The Albert I Promenade runs the length of Ostend's seafront, a wide, traffic-free walkway between the beach and a row of cafes and tearooms with terraces. On a clear day you can watch the ferries and container ships moving through the Channel. In summer the adjacent beach fills up with families; the stretch known as the Lido has a designated area for sunbathing and beach sports.
A few small landmarks punctuate the walk: a clock tower at Kemmelbergstraat serves as a classic meeting point, and the covered arcade of the Oostendse Gaanderijen — three arched bays — runs alongside. At the western end, the Royal Villa built for King Leopold I is worth a glance. The promenade is pleasant year-round but best enjoyed on a blustery off-season afternoon when most visitors have gone home.