Two years ago my wife and I spent the better part of three weeks in Belgium. It remains one of our treasured memories. So many helpful people, so much excellent food, so many welcoming B&Bs in towns and countryside. Brugge will always have a soft spot in our hearts. It's a town to wander in, to sit and enjoy, to reflect on how time does not destroy all things. Our greatest surprise: how interesting and enjoyable Antwerp was -- it's a fabulous place with so much to see. At no time and in no place were we ever given cause to express the kind of comments made by "hatebelians" -- he/she must have hit things on a bad day...or perhaps he/she was as rude as those he/she accuses.

You're talking about one of my favorite countries!! We stayed for 2 nights in Brussels and 2 nights in Brugge. I would have loved to have had at least 1 more night in both. I would not chose one or the other if possible because they're both just great. It is only about a 45 minute train ride (based on my memory) and would be easy to spend several nights in each with out having to hurry home. Brussels is really great at night when the Palace lights up and there's music entertainment. Brugge is not as much of a night spot but still, after lots of walking it was great eating at a local restaurant and just wandering back to our near by hotel to flop. I suggest you stay in BOTH. They both have so much to offer.

I'm going to put in a good word for Brussels, which I think is one of the great underrated cities in Europe. It has probably the best restaurants of any city in Europe and a very lovely old quarter, great hotels and shopping, fantastic chocolate, etc. Bruges is certainly a great place to visit (a bit too far up on the cutesy scale for me in some respects), but Brussels should not be given short shrift.

I've stayed in Brussels once and Brugge twice. My vote is for Brugge which has so much charm. Brussels was, to me, a big city, and if I'm going to visit a big city I prefer Paris. I did a trip report from my visit to Brugge last year, www.travelswithdiane.homestead.com/trip2001pg1.html<BR>

Ok, I live in Belgium...<BR><BR>Both Brussels and Brugge are worth a visit if you ask me.<BR><BR>They are two very different cities however! You might prefer Brugge or Brussels... It all depends on what you are looking for.<BR><BR>I'm from the French part of Belgium and never had any problem speaking French in Brugge. English is fine also... So don't worry.<BR><BR>Alex<BR><BR>New Travel Forum !<BR>http://www.travel-board.com/<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>

St. Cirq, I'm going to have to disagree with you about Brussels having the best restaurants in Europe. I've been to many of the top restaurants in Brussels, Paris and Vienna, and of the three, I think Brussels actually comes in third. Perhaps it's under-rated as a place to live, but as a tourist destination, I would still pick Brugge as a base over Brussels. You can get away from the cutesy factor by walking away from the most heavily touristed areas.

We're going to Europe in May and we'll be spending one day in Belgium.<BR>We chose Brugge as a destination for such a short time...<BR>Im sure we'll love it and we're very lucky and previliged to be able to be there...<BR>It just hurts me when I read stuff here like "I hate belgians" or "This is the rudest..." etc...<BR>Maybe what we see in others is what we are most full of... So Cheers to everyone...<BR>