Ghent

Ghent is a full day trip: the Castle of the Counts (Gravensteen), a 12th-century medieval fortress right in the center, and St. Bavo's Cathedral, home to the Van Eyck brothers' Ghent Altarpiece. April-June is best, coinciding with the Gentse Floraliën flower festival in odd-numbered years. It's cheaper than Bruges and Brussels, with less tourism despite an equally well-preserved historic center. Unlike Bruges, it remains a living university city -not a tourist backdrop-, with one of Belgium's liveliest student nightlife scenes.