DH and I will have four nights to spend in Belgium during our October trip. We are flying out of LHR on a Sunday night at 8:40 p.m., and the flight arrives in Brussels at 10:45 p.m. (I tried to get on an earlier flight but we are using miles). Our return flight to the states will be on that Thursday, departing from Brussels at 10:55 a.m.

Our main purpose for going to Belgium is to visit Brugge, so I was thinking two nights in Brugge? I have already been to Brussels, so a quick stop for DH to see the Grand Place is fine. So would we be better off checking into a hotel in Brussels on Sunday night, then spending all of Monday in Brussels, then departing to Brugge for two nights? I would also like to make a trip to Ghent to see the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb again.

I'd imagine the last night (Weds) we'd need to stay in Brussels in order to make sure that we get to the airport in time for our flight, unless there is a super early train that leaves from Brugge.

Suggestions?

Before you head out to Gent, check back closer to your trip to find out whether van Eyck's painting in St Bavo's is entirely on view (it is presently being restored) and whether streetworks now underway are still having a heavy impact on the city.

Persoanlly, I am a great fan of Antwerpen, and less so of Brugge and Brussels. If you haven't been to Antwerpen, and Ghent is mainly under renovation, you might consider visiting. The historic center is especially impressive and the food, drink and chocolates there are sublime.

Brussels airport has some of the tightest security I have ever experienced in a European airport, so I think you will need to spend your final night in Brussels. If you have never visited the Horta museum there, you might find it interesting. I have yet to visit the new Magritte museum.

You might find this interesting to read:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/201...d-tour-belgium

Tough schedule but there are very early trains from Brugge to Brussels. The first leaves about 4:10 AM according to the RailEurope website.

I've just finished reading The Monuments Men and finding the Brugge Madonna and the Ghent Altarpiece was a challenge.

I like the idea of 2 nights in Bruges. I've been there twice before myself, then I took DH there in '08 and we spent 2d/3n in Bruges and I still had a wonderful time there. Our B&B rented us bikes for the day and we rode bikes along the Damme canal to the countryside.

Ghent is nice but there's a thread here recently about the old city center under major construction; and LOTS OF TRAM LINES are diverted. I don't know if it's worth the time and the added trouble to just see the Mystic Lamb. FWIW, I love Flemish art and I understand your decision, but the Mystic Lamb Altarpiece will still be there the next many, mnay years; and with your limited time, I'd just stick with Bruges & Brussels this time.

Brussels hotels tend to be cheaper on weekends (due to lack of business travelers). Are the museums in Brussels open on Mondays? Just a consideration if you plan on visiting the Royal Museum of Fine Arts and/or the new Magritte Museum.

For your final night, I would just plan on staying either in Brussels, or even just at the airport. You can even have dinner in Bruges on Wed night, then take a late train to the airport hotel. But I would not spend Wed night in Bruges; too risky to rely on the trains (even though they are very punctual).

I always get that 10:55am AA flight out of BRU into ORD and I always stay the night in Brussels and take the 8:14 train (from Centraal) to the airport (~.5hr).

However, if you need to stay in Brugge the night before your US departure, you can get the early 6:50am train and arrive at National airport at ~8.25am. I did this once and there was no problem. IME, 2.5 hrs is enough time to be at the airport before departure.

Can remember neither the departure time from Brugge nor the arrival time at Schipol but we spent our last night in Brugge before flying to Boston on BA. Had to change trains at Brussels (Midi?) and planes at LHR.

We preferred to stay in Brugge rather than change hotels again and there was adequate time to do so.

Thanks Joy (and others) - that is the same flight we are on. So does the 6:50 am train from Brugge go directly to the airport, or do we have to switch in Brussels? I haven't spent much time looking at the train schedules yet.

jen,

I don't think there's any train that goes directly to Brussels National from Brugge. You normally will stop in Brussels, most often at Bruxelles-Nord.

If you stay in Brugge till the day of departure, you can take a train from Brugge to Brussels Airport as follows: 5.58 - 7.24, (1 stepover in Brussels), or 6.31 - 7.56(also 1 stepover).