Ghent is a beautiful city. Locals love it and for rightful reasons. It’s still really small and can be covered with trams that run throughout the city. It’s still not as populated as Brussels ( So you won’t see hundreds of souvenirs shops and overpriced restaurants) Locals call it city of students. It’s full of students coming from different parts of Belgium to study in universities. There are hundreds of locally brewed beer available in Ghent. ( best place for beer lovers :p) Oh and it’s really cheap compared to Brussels and Bruges.
This guide will help you understand the city of Ghent, its transportation system, things to do and places to visit. I have given a list of my favorite pub’s, cafes and restaurants with a little description. I have given google map links for almost everything. Also, you’ll find some basic stuff and guide to one day trip to Bruges. Plus I wrote down some personal tips at the end of this post. ( I hope you guys make it till the end:p)
BASICS
Sim Cards – Rather than buying LYKA or other sim cards that are available at the airport, I’d recommend you guys to buy ORANGE.
1.It can be used all over EU
2.They have good packages going on
3.They provide amazing coverage.
Traveling in the City- Ghent is well connected with tram lines running all over the city. It takes 1.9 euros for one way journey. I’d recommend buying a 10 journey pass that costs 15 euros. ( More than enough for 4-day trip) There are a number of de lijn shops in the city.
(tram tickets are not available at bus/tram stops)
Grocery shopping – Carrefour is a grocery store chain all over the Europe.It’s pretty good, relatively cheap and open throughout the day. ( There are at least 10 shops in Ghent city or maybe more)
Estimated Spending on Food and Drinks
Coffee will cost you around 3-5 euros.
Lunch/Dinner will cost you around 12 – 15 euros.
Beer will cost you around 3-6 euros (strong beers are costly) .
Water bottle – 3-5 euros ( best way is to fill your water bottles with tap water when you leave your hostel/home)
Restaurants, Pubs, Cafes and Places to Visit
Gravensteen- Castle of the Counts
My favorite sight in Ghent! it’s beautiful, grand and downright amazing. There are a lot of restaurants and pubs just in front of the castle. You can grab a bite there while looking at this marvelous castle. sadly I never visited the inside museum but I have heard it’s good. Last time I checked the entry fee was around 10 euros. But hey you can double-check on their website ( Check the timings too if you are at it :p)
Gravensteen website
Map Location-Gravensteen
Sint-Veerleplein 11, 9000 Gent, Belgium
+32 9 225 93 06
https://goo.gl/maps/fgMgarvcJi22
Graffiti street – This one is pretty unique. this street more like an alley is an artists paradise. Here graffiti is legalized by the government. Spend at least half an hour here, it’s fun to look at all those legal graffiti paintings :p
Map Location-Graffiti Street –
Werregarenstraat, 9000 Gent, Belgium
https://goo.gl/maps/Wyjb5m4DNfs
BY THE RIVER – Get some takeaway food from home or any nearby place (rolls and burgers preferred) and Belgian beer (of course) and you are good to go. This place is flooded with students in the evening. If you are lucky, you’ll find some live music too
There are many restaurants and pubs along the river. This is pretty much the center of the old Ghent. ( hundreds of years of history lies here) You can always take a river cruise ride to pass the time. (Personally, I never liked cruise rides:p) you’ll find ticket booths for the river cruise along the river.
Map location – Sint-Michielsbrug
St Michael’s Bridge, Sint-Michielsplein, 9000 Gent, Belgium
https://goo.gl/maps/4ymKPnuCbTG2
Mokabon – head here for a beautiful start to your day.
These guys make really good coffee and have good collection of filter coffee to sell (If you like what you are drinking why not just buy it :p)
map location -mokabon
FOLKLORE – Tiny little pub just in the center of Ghent. Go here to for the beer brunch ( no food only beer, that’s what I call as a beer brunch :p). That is wake up late and head towards folklore for amazing beers and ambiance. They have a working jukebox (maybe the last one in Ghent). The owners are amazing people who would tell you all about beer and Ghent and rock n’ roll. This one is a true hidden gem.
Map Location-Folklore
Lange Steenstraat 69, 9000 Gent, Belgium
+32 9 224 31 18
https://goo.gl/maps/i98im8U6DV72
NESTOR-Head down to NESTOR for a delicious meal. Come here on an empty stomach as They have all you can eat ribs for around 15-20 euro bill. And it’s pretty amazing!
Map Location-NESTOR – Sparerib Caffee
Kraanlei 19, 9000 Gent, Belgium
+32 9 233 30 01
https://goo.gl/maps/ytok3JNyDC42
Julie’s house – Best place for desserts and cakes in Ghent. I mean absolutely best. Just go there and find out for yourself. You can visit the website for the events and menu etc.
Map location- Julie’s house
Kraanlei 13, 9000 Gent, Belgium
+32 9 233 33 90
https://goo.gl/maps/mkku6QLhzr62
Galgenhuis – You’ll stumble upon this bar quite a few times as it’s on the main street. A local told me that they call it as the smallest pub. Nevertheless, it’s pretty amazing to see and nice ambiance. Head down here for your last drink to call it a day or maybe start your night adventure. Whatever you think is best :p
Map Location-Galgenhuis
Groentenmarkt 5, 9000 Gent, Belgium
+32 474 93 00 34
https://goo.gl/maps/NcT2ggoxLJJ2
Dreupelkot(‘t)
Try Jenever shots here. This is the place! (Trust me)
This one is very tiny pub just along the river. (near Gravenstein) Where Jenever shots are made locally. There’s a famous story behind Jenever shots. I will leave it up to you guys to find it out by visiting this place. They have at least 50 flavors as far as I can remember. (it’s hard to remember much after 3 Jenever shots) And all of them tastes delicious. Yes. Delicious.
I’d suggest you guys check this place out for your final drink. ( just before midnight)
Map Location-Dreupelkot (‘t)
Groentenmarkt 12, 9000 Gent, Belgium
+32 9 224 21 20
https://goo.gl/maps/NFgXzHJ8biS2
Blue Bird –
It’s a beautiful little artwork made by French studio Pitaya.
It’s not much of a sight in the day but it starts glowing after it gets dark. It’s a beautiful place! (Don’t miss it)
Map location -Lightning Bird Tree
Jakobijnenstraat 2, 9000 Gent, Belgium
https://goo.gl/maps/rnWpifp7KKT2
SOUPLOUNGE –
A big bowl of soup for lunch? sounds interesting? Then this is the perfect place for you. Get down here for your lunch. It’s priced reasonably. You won’t regret this :p
Map Location-Souplounge
Zuivelbrugstraat 4, 9000 Gent, Belgium
+32 9 223 62 03
https://goo.gl/maps/m8FJnjCsMW22
ONE DAY TRIP TO BRUGES
Bruges has become a big tourist hub in last 10 years or so. (Open Museum as they call it) Honestly, I won’t recommend you guys to go there as there’s not much to see or do in Bruges Unless you like overpriced food, hundreds of souvenir shops and thousands of tourists roaming around.
But hey, If you still decide to go –
THINGS TO DO
I’ll recommend you guys to visit all the location featured in the film ‘In Bruges’ (watch the film first if you haven’t already:p)
Follow this guide-in Bruges film locations
PUBS AND RESTAURANTS
Beers Yesterday’s World – It’s a souvenir shop plus bar:p everything’s on the sale!! The lady who owns the pub knows the city throughout. Loves to talk about beers and knows pretty much everything about Belgian beer there is. It’s a fun place to be. (There’s a karaoke here if that interests you) I’d recommend spending your afternoon here after you visit main attractions of Bruges.
Map location -Yesterday’s World Wijngaardstraat 6, 8000 Brugge, Belgium +32 496 23 82 97
map location Yesterday’s world
TIPS
Shop closing time – Grocery and daily use shops mostly close around 6 in the evening in Belgium so keep this in mind and try buying sim card/ food items in the morning itself before you go out:)
(tram tickets are not available at bus/tram stops)
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No need to tip waiters in Ghent ( i mean you can if you want to) there’s no pressure or law as such.
- Night Shops – these shops sell essential food items and well beers (you are Belgium after all) they are open until 4-5 am. Best place for your midnight snacks ( pizzas and chocolates)
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Don’t spend money on overpriced waffles. they pretty much taste the same all over the city. Buy waffles at any local bakery or food trucks.
- Belgian chocolates – Rather than buying overpriced chocolates in specific chocolate shops I’d suggest buying them at Carrefour. They are cheap, come in various varieties and flavors.
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Belgian beers are really strong. (Don’t take them lightly) Be careful while drinking. there are some beers having alcohol content as high as 15 percent.
- If you want to save up on lunch or dinner. The best option would be frozen pizzas. They are available in Carrefour or any other small shops and night shops. They come cheap and do the job :p
AIRBNB
We stayed in this amazing Airbnb apartment right in the heart of Ghent city.
(Check it out here –Johan’s apartment)
It was really cozy, well maintained and pretty close from the center. (amazing host/free beers at arrival :p)
Discount on your Airbnb stay – use my code
So that’s it. Let me know if you like this post and your thoughts on it by leaving comments below.👇 Tell me if you find some unique stuff in Ghent, I am happy to add it here. If you have any problems or questions with travel stuff or anything else, I’m here to help:)
Coffee And Vice 