I'm a pretty experienced traveler but I've never been to Eurpoe. I would like personal experiences of trips tp Belgium; things to see, things to avoid etc. Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. P.S I love to hike and see the outdoors! <BR>Thanks Vicki.

Hi Vicky! <BR> <BR>If this will be your first trip to Europe, may I suggest not spending it in Brussels. I was just there a few months ago. It just doesn't compare with Paris or Rome, etc...If you want to stay in the general area, I would go to Paris. Brussels is dull, unattractive, and downright boring.I speak fluent French, and that didn't even help in getting to know the locals. <BR>Only a suggestion. <BR>Ross.

Brussels is certainly not the most beautiful city in Europe and as I recall the countryside is very flat and not overly exciting. The best places to visit in Belgium IMHO are Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent but they are are all cities so not particularly "outdoorsy" sorts of places as they have interesting historic centres to explore.

Vicki, if you do a search for "Ghent" in the text box above, you'll find our recent trip report. We spent time in Ghent with a day trip to Brugges.

Vicki, <BR>Don't get discouraged by the negative comments in the first two responses to your posting. Belgium is an absolutely fascinating country; highly scenic in the eastern Ardennes forests where, it seems, every inn can provide you with maps for scenic walking trails through rolling countryside and dense forests. Antwerp, Bruges, Gent were, at one time, among the richest cities of Europe; their architecture and art treasures continue to mirror that wealth. Belgian cuisine is outstanding (Belgium has more starred Michelin restaurants per capita than France). It also has over 400 different kinds of beer, many still being brewed in monasteries with an 800 year old tradition. Brussels itself has one of the most magnificent public squares in Europe, the Grand 'Place rivals St. Mark's in Venice and the Place de la Concorde in Paris. Belgians love to stage parades and festivals, always involving colorful costumes and invariably including stilt walkers disguised as monsters of one sort or another. <BR> <BR>You don't say when you plan to travel. If time permits, contact the Belgian National Tourist Office and express your interests. See the website www.visitbelgium.com for information. If time doesn't permit awaiting brochures and mailings, visit your library and look for the Baedeker and Michelin guides to Belgium for a wealth of suggestions and ideas. If you'd like some specific suggestions and ideas, Email me directly. Belgium, with its diverse languages and cultures, turbulent and painful history, has been one of my European favorites.

if you love to hike, you could include a visit to the Ardennes, visit one of the smaller towns with a castle, take a walk through the woods... (belgian is not flat, the northern part is, but southern belgium is very hilly !), and finish with a good trappist (monk beer)! <BR>i'm belgian, and living near brussels. <BR>

I second Wes. In my opinion, Belgium is the great "undiscovered secret" of western Europe. Not "undiscovered" in the sense that no one goes there, but, rather, in the sense that few appreciate what the city has to offer. <BR> <BR>If you're fascinated by medieval history, it is probably more tangible in Belgium than most places on the European continent. I once read that Belgium has more medieval structures per square kilometer than any other European country. The British are very fond of Belgium, since it always ranks among the most popular destinations for British tourists (of course, proximity has something to do with this). <BR> <BR>Brussels is a great destination for a first-time visitor to Europe. The language barrier there is not as brutal as it is in some places. The majority of the people that you will interact with will speak English fluently and willingly. <BR> <BR>Some visitors regard Brussels as kind of hokey because it has tourist attractions like the Mannekin Pis statue and the Atomium. Personally, I love that kind of stuff, and obviously lots of other people do as well, or these attractions wouldn't be so popular. Some people don't like Brussels because the check list of "been there, done that" sites and activities is smaller than Paris or Amsterdam. But Brussels is not a city that tries to overwhelm you- its appeal is subtle. Many, myself included, would gladly spend a considerable effort to visit Brussels just to spend a couple of hours in the Grand Place. My wife and I are spending three days there this fall while traveling from Germany to the UK. <BR> <BR>Belgium is a very small country (about one-tenth the area of my home state of Colorado) and Brussels is centrally located, so it is easy to visit almost any other Belgian city or region from Brussels. Brugge is one of the most popular small towns in Europe. Ghent and Antwerp should not be missed either.

I've posted this before, but if you like art and art nouveau architecture, Brussels is worth 3 days. Brugge, Gent and Antwerp are medieval treasures, much admired by savvy tourists. And Ypres, with its WWI trenches and monuments is a moving area to visit. Great hiking along the North sea and along the polder canals. Look beyond the boy that pees!