Ghent

Understand

Ghent was once considered the second largest city north of the Alps, after Paris. It has a relatively high proportion of young people, and a significant seasonal student population. Unlike Leuven, another university town in Flanders, youth is not the only category of people living there. There is an interesting mixture of foreigners who came to live there, professionals working for major international firms, and artists among the people of Ghent. This mixture makes the people more tolerant and open-minded. This atmosphere seeps into every aspect of city life, making the city different from the smaller provincial cities or the bigger city of Antwerp.

Visit Ghent website

Getting there

By train Ghent is a 30-minute train ride away from Brussels and is on the line from Brussels to Bruges and the coast. If you're planning to visit Bruges and Brussels, definitely stop over in Ghent as well. There are also direct trains to Brussels Airport (BRU IATA), Antwerp, and Lille. The main station is 1 Gent-Sint-Pieters. . It is the main station, to go to the centre, take tram 1 (until 2 Korenmarkt. ). Journey time is ten minutes. 3 Gent-Dampoort. is closer to the center (about 15 minutes walk), but only trains coming from the direction of Antwerp stop there. Trip planning and ticket purchase can be done on the SNCB website or the SNCB app.

By car The dense highway network in Belgium allows you to access Ghent easily by car. Two main highways E40 (Liège-Brussels-Ghent-Bruges-Ostend) and E17 (Antwerp-Ghent-Kortrijk-Lille) cross at Ghent. Brussels and Antwerp are 40 min away, Bruges 30 min. During rush hour you can easily double these times.

By plane The two biggest airports nearby are Brussels (Zaventem, Belgium) and Lille (France). Direct trains are available from Brussels Airport to Ghent. Brussels-South airport, in Charleroi, is farther away, but popular due to the large number of flights (mainly Ryanair).

By boat DFDS operates a cargo line to Gothenburg, Sweden.

Getting around

On foot The centre of Ghent is quite small, so you can walk around on foot. However, the main station (Gent Sint-Pieters) is not in the city centre, but takes a walk of about half an hour. The best option is to take the tram, which takes you directly to the centre in 10 to 15 minutes.

By bicycle A bicycle is the recommended way to get around in Ghent. However, there are many roads with cobblestones that make cycling a shaking experience. Also make sure you stay clear of the tram rails. Nevertheless, you will see you are not alone on your bike: many inhabitants use bikes to get around. Even the former mayor uses his bicycle all day. There are many bike stands around to make it easy to lock your bike (important!) Many one-way roads are made two-way for bikes.

By public transportation The transport system is Ghent is excellent and usually on time. The transportation company is De Lijn. A single ticket costs €3 if bought in the bus or tram (contactless only from white card reader), from ticket machines near stops, or from the De Lijn app. Such a ticket is valid for an hour's travel on all trams and buses. If you are planning to stay for a while, either buy a three day pass for €18 or 10 trips for €22 — they are valid for within the city and can also be used throughout Flanders (e.g. Antwerp or Bruges). The trams are the quickest and most comfortable way to travel, especially from the railway station to the city centre. There are 4 tram lines: 1 , 2 , 3 , and 4 . There is a De Lijn app available for Android or IOS smartphones which offer journey planning, real time travel info and ticket purchase in English. Tickets purchased on a card should be validated on the reader (not the white one) when entering the bus/tram while tickets purchased on the website or app should be validated before entering the vehicle. With a few exceptions, the tickets are usable throughout Flanders. In the Lijnwinkel kiosk, near Sint-Pieters train station, you can get a free map of city and surroundings, with all bus and tram lines.

See

1 Belfort en Lakenhalle (Belfry and Cloth Hall), Emile Braunplein (tram 1 or 4 to Sint-Baafsplein), ☏ +32 9 223 99 22. Daily 10:00 — 18:00; free guided tours of Belfry Easter vacations and May-Sep: Tu-Su 14:10, 15:10, and 16:10. The Belfry was a symbol of the city's autonomy, begun in 1313 and completed in 1380. This municipal tower holds the great bells that have rung out Ghent's civic pride through the centuries. Take the elevator to the Belfry's upper gallery, 66 m high, to see the bells and take in fantastic panoramic views of the city. The Cloth Hall dates from 1425 and was the gathering place of wool and cloth merchants. €10 adults, €1.6 U19. (updated Jun 2023)

2 Sint-Baafskathedraal (St. Bavo's Cathedral), Sint-Baafsplein (tram 1 or 4 to Sint-Baafsplein), ☏ +32 9 269 20 45. Cathedral: Apr-Oct M-Sa 08:30-18:00, Su 13:00-18:00; Nov-Mar M-Sa 08:30-17:00, Su 13:00-17:00.Mystic Lamb chapel and crypt: Apr-Oct M-Sa 09:30-17:30, Su 13:00-17:00; Nov-Mar M-Sa 10:30-16:00, Sun 13:00-16:00. Don't miss this cathedral. Rather unimpressive exterior of Romanesque, Gothic, and baroque architecture. However, the interior is filled with priceless paintings and sculptures, including the 24-panel altarpiece The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, completed by Jan van Eyck in 1432. Simply spellbinding, this work was commissioned by a wealthy city alderman in 1420. Original altarpiece Adoration of Mystic Lamb is temporarily and partially closed. Since 2010 a scientific study and conservation works have been in progress. Visitors can follow the activities through a glass wall). Other art treasures in the cathedral include Rubens's restored The Conversion of St. Bavo from 1623. Cathedral: free admission; Mystic Lamb chapel and crypt: €4 adults (+€1 audio guide in English, recommended), €1.50 children 6-12, free for children under 6. (updated Apr 2025)

3 Het Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts), Sint-Veerleplein (tram 1 or 4 to Sint-Veerleplein), ☏ +32 9 225 93 06. Apr-Sep: daily 09:00-18:00; Oct-Mar: daily 09:00-17:00. Closed Jan 1, Dec 24-25 and 31. Built by Count Philip of Alsace, count of Flanders, soon after he returned from the Crusades in 1180 with images of similar crusader castles in the Holy Land. If its walls (2 m thick), battlements, and turrets failed to intimidate attackers, the count could always turn to a well-equipped torture chamber inside. You can view relics of the chamber in a small museum in the castle. Climb up to the ramparts of the high central building, the donjon, which has great views of Ghent's rooftops and towers. €10 adults (movie guide included),

Do

De Bootjes van Gent (Rederij Dewaele Canal Cruise), Graslei or Korenlei, ☏ +32 9 223 88 53. Apr-Oct: daily 10:00-18:00; Nov-Mar: Sa Su 11:00-16:00. A cruise on the canals is a good way to view the city's highlights. The tour lasts approximately 40 minutes; longer tours are available. €7 for adults; €6.50 for seniors, students, and those under 26; €4 for children aged 3 to 12; free for children under 3. Jan Plezier Boottochten, Snepkaai or Ketelvest, ☏ +32 475 69 68 80. Large parties can reserve themed cruises along the waterways of Ghent. Among the themes are the pancake cruise (pancake boat), the spareribs cruise, and the shrimp cruise. These cruises are most often held for large parties; individual tourists are better off choosing a tour of Dewaele or hiring a boat to steer yourself. pancake boat €11.50 for adults; €9.50 for children aged under 6 to 12; free for children under 6. 1 Go Swimming at Badhuis Van Eyck, Vermeerplein (bus# 17&18). see website. An 1880 Art Deco pool restored in 2001, it that retains individual changing rooms. The old entrance is still there but the modern entrance is at the opposite end of the building. Adults €6, -26 & +65 €3.30. (updated Jun 2023) 2 Blaarmeersen sports grounds. The Blaarmeersen offers multiple sports grounds, including a climbing wall (3.500m², one of the biggest in Europe), athletics track, BMW, openwater swimming (on Thursday 18h-20h), roller blading, skate track, sup, cycling track, rowing (in the Watersportbaan). Adjacent to the sports facilities, there are several beaches to enjoy (booking is essential). (updated Aug 2025) 3 KAA Gent. KAA Gent play soccer in Pro League, Belgium's top soccer tier. Their home ground Ghelamco Arena (capacity 20,100) is 3 km south of city centre. (updated Aug 2025) hot air balloon flight Ghent. Hot air balloon flights over the city center are possible in the morning hours or in the evening. Take off location depends on the wind direction. Possible for passengers of minimum 6 years old. (updated Dec 2025)

Events Film Fest Gent: October, Leeuwstraat 40b, ☏ +32 9 242 80 60, fax: +32 9 221 90 74, [email protected]. Every year in October the film festival of Ghent takes over the lion's share of the city's screening rooms. During ten days in over 4 cinemas more than 100 movies and documentaries are screened. A bilingual schedule is provided and several films are shown with English subtitles. On the red carpet you could spot some high-profile celebrities, but the festival's most defining characteristic is its focus on film music. The World Soundtrack Awards (WSA) is

Buy

1 Prondelmarkt bij Sint-Jacobs (Sint-Jacobs flea market), Beverhoutplein near Sint-Jacobs. F Sa 08:00-13:00, Su 08:00-14:00. Antiques, second-hand records, books, and others can be found in the weekly flea markt at Sint-Jacobs. Prices can be high, but keen eyes can find a lot of gems. 2 Tweedehandsboekenmarkt (Second-hand books market), Ajuinlei. 9am to 1pm on Sundays. Inspired by the second-hand booksellers of Paris (Bouquinistes), every Sunday 09:00-13:00 you can stroll along the Ajuinlei to find a large assortment of second-hand books. The supply includes English books from the bookshop 'English Book Shop', also in the Ajuinlei (and also open at regular hours in the rest of the week), movie posters, art books, children's books and a smattering of various other niches. 3 Vrijdagmarkt (Friday Market). Vrijdagmarkt has been a fixture since the 13th century. It is the scene of a lively street markets on Friday (07:30-13:00) and Saturday (11:00-18:00), as well as the Sunday bird market (07:00-13:00).

4 Cuberdons sold by street vendors, Kortemunt, near Groentenmarkt. Every day in Korte Munt near Groentenmarkt, two street vendors are selling cuberdons or Gentse neuzen (Ghent nose). These candies are purple cone shaped gum Arabic sweets with a raspberry centre. If you stop, you will shop because these vendors are experts at promoting this Ghent specialty, so much so that they infamously got into a small fist-fight due to them competing for customers. One of the vendors also sells the pastries of the adjacent bakery 'Himschoot's'.

5 Tierenteyn-Verlent, Groentenmarkt 3, ☏ +32 9 225 83 36. Hot mustard shop. 6 Bookstore Limerick (Boekhandel Limerick), Kon. Elisabethlaan 142, ☏ +32 92221757. Bookstore with many Dutch books and some English. Lots of literature, psychology, and sociology books. (updated Dec 2022)

Eat

Ghent provides an excellent and affordable sample of Flemish cuisine, which in the eyes of the locals is one of Europe's finest as it combines French delicacy with northern European sturdiness. Try some local specialties like mussels, spare ribs or 'stoverij' (a kind of tender meat cooked for three hours in dark beer with a brown gravy) with Belgian fries. Another dish from Ghent is the "Gentse waterzooi" (litt. "boiled water from Ghent"), which was the food for the poor originally, a stew of cheap fish (usually turbot) and vegetables. Now it is often made with chicken as well. Belgian waffles are available from a number of street stalls around the town. The restaurants on Korenmarkt and Vrijdagmarkt are a good deal, reasonably priced; the menus and 'menus of the day' at the Brasserie Borluut provide terrific value and this includes Gentse waterzooi. The real upmarket restaurants are to be found in the 14th-century quarter called 'Patershol', near the Castle. There is also a big Turkish community in Ghent, centred around Sleepstraat a bit further north, which is home to numerous Turkish restaurants.

Budget

City centre 1 Soup Lounge, Zuivelbrugstraat 6. 10:00-19:00. Popular place to get a soup. (updated Feb 2023) 2 Frituur Bij Sint-Jacobs SYMPA, Walter De Buckplein 3. (updated Feb 2023) 3 Vandevoorde / Olivier, Steendam 20. (updated Feb 2023) 4 HFC Korenmarkt-Gent, Jan van Stopenberghestraat 5. (updated Feb 2023) 5 Seli's Noodlebar, Limburgstraat 28. (updated Feb 2023) 6 Tashun, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 120. (updated Feb 2023)

Heuvelpoort 7 Belchicken, Overpoortstraat 1. (updated Feb 2023) 8 Ichi Bites, Stalhof 19. (updated Feb 2023) 9 Pizza overpoort, Overpoortstraat 36. (updated Feb 2023) 10 Hashtag Falafel, Ottergemsesteenweg 1. (updated Feb 2023) 11 Orientali Streetfood Bar, Sint-Pietersplein 29. (updated Feb 2023) 12 Prima Donna, Overpoortstraat 46. (updated Feb 2023)

Mid-range 13 Neptune, Sint-Veerleplein 10. Really pleasant and friendly little place immediately opposite Gravensteen castle. Run by a husband and wife team (with two children running around for good measure). Neither food nor prices are as touristy as expected. Yummy local specialties, the Stoverij (beef stew) is particularly good. €30-40. (updated Feb 2023) 14 Pampas, Burgstraat 1, ☏ +32 9 233 68 66. The place to go if you need a meat protein boost. €30-40. (updated Feb 2023) 15 De Lieve, Sint-Margrietstraat 1 (one block away from Gravensteen castle), ☏ +32 9 223 29 47. Kitchen 11:00-23:00. Formerly serving haute cuisine and having Michelin stars, this restaurant

Drink & nightlife

For authentic pubs, go to St. Veerleplein (the square in front of the Castle), the pubs around St. Jacob's church (especially during weekends), or the student area around Blandijnberg (Mount Blandin), especially in the proximity of the School of Arts and Philosophy, recognisable from afar by the 64-m-tall art deco Library Tower. Ghent is known for its many pubs and clubs and most have friendly staff. If you visit Ghent for its great nightlife, be sure to check out the bars listed in the "Off the beaten path" section.

Central Area: Castle-Korenmarkt-Graslei

1 Waterhuis aan de bierkant (The Waterhouse on the beerside), Groentenmarkt 9 (near the Castle), ☏ +32 9 225 06 80, [email protected]. Boasts about 400 different kinds of Belgian beer, but is fairly touristy. 2 Het Galgenhuis (the Gallows house) (near Waterhuis aan de bierkant). A tiny tavern in a lean-to built on to the Gothic Butchers' Hall. A good selection of draught and bottled beers. 3 't Dreupelkot, Groentenmarkt 12 (near the Castle), ☏ +32 9 224 21 20, [email protected]. 200 kinds of Belgian genever, a number of which are homemade. Try the pepper genever if you are a tough guy or girl (be cautious!) Pol, the owner, is a friendly guy, although it might look the other way at first sight. Around €2 for a regular-sized genever. 4 Het Velootje (The Little Bike), Kalversteeg 2 (between the Castle and Vrijdagmarkt). Considered as the only tourist trap of Ghent, but even with this negative reputation it's worth a visit. The bearded owner Lieven calls his place a museum café with an authentic atmosphere by candlelight. This is all true but forgot to mention his collection of 200 antique bikes decorating the place. Drink prices are steep. Everything costs €4.50. 5 Damberd, Korenmarkt. Live jazz pub. 6 Gentse Stadsbrouwerij Gruut (Gruut Brewery), Rembert Dodoensdreef 1, ☏ +32 9 269 02 69. Brews beers with herbs for flavouring; a style commonly found throughout mediaeval Europe before the widespread cultivation of hops. (updated Jul 2023)

Sint-Jacobs & Vrijdagmarkt (Vlasmarkt-Beestenmarkt) Charlatan, Vlasmarkt 6. Popular club with many live concerts. Surrounded by the bars Jos, Vlasmarkt 7 and Bar des Amis, Vlasmarkt 5. de Dulle Griet, Vrijdagmarkt 50. A traditional Flemish bar with a variety of 250 drinks (mostly Belgian beers). (updated Oct 2018) More alternative bars are Kinky Star, Vlasmarkt 9 and Afsnis Sint-Jacobs 10, both have regular live concerts. Trollekelder, Bij Sint-Jacobs 17. A cafe with a large selection of beer. (updated Oct 2018)

Student area Overpoo

Sleep

Budget 1 Hostel 47. Nice hospitality and service. 2 Youth Hostel De Draecke, Sint-Widostraat 11, ☏ +32 9 233 70 50, fax: +32 9 233 80 01, [email protected]. This hostel is on a quiet street in the centre. Free breakfast and bedsheets are provided. A bar on the premises offers a range of Belgian beers. HI Hostel. (updated May 2023) 3 Hostel Uppelink, Sint-Michielsplein 21, ☏ +32 9 279 44 77, [email protected]. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. A beautiful building, beautifully furnished and right in the middle of the most scenic part of the city. Breakfast €7.50/person per day, bar open until 23:00. from €24pppn. (updated Jun 2026) 4 Brooderie, ☏ +32 9 225 06 23. Primarily a cafe & bakery, but with three rooms located on Jan Breydelstraat opposite the Design Museum. Shared bathrooms and showers with the cafe below but a cheap way of getting a fine room in a superb location - delicious bread with breakfast. €50 for a single, €70-75 for a double. 5 Ecohostel Andromeda, Bargiekaai 35, ☏ +32 486 67 80 33. Low-energy, low-budget (beds start at €22) hostel-on-a-boat, 10 minutes walk from the centre. Creative, modern interior, surprisingly spacious and with better showers than many "land" hostels! Internet and breakfast available. 6 Hotel Ibis Centrum Kathedraal, Limburgstraat 2, ☏ +32 9 293 90 00. A list of B&Bs can be found at: [1]

7 Bed in Gent (Bed in Ghent), Lucas Munichstraat 18 (a 5-minute walk from Gent Dampoort train station), ☏ +32 495 94 49 17, [email protected]. A roomy guest-house, with bright south-oriented bathrooms and a shared dining room with a dash of modern retro. €50 and up. (updated Oct 2017) 8 Ibis Budget, Koopvaardijlaan 29. Budget hotel located near Dampoort Station. (updated Jul 2023)

Camping 9 Cam­ping Urban Gar­dens – Blaar­meer­sen, Campinglaan 16 (2 miles W of city centre), ☏ +32 9 396 93 92, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00 (flexibility in practice), check-out: 11:00. More than 200 pitches. Shop (08:00-20:00). Cafe. Free Wi-Fi. Including place for motorhomes 1 person, 1 tent, 1 bike €33. (updated Aug 2025)

Mid-range 10 Novotel Gent Centrum, Goudenleeuwplein 5, ☏ +32 9 224 22 30.

Splurge 11 Best Western, Cour Saint-Georges, Botermarkt 2, ☏ +32 9 224 24 24, fax: +32 9 224 26 40. 'The oldest Hotel in Europe, since 1228'. Right in the centre, near the towers. €125-200. 12 NH Gent Belfort, Hoogpoort 63, ☏ +32 9 233 33 31. In the historical quarter of the city, offers 174 modern and comfortable rooms. Rooms from €109. 13 Marriott, Korenlei 10. Great position right in the middle of the old city centre with a v

Go next

The Belgian train system is very efficient and the country not that large, so getting between major cities by rail is easy – in the day. A day trip to even multiple cities is easily doable. From Ghent, multiple railway lines radiates to major destinations in Flanders:

Bruges, famous for its canals and medieval heritage as well, is 20 minutes by train from Ghent In the opposite direction, the often-overlooked town of Sint-Niklaas, with Belgium's largest market square, is also 20 minutes away Just across the Dutch border, the very well-preserved historic fortified city Hulst attracts lots of day-trippers from Belgium. It was once part of Flanders, and its main street and city entrance gate still refer to Ghent. Kortrijk, a charming and historically important provincial city in West Flanders is 30 minutes away Antwerp, Brussels, Mechelen and the seaside resort of Ostend are around 40 minutes away All the major cities in Wallonia are within 1.5 hours of train ride - either direct or with a quick change in Brussels The French city of Lille is an hour away by direct train Sint-Martens-Latem is very near and offers a great half-day trip to those who are interested in arts.