How To Explore Ghent: The Essential Guide For Tourists

Ghent is Belgium’s most underrated city, widely known for its world-class art, student life and cultural activities. A visit to Ghent is not complete without exploring its stunning canals and bridges, its cobblestone streets and historic architecture. With so much charm and beauty to explore, we put together this essential guide for visitors to make the most of their stay in Ghent.

Getting There

Ghent has a great transport network and is easy to get to from The Netherlands, Germany and France. It’s only a 15 minute train ride away from the city of Bruges, and is well connected to Brussels and other European hubs by train. For those driving to Ghent, the city is well served by two highways – the E17 and the E40 – both of which have access from Bruges and Brussels. The E17 will bring you into the city center, and the E40 will take you along either side of the river. If you would like tailored driving instructions for your route, you can check out the website Rome2rio.com for specific information about your journey.

Where To Stay

Ghent is a small city, so it doesn’t offer too many options for places to stay. However, if you’re looking for something convenient, cozy and affordable, there are still some great choices. The best area to stay in Ghent is in the heart of the city center – here you’ll find lots of small boutique hotels which offer excellent facilities and services. You will find it very convenient to explore the city by foot and all transport links are nearby as well. For those looking for an affordable alternative, there are some excellent budget hotels in Ghent too. The Mercure Ghent Centre hotel, for instance, offers great quality accommodation at affordable prices – so this might be a good option for couples or family travelling on a budget. Alternatively, for those travelling solo there are lots of hostels in Ghent with many excellent facilities and great atmosphere. Hostel Uppelink is one such hostel which is centrally located in all Ghent’s hotspots and offers comfortable accommodation close to all of Ghent’s attractions.

What To See & Do

Ghent is bursting with sights and activities – here’s a list of our top five recommendations for things to do:

• Visit the Gravensteen Castle: Dating back to 1180, this magnificent castle stands tall overlooking the Gravensteen River. It’s a great way to soak up some of Ghent’s history and admire its architecture.
• Take a walking tour: The best way to get to know Ghent is by taking a walking tour – these allow you to really get off the beaten path and find out the stories behind some of Ghent’s hidden gems.
• Check out the historical art galleries: Ghent offers some of Europe’s finest art galleries, such as the Museum Voor Schone Kunsten and the Boekentoren museum.
• Explore Ghent’s museums>: If culture if your thing then Ghent’s many excellent museums won’t disappoint – check out the SMAK (Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst) which has some fantastic modern art displays.
• Spend an evening out on the town: With so many bars scattered throughout the city, there are many opportunities to sample some tasty Belgian beers or delicious Flemish cuisine.

Where To Eat

Ghent’s excellent food scene has a lot to offer – from casual cafés to Michelin-starred restaurants, there’s a huge range of different types of cuisine available for all budgets. One thing that sets Ghent apart from other European cities is its close proximity to great seafood restaurants – due to its location on the North Sea coast, restaurants like Fiskebar are able to serve the freshest seafood dishes which are simply irresistible. For those looking for a more traditional dining experience there are plenty of excellent Belgian restaurants here as well – like De Pompon which serves traditional Belgian fare such as Moules Frites, Stoofvlees and Carbonade Flamande.

Shopping & Markets

Ghent is also known for its vibrant shopping scene – boutique stores, vintage shops and independent retailers can all be found here. The Korenmarkt is a great place to start – it’s home to some fantastic looking stores filled with precious fabrics and other items. For antique shoppers, Anticasartoe on Sint-Baafsplein is certainly worth a visit too. If markets are more your thing then we would definitely recommend checking out Gentse Feesten – this is an annual event which brings together market stalls from all over Belgium, as well as plenty of live music acts and food stalls – it’s a great way to get to know more about local culture.

Safety & Security

Ghent is generally considered a safe place to visit but like in any other city it’s important to remain vigilant when out and about as pickpocketing can sometimes occur in crowded areas. The best advice is to stay in well-lit areas during the evening, avoid walking alone at night and always keep expensive items out of sight. All in all, Ghent should be on everyone’s must-visit list in Belgium – after all it has so much charm and beauty that will have you mesmerized from sunrise to sunset!