Bruges: What's Your Take on Bruges?
#21
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
#22
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.
Each place has it's own charm and places to attract different tastes and in museums architecture and culinary delights.
#24
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,766
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
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.
#28
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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
We stayed in the lovely Cote Canal in Suite Clin d'Oeil which overlooked the garden and a canal.
www.bruges-bedandbreakfast.be
#29
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 4,287
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
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.
#30
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.
#32
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
#37
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,766
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
#39
Sue4
I did the WW1 Battlefields Tour.
I did the WW1 Battlefields Tour.