Brussels/Brugge?

[66bus]

Good evening all!
I'm thinking of taking myself and the boss over to Brussels/Bruge for a cheap couple of days at the end of half term...
30/10-01/11 looking on the usual sites gives a plethora of choices around £300 pp.
I've spent plenty of time in Northern Europe, but the other half hasn't.I'm thinking an early Friday flight, spend the day in Brussels, Saturday jump on the train to Brugge, returning after dinner, lazy Sunday wandering about, then the evening flight back to LHR.
any top tips/hints please?

TIA

[Mr Penguin]

Why fly instead of getting the train?

[66bus]

It's cheaper?

[The Rotrex Kid]

Had a walk around Bruges last year, had a flight of beers by the river and visited the Basilica of the Holy Blood and the Church of Our Lady (I am not remotely religious, but they are lovely buildings in their way)

Walk down Goezeputstraat if you want to look at some quaint old houses.

I went for the architecture, waffles, chocolate and beer so that’s about as much as I can help you with.

[FredericRobinson]

I do a Belgian drinking trip once a year, can recommend Motel One if you’re looking for a hotel.
Nuetnigenough or T’Spinnekopke for eating, Poechenellekelder, Fleur er Papier Dore, Les Brasseures, Moeder Lambic Fonatianas for beer.

[Jader1973]

Bruges is a sthole.

For Brussels I’d suggest staying near Grand Place, which is near Centrale station. The bit around Midi / Zud is not as nice.

For things to do in Brussels - Autoworld.

[FredericRobinson]

Jader1973 said:

Bruges is a sthole.

For Brussels I d suggest staying near Grand Place, which is near Centrale station. The bit around Midi / Zud is not as nice.

For things to do in Brussels - Autoworld.

Yes, best not to leave the ststion at Midi, and keep your wits about you whilst there, head straight to Central, even grimmer around Nord

[FredericRobinson]

Although I’d go to Ghent over either Bruges or Brussels myself…..

[Dsdans]

Jader1973 said:

Bruges is a sthole.

For Brussels I d suggest staying near Grand Place, which is near Centrale station. The bit around Midi / Zud is not as nice.

For things to do in Brussels - Autoworld.

I’ve been to both a couple of times and I’d say my experience is quite the opposite. I found Brussels to be a dirty with little to see/do outside of the grand square whilst Bruges was clean, friendly and full of sights / activities to keep busy.

Beer is of course excellent (try the Zot!). Plenty of good tours there offering plenty of samples.
Minnewater Park is nice for a walk.
Take a boat down the canal.
Make same chocolate / waffles.
Plenty of museums.
Fantastic selection of restaurants.

You can of course climb the tower but we found this a bit anticlimactic as the views are ruined by the thick meshing.

On our last trip we wanted to stay somewhere more private, and found a cottage / farmhouse in a place called Damme. This had a few restaurants and was about a 30 minute stroll down the canal to Brugges (or 10 minutes in an Uber).

My advice would be to spend more times in Bruges than Brussels.

I’ve also heard good things about Ghent, and will visit there myself next year.

[Palmela]

Dsdans said:

I ve been to both a couple of times and I d say my experience is quite the opposite. I found Brussels to be a dirty with little to see/do outside of the grand square whilst Bruges was clean, friendly and full of sights / activities to keep busy.

Beer is of course excellent (try the Zot!). Plenty of good tours there offering plenty of samples.
Minnewater Park is nice for a walk.
Take a boat down the canal.
Make same chocolate / waffles.
Plenty of museums.
Fantastic selection of restaurants.

You can of course climb the tower but we found this a bit anticlimactic as the views are ruined by the thick meshing.

On our last trip we wanted to stay somewhere more private, and found a cottage / farmhouse in a place called Damme. This had a few restaurants and was about a 30 minute stroll down the canal to Brugges (or 10 minutes in an Uber).

My advice would be to spend more times in Bruges than Brussels.

I ve also heard good things about Ghent, and will visit there myself next year.

I'd agree with pretty much all of this.

I'm answering a question that no-one asked, but Antwerp is worth a visit and I like it a lot more than Brussels.

[SwanJack]

Ghent and Antwerp are much better

[Boxster5]

FredericRobinson said:

Although I d go to Ghent over either Bruges or Brussels myself ..

Another vote for Ghent - spent 2 nights there last year at the end of a European trip before heading for the Amsterdam ferry and it was great.

[E-bmw]

Just for balance, I personally found Brussels & Ghent uninspiring at best & Bruges was beautiful.

[Trevor555]

Jader1973 said:

Bruges is a sthole.

Really?

I've been a few times and thought it was beautiful.

Why do you think it's bad?

[FredericRobinson]

E-bmw said:

Just for balance, I personally found Brussels & Ghent uninspiring at best & Bruges was beautiful.

Surprised that anyone wouldn’t like Ghent if they like Bruges.
Bruges is exceedingly touristy, although self evidently that isn’t an issue for a lot of people.
Mechelen and Leuven are also well worth visiting if you have more than a couple of days, I can’t quite get on with Antwerp but am not really sure why

[SP_]

My cousin got mugged at Midi

[abzmike]

Apart from the Grand Place, not much to recommend in Brussels.
Bruge is nice though, albeit rammed with tourists.
Have you looked at Leuven - Very pretty little town - Short train ride from Brussels, and more beer than you can shake a stick at.

[Composite Guru]

E-bmw said:

Just for balance, I personally found Brussels & Ghent uninspiring at best & Bruges was beautiful.

I m glad I m not the only one that thought this. Apart from the historical quarter in Ghent I thought the rest of it was very average. Same with Brussels.

Would defo go back to Bruges again out of any of them.

Edited by Composite Guru on Monday 19th October 11:46

[NuckyThompson]

Jader1973 said:

Bruges is a sthole.

For Brussels I d suggest staying near Grand Place, which is near Centrale station. The bit around Midi / Zud is not as nice.

For things to do in Brussels - Autoworld.

Is that a reference? I'd counter with BRUGES ISN'T A stHOLE IT'S LIKE A F**KING FAIRYTALE!

"It's a fairy tale town, isn't it? How's a fairy tale town not somebody's fing thing? How can all those canals and bridges and cobbled streets and those churches, all that beautiful fing fairy tale stuff, how can that not be somebody's f***ing thing, eh?"


You can't mention Bruges without mentioning the film. Bloody love film and City. Would defo go again. Basillica of the holy blood is interesting even if not religious, beer is great, recommend going around Christmas time.

Can confirm that there no alcoves in the Koningin Astridpark. Uri is a liar.

Edited by NuckyThompson on Monday 19th October 10:40

[Ricoh]

Bruges is awesome, watch 'In Bruges' for great views of the city.

As this is PH and it's only a 2 hr drive from the tunnel is usually a great option for a road trip; depending on where you're coming from in the UK of course.