Brussels or Munich
 

Can’t decide – Brussels or Munich? I was considering traveling to both cities but not sure if I will have enough time. Would like to enjoy great brews and experience cultural and countryside, suggestions please...

"Great" brews can actually be had in both cities, depending on what you think of as "great" and also some trips into the countryside.

I am pretty certain that almost everybody is going to tell youto go to Munich, take a side trip down to Fuessen for Neuschwanstein, see the Residenz museum in Munich, the Marienplatz, Charlottenberg Palace, etc., etc.

Wait and see if I'm not right.

what PP said!

What about the food? I am sure both places have great food but which one (in your opinion) is yummier?

I find the food in Brussels to be much better than that in Munich.

If you are looking at Brussels, don't forget that Bruges is only an hour or so away and is a gem of a city.

Oh, and I think the beer in Belgium is better and more diverse than that in Germany.

"I am sure both places have great food"

Belgium does...
Bruges is lovely ( almost always mobbed by tourists;.
one can also travel to travel to Antwerp and even Amsterdam


Although Brussels has some good museums, Munich
offers much more, if that is your interest.

My vote is for Munich. You can do several day trips by train. And it's just a fun place to be. But I do really love Bruges for a day.

It's a bit apples and oranges.

By size and feel, you can compare Munich rather with Antwerpen than with Brussels.

Brussels is more a big city, with a smaller restored old town than Munich's. There are some nice neighborhoods, e.g. Louise, but also quite many run-down areas. And the impressively ghastly architecture of the many EU institutions. The city is more cosmopolitan and diverse than Munich (or Antwerpen) - for good or bad.

Antwerpen is "nicer". As well as most people will probably consider Munich to be "nicer". And definetely cleaner LOL.

The countryside around Brussels is somewhat dull (as almost everywhere in flat North/Central Europe), with pittoresque cities and towns (mostly in Flanders), like the aforementioned Brugge and also Gent. And, of course, Antwerpen, if you should decide to stay in Brussels.
Munich wins the countryside competition hands down. You got the Alps, the castles, the lakes, "quaint towns" like Mittenwald or Augsburg in easy reach, both by car or train.

Brussels is quite expensive, especially when you want a decent meal and don't know your way around and stick to touristy areas. The restaurants around the Grand Place can be traps and/or cater to the wallets of the eurocrats and lobbyists.
Many restaurants and esp. ethnic restaurants serve terrific food in Brussels, but I'd much rather try a place in the Louise neighborhood than waste twice the money on dubious moules et frites on Grand Place.

The range of tastes in beers may be a bit wider in Belgium than in Bavaria, but the usual Brussels pub or restaurant has the same limited choice of the ubiqious Jupiler, Leffe, Kriek (the famous cherry-flavored beer), or Hoegaarden (wheat/white) than any other pub in Belgium. Plus one or two of the stronger, darker trappist brews. Aside from the flavored brews, there is no real difference in choice in a Bavarian vs. Belgian pub.
What you like better is yours to find out.

Well I have just come back from Brussels having been through it twice en route to Venice for a cruise. We stayed for 3 days before the cruise and 1 day after.
If it were me then Munich would be my choice as I found Brussels to be dirty, dingy and with rude people. We used the train and as it was very cold one day sought shelter in the waiting room on the station..... it had been used as a urinal for goodness how long and stank dreadfully so that no one could enter the place. Cigarette butts were everywhere in the city and some people would not even try to be polite.
We went to Bruges and I have taken a photo of the bed in the room at the hotel we stayed in. They had wooden slats and what was a camper mattress on the bed - this in a 3 star hotel costing $130 per night.
I think that Munich could only be better.

Thanks for all the feedback, It has help me make mine decision. The winner is Munich!