The cities of Belgium vie with each other to have the best restaurants, and Ghent has plenty of top-class choices; dishes to look out for include rabbit, anything cooked in beer, and waterzooi, traditionally a combination of river fish boiled with carrots, leeks and potatoes; sophisticated modern tastes have led to the addition of cream. Head for the Petershol area, once the site of a monastery, where restaurants and private housing are carefully integrated to avoid a tourist ghetto. Try De 3 Biggetjes at 7 Zeugsteeg (00 32 9 224 46 48), where Belgian cuisine is given an oriental twist. There is plenty of traditional Belgian food at De Hel at 81 Kranlei (00 32 9 224 32 40), or, for a lighter meal with good seafood, try Pakhuis at 4 Schuurkenstraat (00 32 9 223 55 55 www.pakhuis.be).

www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/48-hours-in-ghent-757374.html