Ghent information

Ghent (Gent ʝɛnt in Dutch, Gand ɡɑ̃ in French, and formerly Gaunt in English) is a city and a municipality located in Flanders, Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and became in the Middle Ages one of the largest and richest cities of northern Europe. Today it is a busy city with a port and a university. The city is connected to the sea by the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal, it lies at the intersection of the European highways E17 and E40 and it has the third busiest railway station in Belgium.
The municipality comprises the city of Ghent proper and the towns of Afsnee, Desteldonk, Drongen, Gentbrugge, Ledeberg, Mariakerke, Mendonk, Oostakker, Sint-Amandsberg, Sint-Denijs-Westrem, Sint-Kruis-Winkel, Wondelgem and Zwijnaarde. With 233,120 inhabitants in 2006, Ghent is Belgium's third largest city by number of inhabitants. The current mayor of Ghent, Daniël Termont, leads a coalition of the SP.a/Spirit and VLD.
Every year a ten day long street festival is held called the Ghent Fests ('Gentse Feesten' in Dutch). In 2007 it saw 1.5 million people flock to its streets. (...) more....

Ghent travel guide by

If you want to party: during 'the 10 days of Ghent' which are held each year in July.
If you want piece and quiet: Straight after the festivities when all clubs and pubs are closed.

Ghent travel guide last edited by Vindy

From Brussels airport: Use public transport to get to Ghent as it is the easiest and cheapest way. ( Bxl airport --> Gent Sint Pietersstation )
The airport train station is located below the terminal.
By car: Ghent is located at the crossing of the E17/E40 highway and can be easily reached from Brussels (60km), Paris (300km), Amsterdam (300km), London (300km - through calais)

Once you are in Ghent:

The easiest way is once again public transport, from the trainstation (Sint Pietersstation) you can take a trolley/tram towards the center. (Tram N° 1)

Should you visit Ghent with a car than you need to know that the center of Ghent is car free! The best way to park your car is to go in one of the many underground parking sites or to park outside the city and take a bus towards the center.

Ghent travel guide last edited by Vindy

Ghent is an authentic city! You can find all the information you need at www.visitgent.be (in Dutch, French, German, English and Spanish). With the "my brochure"-function you can compile your own visitor's guide.

Ghent travel guide last edited by noosewearer

for the best BELGIAN fries:
Julien (at the end of overpoortstraat) and ask for the meatsauce
the one close to graslei (it's a little cabin)

If you want a pita/kebab:
Saharahut (Vlasmarkt)
Snack Tosi (Overpoortstraat)

For pasta
De Kastart (a pasta restaurant with 2 kinds of pasta)
Marco Polo or den Toetswiet (Korenmarkt)

Ghent travel guide last edited by the_chimp

If you like music, live concerts and free,

Please go to de Vlasmarkt (a square near Vrijdagsmarkt)
Kinky Star: a record label, music center and free gigs
't Begin van 't einde: free rock concerts
Charlatan: here you probably will have to pay, sometimes free
Thrashiq: sometimes free rock concerts

Ghent travel guide last edited by the_chimp