• James Ensorhuis (James Ensor House), Vlaanderenstraat 27, ☎ +32 (0) 5980.53.35. June-Sept and Easter vacation week Wed-Mon 10am-noon and 2-5pm; Nov-May Sat-Sun 2-5pm. Closed Oct.. The house where Anglo-Belgian artist James Ensor lived from 1916 has been restored and transformed into a museum of his life. Studio and lounge on the second floor. Only reproductions are displayed. 2 eur adults; 1 eur seniors and studends; free for children under 18.  edit
• Kunstmuseum aan Zee (Art Museum by the Sea), Romestraat 11, ☎ +32 (0) 59/50.81.18, [1]. Tues-Sun 10am-6pm. Created after the 2008 merger of the Museum voor Moderne Kunst (Modern Art Museum) and the Museum voor Schone Kunsten (Museum of Fine Arts). Also known as Mu.ZEE. 9 eur adults, 7.50 eur seniors; free for children under 13.  edit
• Leopold Park. The Leopold Park was set out in 1860 on the old city walls in British style, with ponds, paths and flowerbeds. The first park regulations gave free access to tourists, but local residents had to pay. The beautiful bandstand was inaugurated in 1885. The best-known statue of Oostende, called The Sea, but there is not one person who calls it that. Nearly everyone remembers the statue only by its popular name ‘Dikke Mathille’ - ‘Fat Mathilde’. There even is a “Dikke Mathille” beer that you can taste in local pubs. Near the Fat Mathilde on the right hand side is the famous Floral Clock created from 20.000 flowers and plants. It has a diameter of 9 metres, the hands are 3 and 4 metres long and weigh 70 and 90 kilos. The date, made entirely of flowers, is reset every day during the summer months.  edit
• Sint-Petrus-en Pauluskerk (St. Peter and Paul Church), Sint-Petrus-en-Paulusplein. This vast, neo-Gothic church from 1907 has a suite of stained-glass windows and a memorial chapel dedicated to Belgium's first queen, Marie-Louise of Orleans, who died in Ostend in 1850. (51.230,2.922) edit
• Driemaster Mercator (Three-Master Mercator), (Not far from the the rail station). May, June, September daily from 9am-noon and 1-6pm; July and August daily from 9am-7pm; April to June and September daily from 10am-1pm and 2-6pm; October to March weekends and holidays from 11am-1pm and 2-5pm.. Formerly a Belgian merchant marine training ship, this three-masted schooner is now a floating maritime museum. It has a length of more than 78 meters and a width of 11 meters. This beautiful ship is really worth a visit. Great for kids as well. 4 eur for adults, 2 eur for children ages 5-14, free for children under 5.  edit
• Noordzeeaquarium (North Sea Aquarium), Visserskaai (Near the old fishing harbor), ☎ +32 (0) 5950.08.76. Apil to September daily from 10am-noon and 2-6pm; October to March weekends from 10am-noon and 2-6pm.. Small aquarium with a collection of fish, mollusks, shell, and crustaceans from the nearby waters of the North Sea. Popular with children. 2 eur for adults; 1 euro for children 4-14.  edit
• Museumschip (Museum Ship), Vindictive-laan 35Z, ☎ +32 (0) 5923.43.01, [2]. Monday from 2-7pm and Tuesday to Sunday from 10am-7pm.. Sits in a dry basin on a plastic "sea" as a museum of the history and traditions of Ostend's Icelandic fishery. 2.50 eur for adults and 1.25 eur for children under 14..  edit
• Oostends Historisch Museum De Plate (De Plate Oostend Historical Museum), Langestraat 69 (Close to Wapenplein), ☎ +32 (0) 5980.02.89, [3]. Sat 10am-noon and 2-5pm; school vacations Wed-Mon 10am-noon and 2-5pm. Housed in King Leopold's restored, 19th century summer residence, the museum holds displays of Neolithic and Roman objects excavated in the vicinity and exhibits depicting Oostend traditional dress, folklore, and history. There's a re-created fisherman's pub, a fisherman's home, and an old tobacco store. 2 eur adults, 1 eur seniors and chilrdren 14-18, free for children under 14..  edit

By plane

The airport of Oostende, at a few minutes by car from the city center, is in full expansion. Besides charters, private jets are welcome here too.

By train

The train stops in the centre of Oostende and offers a lot of direct connections from and to the midland. The Thalys will take you in 1.30 hour from Paris and in 2:00 hours from Amsterdam to Oostende.

By car

Comming to Ostend by car is also possible. Ostend has a lot of parking lots.

By ferry

Trans Europa Ferries organises a passenger service (only with car) between Oostende and Ramsgate. This transfer takes about 4 hours.

Most points of interest in town are close together. You can easily reach them by foot or by renting a bicycle from the rail station for 9 eur per day. De Lijn bus lines 5, 6, and 39 go along the seafront to the west; if you want to get to points farther along the coast, in either direction, take the Coast Train from a stop next to the rail station. You can pick up a taxi at the rail station, or call Taxibond (+32 (0) 59.70.27.27).

Ostend is a paradise for shopaholics. First of all, you have the Kapellestraat with all the important large chain stores. In the Adolf Buylstraat you can find designer clothing, shoes and accessories. Ostend has also a shopping center Shopping Center Feest- en Kultuurpaleis with 17 different shops. Other shopping streets are Christinastraat, Witte Nonnenstraat, James Ensorgalerij and Alfons Pieterslaan

There are a number of places to eat in Ostend, ranging from a Pizza Hut to charming old style Flemish Pannenkoekenhuis (Pancake Houses). There are also a number of chocolatiers and Dutch style Snoepje (Sweetie) stores, the latter lit up in bright pink neon. Most street corners are either a coffee shop or a bar.

The Restaurant l'Enfant Terrible, located at Nieuwstraat 16, an easy walk from the town centre and seconds from the harbour, serves an excellent selection of good, well prepared food. In particular, their entrecote steak with fries is outstanding.

No doubt the place with the most charm and character in Oostende is 'Stad Kortrijk', a 'friterie chique', offering you excellent steak, fish, omelettes,... with freshly baked fries and home-made mayonnaise. And all this for an excellent price. The shark mouth hanging on the wall, the boat lights,... all add to the character of the place...

A common sight is a coffee served with a small advocaat (eggnog). Sometimes these come with three or four profiteroles, free of chocolate sauce, for dipping in the liqueur.