Rick Steves - Rick Steves Belgium: Bruges, Brussels, Antwerp & Ghent

BELGIUM: BRUGES, BRUSSELS, ANTWERP & GHENT

Rick Steves & Gene Openshaw

BELGIUM: BRUGES, BRUSSELS, ANTWERP & GHENT

Travel is intensified livingmaximum thrills per minute and one of the last great sources of legal adventure. Travel is freedom. Its recess, and we need it.

I discovered a passion for European travel as a teen and have been sharing it ever sincethrough my tours, public television and radio shows, and travel guidebooks. Over the years, Ive taught thousands of travelers how to best enjoy Europes blockbuster sightsand experience Back Door discoveries that most tourists miss.

Written with my talented co-author, Gene Openshaw, this book offers you a balanced mix of Belgiums lively cities and cozy towns, from medieval Bruges to slick, fashion-forward Antwerp. Its selective: Rather than listing dozens of Flemish art museums, we recommend only the best ones. And its in-depth: Our self-guided museum tours and city walks provide insight into the countrys vibrant history and todays living, breathing culture.

We advocate traveling simply and smartly. Take advantage of our money- and time-saving tips on sightseeing, transportation, and more. Try local, characteristic alternatives to expensive hotels and restaurants. In many ways, spending more money only builds a thicker wall between you and what you traveled so far to see.

We visit Belgium to experience itto become temporary locals. Thoughtful travel engages us with the world, as we learn to appreciate other cultures and new ways to measure quality of life.

Judging by the positive feedback we receive from our readers, this book will help you enjoy a fun, affordable, and rewarding vacationwhether its your first trip or your tenth.

Have a prachtig trip! Happy travels!

Digging into a dish of mussels while seated on a sunny square beneath the outline of a lacy medieval spire...youre in Belgium.

This book presents the best of Belgiumits great cities, fine food, rich history, and sensuous art, as well as the modern scene that makes Belgium the face of Europe today. Youll see the predictable biggies and experience a healthy dose of Back Door intimacy.

Bruges is the Belgium of the pasta wonderfully preserved medieval gem that once was one of the largest cities in the world. Once mighty, now mighty cute, it comes with fancy beers in fancy glasses, lilting carillons, and filigreed Gothic souvenirs of a long-gone greatness.

The thriving towns of Ghent and Antwerpalso former medieval powerhousesdemonstrate how the country has rebounded to again be a global trendsetter. Design-forward Antwerp offers interesting contrasts, from its high-fashion couture scene to its racy red light district. In the university town of Ghent, youll find a richly detailed Renaissance altarpiece amid a vibrant urban landscape.

And finally, theres Brussels: the unofficial capital of the European Union, with a low-rise Parisian ambience that exudes joie de vivre. With the finest town square in the country (if not the Continent), a chocolate shop on every corner, a French taste for class and cuisine, and a smattering of intriguing museums, its equally ideal for a quick stopover as it is for a multiday visit. Wherever you go, find time to leave the quaint-but-touristy central square to wander the back streets. Youll find a Belgium thats lived-in, a bit funky, and authentic.

Belgium is ready for you. Like sampling a flavorful praline in a chocolate shop, that first enticing taste just leaves you wanting more. Go ahead, its OK...buy a whole box of Belgium.

This section will help you get started planning your tripwith advice on trip costs, when to go, and what you should know before you take off.

Five components make up your trip costs: airfare to Europe, transportation in Europe, room and board, sightseeing and entertainment, and shopping and miscellany.

Airfare to Europe: A basic round-trip flight from the US to Brussels can cost, on average, about $1,000-2,000 total, depending on where you fly from and when (cheaper in winter). Consider saving time in Europe by flying into one city and out of another; for instance, into Brussels and out of Amsterdam. If youre sticking to Belgium, youre never more than about two hours from Brussels international airport. Overall, Kayak.com is the best place to start searching for flights on a combination of mainstream and budget carriers.

Transportation in Europe: For getting around, youre best off enjoying tiny Belgiums excellent and affordable train system. Trains travel several times hourly between its major cities. It costs about $10 for a ticket from Ghent to Brussels. If you plan to rent a car, allow at least $250 per week, not including tolls, gas, and supplemental insurance. If you need the car for three weeks or more, leasing can save you money on insurance and taxes. If your travels extend beyond Belgium, a short flight can be cheaper than the train (check www.skyscanner.com for intra-European flights).