Ghent > Ghent Experience

Advantages: Sweet Belgian city with some interesting unique things to see
Disadvantages: Not booming out of season

...oh, so charming ... Ghent was our the other city we spent time in during our recent trip to Belgium, and I think I preferred it to Antwerp. Your initial feeling when entering a foreign city for a first time can often be an indication of how much you'll enjoy your stay - it's not about how good a city is on paper, or how other people perceive it, but what you think of it that really matters, and Ghent and I got on like a house on fire. Ghent has ...
...the most picturesque streets in Ghent which is saying something in a place as scenic as this. Across the river is the castle, located unusually in what is now a residential area - there are shops a few meters away, houses round the corner, a row of cafés a little further on. Despite the different location (aren't castles supposed to be on the top of a hill, or in a field or something?) it's well worth popping in, although the entrance fee is a bit ... Read review

Advantages: Very attractive city, superb food and beer, easy to visit with good parking
Disadvantages: None

When people think of a day trip to Belgium most immediately think of Brussels and I would not argue, Brussels is well worth seeing. After that Bruges is probably the next most popular choice and again having visited it I can see why. But I would also make the case for a visit to Gent which is underrated and in my view as pretty as most Belgian cities. Gent is only half an hour away from Bruges. It is similar in architecture but there is a lot more ...
...walking around is no problem. The tourist information offices have a very useful free guide which details some suggested walking tours taking from 2 hours to much longer. I had driven in to the heart of the city and parked at the Vrijdagmarkt which has an 24hr underground parking area which was quite reasonable. The Vrijdagmarkt itself is a wide square surrounded by eating places and shops. As I was visiting in the evening I settled at one of the ... Read review

Advantages: Wonderful buildings, great bars and lots to do.
Disadvantages: Not quite as pretty as Bruges.

...~~~USEFUL INFO. Ghent is in an area of Belgium called East Flanders (Ostende is in the neighbouring region of West Flanders…Ned Flanders is a character in the Simpsons and shouldn’t be confused with any of these areas!). The main language of Ghent is Flemish, but you will hear French too and English is very widely spoken (occasionally you will hear German as well). The city is a great base for visiting the other Belgium tourist spots of Bruges, ...
...covers them all too! Ghent used to be one of the largest cities in Europe and was famous for its cloth. It is still a popular place for visitors, but isn’t as busy as Bruges or Brussels, while still having all the features that make it an ideal place for a day trip. The city is located where the rivers Lys and Scheldt meet and is packed full of history. ~~~GETTING ABOUT. Once you arrive at the train station you can either walk, take a taxi, get ... Read review

Advantages: beautiful architecture,friendly people,good ale
Disadvantages: smell,traffic

Ghent to us, Gand in French and Gent for the Flemish: bear this in mind, as I nearly ended up in Genk....in the South when in the station in Brussels.This was my first short visit to Belgium and I have decided I love the place. Brussels itself just seemed scary as all we saw was the train station and airport, think london underground rush hour....eek, however Ghent itself is a compact and beautiful city, with most of the sights centre around the ...
...at one end and the tourist information at the other, with many little taverns and restaurants,and not a long walk from the Stadhuis and St. Niklaskerk, both of which are worth seeing. The people are very friendly, most speaking perfect English, which was useful when I found out the hard way that it is a Flemish speaking area!!!Also the beautiful castle is worth a visit, it costs bf200 to get in but the views are spectacular of the city, and there ... Read review