Ghent After the Day Trippers Leave

Ghent is often treated as a day trip from Brussels: a few hours of canals, gabled houses, and photographs before the train back. That version of the city is pleasant, but it misses the moment when the day visitors leave. Around late afternoon, the waterfront begins to empty, the light turns amber, and the streets settle into a more local rhythm. Staying two nights changes the shape of the visit. There is time to return to a favorite square, to eat without checking the train schedule, and to see the city in the quiet hours before breakfast. The city is small enough to walk, but rich enough to reward a second look. You can choose one area for the evening and leave the rest for tomorrow. The first evening is not an extra. It is the reason to stay.