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Bruges vs. Ghent
My husband and I are on the Holland and Belgium in Spring river boat cruise in April. On one of the days, we have the option of selecting an excursion to either Ghent or Bruges. Does anyone have a recommendation of which city to choose with Tauck and do the other city on our own private tour when we stay over in Brussels? Thank you.
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Both are easy train rides from Brussels Midi or Centraal Station(which is close, 10 minute walk from the Amigo hotel.) If at all possible try to spend a night or two in Brugge. It really deserves a least one night when the lights come on and the day trippers leave. If you can swing staying over night, then go to Brugge on your own but try to stay and have dinner then grab a late train. Do Ghent on Tauck. You will get a canal cruise and group entrance(skip the line) to see the Ghent Altarpiece. If you have any specific questions let me know.
I haven’t taken this tour but a different one. I recommend reading the itinerary and then deciding which one you would prefer to do with or without Tauck guiding you. I believe Bruges has an activity rating of ‘3’ and Ghent a ‘2.’
Bruges is one of my favorite places! There is so much to see and if you are a history buff, Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child (the only one outside of Italy) that was stolen by the Nazis and recovered by the “Monument Men” after WWII is in a church there and so heartbreakingly beautiful.
And if you go to Bruge consider a stop at De Halve Maan Brewery & Pub for lunch. Good Belgian pub food, great beers and I think you can tour the brewery, although we did not.
We took the summer version of this cruise and opted for Ghent for a couple years reasons. I wanted to see the Ghent alterpiece - A piece included in the movie Monuments Men. Bruges requires a long walk from the coach to the city center. And the day we had those excursions was a Sat and it would be very crowded in Bruge. We enjoyed Ghent. Tauck took us to a city museum then we had a canal boat ride into the historic center and a guided tour. We also had time in the city to wander before the boat ride back to the coach.
When I took this cruise Tauck did not go to either place so I went a couple of days early and booked tours through Viator to both Ghent and Bruges, like Claudia I wanted to see the altar piece which was shown being retrieved from the Germans by American soldiers in the Monuments Men movie.
There is also a Michaelagelo marble statue of the Madonna and Child that was stolen by the Germans in Bruges Church of our Lady that was also retrieved by the Americans and shown in the Monuments Men movie.
My vote is for Bruges, but maybe that’s just because I am a sucker for sitting by the water under the weeping willows with a Belgian cherry beer.