Brussels or Bruges? Any thoughts on Ghent?

No question on this one, Brugge. When you think of classic europe it's Brugge! quiet canals, architecture, quaint, picturesque, lace & chocolate shops, charming, tranquil etc. museums,churches, windmill etc. Brussels has one big sight the main plaza and mannequin pei. I would skip Brussel entirely and spend that xtra day in Brugge. I spent 4 days there.

Michelle, I lived in the Netherlands for three years. Amsterdam is nice but I would also consider a night in Haarlem and perhaps the other two in Brugge. Haarlem is 15 minutes from Amsterdam by train. Unless you really need to visit Brussels I would pass on it. Actually, you could arrive by train (Central Station) visit the Main Square (La Grand Place) and the Manneken-Pis which are an easy walk from the station, spend a couple of hours, eat some mussels, chocolate and then press on to Brugge less than an hour away. Your trip sounds fun!

Thank you! We will be visiting Haarlem while in Amsterdam for 5 days, I hadn't thought of staying the night there, just taking a day trip, but will consider this, especially if the rooms there are much cheaper than Amsterdam

Agree with the general consensus, Bruges is much more interesting than Brussels. That said, I wouldn't necessarily blow off Brussels completely if you have time. I think 2 nights in Bruges and 1 night in Brussels is about right (that's what we did).

I second AM
larry
Tempe

I have spent time in the region and his recommendation is by far my own.

We spent just one day in Bruges last April and wish we had spent more time there.
We went to the bobbin lace museum and were able to actually watch 8-9 ladies making the lace. I found it fascinating. They were very kind and very patient with our questions, which they must have answered a million times by now.
Of course the chocolate...drool, drool
We turned tourist and took a ride in one of the horse-drawn buggies and it was a very pleasant half hour.
If you have a chance, have the beef stew made with beer for one meal...absolutely yummy and you can't taste the beer.
The swans on the canals are interesting and their history is also...ask a local to tell you that story.
The lace offered for sale in town is not made there...be careful as they also offer some made in China! You can get the real thing at their museum.

We rented an apt for only 5 days last year and wished we could have stayed longer.
Bruges definitely.

Think about stopping for a night and/or a day in Ghent. Very medieval.

I have been looking into Ghent based on the suggestion above and seem to get the feeling that this is a better place for nightlife. We would be getting to Bruges (from Amsterdam) around 7pm on a Friday. Would it be more fun to sleep in Ghent that night to enjoy going out and then sleep in Bruges the next day? I figure we could quickly see Brussels on the way from Bruges to Koln, maybe just stop there to get lunch and see the central square/statue for a few hours. Does that sound doable?

I was in Bruges & Ghent years ago. I arrived in Ghent early evening, the accommodations were very clean, and I loved walking around the canals and seeing the medieval buildings with the spotlights on them. The next morning I visited a couple of the churches and toured inside, then on to Amsterdam. I've heard Ghent is a college town and so there's probably some "night life."

On the advice of a Belgian friend, I skipped Brussels completely. Friends were there last summer with their 13 year-olds and said the only thing the kids were impressed with was eating Belgian waffles in Belgium. The adults were completely unimpressed.