Adagio Access Gent Centrum Dampoort

Set beside Gent-Dampoort railway station, this aparthotel sits six minutes on foot from the platforms and under a kilometre from Ghent's historic centre. St Bavo's Cathedral and St Nicholas' Church are both within easy reach, along with several of the city's parks. It is a practical base rather than a scenic one. Each studio has a sleeping corner, a fully fitted kitchen and its own bathroom, with air-cooling and Wi-Fi throughout. A fitness room, laundry and underground parking cover the rest. Reception runs around the clock, and pets are welcome. Breakfast is served daily, and there is a bar for an evening drink. Check-in starts at 3pm; check-out is at 11am. Ghent's mix of university faculties and tech firms keeps the desks busy on weekdays, while the old quarter, ten minutes' walk away, holds the cathedral, the MIAT museum and the canal streets that draw most visitors. A Courtepaille or ibis restaurant sits close by for anyone not cooking in. The result reads less like a hotel than a furnished flat with hotel back-up: useful for a week's work trip, equally workable for a family staying a few nights near the station.