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Tomorrowland Guide: Antwerp Hotel Basecamp vs. Camping Survival
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items Unpopular opinion: You don't have to sleep in the mud to do Tomorrowland. 🙅♀️ We technically had camping tickets, but we decided to upgrade our lives and base ourselves in Antwerp instead. It was the best decision of the trip. We spent mornings exp...
Map
Sections
5
The Logistics (Getting There)
The "Basecamp" (Where to Stay)
Morning Sightseeing (Culture before Raving)
Food Survival (Asian Cravings & Waffles)
Festival Essentials
The Logistics (Getting There)
Getting to Antwerp from Amsterdam is surprisingly easy (and fast!). We debated between the high-speed train and the regular one, but went with the budget option to save money for the festival. Here is exactly how we got there and the specific ticket ...
We bought ours directly at the station machine and paid €41.40. The Intercity train takes about 2 hours, but it’s super flexible, you don't need a seat reservation, so you can just hop on any train that day. The Real Hack (Do what I didn't do): I missed out, but if you book this specific route via Omio they are c...
Train: Amsterdam ➡️ Antwerp (Intercity Brussels)
The "Basecamp" (Where to Stay)
The biggest debate: Camping vs. Hotel. We technically had camping tickets, but we decided to 'upgrade' to a hotel in Antwerp so we could actually sleep and shower. Whether you want a smart 'basecamp' or a total luxury splurge to recover in style, her...
Okay, confession time. 🤫 We technically had a camping spot booked for the festival... but we stayed here instead. And honestly? Best decision ever. There is nothing, and I mean nothing better than coming back to a clean, silent room with air conditi...
Hilton Antwerp Old Town
If you want to do Tomorrowland like a celebrity (or just want to treat yourself after surviving the festival), this is the spot. It’s an all-suite boutique hotel right in the historic center. The Vibe: Massive rooms, fireplaces, and private butler se...
Gulde Schoen Luxury Studio-apartments
"If your #1 priority is Sleep Efficiency, book this one. It’s located in the Diamond District, literally 3 minutes walking distance from Antwerp Central Station. The Strategy: When you get off the festival train at 1:00 AM, you don't want to walk 20 ...
Hyllit Hotel
If you want to be near the station but hate the noise of the main square, this is the secret spot. It overlooks the Stadspark (City Park), so you wake up to green views instead of busy trams. The Vibe: It’s a boutique-style hotel (Handwritten Collect...
Maek Hotel Antwerp Central
Morning Sightseeing (Culture before Raving)
Since the festival doesn't really start until the afternoon, we used our mornings to actually see the city. Antwerp is gorgeous (and the diamond capital of the world!). Here are the quick stops we made to soak up some culture and get a coffee before ...
This isn't just a train station. It looks like a cathedral mixed with a Harry Potter movie set. You arrive here anyway, but do not rush out! Stop and take the photo on the grand staircase. It is voted one of the most beautiful stations in the world f...
Antwerpen-Centraal Station
We didn't just walk past, we actually went inside! It’s the oldest building in Antwerp and looks like a mini Disney castle. Inside, there’s a really cool Visitor Centre and 'The Antwerp Story' exhibit that gives you a quick crash course on the city. ...
Het Steen
You can see the spire of this church from almost everywhere, so we had to check it out. It is massive and stunning. We felt like we needed to do at least one 'cultured' thing to balance out the crazy festival partying we were about to do later. 😇 It...
Cathedral of Our Lady
If you want to be efficient and not wander around aimlessly like we did at first, I highly recommend booking this walking tour. It hits all the highlights (Het Steen, Grote Markt, Stadsfeestzaal) in one go with a local guide. It’s the smartest way to get your 'culture fix' quickly so you can focus on food and the festival for the rest of the day.
Antwerp: Historical Walking Tour in the Old City
Food Survival (Asian Cravings & Waffles)
Fellow Asians will understand: After 5 days of bread, I needed rice. We went to this spot near the Hilton and the warm curry saved my life. Note: It might be temporarily closed now, but the lesson stands if you see a Thai spot near Groenplaats, go in...
Yammy Thai Wok
Garlic Butter Shrimp (Scampi) here is incredible. We found this spot right on the Grote Markt. It felt fancy sitting right by the historic City Hall, but this shrimp dish with fries was the perfect protein hit before a long night of dancing.
Bella Patio
If you want a 'proper' Belgian waffle right in the center, go here. It’s located literally steps away from the Cathedral (Handschoenmarkt), so you can't miss it. We grabbed a warm Liege waffle the kind with the crunchy sugar pearls inside and it was ...
House of Waffles
Yes, we did a waffle comparison! While House of Waffles is the 'proper' sit down spot, we also grabbed a €3 waffle from a tiny stall near Groenplaats to eat while walking. The Verdict: Sometimes the simple, cheap street waffles hit just as hard. It’s...
The Waffle Factory
Festival Essentials
Honesty hour: I didn't actually have this specific bottle with me (I brought a cheap random one and it leaked in my bag 💀). But this Owala Twist is the one I wish I had brought. Why: The twist cap is 100% leakproof (crucial for festivals) and the ne...
Owala FreeSip TWIST Water Bottle (Scream Green)
Girl Math: Buying these for €30 saves me thousands on hearing aids later. Tomorrowland is LOUD. These filter the noise so you can hear the music perfectly without the ringing ears. Do not go without them.
Loop Earplugs | Up to 30% OFF | Gift Sale
Your phone will die. Between the videos and finding friends, you need juice. Since you can't bring big backpacks, I use this tiny one that fits in a fanny pack. Saved me when I needed to call an Uber at 1 AM.
Power Bank - Black Anker 10000mAh 22.5W