Belgium (XP on TN)

[sunshinedaydreams]

We will be in Belgium for 4-5 days next month. We will base ourselves out of Brussels and do day trips out from there. We will definitely be doing one day in Brugge, but aside from that we have no plans. We've debated going to Luxembourg just to say we've been because it's small and close. We don't want to do day trips to the Netherlands because we'll be heading there after Belgium.

What are your must see, must do, must eat/drink in Belgium? How many days should we spend in Brussels and where else would you go with the extra days?

[beer]

I enjoyed Ghent for a day trip. There is an old castle and cathedrals.
Definitely drink beer!! Beer Circus in Brussels was a good beer place. Leonidas was our favorite chocolate.

[dutchgirl678]

I loved Ghent as well. Antwerp is a great city to visit. I actually like Antwerp over Brussels, but Brussels is in a good central location. I wouldn't specifically go to Luxembourg but if you go east in Belgium the Ardennes are a beautiful area for hiking and seeing the countryside.

[sunshinedaydreams]

Thanks for the advice. I will definitely ingest more than my fair share of waffles, fries with mayo, beer and chocolate. :-)

Neeps, what's in Bastogne?

If you had to choose between Ghent or Antwerp, which would it be?

[dulcemariamar]

I loved the cities of Bruges and Namur.

The Waffles are great and so is the chocolate.

[Waffles]

Definitely Ghent over Antwerp unless you're really interested in Belgian fashion.

Leonidas is mass produced (still good though) so if you want to taste something really special, treat yourself to a few bits of Marcolini and bring back a couple of kgs of Leonidas or Neuhaus (better & still affordable).

Eat/drink in Brussels: www.deliriumcafe.be/ for beer, www.spinnekopke.be/ for Belgian specialties, www.lakasbahresto.com/ for couscous, www.kokob.be/ for Ethiopian, Jaloa, Switch or Belga Queen for brasserie (http://www.brasseriejaloa.com/info.html -
www.switchrestofood.be/Switchrestofood/Welcome.html - www.belgaqueen.be/)

Good place for lunch with great view from roof terrace: www.mim.be/en

Avoid eating on sablon but do have a drink at a terrace there for good people watching. Go for more drinks around Dansaert/Ste Catherine/St Géry.

To do: wander around, go to the flea market & check out the antiques market on sablon if there during a weekend. Take an art nouveau tour/visit horta house. Skip the atomium/mini europe and all that crap unless you want to go for lunch at atomium - good views/decent brasserie fare but out of the way.

Also not central but worth it is to visit the royal greenhouses at Laeken - don't know if on this year though.

Let me know if you need more info!

[jaybird]

I loved Bruges, I could see wanting to spend more than a day there. For food, the waffle stands in the center square had amazing waffles covered in goulash. They're easy to spot, they're always crowded. There are tons of chocolate shops but La Cure Gormand had amazing cookies and caramels. While in Bruges we rented bikes for a day to bike to Damme and then to the seaside (I don't remember the name of the town). It was a beautiful way to see the countryside.

I liked Ghent better than Antwerp as well. The highlight of Antwerp was the train station though the shopping was good too. I've been to Luxembourg and, though it's nice and the people are so friendly, it's not worth the trip.

[sunshinedaydreams]

Thank you guys for the replies. I think maybe we'll try to stick with Ghent, scratch Luxembourg and maybe stop in Antwerp (on the way to Amsterdam) long enough to see the train station.

Valerie - thanks for all of the recommendations! I'll add 'em to the list - especially all the cheap, delicious chocolate. :-)

[dutchgirl678]

They have Leonidas stores here in Oregon. I love their chocolate but agree that you should find a small chocolate shop. They are all over the place in Ghent and Brugge. Do a boat tour on one of the canals as well. The "Halve Maen" brewery tour in Brugge was really fun and interesting.