We will be in Bruges the week after Christmas. We plan a day trip to Ghent. We had originally planned to rent a car when we flew into Brussels, but are rethinking that. Would it be easier and convenient to plan to travel by train to and from Bruges and on a day trip to Ghent? Are there day trips from Bruges that are worth doing that would require a car? I am worried about parking in Bruges. Would also welcome ideas about things to do in the area that time of year.
Bruges-week after Christmas
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Hello Lee,
Last Christmas I went to Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Amsterdam and Cologne. Traveled by train the entire way and loved it. I bought all tickets on the internet before departure. Glad I did, because the trains running between the larger cities (A-dam to Cologne/Cologne to Brussels) were full.
Easy to ride the train in Belgium and the fares within the country are cheap and distances are short. I took a public bus from the airport to Brussels center because it stopped 100 yds from my hotel.
If your trip allows, I suggest spending the night in Ghent. It is only a 30 minute train ride from Bruges, but was the surprise of my trip. I really loved the place. Got a great deal on the downtown Marriott on Priceline.
There are day trips requiring a car, Ypres battlefield comes and Waterloo to mind, but it will be cold. I wouldn't hesitate to save the car expense and use the train. Here is a trip report I wrote that may help. Good luck and have fun.
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/trip-report-benemany-belgium-amsterdam-cologne.cfm
Thanks! I think we will do train instead. We travel to Europe frequently, but Belgium has not been high on our list. This trip is to spend time with our son (who lives in Europe) at Christmas, to relax, and to have a cozy Christmas experience. My son had insisted on Ghent as it is a favorite of his. We've been in Germany near Christmas and loved the markets, ice skating in the city squares, and general ambiance of the seasons, so I picked Bruges thinking this would be a place that could provide some of that and still let us see a few places we had not seen before. Your travel report was great-loved the detail. Will definitely use it in planning specific things to do. Regards, Lee
Another who finds Bruges cute and charming, but loves Ghent. Your son is right on. Ghent is lovely and vibrant!