We are going on our first Viking River Cruise in Sept. I decided to do a 2 day side trip to Brussels so my husband could try some of the different beers (he is a brewer) Any suggestions on places to stay or a must visit? Also I noticed in some of the other threads you all suggested to purchase train tickets in advance, does that hold true for train tickets from Brussels to Amsterdam where we catch the boat?
I was not going to spend a night in Amsterdam but if someone feels that would be an error on my part, please let me know.

Thanks in advance!
A first time European traveler

Yes book Brussels-Amsterdam trains in advance online - www.thalys.com -Thalys trains about the only ones that go direct Brussels to Amsterdam and can be very cheap if booked far far in advance - not sure how far is possible but 90-120 days out I believe - walk-up fares much higher. check www.seat61.com for lots on booking your own trains online - general train info like 1st v 2nd class - www.ricksteves.com and BETS-European Rail Experts.

Except for beer perhaps Amsterdam outshines Brussels for the casual tourist visually for sure. Spend at least yes a half day and night there - take a canal boat tour at night thru canals lined by ancient facades all sublimely illuminated.

Thank you so much for the info! Have you ever taken one of the Viking River Cruises? We start in Amsterdam and end up flying out of Basel. Any suggestions for excursions?

I love Brussels. One of the things I really enjoyed was walking some of the neighborhoods filled with Art Nouveau architecture and stopping at the Victor Horta studio/museum. (#5 of my blog posts at LNB Associates | Writing, Editing and Research Services | In Flanders Cities 5: Brussels is Art Nouveau) You can get a map--there are several different areas and they are located in different parts of the city. I can't imagine missing the Musee des Beaux Arts (read WH Auden's poem by that name) and it is adjacent to the modern art museum and the Musee Magritte. (More Magritte than I really enjoy.) It's a lovely city for strolling--and eating chocolate, waffles and frites, though not necessarily at the same time--with many parks and an excellent tram and metro system for getting around.
The single very best thing? The museum of Comic Book Art (https://www.comicscenter.net/en/home) It's near a walking street with tons of shopping if that, as they say, is your bag. There are also a number of good restaurants in the area. Have a great time!

I don't think you need to spend a night in Amsterdam, which IMO has become an overpriced and frantic city in the past 4 years or so, where you take your life in your hands wandering those canal neighborhoods trying to avoid packs of flying bicyclists and overbearing trams. It used to be a very pleasant place. After my last trip there last year (probably my 5th of 6th in total) I have no desire ever to return. It's also frighteningly expensive. Other Dutch cities? Yes, for sure. PalenQ probably hasn't set foot there for a decade so is just relying on ancient information.

Brussels is a great town, probably the best food in Europe and arguably the best beer. And there are lots of very pleasant smaller towns in Belgium as well.

Never taken a cruise so can't help you with that. But yes, Brussels is a great place - no need to do the schlep to Amsterdam. Go to Antwerp if you want something outside Brussels.

https://www.google.com/search?q=amsterdam+images&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=un iv&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjaldb65r_aAhUl8IMKHS_oAiQQsAQIK A&biw=1536&bih=779

These scenes of Amsterdam just cannot be totally ruined by the torrent of tourism some say has destroyed Amsterdam and a few hours walking along the neat old canals and on a canal boat will be totally enjoyable. Yes Amsterdam like Rome, Venice, Bruges, Paris, etc has seen tourist numbers reach record levels - yeh you could skip them all but most people still manage to enjoy these exceptional places - maybe visit the Anne Frank House (with timed entry of course) right on one lovely canal - take at least a quick look at one of the world's most visually beautiful cities and you'll be very glad you did IMO.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cana...w=1536&bih=779

And these canal boat tours are no doubt still really nice - certain things masses of tourists cannot ruin.

Nice of you to google these things for talkdiva, PalenQ ;-)

If you are going to catch your boat in Amsterdam, might as well spend a night there. It's still a lovely town, even with the amount of tourists there. Or stop in Antwerp and visit the De Koninck brewery.
In addition to Thalys, there's an Intercity between Brussel and Amsterdam. It's cheaper than Thalys, takes a bit longer, but you now have to book this in advance too, in order to get the best rates.
If you can get a good deal on Thalys, go for that.

On a side note: the fare for the once "regular" International intercity service to Brussels has now almost doubled. And the booking of slots, like with the ill-fated Fyra fiasco.....erm.....service. Why oh why?

Anyway, mini rant over.

Instead of Brussels you might like Antwerp, OP. But Brussels does have a vibe all its own and I love it. Gorgeous architecture, interesting erstwhile "villages". Great food, and wonderful beer of course.

Menachem; I know, it's ridiculous. Fares for weekend returns are up 70% when booking last minute.
It can be cheaper to fly Brussel-Amsterdam than take the train.

You all have given me great information on my future travels. I am going to purchase our train tickets very soon (leaving in September) but first I wanted to figure out how many days to stay in Brussels and where to stay. I am used to travel where the hotels will pick you up at airport is that the case in Brussels? Or does it depend on where you stay?

We are divers so normally our trips are in the Caribbean, Europe is a new adventure for us and not sure what to expect or be prepared for.

Thanks again for your help and any further advice would be appreciated.

Good Morning,
We were thinking about visiting Antwerp also. I was told to possibly stay in Brussels and then just use transit to to to some of the other cities so we didn't have to haul luggage all over. Is that a good bit of advice if we are only going to stay a couple of days?

Thanks

Hi talkdiva, if you only have 2 days, perhaps take the train to Antwerp in the morning, leave you stuff in lockers, and continue on to Amsterdam in the late afternoon.
the train takes 40 minutes from Brussel to Antwerp. You can walk from Centraal Station (a beautiful building) to the center of the old town in 15 minutes, easily. You just need to cross a major road-building site, but once you're on the Meir it's a pleasant walk.

I'm sure your hotel could arrange a driver to pick you up at the airport. Or you can take a taxi at the airport. We generally book a car service to/from the airport in Brussel, but we live near Antwerp.
Taxi's are quite expensive in Belgium. If you are staying near Central Station in Brussel, I would just take the train from the airport.

You don't need to book local train tickets in advance, only intercity or Thalys tickets.
For local trains, the easiest thing to do is get a ticket online and keep it on your phone or print it. A ticket is valid for any train that day, no seat reservations.
NMBS/SNCB - Timetable & buy tickets