Serious fashionistas head to Modenatie, which houses the Flanders Fashion Institute and MoMu, Antwerp's Fashion Museum. Trendy Nationalestraat is also the city's outdoor catwalk, where many talented young designers have set up shop. Invest in a piece by one of the Antwerp Six, the mavericks of 80s fashion, who include Ann Demeulemeester and Dries Van Noten. Got a smaller budget? Try the Meir's spanking new shopping centre, the Stadsfeestzaal; set in a glass and metal rococo shell, it has more than 40 boutiques, two restaurants and a champagne bar.

Where: MoMu, Nationalestraat 28/2, 2000 Antwerp, +32 (0) 3 226 14 47

Modenatie website

Where: Stadsfeestzaal Shopping, Meir 78, 2000 Antwerp

Stadsfeestzaal Shopping website

That's cut, colour, carat and clarity, and Antwerp brings you the best of all four. You might want to do a bit of research before settling on that ring, though, so plan for an entire afternoon at Diamondland, with 1000m² of engagement baubles and loose diamonds. You'll also find hundreds of smaller diamond dealers lining the Pelikaanstraat and in the Central Station's shopping centre. Have a go at haggling but, beware, shop owners tend to be as tough as their goods.

Where: Diamondland, Appelmanstraat 33A, 2018 Antwerp, +32 (0)3 229 29 90

After a bout of shopping on the Meir, it's a short walk down Wapper to Rubenshuis, the palatial home of 17th-century painter Peter Paul Rubens. Expect baroque detailing, an elaborate portico and the Old Master's finest works. You can impress your friends by pointing out the three-armed soldier in the middle of the unfinished work Henry IV in the battle of Ivry. Exit left to find the Grand Café Horta and a decent lunch. Still hungry for art? Dip into the Royal Museum of Fine Arts for more Rubens, plus Van Dyck, Titian and Magritte.

Bar-hopping through Antwerp's Old Town starts at the Groenplaats, where there are loads of laid-back eetcafes and trendy terraces. Go for a Kwak beer in the shadow of Onze Lieve Vrouwe Cathedral (careful, the real deal is always served in special round-bottomed glasses). Go for another at the Elfde Gebod (11th Commandment) – you'll either be put off or strangely attracted to the pseudo-religious artefacts on the walls. Stumbling through the Grote Markt en route to cobbled Reyndersstraat, you'll find De Vagant. Knock back a flavoured Jenever (gin) and maybe pick up a bottle to bring home.

Delve into the Art Nouveau "golden triangle", a neighbourhood defined by three streets, Cogels Osylei, Waterloostraat and Transvaalstraat. Built mainly between 1890 and 1906, the Zurenborg quarter, as it is also known, boasts rows of Jugendstil-style houses. Admire the plant-inspired motifs, fluid, asymmetrical shapes and iron and glass detailing. It's fin de siècle opulence for free!

I found the most delightful designer store on a recent shopping spree to Antwerp; Nicole Cadine. She does these amazing dresses in floaty cottons, in dozens of colours. Plus bespoke wedding dresses; I'll keep it in mind if he ever gets round to proposing! Nicky, Manchester

Where: Nicole Cadine, Schuttershofstraat 42, 2000 Antwerp, +32 (0) 3 213 37 78

The gay scene in Antwerp is as trendy as the city, but not at all pretentious. Xavier and I enjoyed an evening at the Que Pasa Bar, we then went clubbing at the Hessenhuis. Bit young for us but we enjoyed it. Thom Anthony, London

The Middelheim Jazz festival is on every summer in Antwerp. It takes place in the beautiful park of the same name and to me embodies everything a jazz festival should be; relaxed, yet supremely well organised, high profile, yet affordable. Jo Cummings, Croydon