Antwerp: The Big Five City Highlights E-kickscooter Tour

Antwerp reveals itself quickly from an electric kickscooter. In two hours, you can move from the old port district of Het Eilandje to the Diamond District, with the Scheldt River, MAS, Het Steen, Central Station, and several major buildings in between. It is a useful way to see the city’s broad shape without spending the whole day on foot.

I like the long 16-kilometer route, which links areas that feel quite different. I also like the friendly, practical guiding style associated with Joeri and Wil, including clear help with steering and safe riding. The main consideration is simple: you need to be at least 16, and anyone uneasy on two wheels may find the ride less relaxing than a walking tour.

Key points at a glance

• Up to 16 kilometers in two hours: Cover Antwerp’s north, center, riverfront, and south without wearing out your feet.
• A quick lesson before departure: Your guide shows you how to steer and ride the electric Step before heading into the city.
• Het Eilandje and the Port House: See Antwerp’s former port quarter and Zaha Hadid’s striking building at Zaha Hadidplein.
• River views and medieval stonework: Follow the Scheldt and stop at Het Steen, Antwerp’s old riverside fortress.
• A useful mix of old and new: The route includes MAS, the Opera House, the Palace of Justice, Stadspark, the Diamond District, and Central Station.
• Best for adults and older teens: Belgium’s legal minimum age for driving an electric kickscooter is 16.

Why an e-kickscooter works well in Antwerp

Antwerp is large enough that walking between its main areas takes time, yet compact enough for a two-hour overview by e-kickscooter. This ride gives you a sense of how the port, historic center, shopping streets, parks, railway station, and Diamond District fit together.

You also get more than a vehicle ride-by. The guide leads the way, explains the sights, and helps you ride safely. That makes this a better choice than simply hiring an e-scooter on your own, especially if you are new to electric kickscooters or want context along the route.

The pace is leisurely rather than a race. You stop at several places for about five to ten minutes, so you can look around and hear the explanation. Still, this is a sightseeing ride, not a detailed visit inside museums or monuments. You will see the exteriors and settings of many landmarks, but the tour does not include food, drinks, or admission to attractions.

Starting at Jezusstraat 37

Meet your guide in front of the MyMobility shop at Jezusstraat 37. The row of e-scooters outside makes the meeting point easy to spot.

Allow a few minutes to get comfortable before setting off. The guide explains the controls, shows you how to steer, and covers safe riding. That short introduction matters because the tour moves through city streets rather than a closed practice area.

Wear warm clothing, and bring a hat and gloves. Even when the air feels mild at street level, an open ride can feel cool, particularly along the Scheldt. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed, which is both a legal and common-sense rule for a vehicle-based tour.

Zaha Hadidplein and the old port at Het Eilandje

The first major stop is Zaha Hadidplein in Het Eilandje, Antwerp’s former port neighborhood. Here, the star is the Port House, designed by architect Zaha Hadid. Its unusual form rises above the older port building, creating one of the city’s clearest examples of old and new architecture side by side.

This is a strong early stop because it introduces Antwerp as a working port city that has changed over time. You are not only looking at a striking building. You are also seeing how former dockland areas have taken on a new urban role.

The five-minute stop is short, so treat it as an orientation point rather than a full architectural visit. You will have time to take in the building and hear the main story, but not to study every detail.

MAS: Antwerp’s modern city marker

The route continues to the Museum aan de Stroom, usually called MAS. Its tall, stacked form is one of Antwerp’s most recognizable modern buildings, and its position in Het Eilandje makes it an easy landmark to identify from a distance.

The stop lasts about ten minutes. That gives you enough time to admire the outside and understand the building’s place in the port district. The tour does not include museum entry, so you will need a separate visit if you want the exhibitions or the full rooftop experience.

I like this part of the route because it gives the city a modern counterpoint to Het Steen and the older center. Antwerp’s appeal is not limited to medieval streets. Its architecture also tells the story of a city willing to reuse former industrial areas and give them a new public life.

Along the Scheldt River

From Het Eilandje, you travel toward the Scheldt. The riverbank is one of the most pleasant sections of the ride because the view opens up and the city feels less enclosed by buildings.

The guide provides commentary during a roughly ten-minute sightseeing stop. You can look across the water, see the relationship between Antwerp and its port, and enjoy a break from tighter city streets.

The river section also shows why an e-kickscooter is useful here. You can reach more of the waterfront than you would on a short walking route, while still moving slowly enough to notice the surroundings. The tradeoff is that the ride depends on conditions such as the weather. Bring those gloves and warm layers rather than assuming the river will feel mild.

Het Steen and Antwerp’s older center

Het Steen brings the route back to Antwerp’s medieval character. This riverside fortress is among the city’s most important old landmarks, and its position near the Scheldt connects the defensive past with the river trade that helped shape Antwerp.

You get about ten minutes for sightseeing. That is enough for photographs, a look at the stonework, and a clear explanation of why the building matters. It is not enough for a long historical visit, so keep your expectations focused on an introduction.

This stop helps balance the modern Port House and MAS. In a single morning or afternoon, you see Antwerp’s port-era architecture, contemporary cultural buildings, and one of its oldest surviving landmarks.

The Opera House, Palace of Justice, and city streets

The route also passes or highlights the Opera House and Richard Rogers’ Palace of Justice. These buildings add two very different architectural notes to the ride.

The Opera House belongs to Antwerp’s formal central city, while the Palace of Justice is a bold modern structure associated with the southern side of town. Seeing them on the same route helps you understand the city’s range without requiring separate transport between districts.

The guide’s role is especially useful during these moving sections. You may not have time to stop at every building, but you get a concise explanation as the city passes around you. The tour is best for seeing the major outline of Antwerp, then returning later to the places that catch your interest.

Stadspark: a short green pause

Stadspark, Antwerp’s central park, is scheduled as a ten-minute sightseeing stop. It provides a change of pace after the riverfront and central streets.

You can use this pause to stretch, take photographs, and listen without handling the scooter through traffic. The park is not presented as a long garden visit, but it gives the itinerary a useful breathing space.

For me, this stop also makes the route feel more like a city introduction than an architectural checklist. Antwerp is not only port buildings and grand civic structures. Its central park adds a quieter piece of daily city life.

The Diamond District

The ride then reaches Antwerp’s Diamond District. This area is one of the city’s best-known specialist quarters, and its inclusion makes the tour more distinctive than a standard old-town circuit.

You spend about ten minutes sightseeing here. The guide can place the district within Antwerp’s wider commercial identity, while the scooter lets you reach it without a long walk from the river or historic center.

Do not expect a shopping appointment or a diamond-buying session. This is a neighborhood stop, useful for seeing another side of Antwerp and understanding how the city’s business districts sit alongside its landmarks.

Central Station and the return route

The final major sightseeing point is Antwerp Central Station, with the meeting area listed near Hampton by Hilton Antwerp Central Station. The station is an important city landmark in its own right, known for its grand interior and prominent position in central Antwerp.

The stop lasts about ten minutes. It gives you a chance to see how the Diamond District connects with one of the city’s main transport hubs. From here, the tour returns to Jezusstraat 37.

Ending where you began is practical. You do not need to arrange a separate way back to your hotel or another neighborhood, and you can continue exploring from the original meeting point after the two-hour ride.

How much is $62 worth?

At $62 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Antwerp. You are paying for the electric kickscooter, a live Dutch or English-speaking guide, the safety introduction, and a route that covers up to 16 kilometers in two hours.

The value improves if you want a broad first look at the city. Reaching Het Eilandje, the Scheldt, Het Steen, Stadspark, the Diamond District, and Central Station in one guided outing would take much longer on foot. You also avoid the effort of planning a route between these areas.

The price is less appealing if you want long visits inside museums, detailed time at each monument, or a food-focused experience. Food and drinks are not included, and the tour stays at the sightseeing level. I would use it as an orientation ride, then choose one or two favorite districts for deeper exploration afterward.

A strong point is the flexibility of the booking terms. You can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Check the available starting times before booking because the tour lasts two hours and departure times vary.

Who will enjoy this ride most?

This tour suits you if you:

• Want to see a wide section of Antwerp in a short time
• Are comfortable learning a simple new vehicle
• Like having local history explained as you move
• Want both port architecture and older city landmarks
• Are at least 16 years old
• Prefer a guided route to planning city transport yourself

It is less suitable if you have difficulty balancing on a scooter, dislike riding near city streets, or want a slow walking tour with long stops. The exact group size is not specified, though the experience has been praised for an enjoyable small-group feel.

The guides are a big part of the experience. Joeri is singled out for an especially strong tour, while Wil is described as helpful and good at explaining history and facts along the route. Guide availability can vary, but the activity is offered in Dutch and English.

Practical advice before you book

Wear warm layers, a hat, and gloves. The open ride along the river can feel cooler than the city streets, and you will be more comfortable if you prepare for that.

Arrive at the MyMobility shop on Jezusstraat 37 and look for the line of e-scooters outside. The guide will help you get started, but you should still expect to pay attention to steering and safe riding throughout the tour.

Keep your sightseeing expectations realistic. You will visit many places, but several stops last only five or ten minutes. This is a broad city sampler, not a series of full museum visits.

If you are choosing between a walking tour and this experience, ask yourself what you want from your first hours in Antwerp. Choose the e-kickscooter if distance matters and you want to connect several neighborhoods. Choose a walking tour if you prefer slower observation and more time at each building.

Should you book the Antwerp e-kickscooter tour?

Book it if you want an energetic, well-organized introduction to Antwerp that reaches beyond the old center. The route’s best feature is its range: you move from Zaha Hadid’s Port House and MAS to the Scheldt, Het Steen, Stadspark, the Diamond District, and Central Station in one outing.

At $62, it makes the most sense for you if the guide, scooter, and 16-kilometer coverage are useful. The short stops and no included food or entry tickets are fair limitations, but they mean you should see this as a city overview.

For a first visit, I would book it early in your stay. Use the ride to learn Antwerp’s layout, note the places that deserve more time, and then return on foot or by another method. If you are 16 or older and comfortable on an electric kickscooter, this is a lively way to get your bearings while hearing the city’s story from a guide.

FAQ

How long does the Antwerp e-kickscooter tour last?

The tour lasts two hours. Starting times vary, so check availability when choosing your date.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $62 per person.

Where does the tour start?

Meet your guide at Jezusstraat 37, in front of the MyMobility shop. The row of e-scooters outside makes the location easy to recognize.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point on Jezusstraat 37.

What languages are available?

The live guide is available in Dutch and English.

What is included in the price?

The price includes an electric kickscooter, also called an e-step, and a tour guide.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included.

What is the minimum age?

You must be at least 16 years old. Children under 16 cannot join because 16 is the legal age for driving electric kickscooters in Belgium.