St. Anna's Tunnel / Pedestrians' Tunnel

St. Anna's Tunnel / Pedestrians' Tunnel

St. Anna's Tunnel / Pedestrians' Tunnel
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  • Lentara71
    Houston, Texas140 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great for one time only!
    This is normally a thoroughfare for locals to get from the old city to the new. As a tourist, this was a great one-time experience. Amazing wooden escalators to get you up and down to and from the tunnel. Besides the bikers, the tunnel was a nice .33 mile walk 70 feet below the water each way. The old city entrance is easy to miss. It is on the opposite side of the street from the shore line and not clearly marked. There are many walkers and bikers in the tunnel, but when you get out, everyone disappears at the small quaint park. We assumed people just went to their houses. Great to see once, but that is all. No need to repeat.
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written January 3, 2024
  • Herbert C
    1,791 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Be transported back to the 1930s
    Amidst the modernisation that sprouts up around the city, the St Anna's Tunnel has managed to retain its charm with its rare authentic wooden escalators still in operation today. The allure of this pedestrian cum bicycle tunnel is its beautiful woodwork that has been so well-preserved such that it still exudes the cranky sound and woody smell that literally transports you back to the 1930s when such escalators were a novelty. For this reason alone, it is worth taking a slight detour from the historic old town to experience the timeless elegance of one of the very few wooden escalators that are still in use today (another being the famous wooden escalator in New York's Macy's Department Store). Otherwise, this tunnel with tiled walls and gracefully arched ceiling beneath the Scheldt River is just a boring monotonous 572 metres stretch that connects Antwerp's left and right banks. The reward for the 10 minutes walk to the other side of the river is a view of Antwerp's relatively low skyline from across the Scheldt River. Take note that the entrance to the tunnel is just a nondescript building which you may easily miss amidst the city's more ostentatious buildings. So, walk off your fats and join the 2 million individuals annually traversing Europe's oldest pedestrian tunnel.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written July 9, 2024
  • Rachel
    London, United Kingdom12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must alternative to using the ferry crossing
    This tunnel is fun to cycle through. Please note that if the lift is out of order you will have to place your bicycle on the wooden escalator (not for the faint-hearted). The escalator is remarkably preserved from the 1930’s. A must experience when visiting Antwerp!
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 9, 2024
  • Jere K
    Joensuu, Finland13 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Architectural miracle
    Very nice, old tunnel, which is almost 100 years old. Old entrance buildings and wooden escalators looked fantastic. Only minus is that cyclists and electric scooter riders rode very fast inside the tunnel, even riding is prohibited.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written September 12, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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TO-psych
Toronto, Canada559 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Solo
This is an interesting and off the beaten path experience in Antwerp. If you only have 1-2 days in the city, I wouldn't prioritize this but if you have more time it is a neat thing to do. I went on a weekday afternoon, it was mostly locals with bikes. The wooden escalator is very cool (slow and noisy but atmospheric with interesting posters to look at as you ride down). There is also a large elevator.

The tunnel itself feels very long and monotonous. Be careful to struck to the side and stay against the wall because cyclists ride their bikes down the tunnel and too really fast and come very close to the pedestrians. I found it a bit stressful getting to stay out of their way and not get hit.

The view on the other side is nice and the park is peaceful, good for a picnic. But if you just want to see the wooden elevator and tunnel, you can also just go down, look at the tunnel and then go back up (without crossing to the other side).
Written October 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Richard B
Oxford, UK95 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
I'm not sure my wife and I would have visited this if it wasn't for the opportunity to get a couple of selfies for our granddaughter of the same name, but it turned out to be an interesting visit. 1930s vintage escalators at each end and a long walk through a very clean and well lit tunnel. Nice to see it well used by the locals and once on the other side one can find a bench and look over the river and city across.
Written April 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Herbert C
1,791 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Solo
Amidst the modernisation that sprouts up around the city, the St Anna's Tunnel has managed to retain its charm with its rare authentic wooden escalators still in operation today. The allure of this pedestrian cum bicycle tunnel is its beautiful woodwork that has been so well-preserved such that it still exudes the cranky sound and woody smell that literally transports you back to the 1930s when such escalators were a novelty. For this reason alone, it is worth taking a slight detour from the historic old town to experience the timeless elegance of one of the very few wooden escalators that are still in use today (another being the famous wooden escalator in New York's Macy's Department Store). Otherwise, this tunnel with tiled walls and gracefully arched ceiling beneath the Scheldt River is just a boring monotonous 572 metres stretch that connects Antwerp's left and right banks. The reward for the 10 minutes walk to the other side of the river is a view of Antwerp's relatively low skyline from across the Scheldt River. Take note that the entrance to the tunnel is just a nondescript building which you may easily miss amidst the city's more ostentatious buildings. So, walk off your fats and join the 2 million individuals annually traversing Europe's oldest pedestrian tunnel.
Written July 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Janka K
Brno, Czech Republic8,697 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
This tunnel is a nice and unique experience. The escalation is wooden and I found restriction signs funny, as I come from the country that doesn't have that many bikes running at the transport.
I recommend to walk the tunnel one way to get o the other side of the river, and then to take a free water bus to get back, or vice versa.
Written September 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

bfltd0
London, UK631 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
As this was our first trip to Antwerp, I was a little perplexed as to the lack of bridges crossing the river. Many cities make use of bridges across rivers. But not here.

The riddle was solved as we walked down the river and came across an art deco tower that we just had to investigate, as we couldn't work out its purpose. A metro station perhaps? To our surprise, it was the entrance to the pedestrian tunnel under the river. And what an immaculately-kept tunnel it is. No graffiti, no rubbish!

We just had to take a walk through the 574 metres of it, just to get to the other side. Once on the other bank, to be honest, there is little of interest - it is mainly modern housing - although we did find an excellent tea room nearby. The main attraction of this side of the river is the view back across to the old town of Antwerp.

We made the return journey, down the old wooden escalators (reminiscent of London tube stations many years ago) and back out into the old town.

This is well worth taking half an hour to experience a vintage attraction of Antwerp that is still in use and useful.
Written January 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stephen K
Winter Park, FL5,139 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
Interesting & off the beaten path. This tunnel connects the heat of Antwerp to a residential section. Take the early 1930’s wooden down & back out of the tunnels. It’s about a one way 15 minute stroll with nice views of the old city from the other side. We enjoyed it.
Written July 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marinus Dijkman
Amersfoort, The Netherlands258 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Family
One way or another we continue to enjoy visiting St. Annatunnel. This time with our adult children during a walk through the city, but I think this is also great fun for young children. From the right to the left bank of the Scheldt. Take a walk there and then take the free ferry back to the old town.
Google
Written September 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Robert O
Rotterdam, The Netherlands5,815 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
Completed in 1933 this tunnel was initially meant for pedestrians only. In 1995 it was allowed for cyclists to pass, but at low speed ('stapsvoets'). Most of the time the combination is not a problem, but with increasing biketraffic it sometimes is (especially when the weather is good).

I like this tunnel because it is level, unlike many newer tunnels in the Netherlands like the Maastunnel in Rotterdam (1942) and Beneluxtunnel (1967). However, pedestians and cyclists there are led through separate tubes. The meanwhile vintage technology with big elevators and wooden rolling stairs to access St. Annatunnel is another pleasant asset.
Written December 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jere K
Joensuu, Finland13 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Friends
Very nice, old tunnel, which is almost 100 years old. Old entrance buildings and wooden escalators looked fantastic. Only minus is that cyclists and electric scooter riders rode very fast inside the tunnel, even riding is prohibited.
Written September 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

David
Lille, France1,905 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Solo
Its definitely worth walking the Sint Anna Tunnel, one of two built to enable passage of traffic under the river (the other being the vehicle tunnel downstream.

Really very fun. And very long! I couldn't help but enjoy a return trip!
Written July 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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St. Anna's Tunnel / Pedestrians' Tunnel - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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