I'll be in Belgium for 10 days or so, and would like a recommendation for good guidebooks. I'm doing lots of research before going, and buying used guidebooks on Amazon. We love architecture and seeing out-of-the-way sights, such as churches that are not so well-known. We'll have enough time in each city (so I hear) to see the main sights and hopefully some alternative ones. I love food, so a guidebook with good food recs also appreciated. Also, one with good maps. Lastly, people have recommended riding a bike out of Bruges to the coast or North to the Dutch border. If there's a guidebook with a map of that area or a description of some sights to see along the way, that would be great. Thanks!

PS--anyone used the Eyewitness guide to Belgium? I've heard this series isn't great, but it covers all these cities. Thanks.

I think the Time Out guides are the best and most up to date. But one of the best references is The Bulletin, a weekly English language magazine for the expat community in Belgium (mostly Brussels). You will find a lot of good tips there, plus a very extensive calendar of happenings (art, theater, music, etc.) in Brussels and Antwerp (not so much about Brugge). It costs 2.5 euros and comes out every Thursday (in a handful of places you can get it Wednesday). Pick up a copy as soon as you arrive.
BTilke (Brussels)

I don;t have a clear recommendation, but here are my thoughts and opinions, if you'd like:
The Eyewitness Guides are good if you want to make sure you are seeing what you are suuposed to be seeing (because of all those handy pictures), and they do a good job of listing almost every little town in a region. They are sturdy and usually have maps in the front and back flaps of the book, and also include photos of the different types of food and drink you can expect to encounter. They aslo don't waste a lot of space (a la Fodors and Frommers) on hotel and restaurant listings, which for me is great since I usually look online for that info. The Eyewitness guides are usually my first choice for a guidebook.

HOWEVER, they fall short on some practical information in a big way. Especially if you are looking to get from Small Town A to Small Town B, they don't give you much info on buses, trains, etc. Also, other guidebooks tend to group practical info such as "How to get to Ghent" next to the info on what to see in Ghent. The eywitness guides group it in the "Practical Info" section in the back of the book. I prefer guidebooks that give me incredibly specific info (like step by step instructions for buying a train ticket) rather than the somewhat generic info in the Eyewitness books. Frommer's and Lonely Planet give the best detailed practical info, in my opinion, and are likely to include maps for more of the smaller cities . Eyewitness only has maps for the major cities.
With all that said, however, I have never used the Belgium book specifically, but I have for Italy, France, etc. so I have a lot of experience with these guides.

I forgot to add, for some info on current events in Belgium, go to www.xpats.com (NOT expats.com, no "e" in the Brussels xpats site). For a hoot, click onto the discussion of the current survey question. After reading the rants there, you may want to change destinations! ;-) (If you look at the discussion archives, check out the one on Belgian road safety...pretty much everyone agreed that Belgian drivers are terrible)

For the best guide to Belgium go to Jack's Inimitable Travel Guide at jack-travel.com for a truly insightful description of what to see and do and where to stay and dine. Jack is a Belgian and knows his country comprehensively. He writes with style and offers really useable information and he doesn't do it for profit. He helped to make our trip to Belgium two years ago the wonderful experience it was. Have a great trip.

For architecture, churches, history, etc., but not food, the most exhaustive is probably the Blue Guide to Belgium. The newer editions are more readable and less academic than the older ones. Somewhat less thorough, but still good and probably more user-friendly is the Michelin Green Guide to Belgium

Flemish Cities Explored by Derek Blyth is an interesting book of walking tours that includes all of the places you've mentioned except Brussels, and also a couple of other cities like Leuven. It's full of interesting historical and cultural tidbits and information about lesser known sites, but it's not a quick-refernce type guidebook, more of a discursive companion.

Joegri, agreed, Jack's travel guide is great, but I don't think he's updated sections of the guide for about 2 years. At least on the restaurants in Brussels section, it says updated in 2001. In a few spots, he still refers to prices in Belgian francs, so I wonder...Most of the restaurant selections are still valid (although I think Toucan has declined food-wise and service is scattered, esp. if you're sitting outside, where they tend to forget you even exist).

Thanks for the suggestions. BTilke, I will plan to pick up the Bulletin once in Belgium, but right now am looking more for planning guides. It's nerdy but I like to read up on where I'm traveling (perhaps too) extensively before going.

KT, just saw your post. The Blue Guide sounds great, for pre-trip reading. If I can find a cheap copy of the Blyth book I'll definitely check it out too. Thanks!

Get this book:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...49671?v=glance

It's too bad Tim Webb's book on Belgian beers is hard to buy but maye an inter-library loan might turn up a copy.

But both Jackson and Webb recognize the intimate relationship between good Belgian dining and beer. For great tavern meals accompanied by great beers, try their books. Be adventurous.

The Belgians tend to like us a lot. They recall the Second WW.

There *is* more to Belgium than beer. We've lived in Belgium for more than four years now and truthfully, don't really drink much Belgian beer. We'd rather drink German or Austrian (and we've tried dozens of different Belgian beers). As for Belgians liking Americans, they're no different than the rest of Europe. Some like us, some don't. Once you live here, you get to know that there is plenty of anti-Americanism around; protests at the U.S. embassy happen from time to time (we used to live down the road from the embassy and happened to be on the main protest route).

The Rick Steves Brussels, Amsterdam and Bruges was an excellent resource for me.
I would recommend no more than 2 days in Brussels and DON'T eat in the alleyway 'o little restaurants near the Grand Place. It was a biggest tourist trap I've seen in a while! Happy travels.

Thanks for the tip funtraveller, I HATE eating in tourist trappy spots. I ended up getting both the Belgium Blue guide and 'Flemish Cities Explored' (both by Derek Blyth). So far they're both excellent. The latter has some amazing old photographs. Thanks for all the advice!

We were there couple months ago and had lunch at the Museum of Musical Instruments' cafe on the top floor. Not a tourist trap, but rather a place where the local professionals eat. View from their rooftop is spectacular. If you are limited on time, you can get an elevator pass without having to pay admission to the museum itself. http://www.mim.fgov.be/home_uk.htm

Oh, and the building itself (art nouveau) is exquisite!

The bike ride out of Bruges to Damme has to be one breathtaking ride on a sunny day. The picturesque single lane road is lined with tall trees and windmills here and there. It is a flat area. We saw bikers while we were on the paddleboat to Damme but it was a rainy day.

Have a great time. I hope we can get back someday.