We have a 4 day trip to Belgium planned. I would really like to see Brugge but since we're passing through Brussels to get there I'm wondering if we should split the time - 2 days in Brussels, 2 days in Brugge.
I'm more interested in small town rather than big city and just riding bikes around Brugge sounds wonderful. But I'm wondering if I'll be missing out if we just skip Brussels.
Anyone spent time in both and have an opinion? We will be driving and we're going in early August.
I can't say I'd recommend driving in either city, but it you're writing from Wiesbaden, you probably have a car anyway...
4 days is a little long for Bruges. There aren't that many museums or other sites to tour. Although the old town is a delight to explore, both on foot and bicycle, I can't imagine you could fill four days doing just this.
Brussels, of course, is a big city. Although not nearly as pretty as Bruges, I find it overall more interesting. It has far more museums, better restaurants (for the most part), and it contains a fascinating mixture of architecture from many different periods. But it isn't nearly as walkable as Bruges, and it takes some exploring and investigation to really open it. It seems to me that most people who find Brussels uninteresting simply get off at the central station, take a look at Mannekin Pis and the Grand Place and assume there's nothing more.
Another option- take a daytrip to one of the beaches or to Ghent or Antwerp from Bruges.
We had a great trip to both places in May. Brugge is not a vibrant, clean, living, breathing cosmopolitan city like Brussles but is cute, touristy and almost too pefect to be real. One day in Bruges would have been plenty for me with an overnight stay. I was like you and wanted to spend more time in Bruges but cut it short because I liked Brussels so much. Don't miss Brussels. It has lots to offer.
It's just a matter of personal preference. We loved Bruges and rented an apt for 5 nights and then hated to leave even then. We stopped in Brussels on the way to Bruges -- spent a few hours, and that was plenty for us. I had been to Brussels once before and much preferred my time in Bruges.
I like Brugge a lot, but cannot imagine spending more than a day there. Masses of tourists get to be too much.
Antwerp is very interesting with its Maritime history.
If you have your car, drive from Brugge up to Ostende. It is only about 15 min. away with a train, so should be close by car. Nice way to see the beaches and the sea. Has some WWII gun emplacements along the dunes there too.
Brussels is a wonderful city with lots to explore. Great antique stores there by the way!
We spent 3 full days in Brugge last August and loved every minute, we didn't want to leave and felt we hadn't had enough. It wasn't crowded with tourists at all, IMO. We rented bikes for 24 hrs and went everywhere in town and out into the countryside to another, wonderful small town. We enjoyed all the shops, the town itself (we loved walking or riding bikes through the residential areas especially), the architecture, the tower, a boat ride on one of the canals, a horse drawn carriage ride, the restaurants, sitting in a cafe in the main square and people watching, the outdoor market was fantastic, the chocolate museum, the beer museum, one or two other museums that I can't remember the names of, the beautiful park along one of the canals, I could go on and on. We loved it there.
Brussels is a big city, and has the Grande Place to enjoy, and I feel is worth staying in. Brussels is a European experience, Belgiun style. Busines and shopping married with old world charm in the surrounding buildings of the Grand Place square. Big events such as the May Jazz fest would happen here.
Brugges is cute and smurf-like quaint. Brugges is picturesque and nice. Quiet at at times incredibly crowded. If you're looking for small town, then maybe Brugges is your scene.
The two cities are completely different.
Thanks everyone for your help. We decided to stay in Brugge but will be planning day trips to Brussels, the coast, etc. as time and activities in Brugge permits.
I love this list!
