GHENT FAQ`S
Ghent is a vibrant college town with
stunning Dutch architecture and peaceful canals winding through the narrow
cobblestone lanes. The city has a population of a quarter of a million. Its size and position allow the
inhabitants to enjoy a city with an interesting crossover between open
cosmopolitanism and the quiet atmosphere of a provincial town. Ghent is
thriving as many young people choose to live here instead of in the countryside
or the crowded city centers of Brussels and Antwerp.
From beautiful castles to
famous fruity beers, intriguing architecture to sparkling canals, medieval
structures and frittes with mayonnaise, Ghent has something for everyone.
Ghent is easily accessible
by train from Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp via Belgian Rail.
From Brussels: 30 minutes
from Bruxelles-Midi Station.
From Bruges: 25 minutes
from Brugge Station.
From Antwerp: 1 hour from
Antwerpen-Centraal Station.
You can buy tickets online
in advance via Belgian Rail or simply purchase your tickets at the train
station.
There are two main train stations in Ghent:
Ghent-Dampoort and Ghent-Sint-Pieters. Ghent-Sint-Pieters is served by all trains
passing Ghent, while Ghent-Dampoort only serves the line towards/from Antwerp.
During morning rush hour, expect crowded trains from smaller cities towards
Ghent, and from Ghent to Brussels and Antwerp, while the inverse directions get
crowded during evening rush hour. Finding a seat is problematic at these
times, but standing places get rarely filled up. Also during summer holidays
and sunny weekends, trains between Ghent and the coast may also get extremely
crowded. The Ghent-St-Pieters train station gets extremely crowded on late
Friday afternoon during the University-teaching period (roughly
mid-September-December and February-May), so allow enough time to buy tickets
and/or get to the platforms. Fastest trains in Belgium are indicated on
(electronic) timetables with `IC`, followed by `IR` trains, while `L` trains are
slowest and have most intermediate stops. This is especially important for
travelers between Ghent and Bruges, as the train with indication `Brugge` is a `L` train, while at about the same
time also a faster train indicated as `Brugge-Oostende` leaves Ghent.
If you`re visiting from Bruges, Brussels or Antwerp during the weekend,
it`s much cheaper to get a return ticket (special rate:
weekendreturn).
From
the train station, you can easily walk or take the above-ground tram into the
city center.
The dense highway network in Belgium allows you to access Ghent easily by car. Two main highways E40 (Liege-Brussels-Ghent-Bruges-Ostend) and E17 (Antwerp-Ghent-Kortrijk-Lille) cross at Ghent. Brussels and Antwerp are 40 min away, Bruges 30 min. During rush hour you can easily double these times.
How do I get around by Public Transportation?
The transport system is Ghent is excellent
and usually on time. A single ticket costs about €3.00 if
bought in the bus/tram or around €1.60 if bought from ticket machines near stops, such ticket is
valid for an hour`s travel on all trams and
buses. If you are planning to stay for a while, buy a pass for €16.00, it is
valid for 10 trips within the city and can also be used in other Flemish cities
(such as Antwerp or Bruges). The trams are the quickest and most comfortable
way to travel, especially from the railway station to the city center.
Note that if the bus/tram stop has a ticket
machine, you will have to buy the ticket there, as the bus/tram driver will not
sell you one in this case. You can also buy a ticket through SMS if you have a
Belgian cell phone, instructions are on the poles at each stop. The
transportation company is De Lijn.
In the Lijnwinkel kiosk (located near Sint-Pieters train station), you can
get a free map of the city and surroundings, with all bus and tram lines.
If
you arrive in Ghent at the Ghent-St-Pieters train station, you can take tram 1
(until `Korenmarkt`). Journey time is ten minutes. Ghent-Dampoort is located
closer to the center (about 15 minutes walk), and is connected with the city
center by several bus lines.
The center of Ghent is quite small, so you can walk around on foot. The car-free city center is perfect for pedestrians and cyclists. However, the main station (Ghent Sint-Pieters) is not in the city center, but takes a walk of about half an hour. The best option is to take the tram, which takes you directly to the center in 10 to 15 minutes.
How do I get around by bike?There are many bike rental companies in the city. A bicycle is the recommended way to get around in Ghent. However, there are many roads with cobblestones that make cycling a shakey experience. Also make sure you stay clear of the tram rails. Nevertheless, you will see you are not alone on your bike: many local residents use bikes to get around. There are many bike stands around to make it easy to lock your bike (important!). Many one-way roads are made two-way for bikes.
How do I get around by car and where can I park?
In the rare case you
decide to discover Ghent by car (which is not recommended), you have to be
aware of something called the `mobility plan`. It`s a measure that was taken by
the Ghent city council in 2017 that divides the city in 6 areas, making it
impossible to get from one area to another by car. Make sure to always watch for
traffic signs of one-way-streets or forbidden entries; there are quite a few.
If the road is painted completely in red, it`s either a bicycle street or an
infamous `knip` (meaning cutoff). You`re allowed to drive in a bicycle street,
but you cannot overtake a biker. You will get fined if you do. A `knip` or
cutoff means you are not allowed to cross there, unless you have a permit.
Driving a car is best for
exploring the surrounding areas of the city.
Though the mobility plan makes visiting the city by car a little tricky, taxis can be a good work around. There are numerous taxi companies based in Ghent, all of which are supposed to operate at the same rate. Environmentally conscious travelers may opt for an electrical taxi, but not all companies can provide this service. Electrical taxis in Ghent are, by the way, no more expensive than their non-electrical counterparts.
Is Ghent a dangerous city?Crime is not much of a problem in Ghent. The city is safe and there are no areas you need to fear going into. That said, it can't hurt to take routine precautions against pickpocketing and other types of theft.
Can I pay/tip in US dollars?
The
currency of Belgium is the Euro, US dollars are not accepted.
Under the euro system, there are seven notes: 5, 10, 20, 50,
100, 200, and 500 euros. Notes are the same for all countries. There are eight
coins: 1 and 2 euros, plus 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents.
ATMs
are common in major cities and larger towns and this is one of the easiest ways
to get cash. Credit cards are accepted in most establishments. It is a good
idea to inform your credit-card company before you travel, otherwise, the
credit card might be put on hold due to unusual activity. We recommend you
record all your credit card numbers, as well as the phone numbers to call if
your cards are lost or stolen.
Best time to visit: April
- June, September – October. The spring and fall weather is absolutely
stunning.
The tourist season peaks during
July and August. The weather is quite warm and the crowds are apparent. Low
season is from November through March, this is when hotel rates are at their
lowest and there will be some amazing carnivals, especially during Christmas
and Lent season.
The temperature in Ghent is
quite moderate throughout the year, even though it follows the standard
temperature as the rest of Europe. The city is a year-round destination, but
each season has something special to offer.
Dutch is the official language spoken in Ghent. You will find only a minority of locals that can answer questions in English. We suggest you get a good English-Dutch guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.
What is the food like?
Ghent
provides an excellent and affordable sample of Flemish cuisine, which in the
eyes of the locals is one of Europe`s finest as it combines French delicacy
with northern European hardiness. Try some local specialties such as mussels,
spare ribs or `stoverij` (tender meat cooked for three hours in dark beer with
a brown gravy) with Belgian fries.
Another
dish from Ghent is the `Ghentse waterzooi`, which was the food for the poor
originally, a stew of cheap fish (usually turbot) and vegetables. Now it is
often made with chicken as well.
The
restaurants on Korenmarkt and Vrijdagmarkt are generally reasonably priced; the
menus and `menus of the day` at the Brasserie Borluut provide terrific value
and this includes Ghentse waterzooi. Upmarket restaurants are to be found in the
14th century quarter called `Patershol`, near the Castle. There is also a big
Turkish community in Ghent, centered around Sleepstraat a bit further north,
which is home to numerous Turkish restaurants.
For authentic pubs, go
to St. Veerleplein (the square in front of the Castle), the
pubs around St. Jacob`s church (especially during weekends), or the student
area around Blandijnberg (Mount Blandin), especially in
the proximity of the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, recognizable from afar by
the art deco Library Tower.
The Patershol is one of
Ghent`s trendiest neighborhoods. The cobbled streets here are lined with some
of the city`s hippest restaurants where you can take your pick from Japanese,
Turkish, Flemish, and more. Other neighborhood offerings include cozy cafes, an
old-fashioned candy store, and a Belgian cultural museum.
For high-street fashion from international brands, Veldstraat offers
stores such as Mango, Zara and Esprit. It is also home to two department stores, Inno, with six floors of fashion
and cosmetics, and FNAC,
which is your best bet for electronics and books, especially for its large
English-language section. The road is closed to cars, but taxis and the number
1 tram line (to the train station) are allowed down here. The other main, pedestrianized
shopping street is Langemuntstraat, which runs between
Groentenmarkt and Vrijdagsmarkt squares. This street has a lot of shoe shops,
plus a Primark. Brabantdam, and the side streets off it, has high-end fashion
stores aplenty.
Markets:
You`ll find clothes, electronics and fresh produce on the
Vrijdagsmarkt square every Friday between 7:30 am and 1:00 pm and Saturdays 11:00
am – 6:30 pm. Pick up an antique just around the corner outside Sint Jakobskerk
church (Fridays-Sundays 8:00 am – 1:00 pm). Tables of books line the banks of
the river along Ajuinlei (Sundays only, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm), and flowers fill
the Kouter every day from 7:00 am – 1:00 pm, but Sunday has the biggest
selection. On Sundays you`ll also find a small organic food market at Ghent Sint
Pieters train station.
Ghent`s main shopping centre, Shopping Ghent Zuid (open until 7:00 pm),
is out of the historic city center so it`s often a quieter place to shop. It
also has a large Match supermarket in the basement.
Ghent is a University town with a fantastic nightlife. The city`s favorite after-dark entertainment, in typical Flemish fashion, is frequenting atmospheric cafes and taverns. Groentenmarkt, near the Gravensteen, is a great area for nightlife as it has several good pubs that are all easy to navigate on foot. You`ll also find a lot of activity around Vrijdagmarkt. This is also where you can find the Old Flemish tavern, Dulle Griet, also known as Bieracademie, where you`ll find over 250 different beers in stock. The oldest drinking spot in town (1783) is the Het Galgenhuisje, located across the tramlines. It`s name means `Little Gallows House`, which fittingly, is a tiny, intimate place popular with students, and has a fine restaurant located downstairs in the cellar.
What should I do if I need medical assistance or need to go to the hospital?
Emergencies
- For
police assistance, call tel. 101. For an ambulance or
the fire department, call tel. 100.
Hospital
- For
medical assistance, go to the Sint-Lucasziekenhuis, Groenebriel 1
(tel. 09/224-61-11).