We have a 10 day trip planned starting near Brussels and ending around Amsterdam to judge two KCBS BBQ events. What suggestions do you have for where we should go in between. We would like to stay away from big cities and explore less touristy place. Please let us know the city and what activities and best way to travel from place to place.
Ernie
Posted by
Fort Lauderdale, FL
1232 posts
Bruges is a wonderful town, only an hour away by train.
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
Bruges, Bruges, Bruges i could spend many days there happily. It is one of my favorite towns in europe.
I spent 4 nites it was not enuf.
Posted by
Indiana
803 posts
Loved Bruges! Many people think it is too touristy, but we did not. Beautiful city with friendly people, wonderful sights and good food. We stayed at the most amazing B&B. Would return there in a heartbeat!
Posted by
Green Bay
20020 posts
You do realize the irony of what you are asking. Bruges is very popular and there will be lots of tourists there. It is popular with tourists for very good reasons. Does that make it touristy?
Less touristy means less to see and do, less places to stay or eat.
So I'll add in Ghent (small city), Antwerp (bigger city), Den Haag (capital of the Netherlands), Haarlem (small city).
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15576 posts
Sam and I have similar thoughts. Ghent is quieter than Bruges. You can stay in Ghent and day trip to Bruges and Brussels too. While The Hague is not a small town, it has fewer tourists that nearby Amsterdam (and it's cleaner) and some great sights. Delft is a short tram ride away. I haven't been to Haarlem, but it sounds good too. Both countries have excellent trains.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
Through Luxembourg into Germany and the Mosel Valley - Trier to Koblenz.
To Cologne and Aachen, with their stunning and historically important cathedrals.
Back into the Netherlands and Maastricht, before finishing in Amsterdam.