Eurostar but not Brussels, Paris or Amsterdam

[MojoDojoCasaHouse]

Me, DH and two teens were stuck in the recent Eurostar issues on 30th December. We did manage to squeeze on to a train but are entitled to compensation for delay. Tickets were bought by voucher I purchased from a friend as they were unable to use them so compensation will have to be by voucher.

We have visited Paris and Brussels in 2023. Are planning a family holiday to Netherlands to include Amsterdam in the bearish future. Would like to use the voucher which will be about £200 just for me and DH to have a weekend away. DC are out off after the cancellation stress recently.

I’d like some recommendations for 2-3 nights within easy reach of Eurostar destinations. We love architecture, quirky places, history, beer and wine. We’re veggie so more casual eating rather than high end restaurants.

Bruges. It's breathtakingly beautiful and very walkable.

Bruges is possible but we did visit as part of the recent trip to Brussels. I was thinking maybe Gent as we haven’t been.

Antwerp, easy journey from Brussels. Red Star Line museum and Plantin museum very interesting if you like history, lots of other museums and galleries, sculpture park, interesting stuff around the waterways (including ramshackle deckchair bars). Old, pretty, city centre in traditional way but outside that plenty of other, varied stuff going on, art, music etc. Great beer options.

Utrecht very much fits the brief, lots of history, interesting churches and museums, plus a whacking great tower with a view, lovely bars, and it’s a big student town so has a lively vibe. I really liked the Belgian bars I went to there (I know, wrong country,…). You’re also within an hour of the Hague, if you fancy the Mauritshuis and the beach at Sheveningen. We rented canoes to mooch round the city’s canals, and at some canalfront bars they’ll serve you directly from your canoe!

But I wouldn’t like to say Utrecht is that much better than Antwerp or Ghent, I think they all do the quaint Dutch town vibe really well.

Gent is gorgeous. Much prefer it to Bruges.

Gent is really lovely. I combined it with a trip to the war graves. Not everyone's idea of a holiday but my great grandfather is buried there and the visitor centre at Ypres is really really good. It's shocking seeing the rows upon rows of gravestones too. Gent is only a train ride away for decompressing afterwards with great restaurants and bars and canal walks.

Antwerp is also a really great city. Very hip for fashion and culture yet still old-world in terms of narrow streets and character.

Another vote here for Gent - beautiful city with so much to offer.
Loved Antwerp too.

Lille. Wonderful architecture, great beer, interesting places.

Can't tell you about the veggie options, but I'm sure you'll manage.

We also went to Ghent (as well as Antwerp) for a couple of nights last year - I'd say there was much more to do in Antwerp in terms of museums, sights, city stuff, different areas with interesting architecture, variety. Ghent is smaller, very pretty - but we spent some of our last day in Brussels whereas I could have stayed another day in Antwerp. Ghent seemed odd in terms of eating out - lots of fine dining book in advance places, much less of anything else unless you want Flemish stew. Maybe we were unlucky. Both great for a short break though!

Agree, very pretty but not as madly commercial as Bruges.

Lyon - 2 hours from Paris on the TGV.
Wonderful city.

Apparently there will be a sleeper train to Berlin (change in brussels) not sure whether it's eurostar though......

Not my food experience based on 3 visits. ‘Nice’ burger places, Italian, seafood, general stuff easily found right in the centre!
Also quite a lot to see - castle, river tour, beautiful cathedrals etc.

Has to be Ghent, based on your wishlist. Fabulous place for a long weekend

Ghent is wonderful. the tourist office had some brilliant trails & ideas for things to do.

Lille! 🥐

We had a short break booked there which ended up being cancelled due to weather. Disappointed as an overnight had definitely enthused us towards seeing more of Lille.

Lille! 🥐

We had a short break booked there which ended up being cancelled due to weather. Disappointed as an overnight had definitely enthused us towards seeing more of Lille.

Loads of votes for Ghent and some other good recommendations. Many thanks all.

Ghent, Lille both lovely. Antwerp also. Rotterdam is much nicer than it might sound. The Hague also. Also Leiden in NL is fabulous.

The Eurostar goes to Aachen now (it's what used to be the Thalys) and that's lovely.

But I can also recommend Utrecht.