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GHENT TRAVEL GUIDE

Belgium’s effortlessly cool rebel, Ghent (Gent in Dutch) has the spirit of Belgium’s laid-back rebel. In this easy-to-explore city, bicycles dominate the streets and trams slide past medieval towers mirrored in calm canals. Historic grandeur sits comfortably beside a lively, forward-thinking atmosphere. Once a hotbed of militant guilds and student protests, Ghent still retains a defiant edge—championing sustainability, creativity and an unpretentious, friendly character.

STAY

  • Comic Art Hotel
  • 1898 The Post hotel
  • Hotel Gravensteen
  • JAM hotel
  • Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof
  • Yalo Urban Boutique Hotel

EAT

  • BASK (Basque)
  • Commotie (gastronomic Belgian)
  • Debra (gastronomic Belgo-French)
  • Du Progrès (Belgian)
  • Een Twee Vijf (Belgian seafood)
  • LOF Restaurant (Eurasian)
  • Meme Gusta (Belgian)
  • Noah moored boat lunch (Belgian)
  • Oak (*Michelin world) 
  • Pakhuis (Belgo-French)
  • Publiek (*Michelin modern)
  • Restaurnt Kasteel Van Laarne (castle French gastronomic)
  • Roots (Belgian gastrobistro)
  • Vrijmoed (**Michelin Belgian)

DRINK

  • Artevelde Brouwerij
  • Cafe t’Galgenhuisje
  • De Gentenaar lounge
  • De Turk cafe
  • Dok Brewing Co.
  • Gruut brewery
  • Macho cafe
  • Paradijs cafe
  • RAY greenhouse bar
  • Rococo candlelit cafe
  • Stroom Brouwers
  • Trollekelder cellar pub

SHOP

  • Books & Booze
  • Centre for Regional Products (food)
  • Confiserie Temmerman (cuberdons)
  • Deduytschaever chocolatier
  • Giftshop Gent (artisans)
  • Het Cooremetershuys (accesories)
  • L’Amuzette (designer items)
  • Tierenteÿn-Verlent mustard

EXPERIENCE

  • Belvedere Garden Days, May
  • COPACOBANA Festival, June
  • Flanders Festival Ghent, Sept
  • Film Fest Gent, Oct
  • Floraliën, May 2026 (quadrennial)
  • Gent Jazz, July
  • Gentse Feesten, July-Aug
  • Gentse Lichtwandeling, after dark
  • Gentse Winterfeesten, Dec
  • Ghent Light Plan night walk
  • Lichtfestival Gent, Jan/Feb 2027 (triennial)
  • OdeGand, Sept

MUST-SEE

  • Belfort van Gent
  • Dada Chapel Distillery
  • De Krook library
  • Design Museum Gent
  • Graslei & Korenlei
  • Gravensteen
  • Metselaarshuis
  • Museum voor Schone Kunsten
  • NTGent theatre
  • Sint-Baafskathedraal
  • Sint-Niklaaskerk
  • Stadhuis & Stadshal
  • Vrijdagmarkt
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