{"id":156,"date":"2019-06-05T10:39:38","date_gmt":"2019-06-05T10:39:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/?p=156"},"modified":"2023-03-17T17:46:03","modified_gmt":"2023-03-17T17:46:03","slug":"brussels-or-amsterdam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/brussels-or-amsterdam\/","title":{"rendered":"Brussels Or Amsterdam: Which To Pick For a 2-3 Day Trip?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Whenever you are planning to have a vacation in Western Europe, being torn between <strong>Brussels and Amsterdam<\/strong> is a common thing. The two cities, only 90 minutes apart by train, though somewhat comparable at first sight, offer very different experiences! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is a political center and an international business city being <strong>home to the UN and to NATO<\/strong>. Amsterdam is a young, <strong>vibrant and beautiful city<\/strong> and the capital to the Netherlands. Amsterdam is larger than Brussels but is slightly less populated with over 1 million inhabitants vs about 2 million for the Brussels metro area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m28!1m12!1m3!1d1268576.8743968885!2d3.4982019314028583!3d51.61058297702793!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m13!3e3!4m5!1s0x47c63fb5949a7755%3A0x6600fd4cb7c0af8d!2sAmsterdam%2C+Netherlands!3m2!1d52.367984299999996!2d4.9035614!4m5!1s0x47c3c486740f9fff%3A0x10099ab2f4c8030!2sBrussels%2C+Belgium!3m2!1d50.8503463!2d4.3517211!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1559732044251!5m2!1sen!2sus\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-66034d4478894\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-66034d4478894\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/brussels-or-amsterdam\/#Brussels_or_Amsterdam_short_answer\" title=\"Brussels or Amsterdam:  short answer\">Brussels or Amsterdam:  short answer<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/brussels-or-amsterdam\/#Brussels_or_Amsterdam_access_and_transportation\" title=\"Brussels or Amsterdam: access and transportation\">Brussels or Amsterdam: access and transportation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/brussels-or-amsterdam\/#Brussels_or_Amsterdam_vibes_and_people\" title=\"Brussels or Amsterdam: vibes and people\">Brussels or Amsterdam: vibes and people<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/brussels-or-amsterdam\/#Brussels_or_Amsterdam_sights_and_culture\" title=\"Brussels or Amsterdam: sights and culture\">Brussels or Amsterdam: sights and culture<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/brussels-or-amsterdam\/#Brussels_or_Amsterdam_food_and_nightlife\" title=\"Brussels or Amsterdam: food and nightlife\">Brussels or Amsterdam: food and nightlife<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/brussels-or-amsterdam\/#Brussels_or_Amsterdam_lodging\" title=\"Brussels or Amsterdam: lodging\">Brussels or Amsterdam: lodging<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/brussels-or-amsterdam\/#Brussels_or_Amsterdam_day_trips\" title=\"Brussels or Amsterdam: day trips\">Brussels or Amsterdam: day trips<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Brussels_or_Amsterdam_short_answer\"><\/span>Brussels or Amsterdam:  short answer<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2334079881_3af7d2b3b8_z.jpg\" alt=\"Brussels\" class=\"wp-image-747\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2334079881_3af7d2b3b8_z.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2334079881_3af7d2b3b8_z-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2334079881_3af7d2b3b8_z-310x232.jpg 310w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2334079881_3af7d2b3b8_z-140x105.jpg 140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Brussels near La Grand Place (2)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For those in a rush, these are a few key highlights to help you decide between Brussels or Amsterdam:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Amsterdam is a<strong> well-connected<\/strong> city with <strong>beautiful canals<\/strong>, excellent public transport, cycling lanes everywhere, cafes, and many many parks which make it a city of great character. <\/li><li>Amsterdam is more of a <strong>tourist haven<\/strong> than Brussels. It\u2019s lively, tolerant, entertaining, and you can see great sights in a few days. <strong>English <\/strong>is extensively spoken so communication won\u2019t be so much trouble. <\/li><li>Brussels is a more <strong>laid-back<\/strong>, easy-going European city. The <strong>architecture<\/strong> in the city is outstanding, <strong>shopping arcades <\/strong>are gorgeous, and the museums are uniquely designed, adding to the city&#8217;s flair.  Brussels also has some of the <strong>best chocolate <\/strong>in the world.<\/li><li>On the other hand, if you want a vibrant city to experience <strong>blockbuster sights<\/strong>, friendly and open-minded people, numerous <strong>coffee shops<\/strong>, and vibrant nightlife (namely thanks to the Heineken beer and legal pot-smoking), Amsterdam is your choice. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Brussels_or_Amsterdam_access_and_transportation\"><\/span>Brussels or Amsterdam: access and transportation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2176177374_75c278154d_z.jpg\" alt=\"Tram in Amsterdam\" class=\"wp-image-748\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2176177374_75c278154d_z.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2176177374_75c278154d_z-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Tramway in Amsterdam (3)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Brussels has<strong> two airports<\/strong> and the <strong>Eurostar<\/strong>, a direct train which takes you to central London in just about two hours.  In contrast, to get to Amsterdam from London, you would need to take the Eurostar to Brussels, then a train to Amsterdam &#8211; unless of course you simply fly there.  Note that Eurostar also has time-consuming passport and security checks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While public transport in Brussels is cheaper than in Amsterdam, the <strong>canal transport system<\/strong> in Amsterdam is greatly appreciated by newcomers as it makes navigating the city way easier. Cycling is one of the most used methods of commuting in Amsterdam and there are plenty of bicycles readily available everywhere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Getting from Amsterdam to Brussels by train is easy and convenient. There are two available options, the high-speed Thalys service which takes a little under 2 hours or the Intercity which takes a little under 3 hours. Both trains can be booked using the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nsinternational.nl\/en\/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"NS International site (opens in a new tab)\">NS International site<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also take a 45 minutes flight between Amsterdam Schipol (AMS) and Brussels Zaventem (BRU) airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you like road trips then you can go from Amsterdam to Brussels via the Euroline or Flixbus bus routes which take 3-5 hours depending on the stops and services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Brussels_or_Amsterdam_vibes_and_people\"><\/span>Brussels or Amsterdam: vibes and people<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/191807742_db794eacd6_z.jpg\" alt=\"Brussels relaxed vibe\" class=\"wp-image-749\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/191807742_db794eacd6_z.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/191807742_db794eacd6_z-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/191807742_db794eacd6_z-310x232.jpg 310w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/191807742_db794eacd6_z-140x105.jpg 140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Brussels relaxed vibe (4)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Amsterdam <strong>feels larger<\/strong> than Brussels (even though it&#8217;s actually smaller).  It&#8217;s a beautiful <strong>scenic<\/strong> city with ready-made tourist sites. Brussels is also beautiful with green parks, but it&#8217;s commonly plagued with roadwork construction and graffiti, giving it a rougher outlook  \u2013 which can entice more adventurous travelers to explore the city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The streets and building in Amsterdam have remained clean and properly kept while in Brussels sometimes displays poor maintenance and uncleanliness. In Amsterdam, the canal system and widespread cycling minimize air pollution, while in Brussels smog and traffic tend to make the air less clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Amsterdam, people are <strong>friendly<\/strong>, <strong>energetic<\/strong> and <strong>enthusiastic<\/strong>, have a <strong>modern<\/strong>, hipster-like attitude, and speak English. The city has a highly energetic vibe. It is a faster-paced city than Brussels.  In Brussels, people are relaxed and laid back with more of a French-type culture &#8211; some travelers feel this results in a somewhat whiny or arrogant attitude. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Amsterdam city is active with lots of tourists while Brussels has fewer tourists and a <strong>more formal<\/strong> atmosphere. Being home to the UN and NATO, however, Brussels has a bustling multicultural atmosphere.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brussels has exceptional <strong>ancient medieval architecture<\/strong> qualifying it to be one of the most beautiful monumental cities in Europe because of its distinctive architecture. Amsterdam has a more cohesive architectural look coupled with Venice style canals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One caveat about Amsterdam is that, due to the countless bars and coffee shops that allow the smoking of marijuana, some people feel it attracts the wrong crowd of people who come for sexual tourism and smoking weed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Brussels_or_Amsterdam_sights_and_culture\"><\/span>Brussels or Amsterdam: sights and culture<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/4871009963_15b87039e4_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-752\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/4871009963_15b87039e4_z.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/4871009963_15b87039e4_z-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Amsterdam Red Light District (5)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Amsterdam is home to <strong>many popular cultural and art museums<\/strong> such as the <strong>Van Gogh museum<\/strong>, Stedelijk Museum, Madame Tussauds, and <strong>Rijksmuseum<\/strong>.   The Ann Frank House is one of the most visited museums in the Benelux region &#8211; advance booking is advised to avoid the long queues.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are also smaller museums such as the great FOAM and Huis Van Marseille photography museums, or the Resistance Museum.  If you\u2019re an art lover, a Sunday visit to Artplein &#8216;t Spui where more than 60 international artists display their work will interest you, as well as the Kunstmarkt Thorbeckepleinart market near the Rembrandtplein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, you can\u2019t go to Amsterdam and not take a <strong>canal cruise<\/strong>. The canals give the historical centre a striking backdrop. Most of the canal tours will take approximately an hour and you get to discover other tourist sights on board in a fun and relaxing way. You can also have a nice walk and have lunch around the Eye which overlooks the het IJ harbor-part.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Red Light District<\/strong> offers a very astonishing and funky experience.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to <strong>architectural beauty<\/strong>, Brussels has some of the most beautiful monuments in Europe, and walking around the city allows you to discover the districts which each have their own distinctive design. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brussels has several UNESCO world heritage sites like<strong> the Grand Place<\/strong>, a peaceful place to hang out and watch people, the <strong>Gothic town hall<\/strong>, and a few <strong>19th-century townhouses<\/strong> such as Hotel Solvay and Hotel Tassel. In Amsterdam, meanwhile, the architecture of the houses offer an astonishing and attractive feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brussels is the capital of <strong>Art Nouveau<\/strong>, with spectacular sights such as the outstanding <strong>Horta Museum<\/strong>, the Museum of <strong>Musical Instruments<\/strong>, the Maison Cyr, and whole areas such as St-Gillis and parts of <strong>Schaarbeek<\/strong>. The Mus\u00e9e Cinquantenaire museum also now has parts dedicated to Art Nouveau. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/5979036012_0f8d41345d_z.jpg\" alt=\"Art Nouveau architecture in Brussels\" class=\"wp-image-753\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/5979036012_0f8d41345d_z.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/5979036012_0f8d41345d_z-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Art Nouveau architecture in Brussels (6)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Brussels is rich in culture and art with 80 museums, including the <strong>Chocolate Museum<\/strong>, the <strong>Magritte Museum<\/strong>, as well as other unique and interesting ones such as the train museum, ADAM (Atomium, plastic design from the fifties to these days), and the very good Brussels Art Museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The city also boasts beautiful shopping arcades such as the <strong>Galeries Royales Saint Hubert<\/strong>, a Bruges-like restaurant-filled street close to the central square, and a glass ceiling pedestrian shopping area.  There\u2019s quite a lot to explore in this very walkable (plus trams) city.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brussels also offers green parks and an intriguing <strong>Mini-Europe park<\/strong> which displayed miniature versions of 80 EU cities and 350 EU buildings.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Brussels_or_Amsterdam_food_and_nightlife\"><\/span>Brussels or Amsterdam: food and nightlife<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/191804657_6c3879003f_z.jpg\" alt=\"Brussels food and nightlife\" class=\"wp-image-750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/191804657_6c3879003f_z.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/191804657_6c3879003f_z-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/191804657_6c3879003f_z-310x232.jpg 310w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/191804657_6c3879003f_z-140x105.jpg 140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Brussels Galleries Royales (7)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In Amsterdam, the nightlife is vibrant with numerous cocktail bars, brown and grand cafes, and coffee shops that allow marijuana smoking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of the popular bars are found in the outskirts of the city but <strong>Rembrandtplein<\/strong> and Leidseplein dominate the city center nightlife with bars like Bar Oldenholf, Bar Dvar, Doka, Snappers, among many others.  The cafes and bars create a social atmosphere to unwind and get an authentic Amsterdam taste and Dutch culture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brussels is famous for its <strong>Belgian fries and waffles<\/strong>, served in numerous fast-food places.  It also offers some of the best chocolate in the world, found in a wide range of high-end chocolate stores.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Belgian beer <\/strong>is another major attraction of Brussels.  You can pay a visit to the <strong>Delirium Caf\u00e9<\/strong> for more than 2000 beers from across the globe.  There are numerous bars and pubs around the Grand Palace offering happy hours, open-air cocktail parties, and live music on workdays, catering to the UN, NATO, and overall business workers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00c0 La Mort Subite Also in the Upper Town is also a traditional caf\u00e9 that brews its own beer.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brussels also has many night markets to hang out at such as the Agora Roundabout craft and art market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Brussels_or_Amsterdam_lodging\"><\/span>Brussels or Amsterdam: lodging<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"255\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/14470214401_f58cf0dfaf_z.jpg\" alt=\"Lodging in Amsterdam\" class=\"wp-image-757\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/14470214401_f58cf0dfaf_z.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/14470214401_f58cf0dfaf_z-300x120.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Lodging in Amsterdam<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Amsterdam is an expensive city that can cost you up to \u20ac 150 for only a little room. Jordaan and Grachtengordel are very photogenic, super hip and awesome places to explore but they are more expensive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/nl\/renaissance.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">Renaissance Hotel<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/nl\/nhbarbizon.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">NH Collection Barbizon Palace<\/a>, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/nl\/crowne-plaza-city-zuid.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">IHG Crowne Plaza Hotel<\/a> are great places to stay as they are within walking distance of the central station, shopping center, and tourist attractions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Travelers also recommend the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/nl\/amsterdam-wiechmann.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">Wiechmann Hotel<\/a> (on Prisengracht), around 150\u20ac including breakfast. Family-run, close to everything, with rooms and breakfast areas with canal views, and unlimited hot drinks in the lobby. Just make sure you reserve ahead of time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marcelamsterdam.nl\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Marcel&#8217;s Creative Exchange<\/a> is a hip place to stay. Marcel, the owner,  is an artist who will help you define the best things to see and do based on your tastes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In comparison to Amsterdam, <strong>Brussels is cheaper, greener, and quieter<\/strong> with ample choices of decent hotels and apartments to rent. The Grand Place which is close to the train station has several hotels like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/be\/offgrandplace.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">Novotel<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/be\/agora-brussels.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">Hotel Agora<\/a>, making it very convenient to stay.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/be\/grandsablon.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">NH Collection Brussels Grand Sablo<\/a> (5 stars) is often described as exceptional. It&#8217;s very central and you can walk to Bruxelles-Central station, to Grand&#8217; Place, and to Mannekin Pis. Nearby stores and restaurants can easily be walked to. Large rooms and beds, beautiful decor, nice bar,  great staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/be\/ledixseptieme.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">Hotel Le Dixsepti\u00e8me<\/a> is a centrally located boutique hotel, near the Grand&#8217; Place. Many travelers praise this hotel and its location near Brussels Central station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/be\/amigo.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">Hotel Amigo<\/a> is near the Grand Place, described as a very nice hotel and location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/be\/des-galeries.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">H\u00f4tel des Galeries<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/be\/the-dominican.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">The Dominican<\/a> are well-located in the center. Hotel <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/be\/odette-en-ville.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">Odette en Ville<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/be\/hygge.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">Hotel Hygge<\/a> are in the Louise district (take the metro).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Brussels_or_Amsterdam_day_trips\"><\/span>Brussels or Amsterdam: day trips<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Amsterdam has a very good train network if you want to take a day trip, Options include <strong>Utrecht<\/strong>, 25 minutes by train, <strong>The Hague<\/strong> or <strong>Rotterdam<\/strong>, both 45 minutes by train. Zaanse Schans (20-minute train ride) or Keukenhof (40 minutes train and bus ride) also make very good day trips.<br>  <br>Brussels&#8217; central situation makes it possible to access numerous places inexpensively, such as <strong>Bruges<\/strong>, a spectacular medieval town only 55 minutes by train, and Ghent, 40 minutes away. You can also easily take a day trip to Antwerp, Waterloo, Ypres, Leuven, Tournai, or Maastricht.  See <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/bruges-or-antwerp\/\" target=\"_blank\">this post<\/a> for an in-depth comparison of Bruges and Antwerp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">***<br><em>Photo credits:<br><\/em>(1) Featured:  &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/kentwang\/43799479194\/\" target=\"_blank\">Amsterdam<\/a>&#8221;&nbsp;(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>)&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/kentwang\/\" target=\"_blank\">Kent Wang<\/a>  <br>(2) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/12394349@N06\/2334079881\/\" target=\"_blank\">Brussels tourist<\/a>&#8221;&nbsp;(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY 2.0<\/a>)&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/12394349@N06\/\" target=\"_blank\">Bryn Pinzgauer<\/a> <br>(3) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/teoruiz\/2176177374\/\" target=\"_blank\">Amsterdam<\/a>&#8221;&nbsp;(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>)&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/teoruiz\/\" target=\"_blank\">teoruiz<\/a> <br>(4) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/hsivonen\/191807742\/\" target=\"_blank\">Brussels<\/a>&#8221;&nbsp;(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY 2.0<\/a>)&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/hsivonen\/\" target=\"_blank\">hsivonen<\/a> <br>(5) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/22746515@N02\/4871009963\/\" target=\"_blank\">Red-light district (De Wallen) Amsterdam<\/a>&#8221;&nbsp;(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY 2.0<\/a>)&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/22746515@N02\/\" target=\"_blank\">Bert Kaufmann<\/a> <br>(6) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/vironevaeh\/5979036012\/\" target=\"_blank\">Art nouveau architecture in Brussels<\/a>&#8221;&nbsp;(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>)&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/vironevaeh\/\" target=\"_blank\">Vironevaeh<\/a> <br>(7) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/hsivonen\/191804657\/\" target=\"_blank\">Brussels<\/a>&#8221;&nbsp;(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY 2.0<\/a>)&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/hsivonen\/\" target=\"_blank\">hsivonen<\/a> <br>(8) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/narduss\/14470214401\/\" target=\"_blank\">amsterdam<\/a>&#8221;&nbsp;(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY 2.0<\/a>)&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/narduss\/\" target=\"_blank\">niessbernard<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whenever you are planning to have a vacation in Western Europe, being torn between Brussels and Amsterdam is a common thing. The two cities, only 90 minutes apart by train, though somewhat comparable at first sight, offer very different experiences! Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is a political center and an international business city being [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":746,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7,11],"tags":[42],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=156"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2253,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156\/revisions\/2253"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/746"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=156"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=156"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=156"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}