Flights to Ostend

The Belgian coastal city of Ostend is a popular tourist destination in the West Flanders region, offering all the delights of a pretty seaside spot including harbour, marina and sandy beaches.

You can start planning your break around this attractive waterside destination when you book flights to Ostend with TravelSupermarket...

Ostend flights arrive into Bruges International Airport (OST) just a few miles from the city. However, with no services from the UK, most passengers will instead travel to Brussels and onwards by train or bus or using car hire. Travelling into the centre by bus or car is relatively easy and, if you do choose to drive while there, parking is readily available.

Ostend is a great city to explore on foot, as most attractions are in close proximity to each other. Like much of Belgium, there are many historical points of interests to explore relating to the first and second world wars, including a number of museums.

If marine history is of more interest, the city plays home to the former training ship the Mercator, now a floating museum. Also visit the Amandine Maritime Museum, on land.

Aside from exploring the cultural side of Ostend, there’s lots to keep visitors amused, from shopping in the mall for international brands or for local specialities – such as chocolate – on the streets. In the city, discover Leopold Park with its flowerbeds, ponds and the stunning Floral Clock – nine metres in diameter and made of 20,000 flowers.

The city's Earth Explorer is a scientific extravaganza that’s great for families. During the summer months, the sandy beaches are a great place to relax and unwind.

If you’re interested in enjoying the city nightlife, explore the many seafood restaurants and bars or visit the Kursaal Casino.

Just a short trip away is Bruges, with all its historic splendour. Cobbled streets lined with classic Belgian produce, including stunning chocolate and lace stores, are surrounded by canals. Leuven, Brussels and Mechelen are also within easy reach.

Ostend offers a combination of history, scenery and modern attractions and a great centre for any holiday to Belgian. Find cheap flights to Ostend or Brussels by using TravelSupermarket's price-comparison tool.

With no direct flights from the UK, Brussels is your best option for finding a flight to reach Ostend...

Brussels Airlines has services to Brussels International (BRU), taking around an hour from the UK and departing from London, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle and Edinburgh. There are also flights from the East Midlands with bmiregional and a service from London Gatwick with easyJet.

Ryanair has an extensive schedule of operations into Brussels Charleroi (CRL) from around Europe, with direct flights from Edinburgh and Manchester.

You’ve touched down on your short flight to Ostend, so now what? Find out how to travel between the airport and the city...

Actually known as Ostend-Bruges International Airport, the airport is much closer to the city of Ostend – minutes away – than Bruges. A bus service runs between the airport and Ostend’s central bus station (and the other way) every 10 minutes.

Car hire is available at the airport, as well as at a downtown car-rental office. Book a vehicle in advance and collect it at the airport to make your own way to your accommodation in Ostend.

The beauty of having your own car on your Ostend break is the freedom it brings to travel along the coast or visit neighbouring cities such as Bruges. You can compare prices on car hire in Ostend when you use the TravelSupermarket search tool, which is also the best way to find bargain flights.

Find out where to stay in Ostend with our short guide to hotels in the area...

With local restaurants serving fresh seafood, and a bounty of museums, art galleries and public spaces to explore, there is no shortage of diversions to keep visitors on the go.

When you are ready, though, to find a pillow on which to lay your head for the evening, where should you look?

Ostend has a generous supply of hotels that will offer a kindly welcome. The main concentration of hotels is in the northern tip of the town, where a long and pleasant seafront promenade stretches behind the sands.

Book a hotel along the seafront for views across the water. This area is packed with restaurants, bars and attractions, as well as hotels – it’s the most popular area to stay in the city.

Hotels in Ostend range from cool and comfortable design-led boutique places and spa hotels, to those more traditional places with often smaller rooms. Ostend isn’t an especially expensive place to stay and you’ll find plenty of bargains, especially outside the popular summer months of July and August.

If you do rent a car while in Ostend, look for hotels with free car parking to avoid adding an unnecessary cost to your trip.

You can find cheap flights to Ostend-Bruges airport and book Ostend hotels to suit your budget by using the search tool on TravelSupermarket.