My husband and I will be staying in Monchengladbach, Germany for 14 days, since Amsterdam and Brussels are close, which of these two cities should we visit on the weekend, we would leave on friday at 12:00pm and return on Sunday around noon. "we will be driving". We will appreciate what ever information and suggestions you can give us.

I'd go for Amsterdam.

Brussels has Grand Place but really no special ambiance.

Amsterdam has something special as do many other cities.

We were in Prague, Budapest, Brugge and Amsterdam last month. Actually we ended with a day in Brussels.

Check out the photos at:

www.travelwalks.com

Caution. There are 125 photos from this trip.

Maybe they'll help you decide.

Actually, now that I think of it. I'd skip them both and go to Brugge. Possibly the most beautiful small city.

I've done both cities and I have to say Amsterdam, much more interesting.

I think I would go to Brugge also, we loved Amsterdam but there is so much there for a weekend.

Brugge...I know that isn't one of your choices, but I thought Brugge to be very charming. Sorry, but I didn't find Brussels interesting like Myer. And while I have not visited Amsterdam yet, I don't think I will like it as much as Brugge.

If museums are one of your interests then A-Dam will keep you far busier than either Brussels or Brugge.

In Belgium, I would pick Antwerp because I find Brugge so touristy.

I love everything about Amsterdam except the food, but I'm not sure I'd pick it as a day trip. It would be an exercise in frustration!

although I havent been to Brussels, I would say Amsterdam. What a diverse and fun city...I will be there in 2 months for 4 nights. I cant wait to take my sister to the Van Gogh museum and on a canal cruise around the city..

I would say Amsterdam. I just love the ambiance there. The people are great; the food was good, and the weather seems very nice. The museums are varied--large and small, and overall, the city has a very nice, non-city feel to it in most places.

We also visited Brussels, but didn't find any of Amsterdam's charm.

Haven't been to Brugge, but when we told our Belgian friend that we had been to Brussels, he said we should have gone to Brugge instead.

Also, we drove from Prague for an extended weekend and had a perfectly enjoyable time, so don't let the short timeframe dissuade you. There is a lot to do, but that doesn't mean you have to do all of it! --MP

Amsterdam or Brugge or Antwerp too. All are special. Amsterdam is the most interesting; Brugge is beautiful, Antwerp a nice combination of the two. Ghent is a pleasant surprise too. IMHO, all are preferable to Brussels.

Myer - I love your pictures. They bring back some recent and not so recent great memories, thanks.

Been to both places. Amsterdam is my choice. I always head towards Amsterdam when I had a weekend free.

I've mentioned previously about Amsterdam. It's one of the few cities in Europe which still has various neighborhoods. So many cities have been turned into Malls, instead of neighborhoods.

Amsterdam is mostly for a walker but someone who doesn't walk, there are great boat excursions too.

As previously mentioned, the food is great, cheap, and mostly varied. I love street food and Amsterdam is the King of street food.

There's something for everyone in Amsterdam.

Blackduff

basingstoke1,

Glad you enjoyed the photos. I enjoyed taking and reliving them.

Photos of the recent trip to Prague, Budapest, Brugge and Amsterdam (a bit of Brussels on the last day) are at:

www.travelwalks.com

125 photos leave time.

Hmmm. In defense of seemingly-underrated Brussels:

Proper restaurant food is so much better in Brussels. Amsterdam only wins in snacks, in my opinion.
And it's before we even venture into beer...

If you want to avoid crazy night life, Brussel is the place, 'cuz there's very little to do.

Aside from Grand Palace and the statue of you-know-who, I love all those art deco buildings, great museum (esp on contemporary arts), and open-air antique markets on the weekends.

Two final words about Brussels: Pierre Marcolini!!!

Having said that, Brussel is weak in terms of bargain hotels I admit.

Nobody mentioned the special "coffee shops" in Amsterdam or its red-light districts?

Are Fodorites such squares?

Or is it too cliche to associate Amsterdam with these things?

scrb
I didn't mention about the Milch Weg (spelling?) which gave me hours in Amsterdam. For singles alone in Amsterdam, it's a great refuge.

Plus, but a bit of "Amsterdam Spice Cake" can be wrapped in foil, so you can snack while you're visiting the rest of Amsterdam.

What a lovely city. There's something for everyone.

Oh well, I have to mention that you can order a nice tomato and cheese toast, and drink a decent tea. This is a great spot in the afternoon for a snack. This isn't like the special "Cafes" but this is another view of Amsterdam.

It's a great city to spend time there. Just don't bring your car. They have a whole fleet of tow trucks and they are very business.

Blackduff

scrb,

I think they're uninteresting but that the touristy (mostly American) disproportionate fascination with this really small and unobtrusive part of an architecturally beautiful, wonderfully walkable and museum rich city says something about arrested development -- not you, but just in general.

When I finally visited Amsterdam and found it just marvelous, I realized that I had not wanted to go to the city for years simply because most Americans I know who had been there had gone to get stoned or gawk at nekkid women, so my mental image of what Amsterdam had to offer was that it was druggy and sleazy.

But it's gorgeous! It's one of the most enjoyable cities in Europe just to walk around and window shop.

Nessundorma, what a shame to dash your generalizations, but I'm an American who's been to Amsterdam a dozen times and I have not yet bothered to see either the red light district or a "coffee shop".
Amsterdam doesn't particularly thrill me. It's just not one of the places that clicked.
Tribi, what do you want to do on your week-end? If you just want to stroll around, etc., you would probably enjoy Amsterdam more. If you and your husband are serious foodies, then Brussels is the better choice, hands down. And W9London, depending on when you travel, it is in fact easy to find hotel bargains. In summer, for example, you can find many four star hotels (with air conditioning!) offering rooms for 100 euro a night. Sometimes less.
Brussels does have plenty of charming neighborhoods, but you have to be willing to explore beyond the central core. You also have visit without having "chocolate box" expectations of quaintness on every corner. It's just not that kind of city. But it does have many beautiful areas...stroll past the maisons de maitre on Ave. Moliere, for example, or explore the Art Nouveau heritage all around Ixelles, or the mix of traditional and cutting edge modern architecture at the edge of Uccle etc. The museums in the Cinquantenaire are worth visiting--if your husband likes cars, he would definitely enjoy Autoworld.

Btlke
<i>Brussels does have plenty of charming neighborhoods, but<b> you have to be willing to explore beyond the central core</b></i>

This is what I meant before about Amsterdam. You have to walk past the center of the city.

In Amsterdam you can find the shoemaker, as there was many years ago. You'll find your baker, meat and poultry shops, and 100s more shops still trying to make a life before the Malls arrived.

Although I have passed a lot with Brussels, maybe I missed the neighborhoods. I'll have to return, since this is the real City.

Blackduff

In line with both scrb and blackduff's responses:

If you do decide to check out the coffeeshops in Amsterdam, go beyond the central area around Dam Square. The majority of the smoke shops downtown are a bit on the sleaze-o side (an exception is De Kuil). Try a shop in the Canal Rings area or in the Jordaan. You'll see how low-key and no-drama the whole thing is. A nice one is La Tertulia on the Prinsengracht, very close to the Anne Frank House. I believe it's still owned by a mother and daughter team - has a indoor garden with skylight and fountain, a brief food menu along with the other menu and a generally civilized and welcoming ambiance.

Cheers!
dovima

BTilke,

I wasn't talking about you.