We would like to visit Brussels or Bruges during our time in that region. We love museums, local cuisine, chocolate, architecture, interesting churches or cathedrals and simply meandering along the streets for local sights. We will be there last half of September. Any suggestions? We plan on making this stop between visiting Amsterdam and Paris. Any suggestions or thoughts?

Bruges is set in amber, with a unitary architecture. Brussels is a larger city with a greater variety of architectural types.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...60216715/show/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...60079007/show/

Bruges!

Brussels!

Brugge would be my choice (and regularly is)

Brussels has some beautiful sights, but it can be grimy in spots. So can Amsterdam, Paris, and any other large city for that matter. Brugge is not big on museums or churches, but it has food, chocolate and architecture down to an art form.

Deciding if you want a change of pace from two big cities, or a third metropolis, might be the best way to make the decision.

I've been to both enough times to choose for Brugge
Brussels has its own charm but they are incomparable.
If you have more than 1 day you could easily visit both though. How are you going to travel? Car or train?

We will be traveling by train and could spend 2 or 3 days between the two. How best would you divide up the time? It would nice to do both if possible.

Stay in Brugge and day trip into Brussels.

I spent 3 days in Brugge and one day in Brussels. Brugge is major eye candy and I was like a kid in a candy store. I have no regrets, I would do it again.

stay in Brussels and day trip to Brugge
..a charming, but small and crowded town- sort of like mini Amsterdam.

Stay in Bruges and day trip to Brussels, if you feel it is necessary, and Gent. Or stay in Gent, with day trips to Bruges and Brussels,

Bruges and Gent are small and charming. Brussels is a large city with a few interesting sites but easily seen in a day. Have to say, it is not on the top of my favorite Belgium places.

Bruges is very lovely, especially at night after the day trippers leave.

All have interesting architechture and wonderful food.

Check a guidebook for what each has to offer.

If you like architecture, in Brussels make sure you make a bit of time to follow up the examples of Art Nouveau. There are walks you can do that lead you through interesting neighbourhoods. Top of the list for this style is the Horta Museum, then the Museum of Musical Instruments (in an amazing building called Old England), and Maison Cauchie. Bruges and Ghent are medieval, Brussels not so much - really only the Grand' Place is left, the rest being a mix of 19th C., modern and Art Nouveau. The chocolate neighbourhood in Brussels is the Grand Sablon, worth a visit anyway because it is pretty. There is also an antiques market there on weekends (both days). Hope you enjoy Belgium, there is a lot to see and do.

Lavandula

From what you've described go to Brussels. It has some excellent museums and some classic Art Nouveau architecture it's a nice city. Edgy, it's true but I didn't feel unsafe in Brussels. I don't know why people don't like it.

IMO, Bruges in a nice daytrip. After that, unless you like rest and relaxation it's time to go.

May I hijack your thread for just a moment?

Lavandula, what do you think of Liege as a daytrip? My husband wants to go while we're in Aachen to see the train station. I'd like to see it too if we were just passing through but not sure about anything after the station. thanks.

Hi LSky,

I have only been to Liège once, with my mother-in-law on a flying trip from Germany. I did not research it, we just kind of dropped in to have a look. So I'm probably not the best person to ask about Liège. However, I found it kind of grotty and dirty, and there did not seem to me to be a great deal to see, taking into account we just kind of had a walk around. I expect if we had worked on it a bit it would have been more enjoyable. Mind you, Brussels is a bit on the grotty side too, but still more charming to me than Liège.

From Aachen you might think of visiting Maastricht, which is charming. I've been there a few times and it's always pretty, summer or winter.

Lavandula

Oh, I might add, we were travelling by car - so I have not seen the train station. Possibly that would have improved the trip. I am a big fan of stations in northern Europe - Antwerp and Groningen are both spectacular ...

Lavandula

Thanks Lavandula, The train station is relatively new, it is beautiful (I'll include a link) We love the architect's work. Might be fun to go to Maastricht too.
I agree that Brussels "is a bit on the grotty side," too, but it's a wonderful city in so many ways.
I wish we had more time to go back to Brussels.

http://www.arcspace.com/features/san...s-tgv-station/

Wow, I followed the link - what a very interesting design. That alone would make the trip for me. Thanks so much!

Lavandula

Is it even a valid question?

Bruges all the way! Everything is so beautiful!
The city feels like a big museum!
Chocolate stores everywhere!
There are great restaurants!

I spent two days there and I was so happy!!!

Huis Koning was my B&B, and I have never had a more pleasant stay!

Why wouldn't it be a valid question?
Bruges is not everyone's favorite place in Belgium.