Hot Travel | Deadly in Ghent

Where exactly is it?

Ghent, a port city in northwest Belgium, is home to a quarter-of-a-million people and is located in the Dutch speaking part of the country known as the Flemish region (so don't rock up thinking you can dust off the cobwebs and break out your Leaving Cert French just yet).

How do I get there?

Pretty simply. We recommend keeping a keen eye out for flights on Ryanair, where you can bag yourself a cheap deal from Dublin to Brussels if you book in advance. The price for a return ticket to Brussels tends to be as low as 60 euro for a weekend visit.

What is the transport like?

The actual train system of Belgium (which you'll ultimately use no matter how short your visit) is pretty regular and cheap, but a word of warning - always, always buy a ticket as you get checked on every journey no matter how short (so, for the Luas chancers out there, don't say you haven't been warned!) Aside from that, the city centre of Ghent is a welcome place for pedestrians, and you can see the lion's share of the city on foot.

What's the nightlife like?

Ghent is a university city, so it has an active nightlife scene. But unlike some university cities, it's not just a strip of nightclubs with 2-for-1 vodka shots and, if you're lucky, a shift under the dodgy pyrotechnics (although we're not judging). In Ghent, there's a huge variety of places to discover.

There's the classic club called Club 69 (Oude Beestenmarkt 5 9000 Gent, +324 9523 6423; [email protected]), where you can dance the night away to some of Belgium's best DJs. Also, there's Charlaton (Vlasmarkt 6, 9000 Gent, Belgium, +32 9 224 24 57), which has been described as the 'epicentre of Ghent nightlife.'

If youre looking for something a little different, go to Abacho 2K18 - Silent Disco (Hoogpoort 12/A 9000 Gent, +324 9698 2498; [email protected]), which is Belgium's first silent disco and always provides a memorable night.

For the music heads, Kinky Star (Jeugd Ð & Muziekcentrum Kinky Star vzw Vlasmarkt 9 9000 Gent, +32 9 223 48 45; [email protected]) is the place to be. It's part of the locally-renowned Kinky Star record label, so you'll usually find local musicians grooving to alternative DJs.

Elsewhere, Bar des Amis (Vlasmarkt 5 9000 Gent; email [email protected]) is a cosy watering hole close to the other hotspots, so the atmosphere combines the hustle and bustle of nightlife with a casual drinking experience. Also worth checking out is Trefpunt (Bij Sint-Jacobs 18, 9000 Gent, +32 9 225 36 76; [email protected]), a small bar run by the titular non-profit organisation, where the crowd is a mixture of young and old and there is the odd jam session.

What is the drink like?

You know that annoying stereotype people give the Irish, where we're all ginger and potatoes are our only food group? For Belgium their 'stereotype' is waffles, chocolate and beer. But unlike the Emerald Isle, the Belgian stereotype is largely true. To get an experience of the true variety of beers that Belgium has to offer, we advise you to go to De Dulle Greit (Vrijdagmarkt 50 9000 Genttel: +32 (0)9 224 24 55; [email protected]), which serves a whopping 500 local and international beers.

What's the food like?

You have the best waffles and chocolate in the world - what do you think? Line your stomach with helpings of waffles in Etablissement Max (goudenleeuwplein 3. 9000 gent, +32 9 223 97 31; etablissementmax.be). It's a restaurant/tea room/waffle house which serves Belgian cuisine; the founder Max is also known for inventing the unique 'Brussels' waffle.

Much like the nightlife, Ghent has restaurants to please the fussiest of clientele. For breakfast you should go to Koffeine (Lange Kruisstraat 6 Gent, +324 859 99178; [email protected]), a coffee and breakfast bar using local products set in a relaxed atmosphere. For lunch, we advise you to visit Parnassus (Oude Houtlei 122, 9000 Gent, +32 9 223 23 41; parnassus.be). Constructed in a refitted church, Parnassus is a social employment project, which gives people who have limited labour opportunities the chance to work. So, you get a great meal while helping the community.

Finally, for dinner, try some pizza at Otomat (Kleine Vismarkt 3 9000 Gent, +329 278 0404; [email protected]). Here, 'it's pizza with a twist', as they use brewery yeast instead of regular yeast in their dough (it's delicious, trust us), and the interior is a former 17th-century inn with most of the original facade mostly intact.

What are the touristy things to do?

There are numerous landmarks to visit in the city. A must-see is the Castle Of The Counts, which gives you an insight into the truly turbulent past of Ghent and Belgium in general. Elsewhere, St Michael's Bridge is an ideal - and Instagram ready - vantage point to soak up the sites of the city.

What should I bring home?

Belgium is known for amazing chocolate and this is a perfect gift to bring home to your loved ones. The place to buy it is Chocolaterie CŽdric van Hoorebek (Jan Breydelstraat 1, 9000 Gent, +32 9 224 25 10; chocolatesvanhoorebeke.be), which serves both traditional and innovative chocolate. When you enter, you are surrounded by a delicious selection of hand-crafted chocolates, making you feel like you've stepped into a Roald Dahl classic.

Why should I go?

Ghent is a magical city combining the old and the new. From strolling through the historic city centre to partying in the various nightclubs and unique restaurants, you can be as pretentious as you want or act like a cringy tourist. You can also go for a chilled uni semester or head out for a 'lads on tour' holiday. It'll accommodate any type of visit.

When should I go?

With Belgium's weather being a lot like Ireland's (ie. unpredictable), we advise that you don't base your decision on whether you'll get a tan or not. However, summer is still the best time of year because of the array of festivals taking place. There's PolŽ PolŽ (July 13-22), which is when the town comes alive for 10 days of live pop, Latina, world music and amazing afterparties. There are also performances across the city including free music gigs, street theatre and parades. As an alternative, there's always The Patershol festivities (August 10 -12) which offers a more chilled atmosphere. It's a large-scale neighbourhood street party, where you'll get a perfect sense of Belgian culture.

Anything else?

Make sure you set aside some time to walk around the city at night! The city comes alive in a way you wouldn't expect, with the squares and buildings illuminated by inspiring light displays. The entire place glows in a truly unique way. Ghent is made for late-night wandering...