Ghent holidays

How to reach Ghent

• Flight time: There are no direct flights to Ghent. Flights to Brussels, the nearest airport, take about 1 hour 10 minutes from London.

• Transfer time: Ghent is approximately 45 minutes by train from Brussels Airport.

• Price: A single train ticket from Brussels Airport to Ghent costs around €15. Alternatively, a taxi to Ghent from Brussels Airport will set you back roughly €90.

Best time to visit Ghent

Think about what you want to do during your holidays to Ghent. While the weather is more pleasant during the spring and summer, winter has its own attractions.

• March to May: Spring is lovely in Ghent, with temperatures gradually rising from 8°C in March to around 17°C in May. It’s an excellent time for exploring the city’s parks, gardens and canals. Rainfall ranges between 50–60mm, and you can expect about 6–8 hours of sunshine.

• June to August: The summer months bring the best weather, with temperatures reaching 20–25°C. Events like the Ghent Festival bring a superb atmosphere, although accommodation prices rise with the tourist crowds. Expect 5–10mm of rain and 8–10 hours of daily sunshine.

• September to November: Early autumn offers milder weather, with temperatures dropping from around 20°C in September to 10°C by November. It’s a great time for city walks though rainfall does increase, averaging 55–85mm.

• December to February: Come December and Ghent’s Christmas markets transform the city. Winters are pretty mild, with temperatures averaging 3–8°C, rainfall of around 90mm, and sunshine is limited to 4–5 hours.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: The main language is Flemish (Dutch), though French and English are widely understood, especially in tourist areas.

• Local habits and customs: It’s nearly impossible to make a faux pas among the Belgians – they’re a relaxed bunch who take life at a leisurely pace. Leave a 10 percent tip in restaurants, and greet acquaintances with three kisses, not two.

• Health and safety: Ghent is generally safe, but as with any city, keep an eye on your belongings in crowded areas. In an emergency, dial 112 for police, fire or medical services.

• Currency: Belgium uses the Euro (€). ATMs are everywhere, and credit cards are accepted in most places, though cash is useful for smaller purchases at markets and food stalls.

• Getting around: Trams and buses are operated by De Lijn. A standard one-way fare costs €2.50. Tickets are valid for an hour and can be purchased at automatic ticket machines. A 24-hour city transport pass, the Dagpas, costs €7.50.

• Electricity and plug types: Belgium uses the standard European 230V two-pin plugs. UK travellers will need an adaptor.

• Time zone: Ghent is on Central European Time (CET), which is 1 hour ahead of GMT.

• Required travel documentation: UK travellers need a passport valid for the entire stay, but no visa is required for visits up to 90 days.

Best things to do in Ghent

A vital, vibrant metropolis whose booming restaurant and bar scene wends its way across a charming cityscape comprising a network of narrow canals overseen by handsome classical mansions and antique red-brick houses.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Belfort: The Belfort’s belfry is equipped with a glass-sided lift that climbs up to the roof, where excellent views over the city centre await.

• Het Gravensteen: Walk along most of the castle’s encircling wall, from where there are pleasing views over the city centre.

The best districts

• Groentenmarkt: The jumble of old buildings at the Vegetable Market makes for one of the city’s more diverting squares; the west side is flanked by a long line of stone gables, which were once the retaining walls of the Groot Vleeshuis (Great Butchers’ Hall).

• Graslei: The Graslei is characterised by a row of splendid guildhouses, each gable decorated with an appropriate sign or symbol.

Museums

• SMAK – Museum of Contemporary Art: One of Belgium’s most adventurous contemporary art galleries is primarily devoted to temporary displays of international standing; these are supplemented by a regularly rotated selection of sculptures, paintings and installations.

• STAM – Ghent City Museum: Located in a former abbey, STAM is a new museum that explores the city’s history through paintings and a battery of original artefacts.

• Huis van Alijn Museum: Wonderful folklore museum occupying a series of pretty little almshouses set around a central courtyard.

Parks and gardens

• Citadel Park: A large chunk of greenery, Citadelpark takes its name from the fortress that stood here until the 1870s when the land was cleared and prettified with the addition of grottoes and ponds, statues and fountains, a waterfall and a bandstand.

Historical monuments

• Hôtel d’Hane-Steenhuyse: Notable as the place where King Louis XVIII took refuge after Napoleon landed in France following his escape from Elba. It has survived in excellent condition, and the interior is similarly grand.

• Het Gravensteen: The cold, forbidding walls and unyielding turrets of Gravensteen Castle were first raised in 1180 as much to intimidate the town’s unruly citizens as to protect them.

• St-Baafskathedraal: Saint Bavo’s Cathedral is not only a stunning Gothic edifice but is also home to the famous Adoration of the Mystic Lamb winged altarpiece by the Van Eyck brothers, one of the most astonishing paintings in the medieval world.

Day trips in the area

• Bruges: Explore the maze of cobbled streets, see fabulous Flemish artworks in the Groeninge Museum and St Janshospitaal, visit the begijnhof and take a boat trip on the canals.

• Brussels: The Belgian capital is less than an hour away, offering world-class museums, the Grand Place and the Atomium, making it an easy day trip from Ghent.

• Antwerp: Make the short trip northeast to Belgium’s second-largest city for superb nightlife, cutting-edge fashion and all things related to the painter Rubens.

• Ypres: This handsome town in West Flanders is home to the In Flanders Fields Museum, an excellent introduction to World War I, and is also the site of the Menin Gate, a moving memorial to the thousands of British and Imperial soldiers.

Activities for families in Ghent

Ghent has plenty of activities for families, making it a great choice for a city break that everyone can enjoy.

• Ride the coastal tram: Make the short trip to Ostend and ride the fast and fun Kusttram which travels the length of the Belgian coast from Knokke-Heist train station in the east to De Panne train station in the west.

• Canal trips: Ghent is famed for its canals, and a guided canal tour is a terrific way for the family to experience the city from a different perspective; boat trips explore the city’s inner waterways, departing from the Korenlei quay.

Free things to do in Ghent

For travellers on a budget, Ghent offers a range of free activities that will give you a nice flavour of the city’s culture and history.

• Free events: Ghent has a packed events calendar, with free festivals, concerts and outdoor film screenings throughout the year. The long-standing Ghent Festival in July is one of Europe’s largest cultural festivals, with a good number of free performances and activities.

• Free museums: Many of Ghent’s museums, including the Design Museum and the STAM, offer free entry on the first Thursday of the month. This is a great opportunity to experience Ghent’s first-rate art and design scene without spending a penny.

Nature and outdoor activities in Ghent

The city and its environs offer an enjoyable mix of scenic walking trails, waterways and green spaces to explore, with more challenging activities just a little further afield.

• Cycling trails: Ghent is a bike-friendly city, with paths winding through both the city and surrounding countryside; one of the most scenic routes is along the River Leie.

• Walking: The Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen Nature Reserve is a short distance from Ghent and offers a bucolic landscape of wetlands and meadows; wooden boardwalks and hides also allow twitchers scope to seek out some of the region’s best birdlife.

• Kayaking and paddleboarding: Ghent’s lakes and canals provide a unique way to explore the city by water. Dobber operates automated rental stations where you can book and pay for your activity and time slot by simply scanning the QR code with your smartphone.

Local dishes in Ghent

One of the great joys of Ghent holidays is the opportunity to sample its culinary delights, which include hearty Flemish stews and fresh seafood, all washed down with the city’s legendary beer.

Some typical dishes

• Moules-frites: Effectively the national dish, no trip to Ghent is complete without tucking into a steaming pot of locally caught mussels and freshly cooked fries.

• Waterzooi: A delicious, filling soup-cum-stew, made with either chicken (van kip) or fish (van riviervis).

Meat dishes

• Gentse stoverij: A local beef stew slow-cooked with Belgian beer, Gentse stoverij is a flavourful dish served with thick-cut fries and a dollop of mustard.

• Hutsepot: A winter warmer consisting of various bits of beef and pork (including pigs’ trotters and ears) casseroled with turnips, celery, leeks and parsnips.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Paling in ’t groen: Tastier than it sounds, this is eel braised in a green (usually spinach) sauce with herbs.

• Grey shrimp croquettes: Crispy on the outside and creamy within, these delicious morsels are filled with North Sea shrimps.

Sweets and desserts

Ghent is famous for its cuberdons, also known as neuzekes or “little noses”, which are cone-shaped raspberry-flavoured sweets with a gooey centre. You’ll see vendors selling them at markets and on street corners all over the city. Then there is, of course, chocolate, tonnes of the stuff.

Local drinks

• Belgian beer: Ghent’s craft beer scene is alive and well, with bars and breweries offering everything from fruity lambics to rich Trappist ales. Try a glass of Gentse Gruut, a unique local brew made with a medieval herb blend instead of hops, or sip a refreshing wheat beer at one of the city’s traditional taverns.

• Genever: Similar to gin, it’s made from grain spirit and flavoured by juniper berries. It’s available in most ordinary and specialist bars in several hundred varieties.