Short break in Ostend: city and sea in one
Ostend is much more than just a seaside town. With 70,000 inhabitants it is a real city with a rich history, a lively cultural scene, well-preserved Belle Époque architecture and a gastronomic tradition unrivalled in Belgium. For a weekend or a short city break, Ostend offers a unique combination: city and sea in one destination. In three hours by train from Cologne you are in a completely different world. At DLVX Rentals we have no minimum stay, so you can perfectly book for just two or three nights.
Short answer
Ostend is much more than just a seaside town. With 70,000 inhabitants it is a real city with a rich history, a lively cultural scene, well-preserved Belle Époque architecture and a gastronomic tradition unrivalled in Belgium. For a weekend or a short city break, Ostend offers a unique combination: city and sea in one destination. In three hours by train from Cologne you are in a completely different world. At DLVX Rentals we have no minimum stay, so you can perfectly book for just two or three nights.
- •Booking direct with DLVX Rentals avoids Airbnb and Booking.com platform fees.
- •The apartments are in Ostend, close to the beach, coastal tram, and city center.
- •Guests speak directly with the owner for check-in and local questions.
What to do during a weekend in Ostend
Ostend offers more than enough to see and do for a long weekend. Start Saturday at the fish market on Visserskaai. Local fishermen sell fresh shrimp, oysters, monkfish and sole directly from the boat. Combine this with breakfast in one of the cosy cafes along the quay. In the afternoon visit Mu.ZEE, the Ostend art museum with an excellent collection of James Ensor, Léon Spilliaert and contemporary artists. Ensor lived in Ostend his whole life and his former house on Vlaanderenstraat is now a museum. A walk on the promenade is essential. Eight kilometres along the North Sea, with palaces, restaurants, casinos and public art. In the evening there is the casino, live music in the bars around the Albert I Promenade and fresh fish restaurants on Visserskaai. On Sunday choose between a trip to Bruges (50 minutes by train) or a day at the sea cycling along the Kustram route. For the return journey by train there are direct connections to Brussels-South where you switch to the ICE to Cologne.
The ideal length: two, three or four nights
A weekend in Ostend really calls for at least two nights. With one night there is too little time to really experience the city after the round trip from Germany. Three nights is ideal: arrive Friday evening, two full days, relaxed return on Monday. For an extensive city break programme with day trips to Bruges, Ghent or Plopsaland, four or five nights are better. You then have time for the city itself, for excursions and for a rest day at the beach or in a spa. At DLVX Rentals, unlike many other hosts, we do not enforce a fixed minimum stay in low season. You can book for two nights in March, four in May or a week in July, exactly as suits you. Only during peak periods (July-August, school holidays) we sometimes apply a three-night minimum. For very short trips we recommend the Sky Tower One in the city centre, because you are literally in the heart of the city and lose no time travelling between accommodation and city activities.
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