My husband and I both in our late 30's will be flying into Brussels and spending one night there. The next day i'm torn about where to stay for 2 nights. Brugge or Antwerp? Even if I don't stay over night I would like to see both cities and perhaps Ghent as well. We are heading to Amsterdam for 3 days after that so at first Antwerp seemed a better option but i'm very very open to ideas. PLEASE help a confused lady. Forgot to mention this is for the end of December and that we are fairly seasoned travelers.

I haven't been to Antwerp so can't give an opinion there. But we drove from Paris to Amsterdam last summer and stayed 3 nights in Brugge. It was great-for beer and just walking, eating, taking the canal tour, visiting the market, etc. When we were driving outside Antwerp, it struck us as much larger and harder to get around. BTW, in Brugge you basically park your car in a pretty cheap long-term park and then it is a pedestrian's dream. So it may also make a difference to you if you are driving or coming in by train-the station in Brugge is within walking distant of the center. Again, sorry I haven't been to Antwerp so can't compare there. BTW if you are a beer drinker be sure to research the Belgium one before you go-we had a great time sampling them and apparently Belgium has more 3 star Michelin restaurants per capita than France does-we found food choice and quality very good.

There isn't really any comparison. Brugge is a well-preserved but working mediaeval city, and Antwerp is a modern city, albeit pleasant with a old centre. Either place is worthy of your time. As is Ghent. Your choice. Seeing two of them in 2-3 days is pushing it. Visiting all three is a waste of your time.

Personally I would choose Brugge in your position as it is unique, and stay both nights there. As a side comment, one night in Brussels then moving on doesn't give you much time there either.

Well...we won't have a car so Train is our mode of transportation. My husband is a big beer guy and has already started to research. Thank you for your comments. can't wait to go.

I ran group tours thru Bruges for a decade with mainly people your age or younger and they ALL loved Bruges - couples especially found it romantic and some returned there after our trip had ended. Bruges is best after the swarms of day tripping tourists have departed on their tour buses - bridges and canals sublimely lit - very romantic place to base.

Antwerp and Gent are fantastic as well but more workaday bigger cities not nearly as romantic, especially in the evening.

We visited Bruges last summer and had a great time - stayed 3 nights. We had planned to do a day trip to the coast, but the weather was a bit rainy so we hung around Bruges and had a great time. We went by train as well and the station is right across from the old town and once you are there, walking is your best transportation anyway. You can get buses and taxis from the station into the old town also if you don't want to drag your luggage.

Since your husband is a beer guy, make sure to take a tour of De Halve Maan brewery in Bruges if you go to that town. Great tour. The Bruges Zot beer that they brew is very tastey. You can get it at lots of places around town too.

Thank you...so you all seem to kind of hint that I should maybe stay in Bruge and do day trips to Antwerp. Since we will go onto Amsterdam is that back tracking?

You could visit Antwerp on your way to Amsterdam. In that case that is NOT back tracking, 'cause Antwerp is on the train line to Amsterdam.
There are direct trains going from Antwerp Central to Amsterdam Central.
On the Intercity (for which you do not need a reservation) the ride takes 2 hrs ; on the high-speed Thalys trains (reservation obligatory) only 1 hr 12 mins.

If your husband is a big beer guy, you cannot miss a dinner at Den Dyver.

http://www.dijver.be/

For drinking in Brugge, I recommend the following:

* Staminee De Garre
* Brasserie Erasmus (in the hotel Erasmus) -- great selection of draft beers...especially during holiday season
* De Zolder
* t Brugs Beertje (probably the most famous beer bar in Brugge...also my least favorite)

When we went between Bruges and Amsterdam by train, we changed trains in Antwerp. You could easily spend a few hours and take a later connection. And the Antwerp central station was pretty large with lots of facilities - I am sure they have luggage storage.

To me, Brugge is nothing but tour groups and the tourists who love taking tours and seeing "quaint" tourist places like Brugge.

Antwerp has marvelous historic core that is now used in a very sophisticated, totally European way. It has delicious food, delicious drink AND if you are going in December, you will find much to do other than just stomp around outdoors in the bitter cold taking pictures.

Can I express myself more bluntly?

If you want to experience today's Europe, go to Antwerp. If you want to see a "cute" and "atmospheric" oldy worldy Europe, go to Brugge.

I find nothing romantic about Brugge. Even the chocolate isn't as good an Antwerp's, not to mention the jenever and the restaurants! Brugge shuts up a 9pm.

Monica71, if you end up basing in Antwerp, I recommend you and your husband sample jenever in Da Vagant, a unique Belgian experience.

http://www.devagant.be/

I would go to Antwerp and Ghent, and spend a few hours in Brugge.

And beer?

Beer in Brugge is a museum item. In Antwerp, it's alive:

http://www.xs4all.nl/~patto1ro/antwpubs.htm

THank you all for your great advice!!!

If you want original Medieval buildings stay in Bruges. Much of Antwerp was bombed and shelled in both world wars, so much of the "old city" is actually reconstructed.

Been to both and if I had a choice would prefer Antwerp. The waterfront is nice with a good maritime museum, Reuben's house and several other museums . Brugge is small and heavily touristed. Spent 3 days there and at the end were havng a hard time filling in the time. Whereas Antwerp, I'd move there if I could!

@ avalon
The maritime museum has been closed since December 2008. There is a new museum being built (MAS). It will hold the collection of the old maritime museum (amongst others) and will be opened in the spring of 2011.

I would do Brugge. We enjoyed our 4 nights there about two years ago prior to leaving for Athens for a cruise. As one poster said, great walking town. We did drive to explore the coast one day.

A good movie to watch is the Collin Farrell movie IN BRUGGE. It is 100% filmed in the city and not a bad story at all. Friends recommened it to us prior to our trip. You will get a good feel for this city through this movie.

Yep...the beer is great. I learned something about Belgium beer on this trip. Every beer has its own special glass and the beer is always served in this glass...some very unique. They have shops that will sell the glass you like. If your husband is a beer guy tell him to save room for some glasses. I brought a few home and enjoy using them.