We probably never would have considered a trip to Ghent, but the terrace outside our cottage in Bruges was being rebuilt and the owner graciously arranged for us to take a side trip to Ghent for a week. Ghent is a lovely city with a younger vibe than Bruges. In fact, it may have the nicest waterfront hostel I’ve ever seen. We try to at least take a day trip to Ghent whenever we’re in Bruges because we liked it so much.
At the town center, you’ll find the Graslie (a quay along the Leie river) that’s lined with bars and restaurants. There are several river tours available and, in the summer, you’ll also see lots of people kayaking. One day, we were at a river front bar and two young girls floated by in a tiny blow up boat with their feet dangling into the water sharing a bottle of wine. Ah, youth!
We’ve stayed at two amazing – and very different – places in Ghent.
- The Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof is a gorgeous, comfortable and reasonably priced hotel where you’ll be treated well and I promise you’ll thoroughly enjoy your stay. It’s also close to everything and has a beautiful garden and spa. There are also several options for dining and a great coffee/liquor bar. The breakfasts are amazing.
- For a truly unique experience, you can opt for The Verhaegen, a boutique bed and breakfast housed in a beautifully restored and very large home. The Verhaegen was built as a winter residence in the late 1700s by the Count and Countes Diane-Steenhuyze. It later became home to baron Arthur Verhaegen, hence the name. Every corner of the B&B is filled with antique and curiosities, yet its amazing comfortable and private. The gardens are impeccable and shocking gorgeous.
When in Ghent, take time to stroll along the Graslei. You can also check out St. Nicholas’ Church, the Belfry and St. Bavo’s Cathedral. The architecture is impressive. Meander along the many downtown streets for great shopping and countless restaurants and bars.
One of our favorite shops (in both Bruges and Ghent) is Dille & Kamille. It’s a gorgeous home and kitchen shop where we always seem to find cute remembrances for back home (e.g., cloth animal Christmas ornaments, plates, dishes, utensils and great canvas shopping bags that I use all the time for groceries and farmer’s markets).
Places to eat and drink:
- Ray’s is a bar near the Graslei that looks like a greenhouse. Stop in for a quick drink.
- Il Folletto is a tiny Italian restaurant hidden down a side street where the owner will chat with you and you’ll enjoy authentic Italian in a warm and cozy atmosphere.
- Manhattn’s Burgers, located on the Graslei, is a great burger place with inventive burger options.
- Le Pain Quotidien (there are several, even in the US, but this one is especially nice) is the place to go for a great coffee and delicious breakfast. Bring a book and enjoy some downtime or people watch.
Last summer, we were in Ghent during the Ghent Festivities, so it was quite busy with live music and all sorts of activities. It was surprisingly fun – especially watching how they transformed the Graslei into a performance stage with several pop up bars. The nice thing is that the city center is quite large and spread out, so even during this popular event, it still didn’t feel too crowded. Music must be Ghent’s thing, because the first time we visited, we happened upon an open air music concert – and while we didn’t recognize a single song (or any of the words) – we had a great time. Especially watching the locals eat small fish whole at a pop up at the concert. I wasn’t brave enough to give them a try!
Ghent may not be on your radar, but I highly recommend it. Most of the people in the restaurants and shops speak English and it’s not as flooded with tourists as typical European destinations. It’s such a beautiful city!
Best,
Lisa
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