Brussels vs. Brugges
 

Will be flying into Brussels and have three days to spend in Belgium. Trying to decide where to make my home base. Stay in Brussels and day-trip to Brugges? Or vice versa? <BR> <BR>Thanks

I think most will agree that Brugge is the place to spend the longest time.It's a very beautiful & historical city, complete with canals, parks, shopping, etc. Brussels is more of a business city. <BR>

Brugge

Having lived just outside Brussels for nearly 7 years, I would have to say Brugges. You can do Brussels in a day max, possibly half a day. Brugges is just a lovely town and is so pleasant to walk around. 2 day stay here is a good idea.

While I really loved Brugge, we found it very easy to do in a day and got a little bored after a while. So, while it is beautiful and a must see, I'd stay in Brussels. Maybe you can do another day trip from there?

An intelligent answer really depends on knowing what three days of the week you'll be spending in Belgium. Hotel rates are steeply discounted in Brussels on weekends (as much as 40% or more). Discounts then are the result of most bureaucrats departing the city for the weekend. If Friday to Sunday are your days, I'd suggest staying in Brussels from which you can easily and conveniently take day trips to Brugge, Ghent, Antwerp and/or Louvain.

Thanks for your responses. I'll be getting into BRU on a Friday afternoon and leaving Sunday. It looks like I'll be based out of Brussels. <BR> <BR>Just in case I change my mind, what's the best way to get from the airport to Brugge. Take the train to Central station and go from there? I heard taking the Nord station may be faster.

It's 20 minutes or less to Brussels' Nord station from the airport and then after a train change an hour or so on to Brugge. You can check schedules at <BR>www.bahn.hafas.de/bin/query.exe.en

We also stayed in Brussels for 3 nights several years ago and did a day trip to Brugges. Our hotel in Brussels was just a block or 2 from the Grand Place, and we loved the area, with it's rows of outdoor cafes, colorful awnings, street performers and lots of little shops - ummm, chocolate!!! The train trip to Brugges was very quick and easy. We walked to the central terminal, caught a train to the Nord station, I believe, and were in Brugges within 1 hour total. We were there from 10 to 4:30 and walked everywhere, rode a boat through the canals, etc. Back in Brussels for dinner. We loved both cities, Brussels was much more "happening" than we expected. I know you'll have a great time. Joyce

With just three days in Belgium, I suggest you go for Brugge as your base (remember it's Brugge with no "s" at the end). It would be a shame to miss seeing Brugge at night--it's very pretty then and the day trip tourists have gone and the city has a lovely, relaxed feel. There's plenty going on in Brugge at night, as well. It's livelier than you'd think. For a day trip to Brussels, you could see the take the train into the Gare Centrale, walk over to the Grand'Place (skip the Rue Neuve shopping area, especially on week-ends), walk up to the Sablon, then continue on to the Avenue Louise for a drink at the Nemrod Cafe, then catch the metro (Louise station) three stops down to the Gare du Midi and catch the train back to Brugge. <BR>Brugge has a nice selection of hotels, FYI, that are less "corporate" than expense account Brussels. <BR>Two days in Brugge and a day in Brussels should keep you busy and happy. Don't forget, you're less than 20 minutes from the beach in Brugge and if the weather is really fine, you might want to hop on a train for Knokke and stroll along the beachfront streets. <BR>Btilke (Brussels)