it comfortably. We did it from Metz, via Luxembourg.

At a glance

  • The route: Metz → Luxembourg (train change) → Antwerp → back to Metz, the same way.
  • How long you need: A weekend covers Antwerp itself comfortably. Extend to a long weekend if you want to add Brussels, Bruges, or Ghent.
  • Best time to go: Spring (March-May) or fall (September-October) — the shoulder seasons offer mild weather, fewer crowds, and cheaper rates than summer’s peak pricing.
  • Budget: Around €80/night for a double hotel room, plus roughly €20 per person per meal.
  • Getting there: No direct train from Metz — you’ll change at Luxembourg, with the full journey to Antwerp taking somewhat longer than the equivalent Brussels route given the extra distance north. This route also works well as a weekend trip from Amsterdam (roughly 1h15, direct — the fastest gateway by far), Paris (roughly 2 hours, direct), or Luxembourg (roughly 3.25-3.75 hours) — see the note below.

Also a great weekend trip from Amsterdam, Paris, or Luxembourg

Metz isn’t the only sensible starting point for this route. From Amsterdam, Antwerp is a fast, direct 1h15 by train — genuinely one of the quickest international weekend trips available. From Paris, it’s a direct ~2 hour ride. From Luxembourg, budget roughly 3.25-3.75 hours via Brussels. Whichever city you’re starting from, Antwerp itself — and the optional additions below — stay exactly the same.

Also worth exploring

If you have extra time in Antwerp, or you’re stretching this into a longer weekend, a few nearby cities are worth adding:

Brussels, Belgium’s capital, is just 34-51 minutes away by direct train — worth a half-day at minimum for the Grand-Place, and Delirium Café is genuinely worth the trip on its own for beer lovers, holding the Guinness World Record for most beer varieties ever offered at one bar.

Bruges, UNESCO-listed and built entirely around its canals, is often called the “Venice of the North” — one of Belgium’s most photographed towns for good reason.

Ghent has an equally impressive medieval core to Bruges — Gravensteen Castle, Saint Bavo’s Cathedral — but noticeably fewer tourists, making it feel like the quieter, less crowded alternative.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a direct train from Metz to Antwerp? No — you’ll change trains at Luxembourg, similar to the Brussels route, with a somewhat longer total journey given Antwerp’s extra distance north.

Should I add Brussels, Bruges, or Ghent to this trip? All work well as extensions if you have a long weekend rather than a standard one, with Brussels being the closest at under an hour by direct train.

Can I do this trip from somewhere other than Metz? Yes — this route works particularly well as a weekend trip from Amsterdam (~1h15 direct, by far the fastest option), and also from Paris (~2 hours direct) or Luxembourg (~3.25-3.75 hours).

Where’s the best spot in Antwerp for beer lovers? Billie’s Bier Kafétaria — a genuine old-fashioned “brown café” with around 180 Belgian and international beers, named after the owner’s bulldog.

What’s the best time of year for this trip? Spring or fall — mild weather, fewer crowds, and better rates than the summer peak season.

Is Antwerp worth visiting instead of Brussels? They’re different trips, not competing ones — Antwerp has its own distinct character (diamonds, Rubens, a real port-city feel) rather than being a smaller version of Brussels.

Want this route adjusted for your dates, or built out as part of a longer European trip? Tell me what you’re looking for and I’ll put together a real plan.