The issue with crowds seems largely dependent on day of the week and time of year when you visit. The first time was very relaxed and manageable, but the second visit was pretty hectic. Here are a few of the highlights. The Basilica of the Holy Blood is brilliant on the outside but famous for what it houses inside. It is on display to the public every Friday and for two weeks in early May.
They formed unique communities and built buildings around green space. The current white houses and buildings at the Beguinage date from the 17th century and are home to the Sisters of the Order of St. The Church of Our Lady is a must-visit for art lovers. The tallest structure in Bruges, the church is home to gilded tombs of nobility, medieval art, and gorgeous carvings.
See even more ways to spend time in Bruges. Bruges is absolutely worth adding to your Belgium itinerary for many reasons. From its sheer beauty to its history to its opportunities for people watching, beer indulging, and museum seeing, Bruges is great place to stop.
On the other hand, Bruges looks like a movie set it was or part of Disney World come to life. I dare you not to be impressed. Seeing Bruges from the water is a magical experience. Ghent offers canal cruises as well, but we found ours skippable when compared to Bruges.
Ghent is probably not the first city that comes to mind when you think about traveling to Europe. Instead, it felt like visiting a city where real people live…only with canals and medieval buildings and a castle in their backyard.
With a population of ,, Ghent is a thriving mid-sized city with a large university and a charming historical core. Unlike Bruges, it feels like a regular city first and a tourist destination second. By comparison, just 20, people live in the historic center of Bruges. Like Bruges, Ghent is illuminated at night. It is. Ghent is most known for its three towers—the Gothic masterpieces of the Church of St.
Nicholas, St. This remarkable trio of buildings is right in a row on Limburgstraat, and you can pass all three in just five minutes, making them perfect destinations for visitors on even the shortest trip. In the Middle Ages, Ghent was one of the richest cities in Northern Europe, so there are also enough canal and merchant houses to make my heart flutter. Although Ghent is a much bigger city than Bruges, it also has a compact historical core.
This list is just a small taste of what you can expect. Constructed from , exquisite St. The first masterpiece to be done in oil, the vivid colors of the massive work still shine nearly years after its creation.
Unlike many bell towers in Europe, the year-old structure has an elevator to zoom you straight to the top.
You may be tempted by the city lights and cosmopolitan lifestyle of Brussels, or potentially more swayed by the the medieval charm and rich history of Bruges.
Both cities are hubs of Belgian tourism but which does the savvy traveler choose for a city break? Brussels is home to the EU headquarters and the nucleus of international politics. This metropolitan city is full of attractions; enticing visitors from all around the world. With its baroque frames and opulent guildhalls, this square is one of the most important landmarks in Brussels. Surrounded by the City Hall and the Maison du Roi, the square is also home to the market place and other events.
Atomium — An impressive monument in the heart of Brussels, originally built for the World Fair of Offering arguably the best panoramic views of Brussels at its peak, this monument is made up of 9 connected steel spheres in the shape of a cell of iron crystal. Inside which, there are escalators that the public can access.
They love their beer too and there are several breweries, such as the Cantillon Brewery that are well worth a try! But if none of that takes your fancy, you might find yourself swaying more towards a weekend in Bruges, just like it did Colin Farrell in the Hollywood blockbuster: In Bruges.
Many travelers use this option to day-trip from one Bruges to Brussels or vice versa. Discounted round-trip fares can generally be found on weekends. Many foreign travelers, particularly U.
S visitors, favor Bruges over Brussels since it incarnates traditional European quaintness with the cobblestoned streets, the medieval buildings, and the canals.
On the flip side, Bruges is often described as a Shrek-like decor with constant hordes of tourists. Bruges is generally visited on foot and through canal boat rides. Some travelers also take bicycle, segway, or horse carriage tours. Besides the medieval architecture, visitors enjoy the windmills, the swans on the Minnewater Lake, and the many chocolate shops. Travelers recommend spending a night in Bruges as most day-trippers and tour buses leave in the late afternoon. Visitors who stay overnight then have the town to themselves and can enjoy its antique charm in a quiet atmosphere.
Away from that bustling area, however, you can have a surprisingly quiet experience — e. Brussels also has its charm, being a cosmopolitan city with a provincial size. However, it takes more effort to appreciate, as it has a mix of gorgeous and not-so-nice areas including those around the Nord and Midi train stations. Visitors like the Grand Place and Place Sainte-Catherine, the posh Sablon and Uccle neighborhoods, the cool Marolles district, the nice parts of Anderlecht, the small narrow streets of Lower Town full of tourists , and the large boulevards of Upper Town.
This gives the city a special international vibe. Walking down Koningsstraat, the Royal Palace and Park are also worth a visit. The huge Palace of Justice deserves a look inside. Outside the Palace, a glass elevator takes you to the Marolles district with its unique atmosphere, small stores, and nice Sunday market. Outside the town center, interesting areas include the Place Flagey with its unique architecture, the African district at Porte Namurm, the posh Sablon neighborhood with its authentic vibe, and the Brussels Park and Parc du Cinquantenaire for some urban nature lounging.
You can catch a hop-on, hop-off tourist bus across the street from the central train station to see multiple sights with a single bus ticket.
Brussels also has some great museums. The Brussels Art museum is very large and comparable to other great European museums. The Musical Instruments Museum is also unique with over music instruments.
The Comics Museum is hosted in a beautiful Art Nouveau building. The Atomium is a renowned landmark building from the 50s and a futuristic cultural center outside the city. Mini-Europe is a small park with miniature buildings from all over Europe. Brussels is also known for it many unique murals around the city.
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