Ghent (Gent in Dutch, Gand in French) is one of the most amazing cities in Europe and probably the most underrated. First of all, there's the 14th century altarpiece "Adoration of the Lamb" by the van Eyck brothers in the cathedral. I've visited almost all major museums (and many minor ones) in Europe and thought religious art was generally boring and repetitive, but was absolutely stunned by this masterpiece. Never thought I would spend half an hour just gawking at one single painting.

Ghent also boasts one of the most impressive skylines in Europe. From the St Michael Bridge, the view of the towers of the Cathedral, the belfry, and St Nicholas Church rising behind the riverfront row of beautiful guild houses is absolutely magnificent. In my opinion, only Istanbul has a more beautiful skyline in all of Europe.

The overall ambiance of Ghent, though very nice, is not as charming as its more famous neighbor Bruges (Brugge), largely due to its lack of canals that wind through the latter town, which also boasts better museums. But Ghent compensates by having superior architecture, especially the rows of guild houses lining both banks of the river Scheldt. Almost every single facade is a masterpiece, with the overall effect truly stunning.

The castle is also worth a visit, although far less impressive than the rest of Ghent. The Museum of Fine Arts (near the train station) is nice enough but pales in comparison to what Brussels and Bruges have to offer. I didn't have time to visit the modern art museum (SMAK).

Getting to Ghent is very easy from Brussels (40 minutes) or Bruges (20 minutes) by train. After getting off the train, tram #1 is just an escalator ride down from the platforms, and it brings you to the center in about 10 minutes.