unaS

It is my first visit to Belgium. I have to choose either 2 nights in Antwerp and 3 in Brussels or the other way round. Which would you suggest?

For background I will be first 3 nights in Brugge and have a 1-day visit to Ghent on my way to Antwerp. Will be arriving in Anterp quite late in the day, so 2 nights only there would really leave me only 1 or 1 1/2 days to visit the city before leaving for Brussels.

Looking forward to your suggestions.
Thank you.

Tulips

Brussels is a lot larger than Antwerp. Probably better to do 3 days Brussels, 2 in Antwerp. I live near Antwerp, so know it much better than Brussels; look for posts on this forum by BTilke, who knows Brussels very well.
The main things to see in Antwerp are the Cathedral, Rubens' House, the Museum of Fine Arts (Museum voor Schone Kunsten). There's also a fashion museum. What are your interests?

unaS

Thanks Tulips.

I am more interested in history, culture, art. Fashion isn't my thing. CHOCOLATE is

Again, not a 'foodie' - anything cheap that will fill the belly is fine, but I do want to try some local specialties. That is something that I always enjoy while travelling.

Travelnut

Beer, mussels (moules) and frites... gaufres...
Belgians seem fond of rabbit dishes... then there is 'waterzoi', kind of creamy soup with chicken or fish (either, I believe)..

I like this website for sightseeing ideas:
http://www.trabel.com/brussels.htm

unaS

Thanks for the site. Lots of good info. Have Copied and Pasted a lot of it.

What is gaufres? The frites are definitely on my list of things to try! The waterzoi sounds interesting too.

Thanks!

Filloa

I tried salmon waterzoi in Brussels and liked it. I had it at a local restaurant (I mean, not a tourists one), where my friends from Brussels took us. The name is Au Stekerlapatte
and it is at Rue des Prêtres 4.
http://www.stekerlapatte.be/index.php

unaS

Thanks Filloa - looks like my kind of place. I wonder if they would let me order just vegetables for a main course, or perhaps two starters?

MyriamC

Gaufres are waffles.
There's a lot more to see in Antwerp than the things mentioned by Tulips. Amongst the numerous historical buildings Antwerp has some of the most beautiful churches in Belgium: Our Lady's Cathedral, Carolus Borromeus Church, St. Jacobs Church, St. Paulus Church, ...
Check out Jack's website on http://www.jack-travel.com/Belgium/H...Visit_Page.htm
Jack is a proud Antwerpian ... and so am I.

GaryCA

Myriam, you gave me the advice to visit Antwerp awhile back and now I'm actually going to do it in May. You are a good spokesperson for the city.

nessundorma

I would definitely want two full days in Antwerpen (which has fantastic food and chocolate). I find Brussels the least magical of all the places I've visited in Belgium, although its fine arts museum, the Horta museum and the Grand Place are outstanding attractions. Were it me, two days in Brussels would be enough. (I'd also overnight in Ghent, taking one day away from Brugge.)

I wasted a lot of time in Brussels trying to use public transportation to get to the Horta museum, which is unique. Take a cab, and pay close attention to the opening hours.

Filloa

unaS, I don't think there would be any problem at Stekerlapatte to order two starters, it is a kind of casual place (like a "meson" or a "casa de comidas" in Spain... I don't know how to say it in English).
We had a really good time there (well, good company always helps ).

unaS

MyriamC

Thanks for the translation.

Thanks even more for that fantastic site. I have been searching and searching for walking tours that I could do on my own. Jack's site finally has them! Marvelous!!

May I ask you another question - as an Antwerpian? I have found a budget hotel called Hotel Scheldzicht at Sint-Jansvliet 10-12, 2000. What is the neighbourhood like? I am a mature woman travelling solo. Should it be all right for me to return to the hotel in the late evening, after dinner?

Thank you for all of your help!

unaS

Thanks for the suggestions nessundorma.
Have noted and will add to my list!

unaS

Good news Filloa! I will definitely go there then. The menu you linked to has me getting hungry already

MyriamC

Una, the neighbourhood of the Scheldezicht is okay. It's still within the historical centre and it's on a square that has some cafés, so there's always people around.
On the other hand, I would like to inform you that it's a very plain and simple hotel. Don't expect any luxury. I've read some reviews on a Dutch board and most of them are not really positive ...

Tulips

Una; St Jansvliet is a great location. I've seen the hotel, but haven't been inside. It's a small square close to the river and the cathedral. Also close to Kloosterstraat, with lots of antique/bric-a-brac shops. Perfectly safe (as is all of Antwerp really).
On the corner of the square is a rather unusual chocolate shop called Swiet & Sexy. Not sure you want to buy those chocolates for anyone though.
Pierre Marcolini, on Huidevetterstraat, is excellent. As is Swertvaegher on Schuttershofstraat; they do beautiful miniature chocolates.
You'll find lots of reasonable restaurants in that area. As for Belgian food; try prawn croquettes (garnaal kroketten). In Kloosterstraat there's a Moroccan restaurant that looks very nice. There's also a small cafe called 'take 5 minutes in Paris'.

unaS

MyriamC -

Thanks. I am a budget traveller, or I can't travel at all. I have always used hostels, only now they don't allow smoking anymore anywhere in the hostel, so I need to start using budget hotels.

Not looking for luxury. If it is clean and safe that is enough for me.

Your opinion is important to me and much appreciated!

May I ask what you mean when you say that most of the reviews are not really positive? I mean, is it dirty? Bedbugs? That sort of thing? Or just small and very basic rooms?

unaS

Hi Tulips,

Thanks for all of the extra details!

Your Swiet & Sexy chocolate shop might be just the thing for some of my friends

For the rest, I will stick to standard chocolates. I understand from a poster on LPTT that one can buy perfectly good Belgian chocolate bars in the supermarkets? A few specialty items will be nice, but for most people it is the flavour that counts I think.

Those cafés that you and MyriamC mention - are they good for breakfast? I do like a good breakfast with eggs or cheese, or even both.

MyriamC

Chocolate bars are for sale in every single supermarket. There's a large GB Supermarkt in the basement of Groenplaats Shopping Centre (a small mall at Groenplaats). Good brands for chocolate bars are Côte d'Or and Callebaut.

Scheldezicht: some posters said it was basic, some said the rooms were dirty, all said it was noisy (there must be an old wooden cracking staircase that passes along all the rooms).
Hotel Cammerpoorte (www.hotelcammerpoorte.be), also in the historical centre, gets far better reviews. It may be a bit more expensive than Scheldezicht though.

"De Granaetappel" (www.degranaetappel.be) is a nice place for breakfast. Unfortunately only on Saturday and Sunday. It's almost around the corner from Scheldezicht.
Some others nearby are Hangar 41 (St. Michielskaai 41), Het Dagelijks Brood (Steenhouwersvest 48 - smokefree!), Zuiderterras (Ernest Van Dijckkaai, along the border of the river Scheldt).
I don't know whether the cafés on Sint-Jansvliet (where Scheldezicht is) offer breakfast.

Keren

Myriam,
What do you think about the location of this B&B? I don't mind staying outside the old centre. I found this place and read 1 very favourable comment on Tripadvisor. Being a budget traveller, I'm always on the lookout for good, inexpensive places to stay.
http://www.bbantwerp.com/