What to do in Belgium?
 

I am taking a trip to Belgium this summer and was wondering if anyone had some special advice. If you know of a special place to see,or thing to do, just let me know.

Belgium is great.

I suggest making Brussels your base and take a couple of short day trips to Ghent, Brugge and Antwerp. These were some of my favorite towns and cities. There are 3 train stations in Brussels and all of these places are easily reached in less than two hours. In fact Ghent is on the way to Brugge. I would not suggest trying to do both in one day. Each is fascinating. Brugge is my favorite 'town' in Europe. Check with the tourist office in Brussels, but I believe there is a weekly (maybe monthly) crafts fair in Brugge. The town has been maintained as it was in medieval times and there is even a Micheangelo Pieta in one of the small churches.

As for Brussels, bring your appetite and walking shoes. There are a lot of fascinating buildings, churches, etc., but the area arond the Grand Place is where you should plan to start your roaming. The City Hall that towers over it is magnificent (tours are available) and on weekends there is usually a flower market here. There are restaurants around three sides in the guild houses where you can sit in the sun and relax and people watch. For dinner, there is a street nearby that is just one restaurant after another - I believe it is the Rue de Boulangers or something like that. The tourist bureau will know. The one is Brussels is excellent (sorry I don't remember address).

I suggest roaming through some books on the countries and its cities and towns.

Enjoy. I am off for my first visit to Ireland next month!!!!

I have been to Belgium a number of times and agree with Flo that Brugge (or Bruges in French) is a great city to visit in Brussels. It's an easy day trip from Brussels but it's such a beautiful town I would recommend spending longer there. Another interesting place in on the eastern border with Germany. There's a lovely little town there called Monschau which is in a ravine on a river with lots of whitewater. The town kind of spills down this ravine with the town center spanning the river. There's a lovely old hotel (sorry, don't remember name) that actually hangs out over the river.

I have been to Belgium a number of times and agree with Flo that Brugge (or Bruges in French) is a great city to visit in Belgium. It's an easy day trip from Brussels but it's such a beautiful town I would recommend spending longer there. Another interesting place is on the eastern border with Germany. There's a lovely little town there called Monschau which is in a ravine on a river with lots of whitewater. The town kind of spills down this ravine with the town center spanning the river. There's a lovely old hotel (sorry, don't remember name) that actually hangs out over the river.

I agree with all the messages posted so far and I would like to add that Brussels itself is a terrific city. I love it and take every chance I get to visit. We have never had a bad meal in this city. Definitly see the Grand Platz and have a beer at any of the outside cafes. My favorite is the one with a fire place inside and on the opposite side of the platz in the cellar is the best place to get les moulles! The streets are wonderful to wonder around and we found a small casual restaurant we eat at every time we go La Paradiso (?)with a small neon sign which is a little north of the Platz. It's Italian and the chef makes the best tomato soup I have ever had. He said it is his grandmother's recipe. The meal is reasonable but the room is small and smokey. A must go to restaurant is Leons. The mussles are great. Any restaurant is good, again we are convinced you can't have a bad meal in Brussels.

Yes, Belgium! As others have written it's a great vacation. We were there and in Amsterdam for 10 days in April '95. I still recall the dinner we had at the Hans Christen Anderson (restaurant) in Antwerp.

No wonder we see so few Belgians in the US; by comparison our beer is poor and our food even worse.

Trains are clean, fast, and not expensive. Don't bother to buy first class tickets; second class is fine (and you arrive as soon as the first class passengers).

Definitely Brugge. Plan on several days. This is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. I agree also on Monschau. Charming, but one day may be enough. They are on completely different sides of Belgium, however. Had no difficulty with language in NW portion of country; once we got to the French side of the country, we encounter many people who would speak only French, even if we attempted to speak their language. It didn't matter, though. Belgium is a tiny gem.

Hi, I am Belgian and I agree on what Flo posted. Brussels is the place to stay when you're planning to travel arround. Antwerp is on a 30 min trip by train, Gent on 40 min, Brugge an hour, Liege an hour, ... .
So what are the great places? Depends on what you want to see, I guess.
Like all previous repliers mentioned, Brugge is very beautifull, but consider it as an open-air museum. It has stopped developing some ages ago. Carefully avoid weekends to go there, as there will be thousands of fellow-tourists ... .
My personal favorites are Gent, Antwerp and maybe Leuven. Those are also cities with great history and site-seeing possibilities, but they 'still breath'.

Brussels is also a great town, but you will find it harder to discover the less-turistic areas. (The mentioned Rue des Bouchers/Beenhouwersstraat is a giant turist-rip-off).

I haven't mentioned any French-speeking cities, because I don't know any (Brussels is 'bilingual'), but the south of Belgium is more known for its nature than for its cities.

Have fun when you come here.

BRUGES, BRUGES, BRUGES ESPECIALLY IN THE MUSSELS SEASON (END OF SUMMER IF I RECALL). ENJOY YOURSELF!