Ghent
Bruges hoards the day-trippers; Ghent, twenty minutes away, keeps the actual nightlife.
- Best forNightlife · Culture seekers · Groups of friends
- In May18°C · 13 rainy days
- Ideal stay2–3 nights
- Approx. flying time~11h 20m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageDutch, French and German
- Local time12:361h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / EBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+32
Why go
A medieval Flemish city with a working university at its centre, which is exactly what separates it from Bruges an hour west. The quays of Graslei and Korenlei face each other across the Leie in a row of guild houses, floodlit after dark, and behind them run lanes of bars, jenever houses and small music venues. Tens of thousands of students keep the place awake in term time.
Two nights covers the city comfortably and puts Bruges, Antwerp and Brussels within an hour by train. Term time, roughly October to June, is when the nightlife runs at full strength, and Thursday is the students' night. Summer is quieter in the bars but brings the Gentse Feesten, ten days of street music and theatre that take over the centre in July.
- Ideal stay
- 2–3 nights
- The vibe
- Medieval, studenty, late-running
From our guides
A vast student population fuels the Overpoort strip's cheerful chaos, but the connoisseur's evening happens along the floodlit Graslei quay and in the medieval lanes behind it — 't Dreupelkot pours over two hundred jenevers, and Hot Club Gent hides world-class jazz down an alleyway. Thursday is the big student night, term-time only. Finish with cuberdon sweets or a cone of frites, as tradition demands.
Featured in Ten European party spots beyond the obvious
Things to do
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Graslei and Korenlei quays
The old grain harbour, now the city's outdoor living room, at its best after dark when the guild houses are lit from the water.
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Gravensteen castle
A moated twelfth-century keep in the middle of the city, with ramparts you can walk and a view across the rooftops.
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The Ghent Altarpiece
Van Eyck's fifteenth-century polyptych in Saint Bavo's Cathedral, restored panel by panel and shown in a purpose-built chamber.
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Jenever bars
Flemish gin, served ice-cold in small glasses in specialist bars around the old centre. Dozens of varieties, drunk in one go.
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Patershol quarter
A pocket of narrow medieval streets behind the castle, now the densest concentration of restaurants anywhere in the city.
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Cuberdons and frites
Cone-shaped raspberry sweets sold from vans on the Groentenmarkt, and chips from a frituur with mayonnaise, in that order.
Getting there
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Fly to
Zaventem (BRU)
Nearest airport to Ghent, about 56km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Ghent
About an hour by car from Antwerp (ANR), or an hour by train from Antwerp Central to Gent-Sint-Pieters. Brussels airport is the usual arrival, with direct trains taking around an hour.
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On the ground
Getting around
The historic centre is compact and best walked, with trams from Sint-Pieters station covering the 20 minutes into town. Bicycles are everywhere and the canals reward an hour on a boat.
Public transport: Excellent: frequent national rail to Bruges, Brussels and Antwerp, plus a dense city tram and bus network. A car is a liability in the low-emission centre.
Flights
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Roughly 11h 20m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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When to go
Daytime highs run from about 7°C in January to 23°C in August. Wettest in December, with rain on about 16 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
May18° · rain 13 daysCool and often wet.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Boutique hotels in restored merchant houses, canal-side apartments and a strong hostel scene. The big chain hotels cluster near the station rather than in the centre.
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Best base overall
Patershol
The medieval lane quarter behind the castle, dense with restaurants and small hotels and five minutes from the quays. Cobbles and no parking, so arrive light.
Find stays in Patershol -
Closest to the sights
Korenmarkt and Graslei
You are on the floodlit quays with the belfry and cathedral at the end of the street. Wonderful at dusk, less so at two in the morning at weekends.
Find stays in Korenmarkt and Graslei -
Best for nightlife
Overpoort
The student strip near the university, cheap, chaotic and busiest on Thursdays in term time. Rooms nearby are the least restful in the city, which is presumably the intention.
Find stays in Overpoort -
Best with children
Sint-Pieters station quarter
Quieter streets and larger family rooms near the station and Citadelpark, with a tram into the centre in ten minutes. Rates run below the old town.
Find stays in Sint-Pieters station quarter
Worth knowing before you book: The Gentse Feesten in July books out the whole city months ahead. Ask about the cobbled streets if you are arriving late with wheeled luggage.
Search everything else in Ghent by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Timing
- Nightlife follows the university calendar. Term time is busy, Thursdays especially, while July and August are much quieter in the student bars.
- Getting there
- The city sits on the national rail network with frequent trains from Brussels, its airport and Bruges, all inside an hour.
- Cash or card
- Cards are standard, but some older bars prefer cash and a few add a card surcharge. Keep a note or two spare.
- Etiquette
- Beer is served in its own branded glass and at its own strength, often above eight per cent. Pace yourself accordingly.
- Crowds
- Bruges takes the coach parties and this city does not. The exception is the Gentse Feesten in mid-July, when the centre is packed.
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Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Ghent?
Daytime highs run from about 7°C in January to 23°C in August. Wettest in December, with rain on about 16 days.
How long should I spend in Ghent?
Our suggestion: 2–3 nights.
How do I get to Ghent?
About an hour by car from Antwerp (ANR), or an hour by train from Antwerp Central to Gent-Sint-Pieters. Brussels airport is the usual arrival, with direct trains taking around an hour.
Do I need a car in Ghent?
No. Excellent: frequent national rail to Bruges, Brussels and Antwerp, plus a dense city tram and bus network. A car is a liability in the low-emission centre.
What currency and language are used in Ghent?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: Dutch, French and German. Plugs: type C and E.
Who is Ghent best for?
Best for nightlife, culture seekers and groups of friends. In a phrase: medieval, studenty, late-running.