Do you need a car in Antwerp?

Belgium > Antwerp

If Bruges represents chocolate box cuteness, together with the summer hordes that go with it, and if Brussels represents all the pomposity that goes with having that extra special kind of capital city feeling, then if almost by default, the massively underrated charm of Belgium is perhaps best represented in cities like Antwerp.

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So what particular delights await the visit the first-time visitor to Antwerp? What about that key question of getting around?

Why should you rent a car in Antwerp?

In terms of factors like the cost of the hire itself, fuel costs, road tolls and parking charges, is it worth hiring a car in Antwerp?

Antwerp Car hire summary

Overall drive rating

40%

Cheapest rate for one week

€145

^#169_/₃₀₀

How much should I expect to pay in the peak season?

€120

# ⁶¹/₃₀₀

Free parking score

Total 149 - of which 32 have free parking. [full notes - parking]

21%

^#239/₃₀₀

Reasons why you might need a car in Antwerp

In all honesty, we can’t think of any particular reason for wanting to rent a car in Antwerp. If this is your first point of arrival on a brief city break, you’ll do fine without one.

Congestion in Antwerp is a problem, as it is in any other city of this size. A car can still be useful for visiting smaller towns and villages outside the city.

That’s not to say that Belgium is a particularly bad place to want to drive a car. Driving conditions are very similar to any other northern European country. It’s simply that if you do want to do a driving tour around Belgium, then it’s much more likely that you’ll be flying into Brussels in the first place. Failing that, you’ll be coming with your own car anyway!

Arriving by train or plane?

If you are coming into Belgium by train, you are probably still more likely to be connecting through Brussels for that as well. There’s little point in changing again to reach Antwerp, when you could pick up a rental car in Brussels Midi Station.

Needless to say, with the airport in Antwerp being well connected to the national road network, you won’t find any problem renting a car here. Since it’s a much smaller facility, the range of available cars is unsurprisingly much smaller than you will find at Brussels National Airport. National airport is still less than one hour by car away from Antwerp.

If you are arriving by train, then car-rental facilities are available at Antwerp Central Station. However, you will be dealing with an even smaller choice than you will find at the airport.

Arriving from Brussels?

Belgium is one of Europe’s most densely populated countries, and it has a well developed commuter rail network. This is particularly geared up for commuting in and out of Brussels. It’s also good for other major cities. Some of the more rural connections are a great deal slower. They are also considerably less frequent than the Brussels shuttles.

For more general suggestions on driving in Belgium, please see our Brussels car hire advice page.

Why should you rent a car in Antwerp?

In terms of factors like the cost of the hire itself, fuel costs, road tolls and parking charges, is it worth hiring a car in Antwerp?

Antwerp Car hire summary

Overall drive rating

40%

Cheapest rate for one week

€145

^#169_/₃₀₀

How much should I expect to pay in the peak season?

€120

# ⁶¹/₃₀₀

Free parking score

Total 149 - of which 32 have free parking. [full notes - parking]

21%

^#239/₃₀₀

Reasons for visiting Antwerp without a car

By far and away the biggest appeal of visiting Antwerp without a car is the sheer delight of visiting the city itself.
If you are flying into Antwerp’s small city airport, then it’s only a very short bus or taxi ride into the city centre.
This advice is written on the general assumption that you are arriving by train, since this is much more likely here.
In an historic city where through traffic is limited, driving around narrow streets in a hire car doesn’t really make much sense.

Is this Europe’s finest station?

Railway stations in many cities are simply mundane and functional places. The triple deck Antwerp Central is an entirely different matter altogether! Following the construction of the new railway tunnel which allows high-speed north to south trains to pass directly through the city, the station is now rated by many rail pundits as being amongst the finest in Europe, if not the world.

If, like many passengers, you are arriving here either via Brussels or via Rotterdam in the Netherlands, then you will alight at the lowest level of this vast cavernous station. You then proceed upwards through to the dramatic Beaux Arts main hall. You may or may not recognise from various flash mob YouTube videos.

Getting Around Locally

The best means of getting around the city is to hire one of the ubiquitous Raleigh chopper type bicycles.
Even if you don’t consider yourself a particularly confident cyclist on the streets of a city like London or New York, then Antwerp is quite different.
Antwerp might be one small step below Dutch standards, but there are plenty of designated cycle paths.
Historic central streets have extensive limitations on through traffic, putting the city giant leaps ahead of typical North American or British cities.
The street design also makes walking a delight in Antwerp.
You can also pick up a tram at Central Station to go to most parts of the city.
Take tram 6 to Luchtbal to visit the striking new Port House, one of the last buildings designed by the late architect Zaha Hadid.

Just how Central?

Don’t be deceived by the name – Great Market Square (Grote Markt) is still around a mile / 1.7 kilometres away from the central station, but it still makes for a perfectly pleasant walk.

If you do decide to pick up a rental car at Antwerp station, then the chances are that you will just be driving it into a parking garage. You’ll then leave it there as you explore the city on foot. If you just want to hire a car in Antwerp for a day or two, then this might make a lot more sense than having one for the whole duration of your stay. That way you are cutting down on rental and parking costs – a natural win-win in a city that is so well connected.

Beyond Antwerp by public transport

Even if a hire car might be useful for having the flexibility to drive to smaller towns and villages beyond Antwerp, it is still by no means essential.

Local trains and buses will still take you where you want to go, and they aren’t just useful for travel within Belgium. Why not also consider popping across the border into the Netherlands. In particular, why not visit the massively misunderstood and underrated gem that is Rotterdam? Cross-border driving in a rental car from Antwerp shouldn’t be a problem, but always check the small print first. Rotterdam was so extensively rebuilt in the post-war motor age, but it’s far nicer just to pop across their by train and then pick up a rental bike in Rotterdam central station.

The same applies to almost any other Belgian town as well. If it’s large enough to have a manned station, then there’s a pretty good chance it will have bike rental as well.

Ratings

Car rental in - Antwerp Need v worth & should!

Do you need a car in Antwerp?

Based on comparison with transit, walking and cycling.

Is it worth hiring a car in Antwerp?

Based on value for money

Should you rent a car in Antwerp?

Weighing up the above, if you are asking about hiring a car, is it a good idea?

Who is travelling?

Is it worth renting a car in Antwerp if I am a solo / budget traveller?

What about for 2 people travelling together?

For families?

Where are you staying?

Do you need a car in Antwerp if we are staying in a central area?

What if we are staying on the edge of the city/resort?

Or in a rural area?

What is your attitude towards driving?

Should I hire a car in Antwerp if I prefer not to drive?

If I am easy either way?

If I prefer to drive?

[full notes - group type, size & budget]

Verdict

Final score:

1

Go back up to:

Why?

Why not?

Ratings

Comments

So, do you need a car in Antwerp? Based on specifically arriving direct into Antwerp by air or rail, then our advice here is about as clear as it can be: Antwerp is very much a destination where you are better off using public transport or hiring a bike. The same goes for most of the places you might want to visit nearby.

It’s also somewhere that you’ll be perfectly happy getting around using nothing other than your own two feet, with or without pedals.

This makes the overall Carornocar verdict a very strong no.

Would you hire a car in Antwerp?

Have you driven in Antwerp? Do you agree with our advice on whether or not it's worth hiring a car in Antwerp?

Tell us what you think using the comments section below:

Do you need a car in Brussels?

Belgium > Brussels

The Belgian capital is often overlooked on the way to other touristy cities in Belgium such as Bruges. This is a shame as Brussels also has plenty to offer. As Belgium is a relatively small country, the advice here applies to Belgium as a whole as well as just Brussels.

Brussels Introduction

Why?

Why not?

Ratings

Why should you rent a car in Brussels?

In terms of factors like the cost of the hire itself, fuel costs, road tolls and parking charges, is it worth hiring a car in Brussels?

Brussels Car hire summary

Overall drive rating

70%

Cheapest rate for one week

€105

^#109_/₃₀₀

How much should I expect to pay in the peak season?

€100

# ³⁴/₃₀₀

Free parking score

Total 449 - of which 19 have free parking. [full notes - parking]

4%

^#295/₃₀₀

Flexibility — as with anywhere else, a car will give you the flexibility to explore Belgium at your own pace. Belgium has an excellent network of high intensity train services between the major cities. However, this is concentrated on what approximates to a cross shape leading out Brussels. Travelling between other cities is not always so easy. To enjoy smaller Belgian towns and villages, a car is a much better idea.
Brussels suburbs — architecture pundits will love the variety of designs on display in the suburban areas around Brussels. Heading out to and around the suburbs by tram can be tortuously slow. A car could be good idea for this kind of architectural tourism. However, you may prefer just to walk around anyway, and not worry too much about those trams!
Battlefields — a car is a more flexible choice for independent touring around the battlefields of Belgium and neighbouring northern France.

Why not? Visiting Brussels without a car

Why?

Why not?

Ratings

Comments

Brussels public transport quick facts

Train score

0%

[full notes trains]

Water travel score

70%

[full notes - water score]

Overall public transport score

50%

Walking and Cycling Overview

Active travel score

(walking + cycling)

70%

Eurostar additions — passengers arriving from London on Eurostar trains can pay a very small amount of extra to enjoy onward travel to and from anywhere within Belgium. This needs to be a journey in a continuous direction. Travel must take place on the same day as the Eurostar journey.
Brussels airport — for travellers taking flights to Brussels, the airport is easily connected to all the main stations in Brussels city centre. You have easy links onwards to the rest of Belgium.
Beer — One of Belgium’s biggest exports is its beer, and Belgian beer can be particularly strong. This is simply not something to mix with a driving tour! It’s much better to sit back and relax, and let someone else provide transport between bars.

Super stations!

For those that appreciate genuinely grand designs, Belgium offers two of the most impressive medium-sized stations in Europe.

For the classicists, Antwerp has a delightfully eclectic cathedral of a station. Then there is the more recent addition of two tiers of underground platforms stacked on top of each. These cater for high speed through trains and other services.
Meanwhile, in the southern city of Liège is arguably the finest work of Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, featuring a delightful arched station hall.

Brussels to Bruges

Belgium’s most famous tourist honey trap is the beautiful city of Bruges.
Like its Dutch counterparts , Bruges has an extensive canal network.
The best way to appreciate a city like Bruges is on a bike. These can readily be hired at the station and at other locations in Bruges.
There are also plenty of boat tours available around the city.
Bruges is easily accessible by train from Brussels or anywhere else in Belgium.
If you drive there, you will only end up parking in an edge of town car park.

Ratings

Car rental in - Brussels Need v worth & should!

Do you need a car in Brussels?

Based on comparison with transit, walking and cycling.

Is it worth hiring a car in Brussels?

Based on value for money

Should you rent a car in Brussels?

Weighing up the above, if you are asking about hiring a car, is it a good idea?

Who is travelling?

Is it worth renting a car in Brussels if I am a solo / budget traveller?

What about for 2 people travelling together?

For families?

Where are you staying?

Do you need a car in Brussels if we are staying in a central area?

What if we are staying on the edge of the city/resort?

Or in a rural area?

What is your attitude towards driving?

Should I hire a car in Brussels if I prefer not to drive?

If I am easy either way?

If I prefer to drive?

[full notes - group type, size & budget]

Verdict

Final score:

2

Go back up to:

Why?

Why not?

Ratings

Comments

Do you need a car in Brussels? Conclusion: – Due to the excellent public transport in Belgium, which is supported by plenty of opportunities for cycling, or indeed just for walking around at a more leisurely pace between beers, there really is no need to hire a car in Brussels.

Verdict – No.

Would you hire a car in Brussels?

Have you driven in Brussels? Do you agree with our advice on whether or not it's worth hiring a car in Brussels?

Tell us what you think using the comments section below: