Ghent from Brussels

Ghent is a lively medieval city in East Flanders, in Belgium's Flemish Region, about 55 km northwest of Brussels. Frequent SNCB trains run from Brussels-Central to Ghent-Sint-Pieters station in 35 to 40 minutes, making the train the clear choice over driving, since the centre has a low-emission zone, a traffic circulation plan and limited parking. From Koningin Maria Hendrikaplein, tram 1 reaches Korenmarkt in the heart of the old town in around 15 minutes, and walking takes roughly 40 minutes. The city's best-known sights sit close together. The Graslei and Korenlei quays face each other across the Leie river and are lined with guild houses. Gravensteen, the 12th-century castle of the counts of Flanders, rises nearby and has an audio guide and rooftop views. St Bavo's Cathedral holds the Ghent Altarpiece by the van Eyck brothers, which requires a timed ticket. The belfry and the Cloth Hall stand beside it, and the Patershol quarter offers narrow lanes with small restaurants. A one-day arc can begin with the cathedral and altarpiece in the morning, when queues are shortest, followed by the belfry and a walk to Graslei for lunch. The afternoon suits Gravensteen, a boat tour on the canals, and an evening stroll to see the quays lit up. Food stops include the Groentenmarkt, where cuberdons, cone-shaped raspberry sweets, are sold, plus waterzooi, the local chicken or fish stew, and the mustard from Tierenteyn-Verlent. Mid-sized cafés around Korenmarkt and Vrijdagmarkt serve quick lunches. The city works year-round, but summer is the peak, particularly in July during the Gentse Feesten, a ten-day street festival that fills the centre and makes accommodation and trains busy. Spring and early autumn offer mild weather and calmer streets. A return ticket from Brussels costs about €10 to €14 each way, so the trip is inexpensive, and late trains back to Brussels allow a relaxed evening in Ghent without a hurried departure.