Brussels and Amsterdam

[Anonymous]

Has anyone been recently? How was it in terms of safety and fun? What would you recommend? For a five or six day trip. Any other stops? Was thinking Ghent.

[Anonymous]

Yes, just did this trip. Amsterdam was amazing. We stayed there a few nights then onto Belgium and we stayed in Ghent. We loved it so much. A charming, beautiful medieval city. We did day trips to Bruges and Brussels. bruges was beautiful, but extremely crowded, super touristy. And that is what I had heard that Ghent doesn’t get as overrun with tourists. We didn’t love Brussels as much. No issues with safety in general but lots of warnings of pick pockets in Brusseks

[Anonymous]

Did a recent trip with several days each in Ghent, Antwerp and Bruges, along with a long stay in Amsterdam. My favorite Belgian city was Bruges, which yes, is crowded during the day, but is great in the evening when the crowds leave. (Also many of the museums and churches are skipped by the crowds, who seem most interested in the canal boats and beer.) Ghent had a scenic canal; we did a lot of walking, but fewer memorable sites, in my mind. Antwerp had some great museums. If you are interested in history, it is great. It was nice to do all of them, which each had things to like.

[Anonymous]

We just did this last week for spring break which coincided with tulip season. Spent few days in Amsterdam, then took bus to Brussels which was our home base for seeing Bruges, Antwerp, and Ghent. Very safe and easy to get around on public transport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just did this last week for spring break which coincided with tulip season. Spent few days in Amsterdam, then took bus to Brussels which was our home base for seeing Bruges, Antwerp, and Ghent. Very safe and easy to get around on public transport.

We are planning a trip to see Amsterdam and Belgium so I have many questions.

Did you get to see the tulip fields? If yes, how did you go about it - rent a car or a bike at Keuekenhof? Based on what you did see, any idea if there will be any tulips early May?

Where in Amsterdam did you stay and which towns cities did you visit and which ones did you like?

Did you take the flix bus to Brussels and then do day trips to Ghent, Bruges and Antwerp by train? Is it better to stay near the Central station in Brussels to get around?

What felt over rated and what did you like the most?

What train pass did you use?

Appreciate any tips or advice.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did a recent trip with several days each in Ghent, Antwerp and Bruges, along with a long stay in Amsterdam. My favorite Belgian city was Bruges, which yes, is crowded during the day, but is great in the evening when the crowds leave. (Also many of the museums and churches are skipped by the crowds, who seem most interested in the canal boats and beer.) Ghent had a scenic canal; we did a lot of walking, but fewer memorable sites, in my mind. Antwerp had some great museums. If you are interested in history, it is great. It was nice to do all of them, which each had things to like.

Isn't there a castle in Ghent? How was that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did a recent trip with several days each in Ghent, Antwerp and Bruges, along with a long stay in Amsterdam. My favorite Belgian city was Bruges, which yes, is crowded during the day, but is great in the evening when the crowds leave. (Also many of the museums and churches are skipped by the crowds, who seem most interested in the canal boats and beer.) Ghent had a scenic canal; we did a lot of walking, but fewer memorable sites, in my mind. Antwerp had some great museums. If you are interested in history, it is great. It was nice to do all of them, which each had things to like.

Isn't there a castle in Ghent? How was that?

Yes, Gravensteen, we really enjoyed it.

[Anonymous]

Brussels in general is easy to get in and out of (easy airport with lots of inepxensive flights, small downtown area, etc.) but not a destination where you want to spend more than a day or two.

It's generally safe but like all other European cities, you want to keep an eye out for the pickpockets--teens and adolescents lurking in the shadows around the tourist destinations, train stations, etc. But that is frankly an issue everywhere in Europe and if you do not make yourself an easy target, you should be okay.