Brussels, Ghent and Bruges

BetsyEllen

Hi all

I'm off to Belgium for 4 nights in May.

I have 2 nights booked in Brussels and then 2 nights booked in Bruges, with a day trip to Ypres from there.

I was planning on visiting Ghent for a few hours on my way to Bruges as it's supposedly lovely.

The plan is:


Thursday night - Brussels
Friday night - Brussels
Saturday day - Ghent
Saturday night - Bruges
Sunday day - Ypres
Sunday night - Bruges
Monday evening - fly home

For people that have visited these places already, do you think I would be better doing just one night on Brussels (I will have a whole day there as my flight lands at 9am) and one night in Ghent or will the few hours in Ghent be enough?

Brussels sounds cool but I'm not sure there's enough in it to keep me busy for the 2 days and maybe my time would be better spent in Ghent which looks stunning.

I am travelling alone and I love just wandering around, visiting old churches etc.

Any thoughts?

miamee

Hi BetsyEllen!
It sounds like a great trip! I did a similar trip by myself just over a year ago, I spent two nights in Brussels and 2 nights in Bruges then off to Amsterdam for 3 nights.

As you said, you might have a bit too much time planned in Brussels. Although impressive and with some beautiful buildings I found it a bit soulless or something. I couldn't put my finger on it now although there was a big strike and protest march in the city on the day I arrived so there were armed police, cordoned off streets and protesters everywhere which probably didn't help my first impression

I only passed through Ghent on the train on my way to Bruges; it looked pretty but I can't say how much there is to do there. I wanted to reply to mainly say - you are (possibly) not spending enough time in Bruges You have Saturday night, Sunday night and then maybe a little time on Monday before your flight? There are so many beautiful churches and buildings to see and visit in Bruges, I'd honestly carve out at least half a day to see a few things while there. It is gorgeous when lit up a night but the churches, museums, town hall, etc will all be closed then. I enjoyed my trip there so much that I went back within 6 months with my boyfriend. So much chocolate, good beer and waffles, you will have a great time whatever you decide

HeidiHeidi

I've just come back from a 36-hour trip to Brussels, and I had a day on my own.

The weather was pretty crap so I put myself on a hop-on-hop-off bus tour (€25 for 24 hours), and just got off at a couple of stops that I fancied seeing more of (the Atomium was brilliant - I'd never even heard of it, despite having been in Brussels a few times over the years both working and as a tourist )

I have to say that on the back of the bus tours (there are two lines, the one ticket allows you on both) I'd go back for another few days, and have no problem filling them with stuff that I'd heard about on the tours! There are any amount of amazing sounding museums that I'd love to see, churches that sound gorgeous but I only saw from the outside, and parks and architecture that are just gorgeous.

It had been half in my mind to just jump on a train to Bruges for the day (I was also on the red-eye flight) but I'm so glad I didn't!

ETA this thread http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057688162 has more info on Brussels if it's of any use to you

Beersmith

I generally think brussels is horrible, bruges is amazing and ghent is in the middle. 1 night in brussels and ghent would be enough. Depending on what your actual interests are.

BetsyEllen

miamee wrote: »

Hi BetsyEllen!
It sounds like a great trip! I did a similar trip by myself just over a year ago, I spent two nights in Brussels and 2 nights in Bruges then off to Amsterdam for 3 nights.

As you said, you might have a bit too much time planned in Brussels. Although impressive and with some beautiful buildings I found it a bit soulless or something. I couldn't put my finger on it now although there was a big strike and protest march in the city on the day I arrived so there were armed police, cordoned off streets and protesters everywhere which probably didn't help my first impression

I only passed through Ghent on the train on my way to Bruges; it looked pretty but I can't say how much there is to do there. I wanted to reply to mainly say - you are (possibly) not spending enough time in Bruges You have Saturday night, Sunday night and then maybe a little time on Monday before your flight? There are so many beautiful churches and buildings to see and visit in Bruges, I'd honestly carve out at least half a day to see a few things while there. It is gorgeous when lit up a night but the churches, museums, town hall, etc will all be closed then. I enjoyed my trip there so much that I went back within 6 months with my boyfriend. So much chocolate, good beer and waffles, you will have a great time whatever you decide

Thanks for this.
I think I might just stay in Brussels for one night and stay in Bruges for 3. Then I can visit Ghent and still have a full day in Bruges on the Saturday.

BetsyEllen

Beersmith wrote: »

I generally think brussels is horrible, bruges is amazing and ghent is in the middle. 1 night in brussels and ghent would be enough. Depending on what your actual interests are.

I have heard that Brussels isn't great so I'm a bit worried that spending half my time there is a bit much.

BetsyEllen

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

I've just come back from a 36-hour trip to Brussels, and I had a day on my own.

The weather was pretty crap so I put myself on a hop-on-hop-off bus tour (€25 for 24 hours), and just got off at a couple of stops that I fancied seeing more of (the Atomium was brilliant - I'd never even heard of it, despite having been in Brussels a few times over the years both working and as a tourist )

I have to say that on the back of the bus tours (there are two lines, the one ticket allows you on both) I'd go back for another few days, and have no problem filling them with stuff that I'd heard about on the tours! There are any amount of amazing sounding museums that I'd love to see, churches that sound gorgeous but I only saw from the outside, and parks and architecture that are just gorgeous.

It had been half in my mind to just jump on a train to Bruges for the day (I was also on the red-eye flight) but I'm so glad I didn't!

ETA this thread http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057688162 has more info on Brussels if it's of any use to you

Thanks Heidi
I'm only going to spend one day and night in Brussels now but I will definitely check out the Atomium and I think the bus tour would suit me perfectly as I'm only there for a day.

The flights were so cheap so if I do decide I love Brussels, I can always go back again

harpstilidie

My wife and I spent 2 days in Bruges and 2 days in Brussels between Christmas and New Years.

Bruges is absolutely beautiful and 2 days wasn't long enough! I'd go back in a heartbeat.

I thought Brussels was a bit...meh. Fine for a day but that's long enough.

We stopped in Ghent for a few hours and it is definitely worth at least an afternoon. Go visit the castle. It is brilliant.

BetsyEllen

harpstilidie wrote: »

My wife and I spent 2 days in Bruges and 2 days in Brussels between Christmas and New Years.

Bruges is absolutely beautiful and 2 days wasn't long enough! I'd go back in a heartbeat.

I thought Brussels was a bit...meh. Fine for a day but that's long enough.

We stopped in Ghent for a few hours and it is definitely worth at least an afternoon. Go visit the castle. It is brilliant.

Thank you
I'm delighted I've changed to 3 nights in Bruges now!