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

Shifty Powers

The Shifty Mobile
Established Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2006
Messages
4,380
Location
Pennsylvania
Hey guys!
I am heading to Belgium/Germany on 8/28 - 9/9 with my wife. I am looking for some advice on some must see things for those that have been there. Hell, any tips or advice in general would be nice. We will be flying in and out of Brussels.
I am trying to decide on driving most of the time, at least between country to country as it seems to take the least amount of time and allows a little bit more freedom to do what we want and need.

The trip will be as follows for the most part.

1: Arrive in Brussels, head to Bruges for a day or so, then back to Brussels for 2 days. We then head to SPA for the Formula 1 race.
2. The Monday after the race, we will head to Luxembourg for a day and night, because why not?
3. Head from Luxembourg to Germany; Munich specifically. We will take a day trip from Munich and head to the Swarovski museum in Austria and spend the day in the city there as well. (this is obviously something my wife wants to see, but I wont complain).
Then we will spend 2 days in Munich itself and do some touristy type things from there. See the Black Forest, Eagles Nest, I don't know as I am not quite sure. That is what we are figuring out now.
4. From Munich we will then head to Cologne and spend 2 days there.
5. Head back to Brussels for the last normal day of the trip and leave the next day from there.

I will be looking up the touristy type things and whatnot that interests us from this point on. But figured I would ask and see if anyone has been there and has any recommendations.

Thanks again!
 

PhoenixM3

Hello Kitty Slayer
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2012
Messages
6,343
Location
Colorado Springs
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.
 

Kevins89notch

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2005
Messages
6,651
Location
Central Florida
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.
 
Last edited:

Kevins89notch

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2005
Messages
6,651
Location
Central Florida
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.
 

tistan

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2005
Messages
5,976
Location
savannah
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 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.
 

derklug

Seriously? No, never.
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
May 28, 2012
Messages
4,415
Location
Mi
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.
 

FJohnny

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
May 17, 2018
Messages
2,225
Location
AB, Canada
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.
 

Kevins89notch

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2005
Messages
6,651
Location
Central Florida
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.

I recommend these guys: Rent4Ring Gmbh & Co. KG


SUZUKI SWIFT STAGE 2
s2b.jpg

The latest incarnation of the Suzuki Swift Sport, the new model builds on all the strengths of the previous model while losing nothing. Likewise, Rent4Ring have worked on improving our Stage 2 specification with new components...

• Stripped out and fitted with a full Wiechers rollcage, racing seats and harnesses
• Upgraded with KW or Öhlins DFV suspension and modified geometry
• lightweight, 15" alloys
• Racing four-into-one exhaust and sports air intake
• Upgraded brakes with top-spec Endless Racing pads, fluid and hoses.
• More power (136hp) than the previous model
• Six-speed gearbox


I know the want of a 500hp Ferrari, but honestly, the Swift was perfect. The Ring has so many curves and so few straight aways that suspension is more important, and it handled amazingly. I even drove in the rain, and passed a C5.

The car with gas prepaid and 3 laps, I think was like 250 US. The deposit you put down is $3,000. When you get back, they check the wheels for any curb damage, a quick plug in of a laptop to make sure you didn't redline the engine, and you're good to go.

The owner of the company was friends with the owner of the small hotel I stayed at, who offered to take me to dinner (I may have been the only guest), and the owner of the Rent4Ring came to dinner as well...with a story to tell when the hotel owner say, "How was your day?" ....Young Aussie comes in, want a badass car, demands their week old BMW 1 series. Owner tries to talk him out of it saying he didn't need the power, and it was raining too. He insists. Ok, 10K deposit, here's the keys, but only if you go with an instructor (who can tell him to let up for which corners, etc). 1/4th the way around the first lap he ignores suggestions and send the ass end sideways and into a barrier. Track shut down, wrecker called, police, into the track office....dude is in tears crying saying he can't afford 10K. Actually his bill would have been more too as they charge you per minute to shut the ring down, they charge you per foot to replace the barriers and they charge you to tow your car, plus cleanup fees. 12K maybe?


...so yeah, there's that story/advice. Don't be Johnny Racecar driver, take an underpowered car, and drive with caution. I did and two corners still had my asshole puckering.
 

RedRocketMike

A Member Well Known
Established Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
6,714
Location
PA
Have you been to the cities OP is asking about or just making baseless fox news level accusations?

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.
 
Last edited:

TK1299

Meh
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2017
Messages
6,427
Location
Houston, TX
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,
6fc2ee5f47e6e8c36c284ce29c1eb573.jpg
 

tistan

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2005
Messages
5,976
Location
savannah
I recommend these guys: Rent4Ring Gmbh & Co. KG


SUZUKI SWIFT STAGE 2
View attachment 1582033
The latest incarnation of the Suzuki Swift Sport, the new model builds on all the strengths of the previous model while losing nothing. Likewise, Rent4Ring have worked on improving our Stage 2 specification with new components...

• Stripped out and fitted with a full Wiechers rollcage, racing seats and harnesses
• Upgraded with KW or Öhlins DFV suspension and modified geometry
• lightweight, 15" alloys
• Racing four-into-one exhaust and sports air intake
• Upgraded brakes with top-spec Endless Racing pads, fluid and hoses.
• More power (136hp) than the previous model
• Six-speed gearbox


I know the want of a 500hp Ferrari, but honestly, the Swift was perfect. The Ring has so many curves and so few straight aways that suspension is more important, and it handled amazingly. I even drove in the rain, and passed a C5.

The car with gas prepaid and 3 laps, I think was like 250 US. The deposit you put down is $3,000. When you get back, they check the wheels for any curb damage, a quick plug in of a laptop to make sure you didn't redline the engine, and you're good to go.

The owner of the company was friends with the owner of the small hotel I stayed at, who offered to take me to dinner (I may have been the only guest), and the owner of the Rent4Ring came to dinner as well...with a story to tell when the hotel owner say, "How was your day?" ....Young Aussie comes in, want a badass car, demands their week old BMW 1 series. Owner tries to talk him out of it saying he didn't need the power, and it was raining too. He insists. Ok, 10K deposit, here's the keys, but only if you go with an instructor (who can tell him to let up for which corners, etc). 1/4th the way around the first lap he ignores suggestions and send the ass end sideways and into a barrier. Track shut down, wrecker called, police, into the track office....dude is in tears crying saying he can't afford 10K. Actually his bill would have been more too as they charge you per minute to shut the ring down, they charge you per foot to replace the barriers and they charge you to tow your car, plus cleanup fees. 12K maybe?


...so yeah, there's that story/advice. Don't be Johnny Racecar driver, take an underpowered car, and drive with caution. I did and two corners still had my asshole puckering.
Oh yeah, I forgot about that part about insurance doesn't cover damage you cause to the ring or other cars on the ring.

I rented the bmw 2 series because I wanted rear wheel drive due to never having owned a front wheel drive car. It was caged and on full race suspension. I didn't get the stick shift because I didn't want to worry about shifting. I took it easy on the carousels because according to the briefing it is very easy to take out a oil pan on them.

I actually didn't get my last lap in because someone wrecked and shut the ring down for rest of the day. I don't remember them saying you pay for the time the ring is closed.
 

Coiled03

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2004
Messages
12,265
Location
IL
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.
 

AustinSN

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Beer Money Bros.
Joined
Jan 29, 2014
Messages
6,408
Location
the plains
I was going to say visit the Porsche museum, you beat me to it.
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.
 

Users who are viewing this thread



Top