Going to Belgium/Germany! Advice on what to do!

tistan

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If you make time to go to Stuttgart, the Mercedes plant tour is pretty impressive. As others have said, can't miss the Porsche museum.
 

Shifty Powers

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In Bruges, climb the tower and go to any of the pubs off the main square. There is a pub in town which has over 500 beers on tap.

In Brussels, do a bicycle tour. Many cool bars and sights to see there. Load up on crepes - they are phenomenal.

In Munich, visit the BMW Welt, the Hoffbrauhaus, and again the bicycle tours are pretty cool.

If you could sneak in a trip to the Nurburgring and rent a car, you will never forget it.
I will certainly make sure we climb the tower then. I had thought about it before but forgot about it until now. Crepes and belgian waffles are a must! I will look into the bicycle tours but we will definitely be going to the Hoffbrauhaus. Sadly no Nurburgring this time

In Bruges, just hear me out, but I suggest this Italian place: Pasta Presto, Bruges - Food Delivery - Order Online - Photos & Restaurant Reviews - TripAdvisor


They do pasta to go in chinese style take out boxes. I think they have 3 sizes. They make like 4-6 sauces, in house, daily. So you pick your size, your sauce, pay, get your pasta, and go eat on a bench nearby. I don't know what sauce I had but dear god was it delicious. I ate all the paste (the twisty spiral ones is what they were servings) and still scraped up all the sauce to eat by itself, it was that good.
LOL I will look into it. It is worth noting and checking out just in case!

In Koln (Cologne), you already know, but the cathedral is purely awe inspiring. There's two stories, who knows which is true, but that the Americans didn't bomb it because it was so beautiful, or because they were using it as a geographical point when flying. Nonetheless, enjoy the inside of it, and you have to pay the couple euros and take the stairs all the way to the top. I visited Koln a second time, just because I wanted to see that church again. It's magnificent.
We will surely go visit this and go all the way to the top. I hope I can get a hotel with a view of it or a view just as good.

I agree for Germany. BMW is not only great from its automotive collection, but the architecture is also amazing.

I rented a race car for the Ring, and like you said, it will be something I will always remember. Just make sure you have a good credit card because the deductible was something like $13k and you have to pay it up front.

Also you will want to visit the beer gardens and get a Schweinshaxe.

The Olympic stadium is also a pretty amazing piece of architecture.
I will certainly plan on hitting the beer gardens, but sadly no Nürburgring for me this time.

Hit up a castle. There are numerous ones along any of the major rivers. Most are from the age when castles were no longer fortresses but were elegant places to live. Be careful when going to a "Bar" in Germany. Bar where I was meant whorehouse.
Castle is a must! Thank you for reminding me. I will also try not to ask where the whorehouses are and make sure I am going somewhere to eat and drink

Agree that you must visit the Hofbrauhaus in Munich so you can be totally amazed at how many giant one liter mugs of beer a rather stout German lady can carry with one hand. Amazing.

I should warn you that you may be forced to dance with a ninety pound ninety year old lady to the music of an 'Oom pah pah' band. It sounds worse than it is so just go with it.
This is already on my list! The old lady however was not. But I guess we will see what happens!

Hope OP didn't take my joke as hard as you. I have friends in Belgium/Brussels. Life long citizens, we see each other every year or so. Some areas you can't safely walk through that you could 4-5 years ago, overrun by muslims. Sorry to go against whatever MSNBC told you.

Still a beautiful country. Same with Germany.
Do you happen to know what parts of the city that may be by any chance?

I wasn’t too impressed with the BMW factory in Munich.
We toured dacau concentration camp, which was an unreal experience. We also toured Neuschwanstein Castle,
View attachment 1582034
Ah! Right the concentration camps. I will see if one of them is along our way

Drink lots of beer for me.
haha I plan on it
 

Shifty Powers

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Make a reservation for dinner at the Olympic Tower in Munich. It is a pretty cool experience:
Restaurant 181 Munich
LEXiiON
It looks like it would be a cool experience. Did not even know about that. Thank you

Prostitutes and drugs!
You got it bud!

I'd recommend totally different itineraries depending on what interests you. There's so much to do, and see in that area. My interests are mostly historical when I go, so I'd say:

Any of the concentration camps are worth visiting. Dachau, and Auschwitz are the two I'd recommend.
The Porsche museum in Stuttgart is pretty good. Tons of old race cars, and rare models.
It was mentioned already, but the Neuschwanstein Castle is good fun, along with many others like the Nuremburg castle.
Aside from that, I'd visit as many of the other historical WW2 sites as you can find.
I do love all things WW2. While maybe not the sole purpose I know my wife will be ok with visiting a site or 2 of historical interest. There is a special hill in Belgium too I want to go to, Waterloo.
This trip is a pretty quick and sporadic one. Which was supposed to be another week and half longer but we got roped into a trip to Italy/France last month. So ya know, take what ya can get. We will use this to judge where we really want to go and spend more time at next time we go. Which I am sure will be everywhere.

Lol same here.

In Munich, check out Marienplatz. I rather enjoy old architecture.

Also, on your drive from Munich to Cologne, I would take the southern route, that way you can hit up Stuttgart for the Porsche's (and Mercedes if you want) and there is a rather inexpensive Bavarian style, Michelin restaurant there. That route will take you through Heidelberg and I would recommend going to see the castle. The tour was pretty cool.

I'm trying to think of anything else.. The Ludwigsburg castle/palace thing is pretty cool too (not as beautiful as a lot of other stuff, and sort of out of the way), the story is interesting with politics and shit. I recommend doing any guided tour you can, can't seem to get all that information from a pamphlet.

If you drink at all, I wouldn't recommend driving.

The Marienplatz looks interesting and i saw that on a menu for a beer garden. Just looked it up and it looks tasty so we will have to give it a try! Good call on going the southern route and possibly hitting up the castle along the way. That could work. Although now the wife is looking at trains.
We dont plan on driving when in the cities. Uber/taxi services and all, or public transportation.
 

Shifty Powers

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Thank you all for the information and recommendations so far. It has been helpful to give me ideas as to what to do.
I appreciate it SVTP!

Does Belgium / Germany use mainly the Type C plug? Seems to be some conflicting info on the ol intrawebz every now and then. But taking that adapter should be a safe bet?
 

Coiled03

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Thank you all for the information and recommendations so far. It has been helpful to give me ideas as to what to do.
I appreciate it SVTP!

Does Belgium / Germany use mainly the Type C plug? Seems to be some conflicting info on the ol intrawebz every now and then. But taking that adapter should be a safe bet?

Just get one of those 10492-way adapters. That way, you're covered for all possibilities.
 

Kevins89notch

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Yeah, I got this one that's like a 2 inch square and you slide things in and out so it covers like 128 countries or so. I've used it in about 30 so far.
 

usafimj

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I may be able to help with some planning since I've been living in Germany since 2011. Most of the places you're going to can be toured by walking everywhere or public trans. You don't need to learn Arabic as someone said. The majority of the people where you'll be visiting will speak English if you ask nicely. Don't be that rude "American". Get your international license if you're planning on renting a car.

- Brussels: Visit Delirium which has the most beers available and its good time. Also, look for the little peeing boy statue. Pretty funny. But also tour the city haha.
- Luxembourg: If you have time visit the WWII cemetery where General Patton is at.
- Munich: Munich is an amazing city. Tour it and when you're thirsty/hungry visit the HofBrauhaus. Take a stop for some wine/beer by the river that runs through it and watch the locals surf. Book a 1hr train ride and visit Dachau Concentration Camp. Its a must do in my book.
- Swarovski Museum: Its cool but meh. For the few days you have it could be better spent on something else. Instead drive to Salzburg or Eagles nest. Driving through Austria one of the most beautiful places I have driven through.
- Cologne: Beautiful cathedral in the city center then walk by the river to the chocolate museum. Another option is to rent a car and visit Burg Eltz castle.
 

VRYALT3R3D

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If you are interested in WW2 history, rockets and Werhner Von Braun, it is worth checking out the Historical Technical Museum in Peenemünde. Peenemünde is where the V2 rockets were designed, tested, and built.

Peenem%C3%BCnde%2038.jpg
 

Shifty Powers

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I may be able to help with some planning since I've been living in Germany since 2011. Most of the places you're going to can be toured by walking everywhere or public trans. You don't need to learn Arabic as someone said. The majority of the people where you'll be visiting will speak English if you ask nicely. Don't be that rude "American". Get your international license if you're planning on renting a car.

- Brussels: Visit Delirium which has the most beers available and its good time. Also, look for the little peeing boy statue. Pretty funny. But also tour the city haha.
- Luxembourg: If you have time visit the WWII cemetery where General Patton is at.
- Munich: Munich is an amazing city. Tour it and when you're thirsty/hungry visit the HofBrauhaus. Take a stop for some wine/beer by the river that runs through it and watch the locals surf. Book a 1hr train ride and visit Dachau Concentration Camp. Its a must do in my book.
- Swarovski Museum: Its cool but meh. For the few days you have it could be better spent on something else. Instead drive to Salzburg or Eagles nest. Driving through Austria one of the most beautiful places I have driven through.
- Cologne: Beautiful cathedral in the city center then walk by the river to the chocolate museum. Another option is to rent a car and visit Burg Eltz castle.

Thanks for the tips. I would not say we are rude by any means and always try to learn at least a few words whenever we go anywhere, normal hello, goodbye, thank you. I know a few german words but nothing crazy (can ask in that).

-Brussels we will definately have to hit Delirium, it looks really cool! Among alot of the other old looking cave-ish type bars.
-Luxembourg we will probably skip sadly. Just limited on time so cramming everything in and not getting enough time is looking to be the case. So this extra day will help.
- For Munich we are 100% visiting the Hofbrauhous, and probably another beer garden or 2. May try to visit a brewery or 2 as well while we are there. Beer was a hobby and i would love to see those real old time breweries (like we will in Belgium). We want to go to Dachau so that is on the list.
Are there particular spots to go and have some wine/beer by the river? That would be nice to do.
Cologne - Cathedral is a must, but I am curious on the chocolate museum. Is it a good time? I presume you get to try some as well?

The Swarovski Museum is a thing my wife wants to do so it is on the list. Thinking of spending the day in Innsbruck after. I do want to do the eagles nest but we are debating it. It is what we may do with that extra day from not going to Luxembourg

Sadly we will probably not drive around.
 

RedRocketMike

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Do you happen to know what parts of the city that may be by any chance?


Ah! Right the concentration camps. I will see if one of them is along our way


haha I plan on it


I don't recall but you'll probably be able to tell if you end up in one, LOL.
 

specracer

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The Olympic park, and lunch at the top of the 50m ski jump, was a really cool experience, that was unexpected for us in Innsbruck.

We have now been in Europe 4 times in the last 4 years, and have rented a car, and driven everywhere including Paris (just back last week, and we drove 1200 miles in France). The car gives us the flexibility to go where ever and when ever. Also allows the flexibility to change the schedule easily. We planned on the Normandy coast for 3 days, we wound up only needing 2 for what we wanted to see, so we changed things real time. The car gave us that flexibility.

As for power, if your wife needs a hair dryer, and is bringing her own (Im told most hotel hair dryers suck) get one of these, as it will provide enough current to run a 110v dryer, as well as other items that need power (we take 2 actually).



The Swarovski Museum is a thing my wife wants to do so it is on the list. Thinking of spending the day in Innsbruck after.
 

Kevins89notch

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Regarding waffles in Bruges....be careful. A lot of places seem to make them in large quantities and then reheat them. When I was there, there was a light tan colored VW bus that would be parked in one of the main squares each night and made them fresh on the spot. Someone told me he had the best in town and they were damn good.
 

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