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Ghent

Ghent arose at the confluence of the rivers Lys and Scheldt. Through the centuries, these rivers were the pulsating veins of the city. Today, the historical centre enjoys more than ever the unique atmosphere provided by the idyllic rivers and canals.

The city of Ghent combines an impressive past with a vivid present. Ghent, the capital of East Flanders, is one of the most beautiful historic cities in Europe and the Belgian city with the most listed monuments, many of which are protected by UNESCO and registered on its World Heritage List. Indeed, strolling through Ghent often coincides with an adventurous travel through history.

But above all, Ghent is alive! In this famous university city pounds the young heart of a dazzling centre of culture with music, theatre, film and visual arts. A city where cultural perspectives are constantly renewed and enlarged, where culture is a feast and where feasting is a form of culture. The city houses almost 300 restaurants, where the famous Belgian and French cuisine are on the menu. Ghent is also known for its regional beers and jenevers available in the many cosy pubs.

How to Get There?

By Air

Brussels Airport, Belgium’s main international airport is situated in the town of Zaventem (app. 65 kilometres/40 miles from Ghent). Flight schedules for departures and arrivals are available at the official Brussels airport website at www.brusselsairport.be.

The easiest way to travel from Brussels airport to Ghent is by train. The train station is located on level -1 of the airport building. The Airport City Express Train leaves 4 times an hour to Brussels North, Central and South Station, from where you can take a connecting train to Gent-Sint-Pieters, the main railway station in Ghent. There are also direct trains from the airport to Ghent. The complete journey by train from Brussels airport to Ghent will take inbetween 1 and 1.5 hours, depending on the connection. Timetables are available on the Belgian Railways website (www.b-rail.be).

Once in Ghent you have a wide range of public transfers with buses and trams. Tickets can be purchased from the bus driver or (preferably) in the railway station, where lower prices are charged. Indicative prices (purchased in the station / purchased on the bus): 5 € / 6 € for a day pass ; 10 € / 12 € for a 3-day pass ; 15 € / 18 € for a 5-day pass. The pass is valid on all buses and trams of “De Lijn”, the public transport company. For each journey, the pass needs to be inserted in the yellow registration machine that is available on the bus/tram.

You can also travel from Brussels airport to Ghent by taxi; the estimated charge is 140 € - 150 €. Taxis (metered) are only available outside the airport arrivals hall. It is strongly recommended to use licensed taxis only. They can be recognized by the yellow and blue license emblem. Most taxis accept credit cards.

Taxi for wheelchair users: Taxi Hendriks
Tel: +32 2 752 98 00 Fax: +32 2 752 98 01
E-mail: info.melsbroek@hendriks.be

By Train

There is a direct international (Thalys) train connection between Paris and Ghent. If you are travelling from Amsterdam or London, you will need to change in Brussels. For more information and timetables visit www.thalys.be (for connections from Paris and Amsterdam) or www.eurostar.com (for connections from London). Timetables, prices and information on international train connections between Brussels and other European cities are available on www.b-rail.be under ‘Travelling in Europe’. International trains usually arrive and leave from Brussels South Station (“Bruxelles Midi” in French/”Brussel Zuid” in Dutch), from where you can catch a train to Ghent. The train journey between Brussels and Ghent takes app. 40 minutes.

General Info