Ghent or Bruges?

I have never been to Ghent (but I would like too) but I fell so in love with Bruges that I felt I could live there. The Museums are great, the Groeninge, Gruuthuse and Memlings museums were all fantastic. The market square and surrounding area are amazing. The church tower was tough but worth the 400 steps. I absolutely loved the De Halve Maan Brew Tour. There are also a series of windmills that made great photo ops. It's a magical town to just browse through. There is a restaurant/Beer heaven called Carnbrinus that has over 400 different types of beers. Gulden Draak was the best beer, maybe even a religious experience. Oh and really good french onion soup (great for winter travel). We stayed at B&B Verhulst, Benno & Frieda are the best hosts (you will want to take them home with you). Have fun!

Ellen, my wife and I visited both from Brussels in May. Ghent is interesting with several interesting churches and a pay to see fort. Bruges has more interesting architecture. The town square is much like Brussels, in other words, fantastic. The scenery along the canals is wonderful. However, I don't know what it will look like in November with all the tree foliage down. In my memory, Ghent looks more like a winter city and Bruges looks more like a spring town.

Ghent is easier to see in a short visit (excluding the two art museums). The area of interest to tourists is more compact. Highlights of Ghent: Het Gravensteen (a castle), St. Bav's cathedral with the famous painting "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" and one of the most scenic canals in Europe (I forget the name). The architecture styles are more varied in Ghent than in Bruges, although Bruges has some truly wonderful buildings.

The historical core of Bruges is bigger, but a little more cluttered with souvenir shops.

Just returned from both. I really liked Ghent because it felt authentic. The historic center can be reached by tram (number 1 or 4) from St. Pieters station or it's a healthy 20 minute walk.

I love Bruges as well but there are times it has a "theme-park" feel. If you do go to Bruges I can recommend a restaurant called De Bottelier (Sp?) It's off the tourist path and the food was great.

I would vote for Brugge. We were just there for three days in early September. I am not sure why someone would say that it looks like a theme-park.

I'll take a guess... probably because the main business in Bruge's historic center is tourism, whereas Ghent is more of a bustling, modern city that just happens to have a historically interesting center.

Thanks for your input. Still not sure which place I'll choose. Maybe I'll have time for both! :)

Brugges main central area seemed lined with souvenir shops,, how much lace and chocolate can one look at?? Oh,, and beer,, beer, chocolate and lace.. everywhere!
It is "cutesy" ,, but I was there in the summer, the canal looked lovely with plants and flowers everywhere etc.. but in the winter, I bet its not as cute.

Kellys post did list a bunch of museums.. perhaps they would be interesting.. I was only there a day,,and the only musuem I wanted to see was closed when I went. I am sorry, the church was a huge let down ,, once you have been around Europe a bit, . well , your expectations probaly get a bit out of whack. Its no Saint Peters,, LOL ( joke for those with no humor,)