Ostend, Belgium might not be the first place you think of when planning a European vacation, but this coastal city has plenty to offer visitors.
As one of Belgium’s most popular beach destinations, Ostend has beautiful sandy beaches, lively promenades, and historic architecture. Beyond the sandy shores, Ostend also boasts fascinating museums, delicious seafood restaurants, and a vibrant arts scene.
| Activity | Brief Description |
|---|---|
| Beach Promenade Stroll | Long walks or bike rides along a scenic 5-mile beachfront. |
| Coast Tram Ride | Tram tour along coastline with key stops for local experiences. |
| Historic Streets Exploration | Discovering medieval heritage and vibrant market squares. |
| Art at Mu.Zee Museum | Modern art collection and interactive family installations. |
| Helicopter Ride | Aerial views of beaches and landmarks on a thrilling flight. |
| Belgian Chocolates and Waffles | Indulging in local sweet treats at various shops. |
| Surfing Lessons | Beginner-friendly surfing experiences on city beaches. |
| Seafood at Quai West Marina Docks | Enjoying fresh seafood at dockside restaurants. |
| Visserijmuseum Visit | Exploring fishing heritage through artifacts and exhibits. |
| Beach Music Festival | Dancing at Belgium’s biggest beach music event. |
| Spa Resort Relaxation | Luxurious spa treatments at waterfront thermal resorts. |
| Atlantikwall Museum | Insight into WWII history through bunker and tunnel tours. |
| Film Festivals | Star-studded events showcasing global and indie films. |
| Made In Ostend Fair | Local arts, crafts, and design showcase at Kursaal casino. |
| Ostend’s Resort Atmosphere | Enjoying beachside leisure, cultural attractions, and festivals. |
With new developments happening along the coastline and in the city center, 2024 is shaping up to be an exciting year to visit Ostend. Whether you want to relax on the beach, learn about Belgium’s maritime history, or experience Ostend’s culture and nightlife, there are many great things to see and do. From must-see attractions like the James Ensor House to upcoming events like music festivals and sailing regattas, Ostend provides something for every type of traveler.
In this article, we’ll highlight 15 of the best things to do in Ostend in 2024. From classic sites like the Thermae Palace to new openings and annual events, these are the top attractions, activities, restaurants, and more that you won’t want to miss in Ostend next year. With beautiful beaches, rich history, coastal scenery, and endlessly fun things to experience, Ostend is ready to welcome visitors for an incredible getaway in 2024.
Stroll Along the Miles-Long Beach Promenade
Name and Location: Ostend Beach Promenade, Ostend, Belgium
History and Significance: Ostend’s seaside promenade stretches over 10km along the sandy beaches of the North Sea coast, offering sweeping ocean views. Popular for over a century.
What to Expect: A lively boardwalk with beaches, restaurants, shops. Space for walking, cycling, rollerblading. Beach chairs and parasols for rent.
Visitor Information: Promenade is public and always open. Very walkable and accessible. Connects the full length of the coastline.
As Belgium’s largest coastal town, Ostend comes alive along its scenic beach promenade stretching over 5 miles from the old fishing port to sandy beaches facing the North Sea. Join locals and visitors on long, leisurely walks or bike rides along the vibrant seafront, soaking up sunshine, sea breezes and views of gently breaking waves. Pause for photo ops around attractions like the bright blue Nemo 33 indoor diving pool, the 19th century Wellington racetrack, or the sweeping Queen Elisabeth Promenade lined with cafes and flower gardens.
Ride the Coast Tram from End to End
Name and Location: Coast Tram, Ostend, Belgium
History and Significance: Ostend’s Coast Tram is one of the longest tram lines in the world at nearly 15km, connecting all of the coastal communities from De Panne to Knokke-Heist.
What to Expect: A scenic ride along the dunes and beaches of the Belgian coast. Hop on and off to access attractions and towns. Runs frequently.
Visitor Information: Tram leaves every 10 minutes in season. Purchase tickets on board or at stations. Operates early morning to late evening.
For a fun overview exploring Ostend’s length, hop aboard the coastal tram Kusttram which links remote seaside villages to bustling downtown in just over an hour. Wind past beaches, marinas and sand dunes as it zooms along the coastline. Key stops allow sampling crispy Twice-Fried Belgian frites, browsing lively beachware shops, or watching fishermen unload their catch alongside weatherbeaten trawlers – all while enjoying panoramic marine vistas stretching to the horizon.
Wander Historic Streets and Squares
Name and Location: Historic Center, Ostend, Belgium
History and Significance: Ostend has a charming historic district with architecture and cobblestone streets dating back centuries. Key sites include Town Hall and St. Peter’s Church.
What to Expect: Quaint squares, old guild houses, unique museums. Immersive glimpse into maritime history and culture. Cafes, shops, restaurants.
Visitor Information: Very walkable neighborhood near the coast. Guided tours available. Sites like St. Peter’s open daily.
Though renowned as a modern beach resort, Ostend still holds remnants of its medieval fishing-village past and strategic importance as a harbor town later fortified by Austrian rulers. The intricate Gothic facades of Old St. Peter’s Church survived battles between England and Spain, while nearby St. Petrus and St. Paulusplein square hosts a vibrant Saturday open-air market. Around the tiny 15th century Sint-Cathiarinakerk church, find atmospheric cafes, restaurants, and pubs ideal to sample local seafood specialties.
View Art Masterpieces at Mu.Zee Museum
Name and Location: Mu.Zee Museum, Ostend, Belgium
History and Significance: Mu.Zee houses Belgium’s most extensive collection of works from 1850-1950 by luminaries like Ensor, Khnopff, Spilliaert. Located in historic warehouses.
What to Expect: Rotating exhibits of Belgian art masterpieces. Audio guides to provide context. Cafe and gift shop onsite. Interactive displays.
Visitor Information: On the harbor near the Royal Galleries. Open Tues-Sun. Admission required. Reservations recommended.
Ostend’s world-class Mu.Zee modern art museum offers an expansive collection showcasing the very best of Belgian painting from Ensor to Magritte alongside avant-garde sculpture galleries and thought-provoking temporary exhibits. Sign up for half-day workshops guided by resident artists, or bring the whole family to enjoy interactive installations tailored for kids. The museum complex stretches across two buildings, its newer wing designed by noted architect Gino Zani, for a beautifully integrated cultural experience.
Take a Thrilling Helicopter Ride Over the Coast
Name and Location: Helicopter Tours, Ostend, Belgium
History and Significance: Exciting helicopter tours offer a thrilling bird’s-eye perspective on Ostend’s coastline, beaches, and city sights from up above. Unique vantage point.
What to Expect: A 10-30 minute tour over land and sea. Unique aerial coastal views. Operators like VliegMol provide service. Optional add-ons available.
Visitor Information: Toursdepart from the airport. Prices start around €100/person. Book ahead online. Minimum ages vary.
For unrivaled aerial views across Belgium’s North Sea coastline, adventurous visitors can book an exhilarating helicopter touring flight. These 10-30 minute trips depart from Ostend Airport to soar dramatically along golden beaches, circle historic lighthouses and hover above lively piers and villages dotted far below. Capture stunning sunset vistas, peer down on the glittering coast tram, and gasp at luxury yachts bobbing in the marina to experience Ostend’s scenic landscape from an breathtaking new angle!
Indulge in Belgian Chocolates and Waffles
Name and Location: Chocolatiers and Waffle Shops, Ostend, Belgium
History and Significance: Belgian chocolate and waffles are world famous treats, with Ostend home to indulgent shops selling artisanal pralines, bonbons, Liege waffles and more.
What to Expect: Luxurious chocolate boxes and sculptures. Crisp, hot waffles topped with fruit and cream. Sweet shops lining the streets near the beach.
Visitor Information: Stores like Marleyn and Carlareyns open daily. Ready-to-eat treats available for takeaway.
As Belgium’s seaside playground overflowing with ice cream shops, chocolate boutiques and waffle windows, Ostend brims with tempting treats. Passionate chocolatiers craft pralines in flavors from ruby chocolate to speculoos, while creative gelato makers concoct seasonal sorbets using local berries and fruits. Yet for many visitors, the main attraction remains piping hot Belgian waffles, whose crisp-tender dough coated in powdered sugar and dipped in chocolate or fruit toppings make the quintessential beachside snack – or entire meal!
Take Surfing Lessons on City Beaches
Name and Location: Surfing, Ostend Beaches, Ostend, Belgium
History and Significance: Ostend’s beaches have become a surfer’s paradise, with consistent swells for catching waves. Surf schools offer equipment rentals and lessons for all levels.
What to Expect: Introductory surfing lessons covering basics on land and in water. Wetsuit and board rentals. Year-round surfing conditions. Small group or private options.
Visitor Information: Schools like Surfoase on main beach. Reservations required. All equipment provided. Various lesson lengths available.
An experienced instructor guides first timers into the water for safe, successful rides atop the gentle waves rolling into Ostend’s sandy central beaches. After learning necessary techniques onshore, new surfers test their balance and skills on wide Foam Boogie boards offering stability while getting comfortable with the swell. Once able to smoothly paddle out past shorebreak and pop up on the longer Soft Top boards, it’s time to stand independently atop the rolling waves – an exciting, family-friendly way to enjoy Ostend’s aquatic adventures!
Seafood Feasts at Quai West Marina Docks
Name and Location: Quai West Marina, Ostend, Belgium
History and Significance: Quai West is Ostend’s modern marina district lined with seafood restaurants and terraces. A lively spot to enjoy the freshest catches from the North Sea.
What to Expect: Al fresco dining on oysters, mussels, shrimp, sole, lobster, and more. Views of the bustling harbor. Upscale or casual eateries.
Visitor Information: Along the western harborfront. Restaurants open daily during summer season. Reservations recommended.
For the ultimate in dockside dining, head to the lively open-front restaurants and raw bars fronting Quai West’s picturesque yacht marina. Fresh oysters, plump shrimp, crab legs by the pound and more arrive daily straight from nearby trawlers for maritime panoramas enjoyed alongside the day’s catch perfectly prepared. Watch million-dollar vessels drift in while lingering over buttery lobster, champagne brunches or steamy bowls of creamy mussels and frites by the water as the sun sets – bliss!
Browse the Visserijmuseum’s Fishing Heritage
Name and Location: Visserijmuseum, Ostend, Belgium
History and Significance: The Fisheries Museum highlights Ostend’s centuries-old fishing heritage with artifacts, replicas, exhibits. Dedicated to preserving maritime history.
What to Expect: Interactive displays of fishing techniques, gear, vessels. Showcases evolution of the industry. Gift shop sells books and souvenirs.
Visitor Information: Located near the fish market. Open Fri-Tues. Small admission fee. Guided tours available.
Gain added appreciation for the seafood gracing Ostend’s tables at the fascinating Visserijmuseum, highlighting fishing heritage through artifacts spanning many centuries. Authentic trawlers, over 15,000 tools of the trade, even an entire historic street relocated inside the expansive museum reveal the incredible evolution transforming humble medieval fishing villages into today’s engine of the Belgian seafood industry. Don’t miss the aquarium’s alien-like specimens dragged from the sea depths!
Dance at Belgium’s Biggest Beach Music Festival
Name and Location: Beach Music Festival, Ostend, Belgium
History and Significance: Ostend Beach is Belgium’s biggest music festival every August, featuring major pop, rock, and EDM acts performing right on the sand. Electrifying beachside concerts.
What to Expect: Energetic headliners and DJs playing to big crowds. Partying on the beach well into the night. Food stalls and bars onsite. Stellar production and effects.
Visitor Information: Early August. Purchase tickets well in advance. Come prepared for all types of weather.
For 5 days every July, Ostend’s sandy shores transform into Belgium’s biggest beach bash during the legendary Sunwave Garden Festival. Dozens of local and internationally renowned DJs pump out vivacious electronic beats across 3 outdoor stages surrounded by quirky arts installations, while neon-painted partygoers dance the sunset away fueled by cocktails and Mediterranean bites. As evening encroaches, beach bonfires and dazzling fire dancers ignite under the moonlight and strings of festive bulbs for magical, unrestrained celebrations of music and sea.
Relax at a North Sea Spa Resort
Name and Location: Spa Resorts, Ostend, Belgium
History and Significance: Ostend is renowned for its historic seaside spa resorts and bathhouses offering relaxing wellness experiences. The Thermae Palace Spa incorporates original Maritime Station architecture.
What to Expect: Indoor pools, Turkish baths, saunas, massages, treatments. Unwind surrounded by belle époque glamour. Some child-friendly options.
Visitor Information: Various resorts like the Thermae Palace along the beachside. Open year-round. Advance reservations recommended.
Rejuvenate body and spirit with relaxing spa treatments inside Ostend’s gorgeous waterfront thermal resorts. Thermae Palace Rubens offers luxe sea-facing suites and Instagram-worthy Empire-style pools to relax tired muscles after Thai massages and Dead Sea mud body wraps. Budget friendly Thermae Palace boasts 8 unique saunas like the Eucalyptus Steam Room, along with pampering facials tailored to personal needs. Or simply soak in the panoramic views of waves rolling ashore through floor-to-ceiling windows for instant serenity.
Explore Maritime History at Atlantikwall Museum
Name and Location: Atlantikwall Open Air Museum, Ostend, Belgium
History and Significance: The Atlantikwall Museum is an outdoor exhibit on the WWII German coastal defenses along the Belgian shore. Large bunkers and cannons still stand today.
What to Expect: Guided tours of the massive bunkers, tunnels, and batteries. Insight into military strategies and daily life. Walking along the intact sea wall.
Visitor Information: Located east of downtown near Raversijde Beach. Open daily except Mondays. Small admission fee.
Hidden below Ostend’s sandy beaches lies this grim yet important museum spotlighting the intricate network of bunkers and tunnels built by occupying German forces during WWII to deter Allied advances. A detailed audio tour recounts strategy and hardships endured by both sides within the very bunkers and cannon towers that today remain intact yet vacant underneath coastal dunes. Visitors gain tangible perspective on the immense military efforts and profound human resilience demonstrated during this pivotal era.
Attend Star-Studded Film Festivals
Name and Location: Ostend Film Festivals, Ostend, Belgium
History and Significance: Ostend hosts respected international film festivals yearly including the Ostend Film Festival and Ostend Film and Television Festival, attracting stars and cinephiles.
What to Expect: Screenings of Belgian and foreign films. Q&As and award ceremonies with directors and actors. Glamorous red carpet premieres and parties.
Visitor Information: Held in September. Purchase tickets and passes in advance. Extra lodging and events for festival-goers.
As home to the largest cinematography museum worldwide, Ostend unsurprisingly hosts exceptional film festivals attended by industry icons and cinema lovers annually. July’s Ostend Film Festival pays tribute to global movie legends through retrospectives, Q&As and nightly premieres alongside the sand. November’s ensuing Film Fest Gent showcases 200+ award-winning indies and shorts from talented newcomers. Both festivals boast gorgeous red-carpet ceremonies under the Queen Elisabeth Promenade’s glowing archways for a glamorous night out!
Held each August inside Ostend’s grand 1929 Kursaal casino theater, Made In Ostend celebrates the city’s creative culture through an upscale fair spotlighting local arts, fashions and crafts. Over four days, the expo brings trendsetting designers of clothing, jewelry, leather goods, sculpture, paintings and housewares to mingle and exhibit one-of-a-kind creations in intricately arranged booths and lounge areas encouraging leisurely browsing, conversations with talented makers, or simply soaking in seaside inspiration.
Conclusion
With its miles of golden shores, glittering marina dotted with cafes and boutiques, abundance of cultural attractions, exciting festivals and joyful resort atmosphere, Ostend delights visitors as Belgium’s premiere beach destination. By day, relax oceanside with waffles in hand, then dance from sunset onwards fueled by fresh seafood and summer cocktails, creating memories to last long after your last glimpse of sand and sea.