Ghent - A hidden gem in Belgium

Sometimes you look at a photo and strongly feel the urge to visit the place. It happened to me when I was scouting for a place to spend three days on a long weekend. The photo which captured my heart was of the riverbank of Ghent.

Love these buildings!

When I read further about the city I found that it was exactly what I was looking for. Not too touristy, not too difficult to reach or explore by public transport and not too far away from Düsseldorf (my home away from home). Ghent is located in the Flanders region (north) of Belgium. People speak mostly Dutch but thankfully they also speak some English.

Ghent is called a medieval city and its apparent as soon as you reach the city centre. But it is not locked in a time capsule, the old and the new go hand in hand here.

So in the city centre you will find horse carriages (for tourists) as well as trams running seamlessly on the roads. Riding bicycles is also preferred by the locals. Owing to the Ghent University there is a strong student population which makes the city vibrant with young energy.

Here there is something for everyone. There are canals crisscrossing the city, a 12th century castle, impressive churches, museums and three medieval towers that overlook the old city centre. By travelling just 20 minutes on the bus from the city centre and you can reach a beautiful lake with sandy beach and a camping area.

Wanna play on the slide and then in the sand!!

Serene!!

All cities are fast becoming similar to each other with same food chains, same clothing brands and similar high rise buildings. It was refreshing to see that a city can still preserve its authenticity. I hope Ghent stays a hidden gem for people to find and rejoice.