Our trip is on three weeks from tomorrow

It’s hard to answer your question because we don’t know what you like to do or what your travel party composition is (size of group, ages), or how you travel (do you like depth or breadth), or how much you want to side trip.

I will say that our family just got back from Belgium and we liked Ghent best, Bruges second best, Antwerp third and Brussels fourth. Did not go to Ypres or Flanders.

For us, the Mystic Lamb in Ghent is one of the best art pieces we’ve seen and we’ve seen the biggies in Rome, Paris, London, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, Florence, Amsterdam, etc. We also liked the castle (some don’t like the commentary but we have kids and did), the chocolate and the vibe best.

Bruges is picturesque. No doubt about it. However, there were tons of crowds and it felt less like a city people lived in and more like an amusement park.

In any event, people have different preferences.

Thanks for your response.

We are middle-aged, both in good shape. My husband likes architecture and I like museums. We both like to be outdoors, hiking biking. There are just the two of us.

We like both in-depth and a survey of the places we are going. Neither of us has ever been to Belgium.

Bruges and Ghent are only a 22 minute direct train ride away from each other. I personally wouldn’t go through the hassle of changing hotels, packing/unpacking etc, only to move to a place less than half an hour away. So I wouldn’t change anything.
But if you leave in 3 weeks, haven’t you already booked your hotels?

There is a train station at Brussels airport. You can look up train schedules on the official website of the Belgian national railway company https://www.belgiantrain.be/en
Trains can’t sell out and have free seating, they therefore can’t be booked. A ticket from Brussels Airport to Bruges is valid on all trains from Brussels Airport to Bruges on the day mentioned on your ticket.
If middle aged means you’re older than 60, you can get the discounted senior ticket. See the website for details.

Thanks for responding. I have booked both hotels, but our dinner with our friends made me second guess my choices.

My husband is over 60, so this is good information.

Thanks for the information about the trains.

I'm with History Traveler. It's very convenient to stay in Brussels near Central Station and the Grand Place. There is a lot to see in Brussels. Be sure to check out the Musee des Instruments... fabulous interactive museum in a building designed by Horta. Also stroll through the Galeries St. Hubert. If you have some extra time while you're there, you might consider taking a day trip to Namur to see the Citadel there for a real change of pace and scenery.
As for Ypres/Ieper, I might just take the train there (via Kortrijk/Courtrai) and pick up a tour in Ieper vs. booking one from Bruges. Look on the web for WW1 Tours from Ieper and you should find several providers. I looked recently for a friend and the local tours were also much less expensive than those originating in Bruges. Be sure to allow time to visit the In Flanders Fields Museum.
And finally, drink the beer! It's incredible. If you're not ordinarily a beer drinker, try Kriek (made with sour cherries) or Hoegaarden Rosé. It will surprise you.

If you end up spending time in Brussels, make sure to go to Tonton Garby for a sandwich. Near the Grand Place. Not a fancy storefront, but the owner is fun to interact with, the ingredients he uses are high quality and the experience is top notch. He interviews you and makes a “custom” sandwich for you based on your answers. Lines are long because the sandwiches are amazing and he spends time with each customer. Well worth it! His sweet sandwich is ridiculously good!

This is our 5th time returning to Brussels, its a great city, lots to see and do around Brussels central Station.
We travel outside of the city to smaller places as well
Bruges is worth the visit, very mid evil
In Bruges eat at DE WIJNGAERT, WIJNGAARdSTRAAT 15,, you wont be disappointed.
reservations are a must