Brussels

[disney_princess_85]

I'm considering booking a weekend trip to Brussels. Has anyone been? Would you recommend it?

 

[Gwendolyn]

I really like Brussels.
If you are planning to see Manneke Pis (the statue of that peeing boy), dont be dissapointed if you find him in a street corner, being really small and all. :lol:

In total, just read up about Brussels, check a Lonely Planet Guide and have fun.

 

[disney_princess_85]

Thank you. I have been doing some reading online but most people seem to suggest going to Bruges or Ghent instead. Hmm, decisions!

 

[Dimplenose]

Ooh, I love Brussels.

A great 3 day destination. The architecture is beautiful - there are losts of museums inluding the comic book one (Tintin is Belgian).

The atomium is worth a visit - not overwhelmed with it but it is such an icon of the city.

Shopping is good (I wouldn't say great) but I enjoyed it - especially the chocolate.

You can get a Eurostar train direct to Brussels and once there the public transport system is very easy to use.

 

[disney_princess_85]

Thanks Libby. I booked earlier today! I was having a look at some photos and it looks lovely. We're getting there via Eurostar and yes, the public transport does look really straightforward.

I'm looking forward to Belgian chocolate and fruity beer!

 

[Gwendolyn]

Well Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent are really really beautifull too. I know them better than Brussels.

If you have the time, I would suggest doing all 4 of them.
Expecially the birdmarket on sunday early morning in Antwero is great and Antwerp zoo too, Bruges is also known as Little Italy, making a boat ride is truely magical. Ghent is just gorgious too.
Brussels got an european theme parc with all european landmarks like the Eiffeltower (france). Euromast (the Netherlands) etc.

Oh when you are in belgium you need to buy a "patatje stoofvlees" (chips with boilet meat). It tastes really yummie!

 

[scojos]

my bro lived in brussels for years, and visited many times, their bakerys are amazing, cheesecake especially
i loved the atonium, if you are interested in science you ll love it, eventhe carpets have dna molecules woven into them!!
i agree about the manequin piste (sp?) v over ratedbut worth going to see he has different outfits
im not sure if you are going for a romantic weekend or the culture..but its nice for a weekend, any longer you d be bored
tracy

 

[Netty]

I lived in Brussels when I was little,and I could speak fluent flemish then,no chance now!!!- my dad was in the army

 

[disney_princess_85]

Thanks everyone!

Gwendolyn, I don't have enough time to see all four places, just concentrating on Brussels for now. Hopefully one day! I can't try the chips with boiled meat as I'm a vegetarian, but it sounds like something my boyfriend would be interested in!

Tracy, I'll be sure to check out the bakeries! I haven't really defined the weekend as cultural or romantic, we just want to wander around and see nice things.

Jeanette, how exciting to have lived in Brussels! It's a shame you can't speak Flemish anymore.

 

[fuse04]

I visited Bruges, Ghent and Brussels.

Brussels is certianly different to Bruges and Ghent in that Brussels is a very large city and has a broad spectrum of things to see and do; Architecture old and new but I suppose feels more like other large citys with the usual some of the ususal chain shops and resturants

I would go back to Brussels but for me Bruges an Ghent are much nicer, more representative of Belgium. Bruges has the lovel canel ways and back street resturants and shops, Carriage rides feels more like real Belguim. It is very easy to do Bruges and Ghent in the same day; We drive over on the Tunnel (from Southampton, well near by but donlt suppose many of you will have heard of Chandlers Ford !) and get to Bruges about 10:30am spend a 2-3 hours in Bruges, train to Ghent, 2-3 hours in Ghent, back to Bruges.

 

[Dimplenose]

Sorry to hijack a trhead, but I was wondering what the parking is like in Bruges. We're passing very close by on our way to Holland this summer and thought it might be a good spot to break our journey.

 

[fuse04]

Sorry to hijack a trhead, but I was wondering what the parking is like in Bruges. We're passing very close by on our way to Holland this summer and thought it might be a good spot to break our journey.

We park at the railway station which costs about £1.50 for the day, then catch a bus from the station into the centre (Centrum); can't remember how much the bus is. The annual ice show is held here each Christmas and is well worth a visit but not overly impressed with the Christmas market.

 

[tennisfan]

Sorry to hijack a trhead, but I was wondering what the parking is like in Bruges. We're passing very close by on our way to Holland this summer and thought it might be a good spot to break our journey.

Whenever we have been tor Bruges & had no problems parking. Plenty of car parks.

I think Bruges is a beautiful city, from the canals to the architecture.

 

[Gwendolyn]

Sorry to hijack a trhead, but I was wondering what the parking is like in Bruges. We're passing very close by on our way to Holland this summer and thought it might be a good spot to break our journey.

You are spending your vacation in the Netherlands? Cool! Where will you stay?

 

[Dimplenose]

Good to know about the parking, thanks.

We're going to Center Parcs Kempervennen. We've been there before and to De Eemhof and much prefer the relaxed atmosphere of the Dutch parks to the frantic atmosphere not to mention the cost of the UK ones.

 

[chocolateMinnie]

We've been to brussels twice and found it very different as a young couple loved it and with children found it fine but wouldn't go back.

First visit we ate and ate (although my planned drinking wasn't completed - I found out I was expecting ds two weeks before we went). Loved the sightseeing, the shops, the restaurnats and bars. Just the smell of fish down the main restaurant street made me retch.

Went back last year as a treat for the children. Went on the Eurostar - two cabs refused to take us to the station because it was too short a journey and the trams run that way. When I say refused I mean refused, the restaurants were fine but my picky eater filled up on chocolate covered strawberries. Still liked the tourist attractions and the market though. Just worried about the general anti-tourist feeling outside of the main square.

Much preferred Bruges and Lille.

 

[Dimplenose]

We've been to brussels twice and found it very different as a young couple loved it and with children found it fine but wouldn't go back.

First visit we ate and ate (although my planned drinking wasn't completed - I found out I was expecting ds two weeks before we went). Loved the sightseeing, the shops, the restaurnats and bars. Just the smell of fish down the main restaurant street made me retch.

Went back last year as a treat for the children. Went on the Eurostar - two cabs refused to take us to the station because it was too short a journey and the trams run that way. When I say refused I mean refused, the restaurants were fine but my picky eater filled up on chocolate covered strawberries. Still liked the tourist attractions and the market though. Just worried about the general anti-tourist feeling outside of the main square.

Much preferred Bruges and Lille.

I've been to Brussels twice, both times just me and a friend - we left our DHs at home with the kids! Both times we received nothing but politeness and friendliness from the locals. We both commented that everyone seemed so nice, at the tourist attractions, shops, restaurants and on the public transport. (We didn't try the taxis as the public transport was so easy to use.)

I've been to Lille once and would never go back - I felt really unsafe at the market as there were some very dodgy looking characters prowling about.

 

[Gwendolyn]

Good to know about the parking, thanks.

We're going to Center Parcs Kempervennen. We've been there before and to De Eemhof and much prefer the relaxed atmosphere of the Dutch parks to the frantic atmosphere not to mention the cost of the UK ones.

That is so cool! I love Center Parcs, expecially their PépéTevé Shows. They make me burst out in laughter everytime I watch their shows.

I was in the Eemhof when my mom called 3,5 years ago to tell me that she had cancer. Thank God she is doing ok now. But I remember the moment as it happened yesterday.

Besides that I really like the open atmosphere of the Eemhof. The centers of all other dutch CenterParcs are indoors.
The parc you are going to is really nice too.

So far my most favorite Center Parcs is Heijderbos, its a lot smaller than the other parcs, and the PépéTevé crew is better than the other (and the other are already really good).