I will be working from Brussels for a month. What are some good nearby cities/towns you would recommend for a short visit on the weekends?
Thanks in advance!

Paris, Antwerp, Paris, Bruges, Paris, Amsterdam. Did I mention Paris?

Just about any capital in Europe is only 1 or 2 hours away if you don't mind flying and with many of low cost carriers willing to get you there and back for under $100 total, you pick.

<b>www.whichbudget.com</b>

That's very true. It's the hub of Virgin Express.

Brussels is really well-connected -- by train to Germany, France and the UK, and by plane to lots of other places.

Where in Germany would you recommend? I've been to Paris a few times; I'm smaller cities/towns...

Again, thank you.

I'm not the German expert (or hardly an expert of anything), but Brussels is well-connected by train to Cologne, for example. I think the ride is about 4 hours. You'd be very close to the Rhine area. Lots to explore there.

I think that you've many, many options.

Holland is also very close, and it offers many towns of interest too.

Why not start with the Belgian cities first (unless, of course, you've seen them). Antwerpen, Brugge, Gent, Leuven, ... So much to see in our own country!

I'd have to agree with Myriam (and no, I'm not that familiar with Belgium either).

Still almost anywhere is probably within your reach, judybat -- after all, Brussels is the seat of the EU.

My first weekend, I land in Brussels on Friday morning. I plan on exploring the city thst day and night, and the next morning heading to Antwerp where I will spend the night.
Is that a &quot;reasonable&quot; weekend plan?
Thanks!

Yes, it is! With two days in Antwerp you will have plenty of time to enjoy the city.
You will spend more time in Brussels after all if you'll be staying for a month.

What is there to see in Ghent?

As all the 'big' cities in Belgium, Ghent (Gent in Dutch, Gand in French) has a beautiful historic centre with a belfry, St. Bavo Cathedral (St. Baafs) with famous paintings of the middle ages. Also het Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts) is worth a visit. The Gentse Reien (canals) with the old guild houses are lovely, especially Korenlei en Graslei.
That is what comes to mind right now.
Good shopping in Gent, too! And eating and drinking, of course.
Furthermore Gent is a university city which gives a city a very special atmosphere.
It's an easy daytrip from Brussels, as is Brugge, Antwerpen, Leuven, Li&egrave;ge (Luik), ...

Don't know what your budget is, but I very highly recommend De Witte Lelie hotel in Antwerp, as well as dinner at Sir Anthony Van Dyck.

http://www.dewittelelie.be/index.htm

Both De Witte Lelie and Sir Antony Van Dijck are top notch although I have my doubts about Sir Antony lately - you pay a lot for the name but the cuisine is no more what it has been. That being said, even if you cannot afford those places there are other nice hotels and restaurants in Antwerp!

There is an article on Ghent in the most recent issue of National Geographic Traveller, you might want to see if you can get your hands on a copy if you are thinking of visiting there. We loved Ghent! It is so picturesque, we just loved strolling around the historic centre, along the canals, and taking a boat ride along the canals late in the afternoon. Another place we really enjoyed visiting as a day trip from Brussels was Ypres - the Flanders Fields museum there is outstanding, and it was very moving to drive around the Ypres Salient area and see all of the war cemeteries filled with white crosses.

<b>http://www.gent.be/gent/english/</b>

Thanks for the suggestions! Any auggestions for good spots for beer in Brussels?