If you care about Flemish painting (and I do) Bruges/Brugge is a great place to be. The Groeningemuseum and the Sint Jans Hospital took my breath away. For genial atmosphere (and more Flemish painting, including the greatest altarpiece anywhere) I'm in the Gent camp.

Yes Bruges is nice but so is Ghent and Antwerp and Leuven ( about 18 miles from Brussels) .

Each place has it's own charm and places to attract different tastes and in museums architecture and culinary delights.

Love Bruges but would only go if I was staying at least overnight- it's quiet after.
Busy days and Mondays are really quiet. Has a beautiful restaurant - Den Gouden Harynck for that fine dining .

Was delighted to see this post, as I'm in the throes of planning to go to Belgium in Mid-May, as an adjunct to 2 week Paris trip. Bruges is definitely the number one place I want to go (I love all things Middle Ages) and it looks lovely as a base for a few days. I've been researching places to stay, day trips, etc. for the last week. The more I research, the longer I want to stay!

Would like to see Ghent, too - not sure I'll make it to Antwerp. I've been trying to decide whether to spend one night in Brussels, (as overnights are better for me than dashing from a train for a few hours sightseeing) either before or after Bruges.
There's a Belgium countryside van tour from Bruges that looks appealing to me, as well as a Flanders Fields WW1 tour - but they are both all day so don't want to do both.

I'm open to any suggestions! My previous plans were to spend only a couple days on this, but now it looks like at least 4 or 5. As much as I love Paris, I've been there many times so am willing to cut those days for Belgium.

I wonder whether Bruges seen as a day trip or a multi-night stay has any bearing on one's impression of it. My husband & I stayed in Bruges for 4 nights and we loved it!

1010, yes, I would definitely think so. And that would be true of so many places.
Where did you stay in Bruges? I would love some recommendations.

PalenQ, I loved those pictures in your link. Everything lit up around the canals is so beautiful.

Hi Sue4,

We stayed in the lovely Cote Canal in Suite Clin d'Oeil which overlooked the garden and a canal.

www.bruges-bedandbreakfast.be

During our years in Brussels (and since then too), we went to Bruges a few dozen times. It never disappointed. We often stayed overnight and explored the city core in the early morning and then focused on the areas on the other side of t'Zand -- which is not "Disneyfied" or "super-touristed". We had friends in that part of Bruges (and they were real, honest-to-God actual live human beings). We also stored some furniture in a self-storage place on the city's edge on the other side of the Canada Bridge with the buffalo/bison sculptures ( http://wikimapia.org/27185323/Canada-Bridge ) so we got to know that neighborhood as well.

I did project work with an agency in Ghent for a month or so. The city has some great qualities, but I still prefer Bruges.

Leuven is also well worth a visit and we went there regularly (Raisin's vet clinic was in Leuven).

Of the three, I think Bruges is the most impressive, esp if you stay overnight and do some exploring beyond the central core. If you only day trip and spend your time in the main, most-touristed part of the city, you're actually missing quite a lot. Our last visit was in March of this year and we look forward to going back.

We spent 5 nights in Bruges this past May and loved it. Granted, the crowds were annoying, but once the day visitors left, the town was magical. Stayed in an apartment, shopped and fixed our own meals. It's a living, breathing city and not a fake movie set. And it smells of chocolate.

I think 2010 suggested Cote Canal to us. And I totally agree. We stayed there last fall. A wonderful spot on the canal, wonderful breakfasts, and terrific hostess.

And Catherine our hostess at the Cote Canal was an advocate for places in Bruges that are authentic & worthwhile seeing. All her restaurant recommendations were very good! So, it is possible to have a pleasant stay in Bruges.

Ok I am one who thought it was cute , but meh, wouldn't return .

Loved Bruges! And, if there were not so many other places that I want to visit, would love to return there.

Justine you'd like Lier.
Much smaller but beautiful.

I enjoyed Bruges, but my husband would not. It too crowded for his taste. I agree with others, the service was not very good, but the scenery and open market were worth the visit.

I just looked at the Cote Canal website - looks gorgeous! Priced a little higher than I would like, but looks totally worth it for the beautiful location and lovely house. Less than the Paris hotels I'm considering for sure. I think being on the canal would mean everything. I'm sure they must book up way in advance, so I need to decide what to do. Thanks for the suggestions.

<<Justine you'd like Lier.
Much smaller but beautiful.>>
Yes, Lier is pretty. So is Mechelen. A lot of work has been done to turn Mechelen into an interesting town.

Sue4

I did the WW1 Battlefields Tour.

Loved Brugge. Smiled at the movie reference.