Ghent travel guide
Ghent Tourism | Ghent Guide
You're Going to Love Ghent
One of Belgium's medieval jewels, Ghent is compact and full of interesting museums and stunning architecture. On top of that, it's also a wonderful place to dine, listen to music, and just relax. What's more surprising is how it remains relatively undiscovered.
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Ghent
1. Medieval Artistic Masterpieces
The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb by the Van Eyck brothers is one of the greatest religious paintings of the late medieval era and not to be missed, but Ghent's churches conceal plenty of other treasures as well.
2. Excellent Museums
From textile production and psychiatry to furniture design and Ghent itself, the city has plenty of engaging museums.
3. Exceptional Dining Options
With brasseries like Pakhuis, buzzing coffee bars like Belle Histoire, and gourmet seafood specialists like Georges, Ghent has every gastronomic base covered.
4. Bars for Evening Entertainment
If you love Belgian beer, Ghent is the place to go. Try local brews from the Gruut Brewery or wade through massive beer lists at riverside bars.
5. The Spectacular Gravensteen Castle
Ghent's fairytale castle is beautifully preserved and also a superb place to take the kids, hosting plenty of events throughout the year.
Where to Eat in Ghent
Ghent has a wealth of restaurants. Some local favorites include burger specialists Paul's Boutique, gourmet brasseries like De Rave, and Flemish eateries like Publiek. Expect a meal to cost between EUR15 and EUR40.
When to visit Ghent
Most tourists visit Ghent around July and August, but there's no reason to discount September or May to June, when the crowds will be thinner and the weather should be fine.
How to Get to Ghent
Plane
Visitors from North America can fly into Brussels Airport, then take a train, taxi, or car rental to Ghent, reaching the city in around 30 minutes.
Train
Most trains stop at Gent-Sint-Pieters in the south of the city. From there, take a 21 or 22 tram to the city center.
Car
From Brussels, take the E40. From Antwerp, take the E17, which also runs from Lille to the southwest.
Bus
Ghent is well connected to other European cities via Eurolines and Megabus services.
Airlines serving Ghent
Where to stay in Ghent
Some popular and comfortable city center options include the Ghent Marriott Hotel and the Ghent River Hotel, while the Hotel NH Gent Sint Pieters is handy for the station.
Popular neighbourhoods in Ghent
Patershol - Ghent's medieval center, Patershol is enchanting, boasting the Gravensteen Castle and many excellent restaurants.
Graslei - stretched along the river, Graslei was Ghent's ancient port, and it features some stunning facades as well as numerous riverside bars and cafes.
Korenlei - located across the river from Graslei, Korenlei is just as atmospheric and is home to the excellent Design Museum.
Where to stay in popular areas of Ghent
Most booked hotels in Ghent
How to Get Around Ghent
Public Transportation
Single bus tickets cost EUR3 when you purchase on-board, or EUR1.40 if you buy from shops or kiosks. A 10-trip pass costs EUR14 and may be the best option.
Taxi
Taxis aren't cheap, starting with a meter drop of around EUR8, then EUR4 per mile.
Car
Car rental companies in Ghent include Sixt, Luxauto, and Avis, and rates start at about EUR15 per day.
The Cost of Living in Ghent
Shopping Streets
For street food, crafts, and clothing, don't miss the ancient Vrijdagmarkt in Patershol. Otherwise, check out streets like Sint-Niklaasstraat or the Dok Noord shopping mall.
Groceries and Other
Expect to pay around EUR3 for a gallon of milk or EUR2.30 for 12 eggs at Ghent supermarkets like Carrefour and Spar.