We're looking at a relatively quick trip from Boston to Belgium in early December (7 nights), 2 couples in our 60s and 70s, experienced travelers but first timers to Belgium, in decent shape (city walking of up to 4-5 miles per day is fine). We don't have a list of must-dos but would like to spend time seeing the sites, museums, Christmas lights and markets (but markets aren't our main focus). Assuming we fly into/out of Brussels, should we make that a base for at least a few days? Any recommendations on which other city would be better as a 2nd base, Antwerp, Bruges? anywhere else? Doing day trips from one or two base cities is fine with us, so is there a better base city?
In general, is this a good time for a first trip? Is it likely to be a very busy time because of the holiday season? Any insight much appreciated. Since there's not much time to plan the trip, I'd especially love suggestions for hotels and/or apartments or at least neighborhoods.
Thank you.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
8145 posts
I would suggest Ghent as a base for most of your stay. It is a charming, active, town with a wonderful historic core. It is also well located with easy direct trains to Brussels, Bruges, and Antwerp.
Your last day (or two) you could stay either in Brussels or Antwerp. The airport is only 30-40 minutes from Antwerp, 20-30 minutes from Brussels.
I don't think it will be too busy. It will be cold, maybe rainy, you can get a sense from looking at historical weather data.
Posted by
Somewhere out there
147 posts
Break the mold and go somewhere….anywhere other than Bruges, Antwerp and Brussels. It’s the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge both commemorated and celebrated in Bastogne which is far off the well trod paths that so many Americans gravitate to. Parades, hiking and celebrations abound the weekend of 16 December this year. Sorry to be cranky but Belgium especially the less visited areas really is pleasant and deserving of ones time.
Posted by
OP
267 posts
Thank you for the replies. Bastogne sounds like a really interesting place to visit. We will be in Belgium the week before the commemoration events but perhaps we could visit as a day trip, or overnight.
We will also add Ghent to our list of possible bases. It looks like our return flight will leave Brussels at 10am, so we'll probably want to stay in Brussels at the end of the trip, but our arrival flight is in the morning so is it realistic to go directly via train from the airport to our first base city (maybe Ghent or Antwerp?) I'm guessing the train route probably includes a stop/change in the city in Brussels but as long as it's not too complicated, maybe it's better to just head straight to the first base city even though we'll be tired from overnight flights.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
8145 posts
From Brussels airport, it is only a direct 30-40 minute train to Antwerp Centraal. For Ghent, you would likely head to Brussels Midi Station, then change to a train for Ghent. Total time to Ghent is still only just over an Hour, to an hour and a half.
One reason I suggested Ghent, is that Bruges is less than a half hour, Brusssels about 40 minutes, and Antwerp an hour, so all are easy distances for daytrips. It is located on the main rail lines between the three.