Drinking gin in Ghent

Bruges is a magnet for romantic travellers and Antwerp "draws the fashionistas", but Ghent remains "Belgium's secret", says John Brunton in the Observer.

The city is "perfect for a weekend getaway", with a beautifully preserved medieval centre that "never feels like a museum", thanks to its lively bars and restaurants. Among the Gothic buildings and "picturesque waterways" of the old town is St Bavo cathedral, where you can see masterpieces by Van Eyck and others in their original setting.

For a lively introduction to the city's social scene, head to the "best bar in town", Dreupelkot, which serves nothing but "lethal shots of the Belgian speciality genievre (gin) in more than 200 flavours".

London-Brussels by Eurostar costs from £59 return, with free onward train travel to Ghent. For more information on Ghent contact 020 7303 7738; or visit www.visitflanders.co.uk. ·