The alternative city guide to Ghent, Belgium
The second in our series of guides to Europe’s alt cities takes us to Ghent, a medieval masterpiece on the surface, but bang up to date with its underground music scene, cutting-edge design and...
View ArticleThe best of Ghent, Belgium: readers' travel tips
Scenic canal routes, awe-inspiring grafitti, potent cocktails and a vibrant arthouse cinema – our readers share their favourite spots to visit in the cityThe alternative city guide to Ghent,...
View ArticleThe alternative city guide to Ghent, Belgium
The second in our series of guides to Europe’s alt cities takes us to Ghent, a medieval masterpiece on the surface, but bang up to date with its underground music scene, cutting-edge design and...
View ArticleThe best of Ghent, Belgium: readers' travel tips
Scenic canal routes, awe-inspiring grafitti, potent cocktails and a vibrant arthouse cinema – our readers share their favourite spots to visit in the cityThe alternative city guide to Ghent,...
View ArticleConscious choices: an ethical trip to Ghent, Belgium
A young and principled population supporting socially aware businesses from food to fashion mean Belgium’s third-largest city is perfect for an eco-friendly breakWhen Lokaal, a cooperatively run vegan...
View ArticleBelgium’s Bath: a spa break in Spa
The Ardennes town that gave its name to spa towns the world over was known to the Romans, and its baths and pretty setting are still the perfect place to unwindGazing out at a cold, bright winter sky,...
View ArticleThe adoration of Ghent: art, history and flavours in Flanders
Medieval and magical, vibrant and edgy – the Belgian city is a sensory overloadPlundered, dismantled and stolen, it’s a miracle that the Ghent Altarpiece– also known as the Adoration of the Mystic...
View Article10 of the best music venues in Brussels
The Belgian capital swings to jazz, dance and the avant garde, as well as pleasing rock fans, at multi-stage venues and intimate clubsMore than a century old, AB, as the locals call it, is a...
View ArticleEndless dunes and beach cabanas – that’s summer on Belgium’s coast
It only spans 40 miles but the Belgian coast is one long line of fun resorts, nature reserves and beaches, all linked by the world’s longest tramline Desperate for crashing waves on a beautiful sandy...
View Article10 holiday highlights of this strange summer: readers’ tips
Waterfalls and wildflowers, beavers, bike rides, a Dales sunrise … our readers share their magical escapes from reality this yearWe decided to try a trip to Belgium, as it isn’t a particularly long...
View ArticleBrussels city guide: what to see plus the best bars, hotels and restaurants
Ignore the cynics, Brussels is one of Europe’s most cosmopolitan cities, with hip bars and cafes, vintage markets and a fine line in the ‘9th Art’Living in Paris, I am used to getting a surprised look...
View ArticleThe Belgian festival where the fountains flow with gin
In Belgium, jenever, the juniper-infused gin prototype, is still a popular tipple and is celebrated each October with a riotous festival in the town of HasseltAll hail jenever – the precursor to gin...
View ArticleIn defence of Brussels: ‘If you actually know it, you probably love it’
Ignore the sceptics, this is a fabulous city, says a longtime fan – especially Ixelles, the vibrant multicultural quarter where Audrey Hepburn was born Coming home from a holiday last week, I had a...
View ArticleVintage stuff: Belgium’s biggest flea market
Tongeren, Belgium’s oldest town founded in the first century AD, is also home to a vast and fascinating flea market. Perfect for a weekend treasure huntI wake on Sunday morning in Tongeren like a kid...
View ArticleMicro chips: Brussels' friteries get stylish redesign as mirrored shacks
The kiosks serving frites, Belgium’s favourite street food, are getting a design revamp that will include mirrored facades and personalised signsNo trip to Brussels is complete without a stop at a...
View ArticleA local’s guide to Brussels: 10 top tips
The Belgian capital isn’t all boring Eurocrats: a cast of creative types are busy doing their arty things – often with humour and a social conscienceVeer sharply left by the Chanel store on Boulevard...
View ArticleThe baroque delights of Antwerp
Historic Antwerp is opening its gilded stucco doors to lovers of Europe’s most decadent styleAntwerp was once the mighty cog that turned world trade. Sitting at the mouth of the River Scheldt, it...
View Article10 of the best craft-beer bars in Brussels
This selection of breweries and bars underlines Belgium’s place as a beer hotspot and may whet your appetite for the BXLBeerFest at the end of AugustA stone’s throw from the Grand Place, in the middle...
View ArticleSeasonal city breaks: 10 of the best pre-Christmas European getaways
From a bedecked Zagreb to twinkling Turin, here are the best places to spark your festive spiritWith an ice-skating rink, a huge ferris wheel and an attractive Christmas market (7 December-6 January),...
View ArticleBradley Wiggins’ tour of Flanders
‘You couldn’t find a small area with more cycling history or more hospitality.’ Ahead of tomorrow’s big race, Wiggo takes us for a spin around his favourite hills, cafes and villagesAn hour into our...
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