We'll be in Belgium from Saturday until Wed. I have no idea what we're going to do when we get there. We're flying RyanAir so we fly into the Brussels airport outside of the city. I've seen a lot of stuff on museums to go to. We'd like some other ideas for things to do. I like the idea of renting bikes in Brugges. Help! TIA

Do you mean you are leaving in a couple of days? Wow, I need to have stuff planned way in advance, but that is just me.

I just came back from Belgium. I only spent less than a day in Brussels. I walked alot around the town, and into the Grand Place. They were tearing down and cleaning up from some big function the day I was there so it sort of detracted from it's beauty.

I don't know where you are staying, but my hotel had maps, and I picked up one, and just went out with it. We also went to see the Manneken Pis. Then we just walked, and in through the Gallery of stores. We went down the Rue de Buchers, and we ate a dinner in one of the restaurants there.

After dinner stopped in chocolate shops, ate some ice cream outside and then walked, and walked some more. And went in to be, since I had to be up for 4am, and I had been quite ill.

Brugges, was my favorite. I cannot imagine being able to rent a bike there. I will tell you it is fun to cross the street. If a car, or a horse carrage does not get you, a bicycle will. Maybe you are cooridinated, while I am, well, not.

Again, in Brugges, I just did a lot of walking. Went to a lace shop to see a demonstation, went to a choral concert at a church close by to my hotel. My hotel was on Katelijnestraat. I would maybe google both places and see what is on line, or pick up a guide book before you go. I have looked on my map to see if there is a listing on it to rent a bicycle, but there is not.

I am writing a trip report, I would tell you to look there, but I will not have it done by the time you leave. I cannot type that fast.

Know that Belgium is so beautiful and scenic that you will have a wonderful time no matter what you chose to do. Even if it is just walk around and eat a lot of chocolate, like I did.

dsm - yep, we're leaving in a couple of days. I didn't even have plane tickets until a few days ago.

Thanks for your reply. How may days did you spend in Brugges? I'm trying to figure out if we should spend two nights, 1 1/2 days in Brussels and then go to Brugges for 2 nights. Is that too much? Too little? Should we add another city? Thanks!

I assume you've seen this, but the travel highlight on Fodor's home page is on Belgium and has some good information.

I would not add another city. I can tell you that I did feel rushed on my tour. But it was what it was. I knew that going in. I would have loved to spend more time in Brugge over Brussels, but that is just me.

I would spend the time you have more wisely and see and experience more of the two cities, rather than try to cram in another.

I would think that you could see most that there is to see in Brussels in one day [don't miss the cartoon museum with all the tintin stuff], whereas Bruges is definitely worth two at least. Also, I've never been but Antwerp is also said to be very lovely. I'm sure you'll be able to pick up a guide book at the airport!

We just got back from our Benelux trip yesterday. Been trying to shake off the jet lag to start a trip report. We had about 2-1/2 days in Bruges/Brugge and loved every minute of it. There's plenty to see and do.

We also just returned from Brugge and Amsterdam and loved Brugges. Our hotel had bikes that we could use. There is a bike path around Brugge called the ring - it was lovely along the canal with a few windmills. From there we went out to Damme which was a cute little town - perhaps 4 km from the ring. That ride was also along a canal. During the middle of the day I think Brugge might be more difficult to see by bike but after the tour buses leave or before they arrive it is a great place for bikes.

We just got back from Prague, Budapest, Brugge and Amsterdam (last day in Brussels and it was enough).

We got to Brugge around 11:30PM and spent the whole next day and most of the second day there. We left around 5:30PM for Amsterdam.

The first day we followed one of the walking tours in the city's promo guide (they mailed it to me). It followed a pretty good path.

I planned it to end up at the train station to buy our next tickets. Then we walked back.

This is one little city where you don't mind passing the same places over and over.

On the second day we rented bikes after breakfast and rode towards the outskirts of town then turned at the bike path that circles the city. I planned it in that direction to pass the windmills. We stopped several times just to look at things.

We rode half way around the city and then doubled back through the middle. In all we had the bikes for 2 hours. We rented them from a place two blocks above Markt. They rent by the hour (3E plus 1 per Hr).

At first I thought riding on narrow cobble-stoned streets shared with pedestrians and cars would be a challenge. It was fine. No problem.

Then we walked around some more until it was time to leave for the train station.

There was one spot we named "the view".