Getting Here & Around

Getting Here & Around

By Air

Although Ostend-Bruges International Airport may be the nearest airport, it doesn't have regular flights. It's far easier to fly to Brussels (Zaventem) and rent a car or travel by train from there to Gent, which is only 67 km (42 mi) away.

By Bike

Maps with suggested cycling routes are available at the tourist office. Biking in Gent is fairly safe: the center is a low-traffic zone and on many other streets the speed limit is only 30 kph (20 mph). Be careful when biking outside of town; although most roads have a cycle path, not all of them are safe.

Bikes can be rented at rental shops or the ticket window at Sint-Pieters railway station. (If you have a valid train ticket, you get a discounted rate.) Both adult (with or without baby seats) and children's bikes are available.

By Boat

Several companies can take you on 40- to 90-minute boat rides on the waterways of Gent from around EUR 5.50. For trips within Flanders, consider a motorboat afternoon or day trip from Gent along the river Leie to Deurle and Sint-Martens-Latem, the beautiful countryside southwest of the city, with Benelux Boats. The company Minerva Boten allows you to steer your own boat. A two-hour journey for four people costs EUR 52; an eight-hour trip costs EUR 175.

By Bus & Tram

De Lijn has one trolley, three trams, and dozens of bus lines. There are stops all over town, and most buses run every 10 to 15 minutes. You can buy a ticket (EUR 1.60) or a day pass (EUR 6) on board, but you will save money if you buy the ticket (EUR 1.20) or pass (EUR 5) in advance from the terminal. If you travel with at least five people, buy a group ticket, which will save even more money. There are buses that run on six routes, every 45 minutes throughout the night on Friday and Saturday evenings.

If you arrive in Gent by train, take tram 1, 11, or 12 for the city center. The fare, which you can buy on the tram, costs EUR 1.60. You can also buy a pass for a day's worth of tram travel for EUR 6. Buy tickets in advance at the machines at the tram terminus by Gent Sint-Pieters train station, and the fares drop to EUR 1.20 or EUR 5, respectively; the machines only take bills of small denominations.

By Car

The main highways, situated to the south of the city, are easy to find from the city center. From Brussels, Gent is reached via the E40 highway, which continues to Brugge and the coast; get off at exit 9. From Antwerp, take the E17, which continues to Paris. Both the E40 and E17 take you very close to the city center, which is indicated by a white sign that reads Centrum. Traffic can be heavy on these roads during rush hour, and on summer weekends traffic on both highways can be bumper-to-bumper. Gent's parking lots are clearly indicated as you go into the city; ask which one your hotel is closest to when you make your reservation, and then drive in and follow the signs.

If you'd like to visit the battlefields from Gent, driving is definitely the best option. You can drive to Kortrijk on the E17 or on to Ieper on the A19. Poperinge is another 15 km (9½ mi) to the west on the N38.

By Taxi

There are taxi stands at the railway station and at major squares. Taxis are metered and the rates are reasonable, but public transport is always a cheaper way of getting around.

By Train

The Belgian national railway, NMBS/SNCB, sends two nonstop trains every hour to Gent from Brussels (35 minutes); they all pass through Brussels' three main stations. There's also a frequent direct train connection from Brussels airport to Gent which takes about an hour. Trains run twice an hour from Antwerp, as well. They take you to Gent in a little less than 50 minutes.