Weekend away in Europe?

jack_pearse

Hi,
I'm thinking of taking a weekend away with my Girlfriend Flying from Shannon in Dec. I have narrowed it down to:

Riga
Paris
Brussels

Brussels seems the best value and the times suit the best but I'm afraid it might be a bit boring there?
What would you recommend? Any info would be a great help....
Thanks

mcgrate

Defo paris, Brussels isnt that great in my opinion and from what I've heard of Riga, its full of stags.
Every girl wants to go to Paris

shrapnel222

brussels is not boring, especially not for a weekend. there is strike after strike in france at the mo, and it would be a real shame to ruin a romantic weekend, by not being able to get to your hotel or fly home or any other inconvenience. if you find brussels boring (which you won't), you can always go to Bruges, just an hour away by train and the "venice of the north" is a lovely little town

craichoe

Paris is a bloody rip off.

You could consider Lille too, its about 3 hours drive down the road from us in the Netherlands

Belgium is meant to be good for beer !

My G/F was in Riga and she highly recommends it !

whiskeyman

If you're going to Brussels, try and do a day trip to Bruges as said here.
Brussels can be done in a day or two, and Bruges will mix it up nicely.
It's always lovely to get away anyway.

jack_pearse

Is brussels pretty?
Is there much to see?
Is it good to go out for drinks and food in?

whiskeyman

Grand Place is really the only worth area of interest in Brussels... and maybe the Expo place. Atominium? (sp?)
THe food, and beer especially, is good. Belgian waffles are to die for!!
Brussels is cheap at the weekend as all the policians / EU admin heads all stay there during the week, and fly home at the weekends, so it can be quietier than other Euro cities of it's size.
Brugge is by far way prettier.

Search brussels on the forum and you're bound to find some really good write ups

missmatty

Paris is too big and too expensive just for a weekend, you'd need at least 5 days.

Was in Riga, it's nice alright but I'd say it's bloody cold in Dec.

I would vote Brussels, you'll have a day there and one for Bruges which is lovely. I was there (Brussels) late last November, and the Christmas Market was on, with ice skating and the light show and music. (google 'plaisirsdhiver.be' for the website). I really enjoyed it. There's not a lot in Brussels but it is nice this time of year, also great beer and chocolate shops There was an Ice Sculpture festival in Bruges as well, got to drink mulled wine in the Ice Bar. And prices are reasonable.

GreenHell

Went to Brussels this year, thought it'd be a boring enough spot. Couldn't have been more wrong. There are some great bars off the main streets that keep open till 4/5 and there are nite clubs somewhere but never found any.

The people are from all over and speak god knows how many languages as well as being very easy to talk to and the beer is legendary. Would go back in a second.

If you want the name of some good spots to go I'm sure I can dig up their names somewhere.

jack_pearse

That would be great Greenhell!
Think I'll go with Brussels. I can get a 5 star Hotel there smack bang in the city centre for 150 Euro for 2 nights. Can't argue with that!
Even if we don't like Brussels, which I'd say is unlikely, I don't mind hanging around a 5 Star hotel drinking Belguim Beer for the Weekend!:D

GreenHell

Head to Delirium Tremens, its off a street with all these resturaunts. Its got like 2500 different beers, stays open late, good crowd inside there, right across from it there is a bar that specialises in cocktails, shorts and shots, you could spend the weekend between those two bars. Plus there are a lot of bars around that general area.

There is another place called "The Brazil Bar" big latin buzz going on inside there and across the street from that place you'll find a few more classier bars, if thats your thing.

First impression of the city is that it is a boring, quiet spot but if you look in the right places you'll have a brilliant weekend.

shrapnel222

don't forget to eat a "moules frites" when you're there. it'll be the best mussels and chips you'll ever eat or have eaten!!! wash it down with a nice duvel or 2. heaven sometimes shows up in the most unexpected of places. DEEElicious

missmatty

moules frites, Duvel and chocolate ftw :D

Hawk Wing

just for a weekend, Definitely Brussels. Great City, despite it stereotypical view of being boring. You'd need 4 or 5 days in Paris

lochie

I have been to Paris and Riga. Paris is extremely expensive and over rated. Riga is absolutely amazing. I was there for 3 nights and it wasn't enough time.My housemate was there aswell and loved it. Very reasonable aswell

cailinoBAC

I'd go Brussels. Riga is great too, though. Don't let the reputation ot Stag City put you off. We only met stags in the airport. However, I think December could be quite cold. (I mean, if you're ok with that, that's fine.)
I haven't been to Brussels in years but I love it and I've had a great time every time I've been there. I don't know why it has such a reputation as a boring city.