Hi Akki, given how little time you have why not stay in Brussels? It depends on what you like to do. Gives us a clue, fishing, chocolate, night life, diamonds?????

http://visitbrussels.be/bitc/front/home/display/lg/en/section/visiteur.do

My interests are "famous attractions of Belgium(e.g. Grand Palace of Brussels),shopping,wandering around beautiful surroundings.Not interested in night life.

I heard Antwerp is better than Brussels.
How does the below itineary sound ?
A: Go to Antwerp from Amsterdam.
Half day city tour of antwerp
Then go to Bruges or Ghent for some time.
Then reach Brussels in night and watch Grand Palace in night.
Please let me know your views

You don't have time for four cities in just over 24 hours. Seriously. You could stop in Antwerp first, spend half the day and then go on to Brussels if you really want to see the Grand Place (it's a Place, not a Palace). Then the following day you could stop in Brugge on your way to Paris. This would be just a quick glance at each of them. You won't be 'wandering' as much as 'running' but you'd at least be able to look at the main squares and pretty buildings.

After doing a lot of searching on the net,I am planning to do only Bruges and Brussels.

14 April morning : Reach Bruges by train from amsterdam
Leave Bruges around 4 pm for Brussels
Visit Grand Place in Brussels
Leave for Paris next day

How does this itineary sound ?

I'd spend the night in Bruges over Brussels in a heartbeat.

I would spend more time in Brugge. It's very authentic and not touristy. Hard to find a shop to buy a tshirt or beer mug. Delightful, small town feeling, just 1 1/2 hours (maybe less) from Brussels by train. Stay at the Hotel Ter Duien or better yet, the Hotel Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce. In Brussels, the Grand Place is a place to walk to and then open your eyes to the elegant gold encrusted buildings. Check Rick Steve's on where to eat. Really good food in Brussels.

I concur with all who say Bruges.

oh yes a night in Bruges is much better, I'd use Brussels as a railway station.

Hello all,

I have already booked my hotel in Brussels but I can cancel
it.

Is it really worth to spend a night in Bruges ?
Can't i be there from 1pm to 7pm and then immediately take
a train to Brussels ?

Thanks,
Akshay

Brugge has a lot of daytrippers, and is much more quiet in the evening. You can wander around and see the city at night.

But won't it be risky to move around in the night ?

Why would it be risky? The city will have street lights etc and people walking around...

I haven't been to Brussels, but I can tell you I loved Bruges and walked all around at night with no problems (my 23-year-old niece did too). Have you seen the movie "In Bruges"? It might heighten your interest (if you can tolerate a little dark humor and much violence....)

Bruges is pretty safe for walking about at night, but see the film and pray you are not a "Canadian tourist"

I don't know where you are from, but Belgium is not generally quite safe. Brugge is a quiet town, with at most a few pickpockets. Brussels has some dodgy areas, as do all cities. The area around Brussels Midi station is not very nice, I wouldn't want to walk around there at night.

Tulips, I assume you meant 'generally quite safe'?

Posted too soon. Belgium is safe!

No worries walking around Brugge at night...

There is nothing risky about walking around Bruges at night. That said, I totally disagree that it's "authentic and not touristy at all" - that was the case 30 years ago; now it's jam-packed with tourists during the daytime except in winter. And Rick Steves is the last person I'd take eating advice from. But it's true you should have no worries in Bruges.

Actually, I like Brussels very much and think it has possibly the best food in all of Europe (and I like that most people stay away from it, as it makes it much more pleasant to visit). So a few hours in Bruges,then a train to Brussels for an overnight doesn't sound like a bad plan to me.

Google images of both Bruges and Brussels to see if you like one more than the other. Been to both and would pick Bruges hands down.

Thanks every1

So I have decided Bruges for my night stay.

At what time should I reach Bruges on 14th April to make
the most of this place ?

Also pls help me decide a good hotel..
I heard about a place called Knokke Heist(near the beach) besides Bruges.

Where should I prefer my night stay in "Knokke Heist or Bruges" ?
Can i stay for night in Bruges and visit the Knokke Heist beach (in evening or morning) for some time ?


Please let me know.

Thanks!

P.S : I am fascinated with the beach ,but is it really
worth for night stay ? ,or I shud just sleep in Bruges
and visit Knokke Heist for some time.

P.S : I am fascinated with the beach ,but is it really
worth for night stay ?

Well right now, much of northern Europe is suffering one of the coldest, longest winters for years. According to the forecast it is snowing today in Bruges. Of course there's no telling what it will be doing in 3 weeks time, but April is way too early for beach weather in Belgium. Stick to Bruges itself.

If you only have a day, don't bother with Knokke. It's a nice place if the weather is good; great restaurants, shops. The beach is great, but it's not pretty; rows of high rise blocks along the boulevard.
Knokke is only 15 minutes by train from Brugge, the train station is 10 minutes walk to the beach. You can rent bicycles, and cycle along the beach to the Zwin nature reserve.

Today we have a thick blanket of snow - very unusual for late March. We have also been on the beach in Knokke at easter, in other years. Very unpredictable weather. Could be anywhere from 0 to 25 celsius in three weeks time.