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Belgium Itinerary

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I’m planning a trip to Belgium and Netherlands and need suggestions for the Belgium portion of my itinerary. I am going with a small group that is planning on staying in Belgium for about 3 to 4 days. I am hoping to talk them into staying in Belgium for at least 4 nights / 5 days, with two nights in Bruges and two nights in Brussels.

I personally am the least excited about the Brussels portion of the trip, and I’m if I were going solo, I would probably skip it and go to Antwerp or Ghent instead. I have heard there’s a certain amount of bland modern buildings in Brussels, and with so little time, it seems like it might require more time than we have to discover its old world charms. As for our interests, they are generally broad: architecture, museums, gardens, music, sporting events, really anything. I personally dislike generic, modern looking cities. I would love to feel like I’m in old world Europe, if possible.

With only 5 days / 4 nights, should swap out Brussels in favor of Ghent, Antwerp or somewhere else?

Posted by
30099 posts

In addition to the beautiful Grand Place, Brussels has many gorgeous Art Nouveau buildings, some of which offer tours of their interiors. There's lots of lovely architecture to enjoy, but it is a large city with some modern architecture, and moving from neighborhood to neighborhood takes more time than it does in smaller places. You might be happier with Bruges + Ghent. Antwerp is considerably larger than those two.

I'd say Brussels is better than Bruges and Ghent for folks who are interested in museums. Antwerp falls in the middle. If the four of you are not on the same plate about where to spend your time, you could consider basing in Ghent for all our time in Belgium and allowing each traveler to take side trips to the other cities. This isn't a slam-dunk solution, because the train station in Ghent is a bus ride from the historic center, where you'd probably want to stay.

With only 4 or 5 nights available for the entire country, you're going to have to make some hard choices, but you will have a very good trip no matter how you choose, as long as your plan is rational and doesn't attempt to cover too much ground. I can't tell you what to do, because my situation was totally different: I spent over a month in Belgium last year, about two weeks of it in Brussels. I don't like spending a lot of time in small towns; I run out of things to see and new streets to explore. I am not one to sit in cafes and watch people walk by.

You can read back through this forum for the views of many other travelers. There are a lot of posts comparing Bruges, Ghent, Brussels and Antwerp.

Posted by
2264 posts

For me, walking into the Grand Place in Brussels was one of my top "WOW" moments in European cities. Beyond that, there are some great museums in Brussels. Beyond that, I can't tell you, because I pretty much confined myself to those two experiences.

The good thing is you don't need to divide your time between two places. It's easy to stay in one place and take day trips to the others via short train rides (about an hour or less). For that purpose, Ghent is the most central of the four cities you mention. It's halfway between Brussels and Bruges and has a direct train to Antwerp. To get to Bruges from Brussels, you'll pass right through Ghent. And to get to Antwerp from Bruges, you'll also go right through Ghent.

Posted by
234 posts

I don't think of Brussels a a generic, modern city at all. Yes, there are parts which are built up but as a tourist you probably won't go there. With limited time I would probably recommend you take a tour. I don't normally do that, but I feel it could be important for you to see Brussels through the eyes of a guide so you don't think it's all bland buildings. And not the HOHO tour as the middle of the city is pedestrianised and the bus won't take you anywhere useful. I will back up acraven's point of view about Art Nouveau in Brussels. It is the dominant style in the suburbs but there are many spectacular houses dotted around Brussels that are open to the public. The Horta Museum in St.-Gilles is the best example and perhaps one of the most accessible. Catch tram 92 from Louise to Janson. Another is the Musical Instruments Museum, and someone else posted on this recently regarding the fate of its restaurant. AFAIK the museum itself is still operational.

I think also if you think of Brussels as what I have seen described as a 'lifestyle' city, you are getting closer to what it's all about. Food and drink are really important there so make sure you check out the restaurant scene and try some of the foods that it is known for. And don't feel you must only see the centre of the city. Get out and visit the elegant Sablon area (chocolate shops, an antique market on Saturdays and Sundays, close to many interesting restaurants and the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, which are world-class galleries). Go bar hopping in Place St.-Géry or Ste.-Cathérine.. Catch tram 44 from Montgomery to Tervuren, Brussels' prettiest tram ride, and see the Museum of Central Africa. Go for a picnic in Bois de la Cambre (catch tram 8 or 93 from Louise to Legrand). See the Atomium and Mini-Europe at Heysel. There are a lot of suggestions, you just have to bring your sneakers and be prepared to walk a bit and use the tram and metro. And if you want recommendations for restaurants/ food / drink, tell us what you like and just ask!

Lavandula

Posted by
234 posts

And using the tram and metro are easy: you don't need to buy a ticket, just use your credit card to tap on (not off, except you may have to do so at some metro stations; you don't have to for example at De Brouckère because it is a busy city metro station where a traffic jam would be undesirable). Louise and Montgomery are metro stations and intersect with the tram. I think at Montgomery the tram is underground, at Louise the tram leaves from Place Louise at ground level. More info: https://www.stib-mivb.be/home

Lavandula

Posted by
23 posts

I completely understand your 'Brussels hesitation!' While the Grand Place is a must-see, the rest of the city can feel a bit modern and administrative. Since you love that Old World feel, here is a simple strategy to win over your group:

Base in Ghent: It’s the perfect 'middle ground.' It feels much more medieval and authentic than Brussels, but it’s more lively than Bruges. Plus, it’s the rail hub of the region, you can reach Bruges in 25 minutes and Brussels in 35.

The 'Grand Place' Stopover: Instead of staying in Brussels, just visit for a few hours. Lock your bags at the station, walk to the Grand Place for a waffle and a look at the architecture, then hop back on the train to your 'Old World' base in Ghent or Bruges.

Try Antwerp for Architecture: If you want to trade Brussels for something grand, Antwerp is the winner. The train station alone is a masterpiece, and the Zurenborg district has some of the most unique Belle Époque and Art Nouveau homes in Europe.

Enjoy !

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