From Brussels to where ... ?
Brussels is centrally situated in Belgium so visits from Brussels to other parts of Belgium are quite easy. The maximum trainride to reach the belgian border would be 1.30 hour, this wil take you to either Luxemburg or Ostend at the seaside. Cities to visit from Brussels:
Leuven
Leuven has been since the middle ages a university and still honours that name. The catholic university of Leuven is the biggest university of Belgium. Places of interest in this city are the famous city hall which is believed to be more beautiful than Brussels and the Oude Markt, the beating heart of Leuven's students' life. There are not so many hotels in Leuven ( Theater hotel, De Klimop, Hotel Industrie, Hotel Binnenhof) so it is a good idea to remain in Brussels and visit Leuven by train ( 25 min from Brussels.)
Antwerp
Antwerp is a city known all over the world. Is is the word centre for diamond. More than 70% of all diamands come from Antwerp. As a harbour has build up quite the name. This city also finds its roots in the middle ages when in took over the leading rol of Bruges in the late 15th century before Amsterdam became the leading power. The main market square and the many churches and historic sites remind of this flourishing periode of the city's life. You could travel from Brussels and stay one night in a hotel in Antwerp to visit the city. Antwerp has quite some hotels in Antwerpen to offer and they are much cheaper than the hotels in Brussel.
Bruges
Of course there is the most famous city of them all: Bruges or in flemish "Brugge". This city must be visited if you are in Belgium. It is like this ciy has never changed since the year 1500. As it is over 1h in train to reach Bruges it is quite a good idea to spend the night in Bruges. There are over 80 hotels in Bruges, so the choice of a good hotel is not so difficult. Many hotels in Bruges are small family owned hotels with enormous charm. There are a few expensive boutique and design hotels in Bruges which offer extreme luxury in a medieval package. For example: The pand hotel in Bruges, Relais Bourgondisch Cruyse were you actually stay in a 16th century building. Hotel Die Swaene, a very romantic hotel in Bruges.
