One week in Belgium -- crazy to skip Brussels?

With limited time, you need research and develop your priorities. We spent time in Belgium last year and did not go to Brussels. No regrets.

Brussels doesn’t seem to get enough love on this forum. I prefer Ghent but I think Brussels makes for a great day trip. Turning the corner to The Grand Place is awe inspiring IMO. Add in some good museums, churches, and parks, all of which makes it a worthwhile place to visit, not necessarily stay. Easy and quick train connection from Ghent. Last, skip the Mannequin Pis. It is beyond me that that little guy makes nearly every Top 5 Places to See list for Brussels.

I loved Brussels, personally. The Grand Place, the art museums, the atmospheric places to eat and drink, the chocolate shops, art nouveau architecture, and unique lambic beer culture. Fun place to just wander. I would change your itinerary to focus more on Bruges, less on Ghent, and definitely add Brussels, but ten people will give you ten different answers, so ultimately, it's up to you and what you want to prioritize.

I think you can day trip there. Like you said, you can stop at Brussels Central, head to Grand Place, wander the nearby streets for a bit, and move on.

It is worth doing some digging to see if something else interests you, the museums were mentioned, they are high quality, but maybe a bit "niche' for the general public, for example, if you are interested in Comics...a great museum, a Magritte fan? Then don't miss that museum, but if you have only a mild interest, then maybe not. Same goes for musical instruments, some specific genres of art, militaria, cars, and so on. Same if beer is an interest, then you could easily spend a day or two in Brussels. Outside of that brief list (there are other things as well), then you can get by with a quick stop.

An addition: Not sure what time your flight leaves, but many overlook the fact that Antwerp Central Station is only about 30-40 minutes from the airport with direct trains, with a number of hotels near the station. For me, that would be a much more pleasant last night than an airport hotel, but just my opinion. Trains start leaving around 5 AM.

In reality play it by ear when you get there; you may or may not feel like or be able to fit a day trip to Brussels.
Belgium is compact, it does not take long to get places by rail.
You may go to other places and be disappointed and wish you had skipped it instead for Brussels.
I have been to Brussels 3 times. I was in Ghent last month for 3 nights.

I needed to change trains in Brussels. I will never regret stashing my luggage in a locker at Midi/Zuid station, hopping on a train to Centra(a)l and seeing the Grand Place. Are there other sights in Brussels worth seeing? I don't know. I skipped the Mannekin-Pis, which I have never regretted, either.

It's always worth seeing The Grand Place and I think easy to fit in your travel plans. It's just needs some 5 to 10 minutes walking from Brussels Central railway station and in case passing through Brussels you hop after visiting it on one of the very frequent later trains and continue with the same ticket. Know that you can't do this if the journey ends in Brussels, for continuing you need another ticket unless you are going to one of stations belonging to Brussel(s) Zone, meaning those belonging to it's agglomeration.

Thanks so much everyone for the replies. You've convinced me not to rule out Brussels.

@Jazz+Travels - After some consideration, I think this is the most logical plan. I've prioritized a few other cities before Brussels that I will do earlier in the week and as I get closer to the end of the week, I'll likely just see how I feel and play it by ear. But if I have time, I will try to squeeze it in.

@Paul - This is good info. I had considered staying elsewhere on my last day, but ultimately I figured if I plan on visiting Leuven anyway, it wouldn't be too much of an inconvenience to take to the train from Ghent to Leuven, stick my bags in a locker, see Leuven, then head onward to the airport. That way I don't have to worry about trains on the morning of my flight.

@kblur9 - I chose Ghent as it makes the most logistical sense for me. Ghent is quite central to all the main places on my itinerary (aside from Ghent itself): Bruges, Antwerp, Lille, and Brussels. Although, to your point, there is no reason I couldn't do 2 day trips to Bruges if I end up liking it as much as many others seem to.

With a week, and since Belgium is compact, you have time to see Brussels if you want. Reading the forum posts for Belgium, you will discover that there are varying opinions on Brussels. This March, I explored Belgium and have the following thoughts:

Ghent > Bruges > Antwerp > Brussels

This does not mean Brussels is not worth visiting. It just means that, for me, it was my fourth favorite stop. The Grand Place is nice, the Mannekin-Pis is not much to see but it is world class people watching and so close to the Grand Place that it is easy to stop by. Tonton Garby, also near Grand Place, makes a fine sandwich. Maybe the best I’ve ever had. He interviews each customer in a fun and engaging way and then makes a sandwich for you based on your answers. There is an interesting international vibe to the city. Great Art Nouveau scene. Cool comic book museum and murals (Smurfs and Tin Tin). I hear that there are great art museums, but we didn’t go to those because we had just come from Paris and we headed to Amsterdam next (so we took an art museum break).

All this to say that there are plenty of different options/adventures/things to do in Brussels. I didn’t even cover all we did or all there is to do. Ultimately, I recommend that you do some research and then decide whether you want to visit. Either way, Belgium has a lot of great things to see and do and I imagine you’ll have a great time.

Enjoy!

I was one who didn't care for Brussels, I went there as a daytrip and feel no need to return. I had a Belgian boss that told me the best cities for tourist in Belgium were Ghent and Antwerp. Not even most Belgians like Brussels.

Just not a great atmosphere graffiti was everywhere and the vibe was off. But I did see the Musical Instrument Museum and the Museum at old City Hall. And I liked the waffle stands. But a day in Brussels is long enough.

I don't think it takes more than one day, plus your evenings back there, to see Ghent. That leaves time to go to Bruges twice, if you find it to be the most magical place in the world, as some posters here do. For me, one day was enough, especially with the crowds. You need to check on museum closing days, particularly the paired main art museums in Brussels, and the museums with other days off, like Bozar, and the seven-day Mystic Lamb in Ghent, which requires advance booking.

I'm usually a city guy. I enjoy cities with nice architecture and museums/churches and good restaurants.

This quote is a vote for Antwerp, my favorite among these places. Antwerp is much larger than Ghent or Bruges, so it can't be seen or walked in one day. Do some research, so you don't overlook something you wish you'd seen, like the outdoor Sculpture Museum, the roof of the MAS, or the Cogels Osy Lei, or townhouse (exteriors only) district.

I haven't been there in ten years, but back then, the cities other than Brussels used the same bus/tram card.