Hello: we arrive in Brussels in the afternoon at about 4pm Friday December 30. We will check into our hotel and would then appreciate any suggestions as to how best to spend the evening.
December 31 we take a train to Bruges returning to Brussels at 8pm New Year's Eve.
My questions:
1. do we need a guided tour in Bruges or is it easy to walk around on one's own?
2. any suggestions for New Year's Eve in Brussels?
3. January 1...will there be more to do in Brussels or in Ghent? (I know we can do a day trip to Ghent from Brussels, I'm just wondering where there will be the most to do/see (Brussels or Ghent) as it is New Year's Day.
Thank you very much.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16616 posts
December 31 we take a train to Bruges returning to Brussels at 8pm New
Year's Eve.
Dec. 31st is New Year's Eve so you're doing a day trip to Bruges from Brussels?
Bruges is very easy to explore on one's own but it does help to read up on the hours, entry fees, etc. on the local attractions before you go.
..we arrive in Brussels in the afternoon at about 4pm Friday December
30. We will check into our hotel and would then appreciate any suggestions as to how best to spend the evening.
Flying from Toronto? If you are coming off of a long transatlantic flight, I wouldn't do more than just drop your luggage at your accommodation and walk until dinner and bedtime. This may be helpful for Brussels:
https://www.brussels.be/winter-wonders
https://www.plaisirsdhiver.be/en/agenda/
Pay close attention to open/closed hours and dates. As far as dinner on NYE, some cautionary advice from a poster over on TripAdvisor:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g188644-i205-k14201628-Reasonably_priced_meal_on_New_Year_s_Eve-Brussels.html
Posted by
Southeastern US
2622 posts
- do we need a guided tour in Bruges or is it easy to walk around on one's own?
I would say you don't need a guide at all. It's not very big and it's fairly easy to navigate. If you click on my profile there's a link to my recent visit in September detailing what I did in Bruges. Also, if you have Rick's book he has a self-guided walk or two that we found enjoyable. With one day you could spend the time seeing the main sites in the center (I'm unsure if it being NYE would affect opening hours).