How to spend top weekend in Gent - ideas on extraordinary attractions and sites

Do traditional boat rides on Ghent canals sound nothing new to you? If so, it’s time to choose a more interesting and non-standard type of service – a ride in a horse-drawn carriage. Not far from the main city cathedral, on Sint-Baafsplein Square, travelers will find beautiful open top carriages, so during such a ride nothing will prevent you from admiring landmarks and beautiful places of the historical district. The ride in a horse-driven carriage usually lasts 30 minutes and covers the most picturesque places of the historical area. Such an entertainment is available for travelers starting from Easter holidays and until the beginning of October. The cost of the aristocratic pastime will please eve budget travelers – as up to five people can seat in the carriage at a time, in this case, the price per person will not exceed 6 – 7 euro.

If a walk on picturesque medieval streets of Ghent in a complete solitude sounds like a dream to you, there is nothing difficult in making that dream come true. It’s hard to imagine that something like that is possible in a popular tourist destination like Ghent, but all doubts will disappear when you walk away from the noisy central area and head to Patershol quarter. This is a unique neighborhood with carefully preserved medieval buildings. It’s a true miracle that Patershol is hidden from the tourist noise that is so typical for Ghent nowadays. In the 17th century, weavers, who worked in the local factory, lived in this part of the city. Starting from the middle of the 19th century, Patershol was considered a “red light street”. Nowadays, the historical quarter is the location of elite residences and shops, so noisy groups of tourists are quite rare guests on its shadowy streets.

If you are a foodie and are eager to try something new, consider visiting Crypte restaurant. This place never ceases to amaze visitors not by its unique delicacies or high prices, but because of location in one of the oldest crypts in Ghent. Naturally, not much has remained from the previous design of the crypt as the building has been completely reconstructed. Nevertheless, many sensitive people prefer not to enter the venue, while hundreds of locals already know where to go when they want to enjoy a great dinner – they head to the ancient crypt to taste new signature dishes. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

If visits to unusual dining facilities are not your cup of tea, let’s start with something more traditional and attend Pakhuis restaurant. It is also open in quite an unusual place – an old warehouse with the well-preserved original look. Guests of the restaurant are offered to try the most popular dishes of Flemish and French cuisines. The restaurant is also distinguished by a peaceful atmosphere.

If you’re always in a hurry, there is one more unusual way to admire the beauty of Ghent. You will have literally an opportunity to run in the most beautiful places of the city. The City Running Tours Gent agency offers running excursions in Ghent, so, together with a guide, guests of the city can run in the most picturesque streets and parks, making stops in the most interesting or beautiful places. The excursions are very popular with travelers of different ages and are distinguished by numerous routes available.

It would be a big mistake to make a vacation in Ghent and leave the city without visiting one of the oldest breweries in Belgium. A visit to Gruut Stadsbrouwerij is recommended even for tourists who don’t really like the internationally famous drink. After a brief excursion in the brewery, guests are invited to the cozy tasting hall. When the weather permits, it’s possible to taste different sorts of beer on the open terrace. Gruut Stadsbrouwerij is the only place where visitors can try a unique sort of amber beer, which cannot be found anywhere else in the country, and sample the original taste of drinks made with various herbs.