Good morning

I just secured tickets to Belgium over the Thanksgiving hols. 6 nights.. I'm currently thinking of 3 nights in Bruges, heading there immediately upon arrival, leaving Brussels for the last day/night. That leaves two nights in the middle.

I can't decide if I should stay in Ghent, with part of a day trip to Antwerp, or vice versa - or even leave one out entirely as 6 nights is pretty short. I had thought of Ghent as it looks like it would be beautiful to photograph by night, but then I'm sure Bruges will fill that need quite nicely.

Thanks!

I would do both Gent and Antwerp, two fantastic towns, esp if interested in Old Flemish Master art, as day trips from either Bruges or Brussels - why relocated - two trains an hour get you to Gent in a half-hour or so and same to Antwerp from Brussels. Otherwise after having been to each many many times i would be hard pressed to chance a preference for one over the other.

Antwerp and you'd have your own private guide. We spent 3 days there and were busy every minute

Each town has a different feel and a different museum offering, so I think you should go to them all if possible (6 days are enough to visit them). I agree that doing daytrips makes more sense rather than all the moving involved with switching hotels.

I would want to stay in Antwerp, where the food and drink are fantastic. I highly recommend a visit to Gent, and it's not so far away that you can't stay past dark to photograph and go back somewhere else to sleep. Likewise Brugge.

Please be sure you are in Gent during an hour when it is possible to enter St Bavo's and see the masterpiece within. If you are interested in beautiful old art museums which haven't been renovated to look like department stores or airports, the one in Antwerp is magnificent.

I'm less of a fan of Brugge than most people (I went there to see Michaelangelo's madonna, and stayed two nights.) My favorite part of Brugge turned out to be the neighborhood by St Ann's and the river. I highly recommend it if you stick to your plan to be there 3 days, to see a different but no less interesting side of Brugge, and mercifully with far, far fewer tourists.

yup Gent and Antwerp are more normal cities than the more museum town Bruges (in the town center) - and have dicey things like their own Amsterdam-esque redlight districts with scantilly clad women sitting behind red neon-lit picture windows.

Oh my! How shocking! I'm sure there are no prostitutes in Brugge!

well i have never seen them on display like in Antwerpen, Brussel or Gent - i am sure they are there - anyway about the most popular tourist thing in Amsterdamned is to walk thru the Redlight district so i mention that possibility in Belgian towns as well.

I've been to Amsterdam three times as a tourist and never been to the Red Light District. Likewise Antwerp and Brussels.

But if that's where your mind is at....

And I just found this on the web without half-trying:

"This week the Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions announced that the Amsterdam canal tours have become the most popular tourist attraction in the Netherlands. For years, De Efteling — a fairy-tale attraction park, now ranked in second place — was the top destination."

"The city of Antwerp has been known for its historic diamond industry and popular underwater tunnel at the Auatopia Aquarium where the tourists are able to get a very close view of the sea world through a glass tunnel. Antwerp Zoo is also a popular tourist attraction housing over 5000 animals. Other attractions include Catamaran Castle and Pirateiland which the country's biggest indoor playground."

Looks like you've been seeking out the wrong "must-sees" Palenque!

Zepp - i did not say 'must see' i said top tourist sight - that is a very different thing - whether you like it or not the Redlight Dicstrict in Amsterdamned is a top tourist sight - that is for now as the Mayor of Amsterdamned has vowed to get rid of it and apparently will - reducing it to a token of what it currently is

And if ever taking a train out of Brussels towards Antwerpen one would be hard pressed not to see that city's redlight district, which is right along the elevated train tracks, on the right side when going to Antwerpen. And yes to me these are very unique places, whether one likes the idea or not and i do not really, as you seem to.

Thanks for the tips, decisions, decisions! I will be sure to stay away from the area around the train stations, too.

Palenque:

I have no basis for an opinion about the Red Light District. I've never seen it. I've never looked for it. I've always imagined it would be depressing.

You really do have to look for it. I guess I was looking left leaving Brussels. Thanks for warning me not to look right.

Your constant references to "Amsterdamned" are weird.