Ghent

Ghent was by far our favorite city in Flanders. It has plenty of things for visitors to enjoy: a castle, a cathedral and other grand churches, river fronts lined with beautiful old houses, fascinating museums about history and art, cobbled streets, sidewalk cafes, good shops and restaurants, and wonderful chocolate. Despite all of that, Ghent has far fewer visitors than places like Bruges or Amsterdam, and the presence of a university keeps it feeling young and lively. It’s a great place to savor medieval churches and guild halls, stroll picturesque old streets, sip a drink in a riverfront cafe, or learn about Flemish history and architecture at leisure without being swallowed by crowds of tourists.