By Bicycle

Velo-Antwerpen Antwerp’s extensive red-bike system works very smoothly, with thousands of bikes at more than 100 stations. Membership can be purchased with a Mastercard or Visa credit (but not debit) card online, at the office or through the app. Use the key code to release a bike, then return it at any other stand within 30 minutes. If the stand where you want to leave the bike is full, enter your code and you’ll receive extra minutes to find another. Stands are plentiful, but occasionally it can be hard to find a bike near the train station, or to drop one on Saturday night around KMSKA. The phone app has an interactive map showing where bikes and spaces are available.

By Boat

Until the renovation of the Sint-Annatunnel is complete, a Cross-river Ferry shuttles pedestrians and cyclists across from Steenplein to Linkeroever. From the same pontoon, De Waterbus river ferry heads south to Hemksem (27 minutes) via Kruibeke (17 minutes). It’s aimed at commuters but makes a cheap waterborne excursion.

By Public Transport

The same tickets (one ride/day pass €3/8) are valid for all buses, trams and premetro (underground trams), which mostly operate from about 5.30am to midnight. The day pass costs only €6 if prepurchased from De Lijn, where you can also buy three-/five-day passes (€12/17). The Antwerp City Card includes free public transport. Premetro trams 3, 5, 9 and 15 run underground from Diamant to Groenplaats and beneath the Scheldt River to Linkeroever. For ’t Zuid, tram 4 runs from Groenplaats. Tram 24 heads to Borgerhout.

By Taxi

Taxis wait at Groenplaats, outside Antwerpen-Centraal station and on Koningin Astridplein, but are otherwise relatively hard to find. Instead, call or use the app for an Antwerp Taxi. Between 10pm and 6am a €2.50 supplement is added to all fares.