Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - What to do in Brusseles ?

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)

- Europe (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/)

- - What to do in Brusseles ? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/what-to-do-in-brusseles-38538/)

What to do in Brusseles ?

In March I am spending a week in Brusseles. What are the most intersting things to see, what to do...

Brussels is wonderful. Take a day to explore the tapistry shops around the Grand Place in Brussels. Take the next day and go to Brugges via train from the Central Station. Go via TGV to Paris for the day. Go to the Atomium, go see Mannekin Pis. Have a great time!

Hey Mateja: Assuming you are not working and you have a full week, I would take Donna's cue and do some travel outside Brussels. You are within 3 hours of both Paris to the south and Amsterdam to the north (I did both while I was there). While I consider the Grand Place to be the most beautiful square in all of Europe and I don't wish to offend anyone, outside of that, it is another cosmopolitan city. You can get different European flavors quickly based out of Brussels (1 1/2 hour train ride into northern France can get you to the Champagne region/Laon (site of the Gothic catherdral from which every major one in France has co-opted part of its design, e.g. Notre Dame's facade). I also liked driving to Brugge which is a beautiful and quaint town. In Brussels itselfm take in the Grand Place and the streets with back-to-back restaurants (Rue de Bouchers??) and the Drug Opera for dessert. I thoroughly enjoyed the waffles and a restaurant called Jules Verne (menu on a chalkboard/wooden-aluminum-topped tables).

As one other poster mentioned, you really will have time to see both Brugge and Ghent. I still can't decide which lovely and quaint town I liked the best. Both are easily accessible from the central station in Brussels in less than one hour.

Just got back from Belgium last week. I agree that there isn't a whole lot to do in Brussels - it is a large European city. I would spend a day walking around and see the Grand Place there. I would spend 2-3 days in Brugge to really enjoy the beauty and charm of this untouched medieval place. Stay at a lovely B&B (recommend Hotel Ter Duinen. I did not have time to go to Gent or Luxemburg, but you may want to look into these as well. They are only 1-2 hours by train. I would take the train to Brugge as it is only 1 hr. away and there aren't too many places to park a car there, which you won't need much anyway. Have fun and have a great time. Eat lots of chocolate - it's delicious!

Thanks Lynn. Consider our itinerary and tell me what you'd do differently. We only have 3 days in Belgium (plus the original arrival 1/2 day). Arriving on Thursday pm we will get settled and wander Brussels a bit. Friday train to Brugge; Saturday stay in Brussels for the antique markets and continue our wandering; Sunday, train to Antwerp or return to Brugge. Not set in stone, but in my mind this is workable? What do you think? Anything to put on our must-see list? Also, what do you suggest as shopping-musts. I've posted earlier with only one response. Would you return to Belgium given another opportunity? Thanks.

Thanks Lynn. Please consider our itinerary and advise what you'd do differently. We only have 3 days in Belgium (plus the original arrival 1/2 day). Arriving on Thursday pm we will get settled and wander Brussels a bit. Friday train to Brugge; Saturday stay in Brussels for the antique/flea markets and continue wandering; Sunday, train to Antwerp or return to Brugge. Not set in stone, but in my mind this is workable? What do you think? Anything to put on our must-see list? Also, what do you suggest as shopping-musts. I've posted earlier with only one response. Would you return to Belgium given another opportunity? Or would you go somewhere else? Final destination:7 days in Paris area. Thanks.