Ostend

Spoiled by the bright sun of Turkey and Egypt, tourists from Russia rarely look at the coast of the North Sea, whether it be Germany, Belgium or even France. Meanwhile, in such places there is a unique charm. This fully applies to Ostend - a small Belgian town that has been repeatedly sung by singers, writers and musicians (to recall at least the famous French playwright Eric Emmanuel Schmitt and his "Dreamer from Ostend" or the respected performer in France Leo Ferre).

For me, Ostend was a real discovery: before traveling here, I had no idea that on the North Sea you can relax perfectly. I watched in surprise as hundreds of Belgians drove to Ostend on huge days with huge beach bags in their luggage. But not in vain: in Ostend one of the widest beaches that I have ever seen. The infrastructure for recreation here is also excellent.

Interestingly, Ostend has a very long and eventful history. Once a town under this name was located on the island. It was inhabited only by fishermen. Gradually, the island merged with the mainland, and the city turned into an important international port. When the value of the port began to decline, Ostend quickly changed its skills to a resort. Health came here from all over the world. The most famous of our compatriots who visited Ostend was Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol.

During World War II, Ostend was almost completely destroyed. Practical Flemings did not begin to rebuild the city in its former guise and preferred to adapt it as much as possible for tourists to relax. So, in Ostend there was a wide promenade, many hotels, as well as casinos, cafes and restaurants.

How to get there

The most commonly practiced way to get to Ostend is by plane plus train. Ostend is also easily accessible by car or bus.

By plane

The nearest airport to Ostend is just 5 km away. But do not rush to rejoice. To date Ostend / Bruges International Airport It is used exclusively for cargo transportation, intra-European charters and business aviation.

From Moscow to Brussels

Ordinary tourists from Russia can only be content with flights from Russia to the city of Brussels, which is 111 km from Ostend.

Two airlines fly from the Mother See to Brussels: Aeroflot and Brussels Airlines. Boards of Aeroflot depart from Sheremetyevo Airport. Brussels Airlines flies from Domodedovo. Ticket prices for the two carriers are approximately the same. At the same time, Aeroflot operates two flights a day (morning and evening), and Brussels Airlines - only one (daily).

Ticket prices range from 220 to 500 EUR. It all depends on how early you book your ticket and which class you choose. You can get acquainted with current prices for flights from carriers, for example, here. Travel time is about 3.5 hours.

From Petersburg to Brussels

From the northern capital, only Brussels Airlines flies here. Travel time is exactly 3 hours. Prices start at around EUR 300 per economy class.

From Brussels to Ostend

Getting from Brussels Airport to Ostend is most convenient by train. The train station is located on the ground floor of the airport, you can easily find it by signs. The path to Ostend will take you 1 hour 45 minutes. In the center of Brussels (Brussels Midi) you have to make one change. The ticket will cost 20-30 EUR. Your final destination should be the main station Oostende, which is located very close to the city center.

You can also take a taxi. True, the pleasure is expensive: the price for the trip can be 250-300 EUR. Travel time will be approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. Distance between two cities: 106 km.

By train

Many trains of various directions arrive at the Ostend station. Theoretically, you can even get to Ostend by train from Moscow.

From Moscow

It would be most reasonable to take the Strizh train, which follows from Moscow to Berlin. Travel time is 20 hours. The ticket price ranges from 169.5 to 667.5 EUR one way, depending on the class.

In Berlin, at the Berlin Hauptbanhof station, you will need to take a train to Cologne. In Cologne (Köln Hauptbahnhof), in turn, take the train to Brussels. From Brussels (Bruxelles Midi) you have direct access to Ostend. The cost of a plot from Berlin to Ostend can be 150-170 EUR. It will take about 9 hours.

In my opinion, the train as the main means of transportation should be chosen only if:

you have a lot of baggage (baggage allowance by rail is always more liberal);
you do not tolerate flights;
you travel with young children and want to save some money (you can take one child under 4 years of age with you on the Strizh train).

From St. Petersburg

If you live in St. Petersburg and for some reason strive to get to Ostend exclusively by rail, you have no particular choice: take the train to Moscow. An ordinary train takes about 8 hours, "Sapsan" - about 4 hours. In Moscow, change to the Swift.

From cities in Belgium

Ostend is connected by direct rail links with the already mentioned Brussels, as well as with the cities of Curtre and Antwerp. Of all the other cities in Belgium and Europe, you will have to get to Ostend with transfers. You can see the train schedule on this site.

How to get from the railway station to the center

All trains going to Ostend arrive at the main station of the city (station Oostende), which I wrote about in the section above.

You can get from the station to the main promenade of Ostend (Albert I promenade) on foot (which will take you about 20 minutes).

And you can overcome this path on the coast tram number 0 (Kusttram De Panne - Oostende - Knokke).

By bus

Of course, in Ostend from Russia you can also get by bus.

From Moscow

If you prefer buses to any other type of transport, then you can go on a trip to Ostend directly from Shchelkovo station in Moscow. From here, the Ecolines bus leaves twice a week and takes you to Brussels Main Station (Bruxelles Centrale) in less than two days. Tickets can be bought on the Ecolines web site. On the way you will have to transfer from one Ecolines bus to another (Riga-Paris) in Warsaw.

At the Brussels station, you will need to catch the train, having made one change at the Bruxelles Midi station, in a couple of hours you will reach the main station of Ostend, the same one that was mentioned in the section above.

Such a long trip will cost you approximately 160 EUR. Total travel time: about 45 hours.

By car

From Moscow

To get from Moscow to Ostend, you need to lay at least a few days' journey. First go to the “Mink” (highway E30). She will lead you straight to the capital of Belarus. I advise you to stay here for the night, and in the morning go to one of the customs points. It can be Berestovitsa, Warsaw bridge or Dolmacheva. To find out where the line is shorter, a few hours before departure, check out the website of the Belarusian border service.

Further, your path will run through Poland and Germany (routes E40, E411, E19, A12, A201, etc.). From Brussels to Ostend there is a direct highway E40. By the way, it passes through the cities of Ghent and Bruges, which are very interesting from a tourist point of view.

In Germany, autobahns are still completely free, although the German government is discussing the introduction of a road tax for foreigners. In Poland, you will have to pay for roads. The price depends on the length of the paid site. We accept both PLN (zloty) and EUR or USD.

The distance from Moscow to Ostend is approximately 2,600 kilometers.

From St. Petersburg

If you are heading to Ostend from the Northern capital of Russia, your road will be slightly different than from Moscow. From Russia you will get to Lithuania, and then to Latvia. Four border crossings were organized at the border of the Russian Federation and Latvia:

Brunishevo - Pededze,
Ludonka - Vientuli,
Luck - Grebneva,
Burachki - Terekhovo.

The closest to St. Petersburg is the first of them. He bears the reputation of the busiest. If you want to play it safe, head to the other three.

After passing through Latvian territory, follow the route described above. The distance to the destination will also be about 2,600 kilometers.

By ferry

A ferry to Ostend can only be reached from England. A ferry service is established between Ostend and the English Hull. Ferries are operated by TransEuropa Ferries. You can buy tickets online on the carrier’s website. Travel time will be about 13 hours.

Of course, if you have your own boat, then in Ostend you can easily moor. :) Here, yachts of all stripes swing slowly on the waves. You can stop, for example, at the marina of Eduard Moreauxlaan. Price starts at approximately EUR 2.50 per meter per day.

hint: Ostend - time now is 15: 0813 OctoberDifference in hours: Moscow & plus; 1 Kazan & plus; 1 Samara & plus; 2 Yekaterinburg & plus; 3 Novosibirsk & plus; 5Vladivostok & plus; 8

When is the season. When is the best time to go?

To the question "When is the best time to go to Ostend?" There is a definite answer: in the summer. It is in the summer that the harsh, gray cold sea becomes warmer and friendlier, and the city has long walks in the healthy air, filled with salty smells of the sea.

Ostend in the summer

So, as already mentioned, in the summer Ostend comes to life and turns from the god-forgotten Belgian outback to a busy resort. The Belgians come here with their whole families for a week or two and settle in coastal hotels with stunning views. You may well follow their example.

In the summer months, the water near the sea warms up so much that sometimes you can plunge. The fact is that in Ostend, offshore is very shallow. By the way, this is very good for families with children: while the kids go too far, you will definitely have time to shout them and return them to a safe distance from the sea depths.

The average air temperature in the summer months is +20 ° C. The water temperature in July and August is + 18-20 ° C. In June, the water does not warm above + 15-17 ° C.

Ostend in the fall

Autumn is cold enough in Ostend and it rains. Especially at this time of year, I would not go here. If you are still brought to the coast in the autumn months, think in advance about suitable clothing. Rubber boots and an umbrella must be in your suitcase.

The average temperature in autumn is +13 ° C.

Ostend in the spring

Heat arrives late in Ostend. Strong gusty cold winds in early spring still burn the skin. Over time, the sun begins to shine, but you should not deceive yourself: despite the first warm rays, the wind remains very cold.

The average spring temperature in Ostend is +10 ° C.

Ostend in winter

In winter, Ostend is gloomy and harsh. Cold winds blow off rare passers-by, and frequent rains leave no chance to stay dry. Nevertheless, in the winter season, Ostend has its own charm. This is well known to those who realized that the sea is beautiful at any time of the year. Even in winter, gray-green shades of sky and sea create an incredibly beautiful still life.

The average winter temperature is +1 ° C.

Ostend - monthly weather

hint: Ostend - weather for the months of January January + 3.3 February ± 3.5 March ± 6.3 April ± 7.9 May ± 11.6 June ± plus 14.4 July ± 16.6 August ± 16.9 September ± 14.7 October ± 11.6 November ± plus 7.5 December & plus; 5.1

Areas. Where is better to live

Ostend consists of six districts:

I - Oostende - Centrum,
II - Vuurtorenwijk / Voorhaven,
III - Zandvoorde,
IV - Stene,
V - Konterdam,
VI - Mariakerke + Raversijde.

And here they are on the city map:

As you can see on the map below, the vast majority of hotels are located along the coastline, that is, in Oostende-Centrum and in Vuurtorenwijk, as well as in the municipality of Bredene, adjacent to the city (indicated by the letter “a” on the map above). The same can be said about housing from local residents, which can be found here.

There is one pricing rule: the closer the hotel is to the coastline, the higher the price per room. If you want to save, hotels on Albert i-promenade (i.e., in Oostende-centrum) is not for you. But, as for me, you should not be upset because of this. In the most expensive hotels in Ostend you feel trapped in the everyday business cycle. Usually these are large multi-story buildings with similar numbers.

If you are looking for something more interesting and cheaper, look at the area Stene (Iv) or Konterdam (V). Housing prices in them can be viewed and compared, for example, here, and book your favorite conveniently at Booking.

The only hostel in the city is called Jeugdherberg De Ploate and it is located on Langestraat, 72, in the Center area (figure I) The audience here is exclusively youth. But the conditions there are excellent: clean, there is Wi-Fi and it is within easy reach.

As for the criminal situation: in all areas of Ostend you can feel safe. As for prices for accommodation and accommodation, I will talk about them below.

What are the prices for vacation

Ostend is a rather expensive resort, intended primarily for wealthy Flemings.

Accommodation and meals

The price of housing and food here is comparable to Brussels and is on average higher than in other Belgian cities:

for lunch in an inexpensive restaurant you can give 10-15 EUR, for dinner for two in a decent institution - about 100 EUR;
a room in a three-star hotel will cost an average of 100 EUR per night. Finding something cheaper will be very problematic.
museums and other attractions will cost you quite cheap, BUT ... in Ostend it is customary to go to the casino! If you are not going to neglect this tradition, set aside money for possible losses;
Supermarket prices are quite high. But cooking yourself is always cheaper than eating in restaurants. So it’s a good idea to buy fresh fish at a store or market, and then cook it yourself. About where to go for her I will tell you below.

The main attractions. What to watch

For a small European town in Ostend there are many attractions. Most of them are connected with the sea. If you like marine romance, be sure to try to see a little more.

Top 6

Mercator ship (Fort Napoleon Mercator)

This ship, used for exercises until 1960, today is a museum, as well as a venue for various social events and private parties. For example, you can celebrate a wedding here.

Mercator can be visited every day from 10:00 to 17:00. Admission for adults costs 5 EUR, for children - 4 EUR. You can find more practical information about the visit on this site.

WWII bunkers (Atlantic Wall Museum)

In the immediate vicinity of the city was the German line of defense of World War II. Here, everything has been preserved almost in its original form, because the Germans surrendered the city to Canadians almost without a fight. You can inspect the bunkers, weapons (including air defense systems) and go along the fortified corridors.

Admission for adults costs only 2.50 EUR, for children - 1 EUR. The place is open on weekends - from 12:30 to 17:00, except for some days. The exact schedule can be found on the website. You can get to the museum by tram that runs along the coastline.

Shore Tram (Kusttram)

A rare case when the vehicle is also a local attraction. A coastal tram runs along the entire Belgian coast of the North Sea (from La Panne to Knokke) and a stop is made, in particular in Ostend. This is the longest tram route in the world! Its total length is 68 kilometers.

If you are in Ostend, ride it at least a little. In summer, trams run every 10 minutes, the rest of the time - every 15-20 minutes.

Fort Napoleon

The fortified Napoleonic times fort is located at some distance from the main attractions of the city.

The place is open for visitors on weekends - from 10:00 to 17:00, and also on Wednesday - from 14:00 to 17:00. On the territory, by the way, there is a restaurant.

Address: Vuurtorenweg 13. Ticket costs 6 EUR. More information can be found on this site.

Fishing Village (Raversyde)

It is an old fishing village, from which the Flemings made a tourist attraction. Here you can get acquainted with the life of Belgian fishermen in the form that it has been for centuries.

Raversyde is open on weekends and during school holidays - from 10:00 to 18:00, and the rest of the time - from 10:00 to 17:00. Adult ticket here costs 8 EUR. Detailed information in English can be found on the website.

Amandine (Museumschip Amandine)

This is another Ostend museum ship.The exposition inside the vessel tells about the difficult fishing industry.

Entrance on board costs 4 EUR. And you can visit it every day - from 10:00 to 17:00.

Beaches. Which are better

In fact, in Ostend there is only one beach, a long strip stretching along the promenade Albert-I promenade. For the convenience of tourists, it is divided into several sections:

The most populous and popular stretch of beach is located at the Royal Galleries (Galeries royales), in the immediate vicinity of Koningspark. The map below is marked with a circle.
the most peaceful and uninhabited area you will find east of the station and the main port. The map is marked with a square.

Everywhere there are toilets and changing cabins. It is better to take umbrellas and other equipment with you, although, in case of dire need, you can buy all this on the spot. Entrance to the beaches is absolutely free, but you will have to pay for sunbeds. All beaches are designed for swimming.

If you get hungry, then you don’t have to look for food for a long time. Along the promenade of Ostend there is a line of restaurants, eateries, cafes and pastry shops.

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

Ostend is not very rich in churches and temples for the simple reason that almost all places of worship in Ostend were destroyed during World War II. But there are still some interesting religious buildings here:

Peter and Paul Church (Sint-Petrus-en-Pauluskerk)It was built at the beginning of the 20th century by decree of King Leopold II in the Neo-Gothic style. Reminds Cologne Cathedral or Notre Dame Cathedral. Miraculously survived during the First and Second World War, although the stained-glass windows were destroyed. The church is active, you can almost always go inside.
Church of the Capuchins (Kapucijnenkerk)A 17th-century temple also survived both wars. The building is quite modest both inside and out. But against the backdrop of high hotel complexes and it caresses the eye. The temple is also operational.
St. Peter's Tower (Sint-Pieterstoren)This is the only thing left of St. Peter's Church, which died in a fire at the end of the 19th century. The first stone of the church was laid back in the 15th century. Today the tower is just a monument of architecture. You can get inside, but you will not see anything there except wooden floors.

Museums Which are worth a visit

There are a couple of interesting museums in Ostend, through the galleries of which you can take a walk to change the atmosphere:

Mu.ZEE. This museum houses samples of Belgian art from 1830 to the present day. If you don't know anything about Belgian art and names like James Ensor or Constant Permecke don't tell you anything, this is your chance to fill the gap.

The museum is located at: Romestraat, 11. It is open from 10:00 to 18:00 every day except Monday. Entrance ticket costs 9 EUR for people over 26 years old and 1 EUR for youth (from 12 to 26 years old). Children under 12 years old can enter for free.
The House of James Ensor. It is worth a look here if, after visiting Mu.ZEE, the work of this Belgian artist, who is called one of the forerunners of expressionism, is of particular interest to you. The house has preserved original furniture and paintings of the XIX century. The house-museum of the famous artist is located at: Vlaanderenstraat, 27. And it is open every day except Tuesday - from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00. The cost of visiting is best clarified on the spot.
Museum of Local Lore (Stadsmuseum Oostende). This museum allows you to get acquainted in detail with the difficult history of the city of Ostend.

It is open all days except Tuesday - from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 18:00. Located upon Langestraat 69. Entrance ticket costs 4 EUR, for youth under 18 years old - free of charge.

Parks

It is strange to expect an abundance of parks from a sea city, but Ostend in this sense is an exception. It is full of green places.

Leopoldpark

This is a cute and cozy English-style park with clubs, lawns, benches and fountains. Here ducks walk, and the same annoying gulls fly. The highlight of the park is a floral arrangement in the form of a huge clock with gilded hands.

The park runs along Leopold II-laan:

The park is not closed at night, so you can enter here at any time of the day.

Maria Hendrikapark Park

The largest park in the city, broken by order of King Leopold II, is named after his wife. It is located in the heart of Ostend:

Here you can relax in the shade of trees or take a boat ride on a wide pond.

The park is open from 07:00 to 19:00.

Royal Park (Koningspark)

Here is a beautiful Japanese garden with thematic sculptures and outlandish oriental plants.

Located on Kon. Astridlaan next to the Oostende Koninginnelaa tram stop.

The park is open on weekends from 10:00 to 18:00.

Tourist streets

The main street of the city, which invariably attracts all tourists and idly staggering locals, is Albert i-promenade, i.e., the promenade that goes along the coast.

It is here that most of the coffee houses, restaurants, ice cream counters, souvenir shops and shops with beach accessories are located.

What to see in 1 day

Ostend is a small town, and in one day you will have time to inspect everything (unless, of course, you spend too much time on the beach). The most elementary tour in Ostend will not take you more than a couple of hours. Below I will offer just such a simple and short route, but its map:

let's say in 08:00 You arrive at the main station of Ostend. Continue to the port. You will immediately notice it. In the port you can admire the boats and yachts of all stripes swinging on the water, as well as see the famous ship Mercador, which I talked about above.
10:00 - it's time to have breakfast! This can be done right at the port, where there are a lot of vans with counters filled with sea delicacies. Below I will describe which food you can buy here, and which one is better to pass by.
10:30 - inspection of the Peter and Paul Church of Ostend.

11:00 - go to the sea! Along the way, you can look into the Aquarium and / or the house of James Ensor.
13:00 - go to the main street of the city. Take a leisurely walk here, drop by the beach and treat yourself to something delicious.
16:00 - slowly head back to the station. On the way, you can drop by Leopoldpark and / or the Museum of Fine Arts (Museum voor Schone Kunsten) at 18. Hendrik Serruyslaan. And now the day has passed.

What to see in the surroundings

Bruges (28 km)

In the immediate vicinity of Ostend is almost the most picturesque town in Belgium - Brugge.

From his toy bridges and neat little houses blows the roof of all tourists. To get to Bruges, you just have to take the direct train to Antwerp at the main station of Ostend. The road takes only 15 minutes. More information about the sights of this beautiful city can be found in a separate article here.

Knokke (32 km)

Another Belgian coastal city that boasts a wide coastline with fine sand.

At the same time, Knokke is not as famous and popular as Ostend, so the people on the beaches here are always a little smaller.

You can get here from Ostend by train or by shore tram. In both cases, you will need to get off at the final stop. A direct train from Ostend to Knokke takes about an hour. A tram ride can take all two hours.

Dunkirk (66 km)

French ancient city (founded in the XI century) near the border with Belgium. The history of the city is very rich: for centuries, the English, French and Flemings fought for it. During World War II, Dunkirk became a theater of operations - there was a major battle that the Allied coalition lost.

Today it is a beautiful port city with many parks. From late February to early April, the city hosts a large carnival. The easiest way to get from Ostend to Dunkirk is by car. The whole journey takes 40 minutes. You can also take the train, but only with a change via French Lille, which will take as much as 3 hours.

Hint: Routes to neighboring cities Ostend - Gistel 8 km Ostend - De Haan 9 km Ostend - Newport 15 km Ostend - Blankenberge 17 km Ostend - Flanders 21 km

Food. What to try

I’m unlikely to surprise you if I say that in Ostend you should try fish dishes - soups, mussels, oysters, shrimps, fried fish ...

The first opportunity to get acquainted with local cuisine will be presented to you almost immediately if you arrive in the city by train. Where the promenade begins, along the seashore, take-away seafood is sold. You will see colorful trays with shrimp and crab sticks in sauce. My advice to you: do not buy into a beautiful appearance and better take the trays smaller and without sauce, but more expensive. They are much tastier.

But most importantly, take care of your lunch from seagulls! They will surely fly around you with predatory screams.

As you might guess, these birds wanted to spit on posters forbidding tourists to feed them, and they strive to grab food from the hands of all who for a second lose vigilance.

As for restaurants, it’s difficult to make a mistake here. Order cod, shrimp, mussels, salmon ... all this will be a local catch. The most traditional dish is mussels in white wine or creamy sauce.

If you want to taste local beer, head to the Oostende 't Koelschip Brewery on Van Iseghemlaan 101. An excellent, strong drink is brewed here.

For those who like to cook themselves, I advise you to look at fish market (Fishmarkt) at Visserskaai, 35. The market is open every day. What fish is not here! You can choose something fresher and cook it yourself. Taste will definitely not disappoint you.

Recommended Places

In Ostend, they feed excellently everywhere. The experience accumulated over decades of serving demanding Flemish pensioners is affected. In any case, you will definitely not be mistaken if you order seafood.

The best restaurant in the city is called very pretentious: Apero fish palace. Located at: Nieuwstraat, 5. Fresh fish is brought here early in the morning, and then cooks conjure it above it. Try shrimp soup here. Dinner for two will cost you around 50-60 EUR.

Budgetary

There are few frankly cheap establishments in Ostend. But I think that since you got to this city, it’s a sin not to try the freshest fish, even if at first glance it seems a little expensive to you. Here are some worthy institutions in this category:

Relatively inexpensive institution - Italian Restaurant dolce mare. The mussels in white wine are simply delicious. Located upon Visserskaai, 19.
Atmospheric and inexpensive place - Passe-vite. Order salads here, as the establishment specializes in European healthy cuisine. There is a restaurant on Hertstraat, 1.
A good Tunisian restaurant where you can order a huge portion of couscous for little money - St. Tropez. For a hearty dinner with wine for one, you are unlikely to pay more than 20 EUR here, which is very inexpensive for Ostend.

Mid level

Inexpensive place with high quality service - Lusitanialocated on Visserskaai, 35. For the same 20 EUR you can order a seafood dish with wine.

Expensive

Among the gourmet restaurants it is worth noting:

Italian Ristorante marina on Albert I-promenade, 9;
Savarin on Albert I-promenade 75.

Holidays

Due to its spa nature in the summer, Ostend hosts a lot of events:

Firstly, it is an annual Sand sculpture festivalthat takes place in the summer months.
In addition, various music festivals are organized in the city, such as the Woosha and Ostende Beach Dance Festival, held in July. These days, the beaches of the city turn into real dance floors.
A very interesting festival is Theater by the Sea (Theater Aan Zee).

It takes place in early August and combines music and theatrical art.
Pauluusfeesten has great fame among citizens and visitors. This festival has been held since 1972 also in August. Usually one theme is chosen around which festival participants build their performances. It can be both concerts, and performances or sketches.
In February, Ostend hosts the so-called carnival - the Ball of the Dead Rat (Bal du Rat mort), invented by James Ensor and his fellow artists. Despite the awesome name, this is a fun costume festival in which many citizens take part. It lasts a few days.

Security. What to watch out for

Ostend is an expensive and safe European resort. Nevertheless, while resting here, do not neglect the basic safety rules:

Do not leave valuables on the beach if you intend to plunge.
Be sure to lock your bikes if you plan to rent one.
Try to comply with local laws. Smoking in public places in Belgium is strictly prohibited and may be fined up to 100 EUR. The same goes for the garbage thrown past the urn.
In case of emergency, call the generally accepted number 112. If trouble has overtaken you on the beach, contact the rescuers on duty at the towers. They work from July 1 to August 31 from 10:30 to 18:30.

Things to do

In Ostend, it is customary to take a leisurely stroll along the seashore in the afternoon, and play in the casino in the evening. Most Belgian pensioners who traditionally spend a lot of time in Ostend do this. For young people, this Belgian resort has prepared something more interesting:

windsurfing (ask for help at Surfclub Inside Outside),
sailing,
crazy parties.

If you're looking for a more authentic experience, head to Fischmarkt - fish market. He is on Visserskaai, 35, and is open every day. What fish is not here! You can choose something fresher and cook it yourself. Taste will definitely not disappoint you.

Shopping and shops

Ostend has a great shopping experience. Everything here is designed for tourists with money. Many shops are open on Sundays, which is a rarity for Belgium. At the same time, in Ostend you can find both international brands and private shops. Most of them are located on the already familiar Promenade Albert-I.

All local brands and designers are concentrated in Antwerp, in Ostend there are mainly well-known brands. As for sales, they take place in the offseason.

For lovers of tea and coffee I can recommend a great store Javana on Hendrik Serruyslaan, 4.

Bars Where to go

The most famous bars of Ostend:

cocktail bar Lafayette on Langestraat, 12 (Belgian beer is also on the menu) which positions itself as musical - here jazz hits play live;
Koekoek on Langestraat, 38-40 (here they drink beer and eat fragrant fried chicken with their hands);
Café bottottje on Louisastraat, 19 (just a great bar with a large selection of Belgian beer).

Prices in these bars are reasonable. They will always ask for the same price for beer - you can taste a delicious, hoppy drink by paying from 2 to 5-6 EUR.

Most bars open their doors in the afternoon and are open until 01: 00-03: 00.

Clubs and nightlife

In Ostend, it is customary to dance in the open air on the beach. Nevertheless, a couple of night clubs can be found here:

Krush club open from 22:00 to 06:00 at (Fri, Sat, Wed, Thu). Themed parties and DJ sets are held. Admission is around 10 EUR. There is no strict dress code.
and at Aartshertoginnestraat, 12 you will find a gay club with a casual name Your place gay club.

Extreme sports

As I said, windsurfing is developed in Ostend. Even in cold and windy weather, you can see enthusiasts in protective suits here. If you want to join them, contact the club Inside outside on Koning Boudewijnpromenade.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

Shells and other marine artifacts are often brought from Ostend, as well as from any resort city. All the main Belgian souvenirs (chocolate, beer and lace) are also well presented here. You can read more about traditional Belgian souvenirs in this article on the site.

How to get around the city

Moving along one of the main resorts of the North Sea follows on foot and only on foot. Only in this way can you breathe in the healing sea air. The most hasty can rent a bike.

Taxi. What features exist

There are several taxi services in the city (Ostend taxi, Taxi Willy bvba) Call the car by phone.

For payment, it is better to prepare cash. The price is per kilometer. One kilometer in the city will cost you about 1.8-2 EUR.

Vehicle rental

I advise you to rent a car in Ostend only if you stay here for a long time and want to travel to neighboring cities. In Ostend itself you will definitely not need your own vehicle.And it will be very difficult to park it.

In fact, the easiest option would be to take a car directly to Brussels Airport, which, in any case, will be the first city of your Belgian trip.

To rent a car in Belgium you will need an international driving license. In addition, you must be 21 years old.

A car on mechanics for 3 days will cost about 70 EUR, see the approximate prices here.

Tips for motorists

In Ostend, you should move very carefully:

Firstly, in Belgium there are heavy fines for violating traffic rules.
Secondly, careless tourists are rarely careful on the roads. The same applies to local pensioners, of whom there are many in Ostend.

Ostend - holidays with children

Ostend is a pretty good place to stay with children. It is suitable for you if you want to protect children from excessive heat.

Among the attractions for young travelers include:

Oktoberfoor oostende - This is a holiday that takes place in the city in October and lasts a whole month. At this time, Sint-Petrus-en-Paulusplein turns into a real amusement park. Some of them work until late.
as well as the park Explorado on Fortstraat, 128B.

In the summer season, it is open every day from 10:00 to 18:00. Here under one roof gathered rides that are designed to remind adults and children of the tremendous power of nature. The ticket, however, is expensive: a family visit will cost you about 40 EUR.