Travel guide for Ghent, Belgium
Travel Guide🇧🇪 Belgium

Ghent Travel Guide

Everything you need to know before visiting Ghent, Belgium. From transportation and safety to local customs and practical tips.

EUR ()
German
High Safety

About Ghent

Ghent (Dutch: Gent, French: Gand) is a city in East Flanders in Belgium. Ghent is a city with a population of 265,000 in 2020, with rich history. During the Middle Ages, Ghent was one of the richest and most powerful cities in Europe. The impact of this rich past can be clearly seen when viewing the imposing architecture of churches and the houses of rich traders. The city centre is restored, and breathes the atmosphere of a thriving late-medieval city state. It is free of cars, so it is a very welcoming and open area.

Source: Wikipedia

Essential Information

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Symbol:

Language

German

Also: French, Dutch

Phone Code

+32

International dialing code for Belgium

Driving

Drive on the right

Standard for Belgium

Region

Europe

Western Europe

Connectivity

As of June 2022, Ghent has 4G with Base / Telenet and Orange, and 5G with Proximus / Scarlet. Wifi is widely available in public places.

How to Get to Ghent

Transportation options and arrival information

Ghent is a 30-minute train ride away fromBrusselsand is on the line from Brussels toBrugesand 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 (BRUIATA),Antwerp, andLille.

Getting Around Ghent

Local transportation and navigation tips

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.

Safety in Ghent

High Safety (Global Peace Index: 1.526)

About the Global Peace Index: Global Peace Index measures peacefulness on a scale of 1 (most peaceful) to 5 (least peaceful)

Source: Institute for Economics & Peace (2022)

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

12 protected sites near Ghent

Stoclet Palace

Stoclet Palace

Palace in Belgium

Inscribed: 1905
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Neolithic flint mines of Spiennes

Neolithic flint mines of Spiennes

Flint mine in Belgium

Belfries of Belgium and France

Belfries of Belgium and France

Group of structures or buildings in Belgium

Béguinages in Flanders

Béguinages in Flanders

Architectural ensemble in Belgium

Tournai Cathedral

Tournai Cathedral

Cathedral in Belgium

Inscribed: 1101
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northern French coal mining region

northern French coal mining region

Mining region in France

Vladslo German war cemetery

Vladslo German war cemetery

War cemetery in Belgium

Grand-Place

Grand-Place

Grand place in Belgium

Museum Plantin-Moretus

Museum Plantin-Moretus

Museum in Belgium

Inscribed: 1877
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Cambrai German military cemetery

Cambrai German military cemetery

War cemetery in France

Fortifications of Vauban

Fortifications of Vauban

Group of structures or buildings in France

Bruges City Hall

Bruges City Hall

Museum in Belgium

Inscribed: 1377
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Things to See in Ghent

16 landmarks and points of interest

Belfry of Ghent

medieval tower in Ghent, Belgium

Castle Stas de Richelle

castle in Belgium

Ghent University Museum

Belgian museum at Ghent

Heilig Kruiskerk

church in Heusden, Belgium

Huis van Alijn

museum in Gent, Belgium

Kasteel van Laarne

château

Korenmarkt, Ghent

square in Ghent, Belgium

Museum of Fine Arts Ghent (MSK)

museum of fine arts in Ghent, Belgium

Oostakker Basilica

church building in Ghent, Belgium

Our-Lady Ter Hooyen

béguinage in Ghent, Belgium

Prinsenhof

historical neighborhood in Ghent, Belgium

STAM Ghent City Museum

museum

Source: Wikidata

Travel information sourced from Wikivoyage

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