🇧🇪 Ghent, Belgium: The Darkly Enchanting City

🌑 Why Ghent Feels Like a Gothic Fairy Tale Architecture: Baroque meets Gothic—every alley looks like a vampire’s dinner party venue 🧛♂️. Vibes: Moody canals, shadowy spires, and zero crowds (unlike Bruges!). Perfect for dark academia 📜 or witchy photo shoots 🔮. Surprise MVP: St. Bavo’s Cathedral—walked in with no expectations, walked out speechless. 🗺️ My 4-Hour Dark Tourism Route (Walkable!) Parking: Sint-Michielsplein garage (€13.5/6hrs—skip the shuttle chaos!). St. Michael’s Bridge 🌉: Best blade-runner-meets-medieval skyline shots. St. Nicholas Church ⛪: The oldest of the "Three Towers" (free!). Belfry Tower 🏰: Climb for stormy sky views ☁️ (or take the elevator). Gravensteen Castle 🏰: Dungeons + rooftop vistas (phone-through-grate pics only!). Patershol District 🎨: Cobblestone labyrinth with hipster cafés and ghost stories. Graslei 🌊: Canal-side vampire lounging spots (ideal at dusk). ☕️ Food & Drink: Keep It Weird Way Specialty Coffee ☕: Cinnamon croissants so good, they’re sinful. Passion 🧇: Skip the pasta—their crispy waffles are next-level. Albert Heijn Supermarket 🛒: Stock up here—Ghent’s only sane grocery option. Avoid: Frites Atelier 🍟 (overhyped chain—save stomach space!). 📸 Pro Tips for Moody Travelers Weather: Rain or fog? Even better. Adds to the Tim Burton vibe ☔. Parking: Ignore "free shuttle" guides—Sint-Michielsplein is central & cheap. Timing: Sunset at Graslei = golden-hour Dracula vibes 🦇. #Ghent #BelgiumTravel #GothicVibes #MedievalDarkness #NoRegrets