4 Wonderful Weeks in Ghent, Belgium

We just finished four full weeks (30 days to be precise) in Ghent, Belgium. This is what I've learned, what I've loved and what I'll want to see again. Ghent is a city you can walk and discovery. What you're probably most interested in the cost, financial or otherwise.

Monthly Pass for Trams and Buses by De Lijn in Flanders

Transport Systems Buses, Trams, and Trains:

The Public transport is superb.  We bought a one month De Lijn  (https://www.delijn.be/en/).  The trams and bus connections are incredible and timely. Frequency of both left us with no need to have a car.  Of course, we had the time to travel by buses.  We even went to Antwerp by bus from Ghent to see the smaller villages and towns along the way. Brugge, Oostende, Knokke Heist, are all linked by the De Lijn transport system.  If you have the time, this is the best transport your money can buy. For Euros 38 we had unlimited travel on all their buses and trams. The Train system is equally great. Weekend tickets cost half the price. The special tickets are return tickets only. The weekend starts on Friday and ends on Sunday midnight. So if you leave on Friday you need to come back on Sat or Sun.  But if you want to do a day trip. You can leave on Sat or Sun and come back the same day.

Ghent is beautiful during the day!

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At night, the Historic Ghent lights up!

BONUS: we saw the open air free Piano Play in Ghent. The city has placed 8 Piano's in Ghent for everyone to enjoy and play music.  So at night we went to see who was playing.  We got there at 11 pm just a few minutes late, because the city official had come to lock up the Piano.  We got into talking to her.  We asked her about the Town Hall, as we had not been able to go in.  I told her I am writing a blog on my travels and she was gracious to tell us to come the following day and she would give us a private tour of the Town Hall. She gave us her business card and told us to give it to the reception and ask them to call her.  What Luck! So we went just after 10 am and told them at the reception that we had an appointment with her.  She came down from her office and shook hands with us and gave us a guided tour of the Chapel where couples get married.  Also, we got to see the Coronation Hall which is preserved in its period. She took us down to what used to be the Kitchen, where the old stove is still preserved.  But the room is used as a meeting room for the city.  It is very charming. We are grateful to Kaat Heirbrant  who was so gracious to show us around and gave us information on this part of Ghents history. The same day, there was a scene that was going to be shot in the coronation room, as we saw lights placed strategically for the movie shoot. We Thank you Kaat, for giving us an opportunity to experience your rich culture.

I guess we were there at the time when the "Emperor" shooting was scheduled.  Large sets with people dressed in  Medieval costumes in large numbers is what we saw.  An original setting for a historical movie, the birthplace of King Charles V.