going to brussels
 

So I've got a weekend to kill in Belgium. Anyone been there? So far I have the following things on my todo list:

- eat waffles and frieten
- drink Duvel and Lindeman's Gueze (Belgian beer, apparently)
- see Maneken Piss and the Atomium
- go to Brugges

so obviously the people I have asked for advise so far suck. can you come up with anything better...? pls?

I was there for just one day in 2006. I think you've got a good list so far. :) I really enjoyed the Atomium (both the inside and outside). And the waffles are amazing!

Enjoy your trip!!

The first time I was in Brussels a few years ago, I hopped on one of those double decker/open top tour buses. I figured since I only had part of one day to tour and had to do it on my own, the bus would cruise around and hit the highlights. I enjoyed the tour. The bus left from what I think is the main train stop downtown. Then I walked around that area, had some good food, Belgian beer.

Go to FUSE, Belgium's premier techno club http://www.fuse.be/

yeah, if you *like* techno :)


Things to do... I'd not try to take too many tours, they tend to take a while, and frankly, it never makes me care any more about the town.

Depending on your alcohol tolerance, you can try out several beers.

Chimay, West-Vleteren, Duvel, Kriek (Lindemans or Liefmans), Leffe, and try out Jupiler or Maes. It's the regular beer you get on tap, but I like it alot.

For food, I'd look for: Stoofvlees/Stoverij with fries, Mussles, or just go into a frietkot: we've got fries on the go with more snacks and different sauces than you'll have time to try.

Definitly try some waffles or pancakes if you have the chance. And chocolate, either to take home or if you like it yourself (in Ghent): http://www.chocoladebar.be/


While you're there, I advise you to step into a supermarket, and buy some speculaas & peperkoek to try out.
And buy yourself an americain préparé-sandwich for lunch.
(So far, I haven't found all 3 of those outside of Belgium, yet I think they're great)

As for stuff to actually do, I would suggest sticking to the bigger cities unless you've got time to kill.
1 straight line is : Brussels, Ghent, Bruges.

Brussels: the Atomium's been renovated 2 years ago, so it's shiny again.
Manneke Pis is.... meh, it's a statue of a little guy peeing, how is this such a hit abroad I wonder.
There's enough to see in Brussels to fill all your time. Depends on if you're into museums and monuments and such...

Ghent: Step inside the medieval castle and have a look around for yourself.
Also: lots of houses with very old fronts, sort of a warm-up to Bruges :) Good shopping if you're into that.

Bruges: Maybe the one place where a guided tour is warranted... But I still prefer to walk by myself.


As far as the evenings go, we've got a few big dancings/clubs left (alot closed over the last 10 years). We've also got alot of dance-cafés (sort of smaller, same idea really, more variation in the choice music though).

Or you just go to a local bar.

That part is up to you really. Depends on where you'll actually be at :)

Thanks for the hints, guys. Jugding from the number of beers I have on my list by now I'll be too wasted to do much else though.

I dont care much for guided tours either and I'll definitely skip the Maneken.

I was wondering about the chocolate - last time I was in Antwerp (business trip, no spare time) I saw some at insane prices, I mean wtf, are they using powdered elf wings to make them or something? Anyway, any specific recommendations? I will probably stay one day in Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp each, so I wont make it to the Ghent chocolate bar ;_;

Any places you especially liked in Brussels/Bruges that aren't necessarily part of the tourist trails?

I'll probably skip FUSE since I'm not really into techno.

If you're going with kids: next to the Atomium is a miniature-europe with all the big monuments, so you can lean on the leaning tower of pisa for instance.

But I practically live in Brussels & Gent, so most of the stuff I do end up doing, involves regular activities you can do at home as well...

The grand place in Brussels is very nice if you like old architecture. Which is something Bruges has alot of as well.

I'd say: tell us what you are interested in first... I'm sure I can tell you more about that then.

And the chocolate, yeah... Try not to buy stuff in those gift shops, they end up costing way too much.

Actually, just go into 1 of the supermarkets, and it should be alot better.

Look for Callebaut, Cote d'Or, Jacques . Those are some of the bigger names that are quite good.

Oh and try the Rochefort 8 and Saison Dupont beers too :)

Damn, I need to go to Belgium..

Duchesse du Bourgogne beer. 'Nuff said.

And yes, we need a weekend in Belgium, just for drinking. :) Have you seen the movie "In Bruges" yet?... might corrupt your view of the cute little town before you get there, but it's interesting.

man, what is it with Belgians and their beer? how many choices to get drunk does a man need? Well, I'll try some and see if I can find out what the whole fuzz is about - I'M ON A MISSION!

What I usually go for is places off the beaten track where you can get a glimpse of people's lifes and the special character of a place. For instance, I'm from Vienna, so I usually advise people to go to a certain old cafe, where there's actual Viennese people playing chess and pool and no tourist crap. During spring the botanical gardens near castle Belvedere are especially nice and you should go to the roof of the intercontinental for a great view over the whole city. That kind of thing, you see?

Thanks. I'll buy some of those for the folks back home.

No kids, btw. Its just a business trip, extended over the weekend, so I'm on my own.

Haven't seen 'In Bruges', because Colin Farrell makes me want to hurt myself. Or him.

hi guys!

I just checked in at the hotel. I spent the day in Antwerp and treated myself to waffles and frieten as suggested. they are both awesome - those waffles are really something else though. btw: oddly the whole town smells like damp laundry - I noticed it during my last stay as well... wtf? Oh, and what is it with all those kids selling some kind of cheese in the streets? Anyway I'm off to start working my way through the rest of the todo list (i.e. beers).

met vriendelijke groeten
harry

Hey man, it's not about getting drunk. It's about the quality... and damn, those beers are the best in the world, if you ask me. Mmmmm...

kids selling some kind of cheese in the streets

--> :S Euh, what now? :)

word

If you're in Brussels, don't forget to try the sprouts! :)

Keep the reports coming ... sounds like a great trip!

hey, so I made it back. It was a nice trip all in all. Belgium is not quite as boring as I expected. the pics I took are boring though: http://www.flickr.com/photos/59168911@N00/

I need to get some sleep right now - thx again for the pieces of advice.

photos aren´t so boring

What was the weather like? And the pics are great. But are there no people in Belgium?

we're a shy people :)

Seriously, it is rather... empty in your pics :)

harry.. so are u gonna be giving us a 'g'day from brussels' thread or what?

DANG! Ya beat me too it... :)

Definietly recommend the sprouts! Well that and of course the BEERS...many many good BEERS there!