Ghent or Brugges?

Search the B&B section of the Graffiti Wall. There are many mentions for Bruge which I would favor for an overnight because there has been construction in Ghent earlier this year. I don't know if the work is complete.

During the academic year, I would say stay in Ghent because the student population keeps things much more alive at night (Brugge is a little dead after dark). But given the construction that the last poster reports, and the summer academic lull, Brugge might be a better choice.

I have stayed at Hotel Adornes in Brugge. In most respects, an ordinary small hotel, but with one very nice feature: free, unlimited use of the hotel's bicycles.

I've been to Bruges (not Ghent) and really enjoyed this charming town. Here are some of Rick Steves' hotel suggestions: http://www.ricksteves.com/books/update/etbd_benelux.htm We stayed at Hotel Cordoeanier which was very close to the center of town. It was a small, basic, family-run hotel. It met our needs for the three of us for two nights. Have fun--I love Bruges.

I've been to Bruges (not Ghent) and really enjoyed this charming town. Here are some of Rick Steves' hotel suggestions: http://www.ricksteves.com/books/update/etbd_benelux.htm We stayed at Hotel Cordoeanier which was very close to the center of town. It was a small, basic, family-run hotel. It met our needs for the three of us for two nights. Have fun--I love Bruges.

I've been to Bruges (not Ghent) and really enjoyed this charming town. Here are some of Rick Steves' hotel suggestions: http://www.ricksteves.com/books/update/etbd_benelux.htm We stayed at Hotel Cordoeanier which was very close to the center of town. It was a small, basic, family-run hotel. It met our needs for the three of us for two nights. Have fun--I love Bruges.

The answer is Ghent AND Bruges.

Ghent may be a bit under construction (okay, we're only talking about 2 squares) but is a really lively town, where tourism is only a small part of every day life.

Bruges is a construction (partly medieval, but most of it is late 19th and early 20th century) and a tourist magnet. There's a small exhibition about 'the invention of Bruges' in the Bruges Gruuthuse Museum.
http://www.uitvindingvanbrugge.be/

See, that's what makes the world go 'round. Tom likes what the student population brings; I actively avoid it LOL! I want the streets quiet, and all to myself!

Next time I stay in Bruges it will be a new place, so I don't have any positive recommendations for you.

(Tom - looks like you've unpacked somewhere...finally!)

We ended up going to Brussels and spent two nights in Bruges. One day we went to Ypres and really enjoyed that. Bruges is much like Venice...full of bus tourists and day trippers between 10 and 5 and magical before and after that. The further one gets from the main squares, the better those cities are! We loved Bruges in the evenings and felt the time there was worth in then.

I agree with Fiets. Don't miss either city.