Acropolis, Ostende

Advantages: Good quality, cheap shops
Disadvantages: Absolutely none

...Having visited Ostend on several different occasions (mostly for day trips) I am in love with the place! Oostende as the locals call it is a town known mainly for it’s fish market along the seafront although this isn’t the only reason to visit. It has beautiful clean beaches, nice shops and seriously reasonable prices. Ostend is only a 2 hour trip from Dover on the hoverspeed seacat and at a cost of around £10 for a day return ticket (you can easily save that in duty free shop onboard) is well within reach of some of the tightest budgets, especially when you consider that you can save £16 on 200 british cigarettes there. When you arrive at the port there is always a warm welcome with most people speaking English and life suddenly slows down…nobody hurries in Ostend, there is very little traffic through the town and most people prefer... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Good base for exploring, good selection of shops, bars and restaurants.
Disadvantages: Not as pretty as some other places. Building work is a problem at the moment.

...We have just got back from a wonderful trip to Belgium. Our holiday was based in Ostende and before we set off I hadn’t really heard much about it and found getting a guide book on this area very difficult. So I thought I would relate my experiences of the place and what we found to see and do while visiting. We were only there for four days and spent most of the days out and about, but we did have a chance to explore Ostende and to use the local transport frequently. ~~~USEFUL INFO. Ostende is located in an area of Belgium known as West Flanders, not far from Bruges and Gent and around 70 miles from Brussels. It is a coastal resort, located in the centre of Belgium’s coastline, which also has ferry and Hovercraft terminals, a train station, a tram link and a fishing port. There has been a link between Dover and Ostende for over... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Beaches, sunshine, friendly locals, oh and waffles
Disadvantages: Steer clear of the grotty port area...

...Ostend is a totally underrated seaside resort that enjoys far better weather than its location suggests: Compared with British towns directly on the North Sea, the conditions are far more conducive to an enjoyable day out at the seaside than you might expect. Ostend and the neighbouring towns boast miles of beautifully smooth, golden beaches that are clean and unspoilt. There are plenty of beach cabins and loads of space to stretch out and enjoy the sun or play an impromptu game of beach football, and on the Ostend promenade you have a wide range of places to eat and drink, most of which offer good quality Belgian food at prices that are not excessive. Whatever you do, make time to sit in a restaurant and try a pot of mussels, a local speciality. The largely Flemish-speaking locals are generally friendly and willing to speak English... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful