Travel to Ostend with travel insurance from Essential Travel

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Information on Ostend with single trip travel insurance from Essential Travel

Located 110kms northwest of Brussels, Ostend combines a fascinating history with a thriving modern culture. The city boasts sandy beaches, a casino, racetrack, art museums, good shopping, and some great seafood, making it a popular destination for holidaymakers. Additionally, Ostend is a busy ferry port, receiving regular ferries from the UK.

Getting there

most flights go to the international airport in Brussels, although Ostend also has a small airport. Transfers from either airport are easy via bus. By car from Brussels and Brugge, take the E40 (A10) west; from the other coast resorts, take the N34 coast road. Trains depart hourly from Brussels, taking 1 hour, 10 minutes; from Brugge, the journey is 15 minutes. Fast, auto-transporter jet-catamaran ferries from Dover are also a popular method of transport.

Info on Ostends Key attractions

the Albert I promenade runs the entire length of the city’s five-kilometre beachfront and is lined with elegant private seaside villas and modern hotels. Ostend’s five beaches are crowded in the summer with sunbathers and swimmers. De Plate Folklore Museum and the Fine Arts Museum are good places to spend some time away from the beaches. De Plate Folklore Museum houses an intriguing range of Neolithic and Roman artefacts excavated in the area; while the Fine Arts Museum has paintings by natives James Ensor, Jan de Clerck, Constant Permeke and Leon Spilliaert.

Out and about in Ostend

Ostend is a good base from which to explore Belgiums coastline. De Panne is 26kms southwest of Ostend and offers some lovely sandy beaches which have been the scene of several significant historical events, including the massive evacuation of Allied forces in 1940. Twenty kilometres southwest of Ostend are the family-oriented resorts of Oostduinkerke, Koksijde-Bad and Sint-Idesbald. Brugge, also 20kms away, is Europes best preserved medieval city and Belgiums most visited tourist area. The citys entire historic centre has been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.

Leisure Options

visitors can try their luck at Casino-Kursaal Oostende, one of Europes largest casinos. The lavish interior has a concert hall, panoramic rooftop restaurant, disco, and much more. Another fun place is the Wellington Renbaan (Wellington Racetrack), the only racetrack on the coast.

Safety

while visiting an unfamiliar environment, you should be wary of potential hazards. Holidaymakers are more susceptible to pickpocketing and theft. Additionally, language barriers and strange routines can also result in missed travel arrangements. We strongly recommend you take out travel insurance for you and your family.

Weather in Ostend

Belgium has a cool, temperate climate with strong maritime influences. Ostend is characterised by changing winds, thunderstorms and overcast skies. Averge rainfall is 510-760 mm. Temperatures range from -1-4C in winter and 12-23C in the summer.

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