Best hotels in Ghent
1898 The Post
Graslei 16, 9000
Perched on the Graslei quayside, 1898 The Post is the perfect spot to explore the city’s medieval center. But this ex-post office offers more than a great location – stylish décor, thoughtful service and plush rooms place this grand hotel a cut above the competition. For breakfast, you can expect refined cakes, pastries and excellent coffee. Get down early to find a space by the open fire, then make a reservation for afternoon tea at the weekend for even more old-time elegance.
Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof
Hoogstraat 36, 9000
At the Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof, you’ll find functionality, luxury and style all at once. Expect clean Scandi design alongside ornate French classical fittings. The indoor pool has stunning floor to ceiling windows, which they throw open in the summer. Meanwhile, in the very well-regarded LOF restaurant, you’ll encounter unusual-sounding dishes that somehow make perfect sense on eating. Seabass cheesecake, anyone?
Hotel Onderbergen
Onderbergen 69, 9000
Hotel Onderbergen is perfect for anyone looking for a great-value, comfy room in an excellent location. The quiet rooms, with their impressive vaulted ceilings, beams and fittings, offer the space and tranquility you need after a day or night out on the cobbles. Simple, useful amenities and competitive rates seal the deal for those on a budget.
Best restaurants in Ghent
Volta
Nieuwewandeling 2B, 9000 Gent
Set in an imposing power station turbine hall, Volta shows how creative Ghent gets with its industrial spaces. Think bare brick walls and huge rounded windows, high ceilings and innovative menus. Grab a pre-dinner snack on the mezzanine to get a birds-eye view on the impressive interior and buzz below.
De Suprette
Guldenspoorstraat 29, 9000 Gent
Another prime example of how the periphery is at the center of Ghent’s food scene. Here, a converted suburban corner store serves as an all-day hub for all-things food. Take a seat in this stylish loft for your morning coffee and stick around for lunch, snacks, drinks and dinner. The dishes vary depending on the season – but organic produce cooked in a wood-fired oven are a common factor all year round.
Mokabon
Donkersteeg 35, 9000 Gent
Set in a side-street in the center of Ghent, Mokabon has done a roaring coffee trade since 1937. As a café, it attracts workers, students and creatives looking for one of the best caffeine fixes in the city. Its waffles and cakes are also the stuff of legend – best enjoyed while tucked into a cozy, secluded nook in the cafe. But the real clincher is the roastery, where discerning coffee fans pick up their beans to brew at home.
Best things to do in Ghent
Tour the galleries
At the MSK museum, you’ll find more than 9000 artworks from the Middle Ages to the present day. The museum is currently restoring a Van Eyck tryptic that has pulled in the crowds. To explore the other end of the creative spectrum, check out the SMAK - Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art further towards the suburbs. You’ll also find excellent design and museums and contemporary dotted across the city.
Saint Bavo's Cathedral
Sint-Baafsplein, 9000
Ghent was a powerful presence in medieval Belgium, and Saint Bavo is testament to its riches. This incredibly ornate example of Gothic architecture is a must-see for all visitors. Indeed, you'll probably see it towering above the other spires of the city as you explore. But from the pulpit to the chandeliers, the interior is similarly breathtaking. Don’t forget to climb the nearby belfry to see Ghent from above.
Stroll through Graslei and Korenlei
Set on opposite sides of the canal, Graslei and Korelei are the hangouts of Ghent’s students, artists, tourists and families – anyone looking to soak up a vibrant, friendly atmosphere. Bring a picnic and eat as the locals do; perched on the cobbles, swinging your legs over the edge of the canalside.