Brugge vs. Ghent

thank you, gaminari.

Another question if you don%26#39;t mind...would Brugge be a good base if we%26#39;re happy with a smaller town, or would it not be much fun since it%26#39;s smaller, gets many tourists and would be crowded?

Thank you

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All the tourists I know have preferred Brugge to Gent, precisely because it is smaller and more atmospheric. Yes it gets a lot of tourists, but you can usually lose them in the back streets.

The main reason why Gent might be preferred is that it is half-way between Brugge and Brussels and therefore a slightly better base for rail travel (although as it is only half an hour from Brugge it doesn%26#39;t make THAT much difference). Also, it%26#39;s the same railway line between the coast, Brugge, Gent and Brussels, so you have the same problem of locals travelling to the coast.

BUT, if I remember rightly you were going in July: it just occurs to me that if you would be there from 14-23 July, the Gentse Feesten will be on and personally, I would avoid Gent like the plague at that time, at least at night. The festivities can be very, very noisy. Although of course, that is precisely what some people go there for! See http://www.gentsefeesten.be/english/index.htm

If you would be there during those dates, therefore, I think I would advise you to stay in Brugge and visit Gent from there - or at least, check that your hotel has double-glazing.

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Most of my American friends who have visited both Gent and Brugge prefer Gent. The find the city has a more lived in feeling rather than a museum town like Brugge.

During the Gentse feesten as they are called, it does indeed gets crazy busy specially at night and if your hotel is smack dab in the middle of things it may make for short nights.

But there are 2 holiday inns outside the city limits with no noise at night.

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thank you both foryour input. We will be there before festivities, so that shouldn%26#39;t be a problem. thank you.

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