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Two days before leaving Brussels

I'm attending a conference in Utrech June 12-14. I'm arriving a day early, and there are several events exploring Utrecht on the schedule, so I expect to be able to traverse the town, go to the Botanical Gardens and some museums. Or maybe not. Maybe I'll be immersed in conversations with my new-found collegues, and not get any sight-seeing done.

I did not have enought Frequent Flyer miles to fly into Amsterdam, so I'm arriving and departing from Brussels. The flight departs 11 am Tuesday from Brussels.

I'm trying to decide where to spend Sunday and Monday evenings to give me the maximum amount of interesting things to see and the least amount of frazzle-making frenzy of being a stranger in a strange land. I am a sedentary senior with a fair amount of luggage, staying at an AirBnB place in Utrecht. I'm frugal, but not a starving student.

I hate to travel so far, on what may be my last trip, and missing something that is a must-see. Any suggestions?

Posted by
16895 posts

A daytrip from Utrecht to Amsterdam takes only 30 minutes each way by direct train, so you don't have to miss that. Train to Brussels airport takes about 25 minutes from downtown Brussels; or 40 minutes from Antwerp; or 1.5 hours from Bruges (one direct departure at 6:29 a.m. on June 17 that gets to the airport at 8:04). How to Look Up Train Schedules Online gives you the DB train schedule link and tips for using it.

Please try to pack as light as possible, since you'll have a few trains and stations to navigate with your luggage, and older hotels are likely to have stairs.