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As per my introduction post, I've been getting into beers big time recently (after dabbling for about a year or two.) A friend who is big into beer has suggested we go on holliers to Belgium sometime in the new year, between January and March probably.

Anyone do this before? There's no flights from Cork, so it'll mean getting the train up to Dublin. And as always Ryanair are much cheaper. After that I don't know how to start planning this. The big sticking point will obviously be that neither of us want to drive (and in fact I can't drive and the other guy isn't very comfortable driving) because we'll want to be drinking.

The one place I've been told I must go to is Westvleteren centre. But apart from that I haven't a clue. Anyone have any advice?

The 2012 Bruges Beer festival is on sometime in February. I went in 2010 and it was fantastic. Lots of small/medium-sized breweries packed into a gorgeous venue.

If it's just a weekend break, hit the festival, slip in a quick visit to Cantillon and spend the rest of the time lounging at Chez Moeder Lambic.

If you are flying from Dublin then why not fly from Cork to Dublin first. Train is not cheap and a taxi to the airport is €20.

"Philip":1wv3fu4e wrote: The one place I've been told I must go to is Westvleteren centre. But apart from that I haven't a clue. Anyone have any advice?[/quote:1wv3fu4e]

I wouldn't put too much of a priority on visiting Westvleteren. It's biggest attraction is basically its elusiveness, but there's not too much to see there. It's in a pretty barren part of the country (in winter anyway) and the monastery/brewery isn't open to the public. There's a huge restaurant/cafe down the road that caters to the large numbers of visitors but it's definitely a commercial enterprise, not like the cafe I had imagined in my head at all <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) --> Having said all that though, I am glad I went... <!-- s:lol: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_lol.gif" alt="" title="Laughing" /><!-- s:lol: -->

There's a few pics here[/url:1wv3fu4e]. That's the cafe in the fifth photo (entrance form the other side)

There's no way to get to Westvlettern except by car and there's NOTHING and I mean NOTHING else out there.

Brugges and Ghent are not only incredibly beautiful but they have loads of great places to drink; and you can even find a Westvlettern to try there if you look carefully.

Even Brussels has a huge number of great places to drink, but Brugges and Ghent have the complete package of being beautiful, authentic, and having loads of great beer.


I can't speak to Antwerp, though.
We're trying to close a contract at work for a project in Brussels for me in February so I'm super excited at the prospect of getting back to Belgium. (Be prepared to gain a lot of weight there.)


Adam

I would agree with the general advice here, and go to somewhere (such as Bruges) where there is plenty to see and do as well as drink beer!

For me, the train is the only way to travel in Belgium. And if you fly to Charleroi, you can buy a ticket (single or return) to anywhere in Belgium for a reduced price. And that includes the local bus from Charleroi airport to Charleroi train station. You just write your destination on the ticket.

And they tell me that a visit to Cantillon in Brussels is very worthwhile