Brugge or Ghent?

[thebalderdasher]

We're looking to go to Brugge or Ghent to kick back, relax, walk around, and enjoy the beautiful architecture and canals for THREE days.

I hear Brugge is a must see.

I also hear Ghent is a lot less touristy, and is more lively.

We don't care so much for the liveliness.

Which city would be more serene? Brugge because it's smaller, more beautiful, and because it's not as lively as Ghent?

Or Ghent because it has a lot less tourists and slightly more to do?


Also, which is cheaper? :-P

[madamtrashheap]

There are going to be tourists in each place (and locals!) at the time you're travelling (just coming in to Summer) so it's a case of choosing which sounds better to you.

Brugge/Bruges has some quiet little places tucked away next to canals - great reason to go exploring - and even the town square seems peaceful despite being full of people. There are great cafes down side streets and some nice strolls to take.

Ghent also has places like the Graslei (waterfront area in the old town) or you could wander around the béguinages (or begijnhofs, but they can also be found in Brugge) in the city (well, visit, maybe not "wander").

I like the "compactness" of Brugge (not that Ghent is sprawling) and it just feels a little more serene to me (probably the canals doing this). If you're going to want places to shoot the breeze like in the Alps, then go with Brugge. Anyway, that's my two cents! ;D

[herrbert]

madamtrashheap said:

Ghent also has places like the Graslei (waterfront area in the old town) or you could wander around the béguinages (or begijnhofs, but they can also be found in Brugge) in the city (well, visit, maybe not "wander").

As you will be in Flandres I would say this in Dutch, and not in French. So you would mean a Begijnenhof (pl. Begijnenhoven).

Brugge also has a beautiful Begijnenhof, that you can walk around in. Between the city-center and the train-station.

Gent is popular the last years because it seems to be a good place for the nightlife. As the madam already said it has some sites, but not as much as Brugge. The places are really close together, so you could do a little trip to Gent, if you like, and if you find the time.

[madamtrashheap]

herrbert said:

As you will be in Flandres I would say this in Dutch, and not in French. So you would mean a Begijnenhof (pl. Begijnenhoven).

Sorry Herrbert! Het spijt me, ik spreek geen Nederlands. I understand a lot of it, but can't speak it - and I was so wondering what the correct pluralisation of begijnhof was! Knew it wasn't -hoffen if that's any consolation!)