Ghent has the canals, gabled guildhalls and belfry people go to Bruges for, but it is a working university city rather than an open-air museum, so the centre stays lived-in after the day-trippers leave. The Graslei and Korenlei quays, the Gravensteen castle and St Bavo's Cathedral are all within a ten-minute walk of each other. Fly into Brussels and take the train; the trip from the airport takes about an hour. Belgium is not cheap, so sleep in a hostel dorm, eat one proper meal a day and walk everywhere. If you plan to see the castle, the belfry and the fine arts museum, a 48-hour CityCard covers them and the trams.
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When to go
May, June, July and September are best, with average highs of about 19-23°C. It rains all year: about 10-14 wet days a month, and August and the winter months are the wettest. January highs are around 7°C. The Gentse Feesten street festival fills the centre in July, so book beds early then. The fine arts museum (MSK) closes on Mondays.
Ghent right now and the next 7 days
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Ghent on the map
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The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Ghent · Open in Google Maps ↗
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Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
Change anything and the numbers update. Every price is what the bus, room or ticket itself costs. We take no commission and sell no packages, so this is what you pay booking each piece yourself.
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Prices last updated 5 November 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book. Spot a wrong price? Tell us and we fix it.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Ghent in 2 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts)1.5 h · ₹1,600 each · Moated 12th-century castle in the middle of town, with an audio guide included. €15; ages 19-25 €7.50, 13-18 €3, under 13 free. Open daily 10:00-18:00, last entry 16:40. Closed 24, 25, 31 Dec and 1 Jan.
- 13:00Lunch break
- 14:00Ghent Altarpiece, St Bavo's Cathedral30 m - 1 h · ₹1,340 each · Van Eyck's Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. €12.50 for the altarpiece alone, €16 with the augmented-reality tour. Restoration runs until spring 2027: some panels are shown as photographs and the upper register is being restored at MSK.
- 16:00Werregarenstraat graffiti alley20 m · free · A narrow lane near the Belfry where painting is allowed, so the walls change constantly. Free.
- 08:00Belfry of Ghent1 h · ₹1,390 each · 14th-century bell tower with a view over the three towers and the rooftops. €13 (ages 19-25 €6.50, 13-18 €2.60). Open daily 10:00-18:00, last tickets 17:00. One city page shows €11, so expect one or the other.
- 09:30MSK (Museum of Fine Arts)2 h · ₹2,030 each · Flemish masters, and the restoration studio for the Ghent Altarpiece. €19 standard, ages 19-25 €13.50, under 19 €3.50. Closed Mondays.
- 13:00Lunch break
How to get to Ghent
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
Flight + train
Check fareThe station is under the terminal, level -1. The fare includes the Brussels Airport supplement; could not confirm the current total fare. Since 1 July 2026 you cannot buy a ticket on board: use the SNCB app, a machine or the counter.
Train Cheapest
₹1,070About €7-10 one way in second class. Several trains an hour. Buy before boarding.
Flight + bus
₹2,130From €19.90 online; fares change by date and time. Useful if your low-cost flight lands at Charleroi rather than Brussels Airport.
Getting around once you're there
On foot
FreeThe Graslei, Gravensteen, Belfry and St Bavo's are all within a ten-minute walk. Gent-Sint-Pieters station is about 2 km from the centre.
Tram or bus (De Lijn)
₹320€3 single, valid 60 minutes. Buy in the De Lijn app or tap a contactless card on board. By SMS (DL to 4884) it costs €0.25 more.
Taxi
₹1,015About €9.50 to start and €2.60 per km. Rarely needed in the centre.
CityCard Gent (48 h)
₹5,235€49 for 48 hours (€55 for 72). Includes trams and buses in the city, one boat tour, a day of bike rental and entry to the castle, belfry, MSK and other museums. Sold only in person, at the tourist office, museums and hotels.
Where to stay in Ghent
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Dorm
₹2,520/nightDorm beds from about €23-24 a night (Hostel Uppelink, KaBa Hostel). Book early for weekends and July.
Guest room
₹5,500/nightPrivate rooms from about €51.50 a night at Guesthouse PoortAckere. Listing price; check the total for your dates.
Hotel
₹13,100/nightSearch-engine averages put hotels in the city centre and near Korenmarkt around $138 a night.
What to eat, and what it costs
Meal at a simple restaurant
₹2,140Around €20. Look for a lunch dish of the day, often cheaper than the dinner menu.
Three-course dinner, mid-range
₹5,340About €100 for two without drinks, so about €50 a head.
Cappuccino
₹415Around €3.90.
Half-litre of local draught beer
₹535Around €5. Belgian specialty beers cost more.
Places to visit and things to do in Ghent
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts)
₹1,600Moated 12th-century castle in the middle of town, with an audio guide included. €15; ages 19-25 €7.50, 13-18 €3, under 13 free. Open daily 10:00-18:00, last entry 16:40. Closed 24, 25, 31 Dec and 1 Jan.
Ghent Altarpiece, St Bavo's Cathedral
₹1,340Van Eyck's Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. €12.50 for the altarpiece alone, €16 with the augmented-reality tour. Restoration runs until spring 2027: some panels are shown as photographs and the upper register is being restored at MSK.
Belfry of Ghent
₹1,39014th-century bell tower with a view over the three towers and the rooftops. €13 (ages 19-25 €6.50, 13-18 €2.60). Open daily 10:00-18:00, last tickets 17:00. One city page shows €11, so expect one or the other.
MSK (Museum of Fine Arts)
₹2,030Flemish masters, and the restoration studio for the Ghent Altarpiece. €19 standard, ages 19-25 €13.50, under 19 €3.50. Closed Mondays.
Graslei and Korenlei quays
FreeThe guildhalls along the River Leie, best at dusk when the buildings are lit. Free.
Werregarenstraat graffiti alley
FreeA narrow lane near the Belfry where painting is allowed, so the walls change constantly. Free.
Day trips and next stops
Bruges
Check fareTrain from Gent-Sint-Pieters
Antwerp
Check fareTrain from Gent-Sint-Pieters
Ostend and the coast
Check fareTrain from Gent-Sint-Pieters
Brussels
₹1,070Train to Brussels-Central or Brussels-Midi
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- UK travel advice (updated 17 Oct 2026) warns that national strikes are an ongoing issue and can be called at short notice; there were strike days on 9 and 12 Oct 2026. Check trains before travel days.
- Since 1 July 2026 you cannot buy a train ticket on board in Belgium, and checks on platforms are stricter. Buy in the SNCB app, at a machine or at the counter.
- Canal boat tours can stop when the water is low: one operator closed 14-20 Nov 2026 for that reason. Check before you plan around a boat trip.
Ways to spend less
- The 48-hour CityCard (€49) covers the castle, belfry and MSK (€47 on their own) plus trams, a boat tour and a day's bike hire.
- If you are 19-25, the castle, belfry and MSK are roughly half price.
- The quays and the graffiti alley cost nothing, and the Graslei lit up at night is the best view in town.
Before-you-go checklist
Ghent in pictures
Tap a photo to see it full size.
Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Ghent?
On our month-by-month scores, the best months are May–Jul, Sep. May, June, July and September are best, with average highs of about 19-23°C. It rains all year: about 10-14 wet days a month, and August and the winter months are the wettest. January highs are around 7°C. The Gentse Feesten street festival fills the centre in July, so book beds early then. The fine arts museum (MSK) closes on Mondays.
How do I reach Ghent?
Train: Brussels-Midi or Brussels-Central → Gent-Sint-Pieters (SNCB), About 30-40 m, about ₹1,070 one way. Flight + bus: → Brussels South Charleroi (CRL), then Flibco shuttle to Ghent, About 1 h 40 m, about ₹2,130 one way.
How much does a 2-day trip to Ghent cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹18,200 on a shoestring, ₹34,000 mid-range or ₹51,600 in comfort over 2 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is train (Brussels-Midi or Brussels-Central → Gent-Sint-Pieters (SNCB)) at about ₹1,070 each way.
How many days do you need in Ghent?
2 days is right for most people. That covers Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts), Ghent Altarpiece, St Bavo's Cathedral, Werregarenstraat graffiti alley, Belfry of Ghent without rushing.
Is Ghent good for families or solo travellers?
Out of 5 on our scores: solo 5, couples 5, families 4, groups 4. It works well for families. It is easy to do on your own.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Ghent?
Ghent is one of the easiest cities in Europe for vegetarians. In 2009 it became the first city to officially back a weekly meat-free Thursday (Donderdag Veggiedag), and the tourist board promotes itself as Europe's veggie capital. Most restaurants have at least one vegetarian dish, and there are fully vegetarian and vegan places in the centre.
Will my phone and cards work in Ghent?
Phone signal: Belgium is in the EU, so EU SIMs roam at home rates. Others can buy a local prepaid SIM in Brussels or Ghent. Cards and UPI: Cards and contactless are taken almost everywhere, including on De Lijn trams and buses. Cash: Belgium uses the euro. You rarely need cash; keep a little for small cafés and markets.
Sources and last check
Checked 5 November 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- historischehuizen.stad.gent OfficialGravensteen official prices: €15 individual, €7.50 ages 19-25, €3 ages 13-18, free to 12 and with CityCard; open daily 10:00-18:00, last entry 16:40; closed 24, 25, 31 Dec and 1 Jan; audio guide included
- historischehuizen.stad.gent OfficialBelfry official prices: €13 individual, €6.50 ages 19-25, €2.60 ages 13-18; open daily 10:00-18:00, last box-office tickets 17:00 (another city page shows €11)
- sintbaafskathedraal.be OfficialGhent Altarpiece tickets: Lam Gods only €12.50 (25 min), AR tours €16, children under 12 €8
- sintbaafskathedraal.be OfficialFinal restoration phase from 3 May 2023 to spring 2027; panels replaced by photos during work; upper register restoration viewable at MSK; cathedral open daily except 1 Jan
- mskgent.be OfficialMSK current rates: €19 standard, €13.50 ages 19-25, €3.50 ages 0-18 and CityCard
- mskgent.be OfficialMSK hours Tue-Fri 9:30-17:30, Sat-Sun 10:00-18:00; closed Mondays
- visit.gent.be OfficialCityCard Gent €49 (48 h) / €55 (72 h); includes De Lijn trams and buses in Ghent, one boat tour, one day bike rental, museum entries; sold only in person; €10 Altarpiece discount
- visit.gent.be OfficialTourism board promotes Ghent as veggie capital of Europe; Thursday Veggiedag officially supported by the city since 2009
- gov.uk OfficialNo advice against travel; strikes an ongoing issue, at short notice; strike dates incl. 9 and 12 Oct 2026 (updated 17 Oct 2026)
- delijn.beDe Lijn single ticket €3, 60 minutes; app, contactless on board, SMS DL to 4884 (+€0.25)
- belgiantrain.beSNCB: no tickets sold on board from 1 July 2026; buy via app, website, machines or counters
- indico.cern.chConference travel guide (event June-July 2026): Brussels Airport station on level -1; train to Gent-Sint-Pieters about 55 minutes; Ghent about 65 km from the airport
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Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and we link to maps and official sites, never to booking sites. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 5 November 2026 · Photo: Giles Laurent · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Michielverbeek · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Julian Lupyan · CC0 · source · Photo: Daniuu · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Steven Lek · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
