Ghent is one of Belgium’s biggest surprises, and knowing where to stay in Ghent makes all the difference. The medieval quays along the River Lys, a moated castle and three great towers lined up in a row give you the same picture-postcard backdrop as Bruges, but Ghent is also a lively university city with cafés, bars and plenty going on in the evenings.
That’s why your choice of area matters so much. The main railway station is a fair way from the centre, and the inner city is a low emission zone, so the wrong address can cost you both time and money. Here are the six areas I would choose between, along with my hotel suggestions at different price levels.
Contents
Where to Stay in Ghent: The Best Areas
- Graslei & Korenmarkt - best area for first-time visitors
- Patershol & Vrijdagmarkt - best area for food lovers and cosy evenings
- Sint-Baafs & Kouter - best area for art and shopping
- Hoogstraat & Sint-Elisabeth - best area for peace and quiet close to the centre
- Gent-Sint-Pieters & Citadelpark - best area for rail travellers and art museums
- Portus Ganda & Dampoort - best area for families and longer stays
Below, I go through the six areas one at a time, with a map, practical facts and three hotels from the most expensive to the cheapest, so you can compare location and price.
1. Graslei & Korenmarkt - best area for first-time visitors ⛵
- 📍 Distance to the centre: You’re right in the centre. From Korenmarkt it’s a few minutes’ walk to Graslei, the Belfry and St Bavo’s Cathedral.
- 🚋 Transport: Tram 1 runs between the main station, Gent-Sint-Pieters, and Korenmarkt, and you can manage everything else on foot.
- ✈️ Time from Brussels Airport: About 55 minutes by direct train to Gent-Sint-Pieters, then tram 1 into the centre.
- 💰 Price level: €€ to €€€€. The three hotels below cost around £125 to £350 per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
- 👮 Safety: Safe and busy until late in the evening. Watch your pockets and bags in the crowds on Korenmarkt, and keep an eye out for trams and cyclists.
Graslei and Korenlei are the two quays facing each other across the River Lys, and this is where you’ll find the Ghent you’ve seen in photos. According to Visit Gent, ships have moored here since the 11th century, and the rows of step-gabled houses are reflected in the water. The old granary with its large stepped gable has stood here since the 13th century.
I would stay here if it’s your first trip to Ghent, or if you only have a weekend. From Korenmarkt it’s a few minutes’ walk to St Michael’s Bridge, where you can see the city’s three towers in a row, and in the evenings the locals sit along the edge of the quay when the weather allows. This is also where the canal boats set off on their short trips along the river.
See hotels around Graslei and Korenmarkt here.
Price is the biggest drawback. The hotels with water views are the most expensive in the city, and the rooms in the old buildings are often small. It’s busy from morning until night, especially at weekends, so if you’re a light sleeper, ask for a room away from the street.
If you’re coming by car, think twice before driving all the way in. The entire inner city within the ring road is a low emission zone, and foreign cars that are allowed to enter must be registered in advance. Parking at the hotels here often costs 30 to 40 euros (around £25 to £35) per day, so for a short trip the train is the easiest option.
Hotels around Graslei & Korenmarkt
1898 The Post - luxury in the old post office on Korenmarkt
1898 The Post is housed in the old post office between Korenmarkt and Graslei and is the most expensive of my suggestions in Ghent. The rooms are furnished with antiques, and there’s a cocktail bar, a gym and a 24-hour reception. Some guests mention that a few rooms are small, and parking is some distance from the hotel and costs about 30 euros (around £25) per day.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Super friendly and helpful staff.”
See photos and book 1898 The Post here.
Ghent Marriott Hotel - large hotel overlooking the Lys from Korenlei
Ghent Marriott faces Korenlei, with views across the river towards Graslei. Behind the restored façade with two gilded swans you’ll find a restaurant, bar, gym and family rooms, which makes it an easy choice when there are several of you. Parking costs about 40 euros (around £35) per day, and some guests feel the bar lacks atmosphere.
One guest highlights the details on Booking.com: “The attention to detail throughout the hotel, wherever you are and wherever you look.”
See photos and book Ghent Marriott here.
Baeten’s Bed and Breakfast - cheapest option, with breakfast in your room
Baeten’s Bed and Breakfast is on Burgstraat, a few minutes’ walk from Korenlei and Gravensteen. It’s a small B&B where breakfast is served in your room and included in the price, and it was the cheapest of my three picks in the area. Some guests mention that the wifi is unreliable and that the cleaning could be more thorough.
One guest on Booking.com praises the breakfast: “The breakfast was excellent, very generous, and there was a plant-based breakfast too.”
See photos and book Baeten’s B&B here.
2. Patershol & Vrijdagmarkt - best area for food lovers and cosy evenings 🍽️
- 📍 Distance to the centre: Patershol lies just behind Gravensteen, about 600 metres from Korenmarkt. Vrijdagmarkt is about 400 metres east of the neighbourhood.
- 🚶 Transport: You can do everything on foot. From Korenmarkt, where tram 1 stops, it’s around a ten-minute walk.
- ✈️ Time from Brussels Airport: About 55 minutes by direct train to Gent-Sint-Pieters, then tram 1 into the centre. From Korenmarkt it’s about a ten-minute walk.
- 💰 Price level: €€ to €€€. The three places below cost around £140 to £235 a night when I searched for a weekend in May.
- 👮 Safety: Patershol is a quiet residential area at night. Vrijdagmarkt has lots of bars, so it can be noisy at weekends.
Patershol is the little medieval quarter right in the shadow of Gravensteen, the counts’ castle from 1180 with its moat, towers and curtain wall. The streets are narrow and cobbled, and restaurants are packed into the low houses. The tourist office Visit Gent calls the area a city within the city, and the cuisines range from Flemish to Japanese, Indonesian, Turkish and Spanish.
I’d choose Patershol if food is a big part of your trip, or if you want quiet evenings while still being able to walk everywhere. Plenty of locals still live here, so once the restaurants close, the streets soon go quiet again.
See hotels in Patershol and around Vrijdagmarkt here.
Vrijdagmarkt, on the other side of the Leie, is a good alternative. It’s one of the city’s largest squares, lined with cafés and bars, and there’s more going on in the evening than in Patershol, but also more noise. Between the two runs Kraanlei, where several of the hotels look out over the water.
Gravensteen is only a couple of minutes away, so you can be at the entrance when the castle opens and get in before the groups. Buy your ticket online in advance and you’ll skip the queue at the ticket desk.
The downside is that Patershol has few large hotels. Many places to stay are small B&Bs and flats in old houses with steep stairs, so check whether there’s a lift if you have heavy luggage or children in a pushchair.
Hotels in Patershol & around Vrijdagmarkt
Ghent River Hotel - industrial heritage and a riverside terrace
Ghent River Hotel is on Waaistraat right by Vrijdagmarkt, in a building that blends industrial history with modern décor, and it has a terrace overlooking the river. There’s a sauna, gym and bar, and breakfast is served in a room with views over the city. Cars have to go in a nearby public car park at about 23.50 euros (around £20) a day, and some guests mention noise from nearby construction.
One guest sums it up briefly on Booking.com: “The location, the staff, the breakfast.”
See photos and book Ghent River Hotel here.
Hotel Harmony - family-run hotel with a heated pool and views of Gravensteen
Hotel Harmony is on Kraanlei at the edge of Patershol and is run by a family. It has a heated outdoor pool that’s open in season, and from some of the rooms you can see Gravensteen. With a guest rating of 9.1, it’s one of the highest-rated hotels in my search, though a few guests mention creaky floorboards and difficulties with a pram.
One guest on Booking.com praises the staff: “I loved how helpful and warm-hearted the staff were!”
See photos and book Hotel Harmony here.
8z dreamz - cheapest option with its own kitchen in the heart of Patershol
8z dreamz is a flat on Oudburg in the eastern part of Patershol with a fully equipped kitchen. It suits a couple who want to make their own breakfast and stay right among the restaurants. The 9.1 rating is based on fewer reviews than the hotels’, and some guests mention that the entrance was hard to find and that the hot water played up.
The location is what one guest highlights on Booking.com: “You couldn’t get a better location if you tried! Every major sight is within walking distance.”
See photos and book 8z dreamz here.
3. Sint-Baafs & Kouter - best area for art and shopping ⛪
- 📍 Distance to the centre: Sint-Baafsplein is about 250 metres from Korenmarkt, and Kouter is about 500 metres south of Korenmarkt.
- 🚶 Transport: You can walk to most places. Tram 1 towards the main station stops at Korenmarkt, just a few minutes away.
- ✈️ Time from Brussels Airport: About 55 minutes by direct train to Gent-Sint-Pieters, followed by tram 1 into the centre.
- 💰 Price level: €€ to €€€. The three hotels below cost around £145 to £190 per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
- 👮 Safety: Safe and central. The shopping streets are busy during the day, so keep an eye on your bag in the crowds.
Sint-Baafsplein is the square between the cathedral, the belfry and the city theatre, and this part of the centre is my pick if you’re coming for the art. St Bavo’s Cathedral is home to the Ghent Altarpiece, created by the brothers Hubert and Jan van Eyck and completed in 1432. A ticket to see the altarpiece costs €12.50 (around £10.50), and tickets sell out quickly at weekends and during the holidays, so book ahead.
The Belfry right next door is on the UNESCO World Heritage List along with a number of other belfries in Belgium and France. You can climb the tower and look out over the whole city, and if you stay here, it’s easy to go up early before the queues build.
See hotels near Sint-Baafs and Kouter here.
South of the square, the shopping streets lead down to Kouter, a large open square with the opera house nearby and cafés all around. Many of the city’s shops are here, and the area is handy if you want to combine museums with an afternoon of shopping.
The downside is that you don’t get the waterside atmosphere you’ll find at Graslei and in Patershol. The shopping streets are packed during the day and quiet late in the evening once the shops have closed. On the other hand, hotels here are often a bit cheaper than those overlooking the Leie, and you’re still just a few minutes from everything.
I’d choose this area for a short weekend of museums and shopping, or if you’d rather have a larger hotel with a lift and a 24-hour reception than a small B&B.
Hotels near Sint-Baafs & Kouter
NH Collection Gent - four-star hotel by the historic town hall
NH Collection is on Hoogpoort, right by the historic town hall and a few minutes’ walk from both Sint-Baafsplein and Korenmarkt. There’s a restaurant, bar, gym and sauna, and with more than 3,600 reviews and a rating of 9.0, it’s a safe choice. Breakfast costs around €25 (around £21) extra, and some guests mention that check-in can be slow.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Friendly, helpful staff. Lovely rooms, great location.”
See photos and book NH Collection Gent here.
Yalo Urban Boutique Hotel Gent - design hotel with a roof terrace on Brabantdam
Yalo Urban Boutique Hotel is on Brabantdam, about 400 metres east of Kouter. The hotel has a modern design, a roof terrace, restaurant, bar and gym, and a rating of 9.0 from more than 3,700 reviews. Some guests feel the beds and pillows aren’t comfortable enough and that the lighting in the rooms is too dim for putting on make-up.
The interior goes down well with one guest on Booking.com: “Beautiful décor throughout the hotel.”
See photos and book Yalo Urban Boutique Hotel here.
ibis Gent Centrum St. Baafs Kathedraal - cheapest option right opposite the cathedral
ibis Gent Centrum St. Baafs Kathedraal is on Limburgstraat, directly opposite St Bavo’s Cathedral. It’s a simple three-star chain hotel with a bar, 24-hour reception and an underground car park costing around €26 (around £22) a day. The rooms are small, and some guests feel the cleaning could be better, but the location is hard to beat for the price.
One guest sums it up on Booking.com: “The location was excellent, and the staff were very nice.”
See photos and book ibis Gent Centrum St. Baafs here.
4. Hoogstraat & Sint-Elisabeth - best area for peace and quiet close to the centre 🌿
- 📍 Distance to the centre: Hoogstraat is about 600 metres west of Korenmarkt, roughly a ten-minute walk.
- 🚶 Transport: Walk into the centre along the Leie. If you have luggage, a taxi from Gent-Sint-Pieters is the easiest option, and the journey is about 2 km.
- ✈️ Time from Brussels Airport: About 55 minutes on a direct train to Gent-Sint-Pieters, followed by a taxi or tram and a short walk.
- 💰 Price level: €€ to €€€. The three hotels below cost around £145 to £195 a night when I searched for a weekend in May.
- 👮 Safety: A quiet residential neighbourhood. The streets are calm in the evening, so stick to well-lit streets if you’re walking home late.
The neighbourhood west of Graslei, around Hoogstraat and the old Sint-Elisabeth beguinage, is my pick if you want peace and quiet but still want to be able to walk to the centre in ten minutes. Lots of locals live here, and the streets are far quieter than along the quays, even at weekends.
In the beguinage, the little houses still cluster around the church of Sint-Elisabeth. For centuries, this was where women in a religious community lived, and although the city has grown right up around it, you can still see it in the houses and the quiet streets. Just to the north is Prinsenhof, once the site of a large princely palace and the birthplace of Emperor Charles V.
See hotels around Hoogstraat and Sint-Elisabeth here.
The hotels here often have more space and more facilities than those in the tightly packed medieval core. One of my suggestions is in a former neo-Gothic monastery, and another has a spa with an indoor pool, so the area works well for a couples’ weekend where the hotel is part of the experience.
The downside is that you’ll have to walk a bit further to the sights and restaurants, and there are fewer places to eat in the neighbourhood itself. For a first weekend I’d still go for Graslei, but for a second visit, or if you’re a light sleeper, Hoogstraat makes a really good base.
The walk into the centre is part of the charm. Follow the Leie east and you’ll pass Korenlei and reach Graslei in about ten minutes.
Hotels around Hoogstraat & Sint-Elisabeth
Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof - luxury with a spa and indoor pool
Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof is on Hoogstraat in a historic building with a courtyard garden, and it has one of the highest ratings in my search: 9.3 from over 4,000 reviews. There’s a spa with an indoor pool, sauna and gym, plus two restaurants. Parking costs about 45 euros (around £38) a day, and a few guests mention light switches and TVs that didn’t work.
One guest goes as far as writing on Booking.com: “The best hotel I have ever stayed in.”
See photos and book Pillows Grand Hotel Reylof here.
Hotel Monasterium PoortAckere - stay in a former neo-Gothic monastery
Hotel Monasterium PoortAckere is on Oude Houtlei in a former neo-Gothic monastery, and breakfast is served in the old chapter house. There’s a garden, a bar and private parking for about 35 euros (around £29) a day. Some guests find the décor worn and mention loose floorboards.
One guest sums it up on Booking.com: “Character. Atmosphere. Location. Architecture. The restoration and furnishing of the room.”
See photos and book Hotel Monasterium PoortAckere here.
Het Rustpunt - cheapest option, with a garden close to the beguinage
Het Rustpunt is on Burgstraat in a historic building with a garden, a couple of minutes’ walk from the old beguinage. There’s a lift, wheelchair-accessible facilities and parking for about 12 euros (around £10) a day, which is cheap this close to the centre. Some guests mention that the heating is slow to warm up and that the bathroom door is fiddly.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Simply an incredibly atmospheric hotel, truly unique.”
See photos and book Het Rustpunt here.
5. Gent-Sint-Pieters & Citadelpark - best area for train travellers and art museums 🚆
- 📍 Distance to the centre: The main station is about 2 km south of Korenmarkt, roughly a 30-minute walk.
- 🚋 Transport: Trams 1 and 3 run from the station towards the centre every 10 minutes, according to Visit Gent.
- ✈️ Time from Brussels Airport: About 55 minutes by direct train to Gent-Sint-Pieters.
- 💰 Price level: € to €€€. The three hotels below cost roughly £110 to £270 a night when I searched for a weekend in May.
- 👮 Safety: Safe during the day. The station square can be dominated by building works and feel deserted late in the evening, so choose a hotel on the quiet residential streets towards Citadelpark.
The area around the main station is my pick if you’re travelling by train or want to use Ghent as a base for day trips. Direct trains run here from Brussels Airport in about 55 minutes, and from here there are also direct trains to both Bruges and Brussels. If you’re landing in Brussels, have a look at my guide to getting from the Brussels airports before you travel.
Just east of the station lies Citadelpark, the city’s largest park, home to two of Belgium’s most important art museums. MSK was founded in 1798 and is the oldest public museum in Belgium, with works by Hieronymus Bosch and René Magritte, among others. Across the road is S.M.A.K. with modern art, so you can easily see both on the same day.
See hotels near Gent-Sint-Pieters here.
Hotels here are often cheaper than in the medieval core, and many sit on quiet residential streets with easier access by car. If you stay close to the station, you can be on the platform a few minutes after breakfast, which makes a big difference if you want to see several cities on the same trip.
Bruges is only a short train ride away, so if you want to spend nights in both, take a look at my guide to where to stay in Bruges. Many people simply do a day trip there and stay on in Ghent, though.
The downside is the distance. You’ll need to take the tram or walk for half an hour every time you want to go into town, and in the evening you miss out on the atmosphere along the quays. For a weekend where you mostly want to be in the centre, I’d therefore choose one of the other areas.
Hotels near Gent-Sint-Pieters & Citadelpark
The Hamptons Boutique Hotel - adults-only boutique hotel in an elegant townhouse
The Hamptons is on Kortrijksesteenweg, about 600 metres from the station, in an elegant townhouse and only accepts adults. There’s a garden, a terrace, a cocktail bar and a limited number of parking spaces at around 20 euros (around £17) a day. It was the most expensive hotel in the area in my search, and some guests were unhappy with the check-in and the breakfast.
One guest on Booking.com praises the location: “The place is very close to the station, there are supermarkets nearby, and the owner is super friendly and helpful.”
See photos and book The Hamptons here.
Hotel Chamade - well-run hotel a few minutes’ walk from the station
Hotel Chamade is on Koningin Elisabethlaan, about 300 metres from the station, and has a rating of 9.1 from over 2,300 reviews. The rooms have air conditioning, and the breakfast buffet includes vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Some guests mention that the duvet was too warm and that there’s no thermostat in the room.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Very good hotel, and the staff are helpful.”
See photos and book Hotel Chamade here.
Koeketiene Rooms - cheapest option with an in-house French restaurant
Koeketiene Rooms is a B&B on Koningin Astridlaan, about 350 metres from the station, with a French restaurant on site where you can have brunch and lunch. It has the highest rating in the area, 9.3, and there are family rooms. Some guests miss having wardrobe space and a fridge in the room.
One guest on Booking.com praises the hostess: “Absolutely fantastic host, she was helpful, caring, attentive and welcoming.”
See photos and book Koeketiene Rooms here.
6. Portus Ganda & Dampoort - best area for families and longer stays 🛥️
- 📍 Distance to the centre: Portus Ganda is around 900 metres east of Korenmarkt, roughly a 15-minute walk.
- 🚆 Transport: Gent-Dampoort station in the northern part of the city is close by, and several bus lines run from here into the centre.
- ✈️ Time from Brussels Airport: Around 55 minutes by direct train to Gent-Sint-Pieters, followed by a taxi or bus across the city.
- 💰 Price level: € to €€. The three hotels below cost around £120 to £170 per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
- 👮 Safety: Safe around the marina. The area around Dampoort station is busier with traffic and can feel deserted in the evening, so take the bus or a taxi if you arrive late.
Portus Ganda is the city’s marina on the eastern side of the centre. Boats and houseboats line the quay, and when the weather is good, locals sit by the water during their lunch break. From here, you can walk to Vrijdagmarkt and St Bavo’s in around 15 minutes.
I would choose this area for a family or a longer stay, because two of my hotel suggestions have kitchenettes in the rooms. You save money on eating out, and there’s more space than in the small hotel rooms right in the centre. It’s also a good choice if you’re coming by car, as parking is cheaper here.
See hotels around Portus Ganda and Dampoort here.
Bear in mind, though, that this area is also inside the ring road and therefore within the city’s low emission zone. If you have a foreign-registered car, it must be registered before you drive in, or you risk a fine. At my three suggestions, parking costs around 18 to 22 euros (around £15 to £18) per day.
The downside is that the area is more modern and less charming than the medieval core, and the streets around Dampoort are dominated by traffic. On the other hand, this is where I found the cheapest hotels inside the ring road, so you can spend the money on a good dinner in Patershol instead.
If you’re arriving by train from Antwerp or northern Belgium, it pays to get off at Gent-Dampoort rather than the main station.
Hotels around Portus Ganda & Dampoort
Castelnou Aparthotel - aparthotel with kitchenettes and a restaurant
Castelnou is on Kasteellaan in a residential neighbourhood around 600 metres south of Portus Ganda, and every unit has a kitchenette. There’s a restaurant, a garden, family rooms and private parking for around 21.50 euros (around £18) per day. The rooms are large, but several guests mention that your car needs to be registered for the low emission zone to avoid a fine.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Large rooms and very friendly staff.”
See photos and book Castelnou Aparthotel here.
Adagio Access Gent Centrum Dampoort - studios with kitchenettes close to Dampoort station
Adagio Access is on Koopvaardijlaan around 300 metres from Dampoort station, and all the studios have kitchenettes. There’s a bar, a gym, family rooms and an underground car park for around 18 euros (around £15) per day. The hotel didn’t yet have an overall guest rating when I searched, and some guests mention that the Wi-Fi can be slow.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Clean, modern, quiet and well-equipped room. No problems during our stay.”
See photos and book Adagio Access Gent Centrum Dampoort here.
ibis budget Gent Centrum Dampoort - the cheapest option in the whole guide
ibis budget shares its address with Adagio Access and was the cheapest of all my suggestions in Ghent. The rooms are simple, there’s a 24-hour reception, and the underground car park costs around 18 euros (around £15) per day. Some guests find the rooms smaller than expected and the beds uncomfortable.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Everything was perfect and matched the description.”
See photos and book ibis budget Gent Centrum Dampoort here.
Where not to stay in Ghent?
I wouldn’t stay on Overpoortstraat and the streets just around it, even though they’re close to Citadelpark. It’s the students’ street, with bars side by side, and during term time it’s lively and noisy until late into the night.
Nor would I choose a cheap hotel by the motorways outside the ring road just to avoid the low emission zone. You might save on parking, but you’ll have to drive or take the bus in every day, and Ghent is at its best in the evening, when you can walk home along the water.
And if you’re going during the Gentse Feesten in July, remember that the city parties for ten days, with concerts and stages on the squares. Hotels in the centre are expensive and get booked up well in advance, and if you’re a light sleeper, Korenmarkt and Vrijdagmarkt are the wrong places to stay during those days.
If it’s your first trip to Ghent, I’d stay around Graslei and Korenmarkt or in Patershol, where the quays and restaurants are right on your doorstep. St Bavo’s and Kouter suit you if you want to see the Ghent Altarpiece and go shopping, while Hoogstraat suits a couple looking for peace and quiet and a hotel with a spa.
If you’re travelling by train or planning day trips, Gent-Sint-Pieters is the most practical choice, and Portus Ganda is for families and longer stays with your own kitchen. Many people combine Ghent with a few days in the capital, and my guide to where to stay in Brussels can help you plan the next leg. If you’re heading north, I’ve also put together the best areas in Amsterdam.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
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