Getting Around, Ghent Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium)

The public transportation network within Ghent is operated by the Belgian travel company De Lijn. There is a well-placed information kiosk for De Lijn, which is located outside of Ghent's railway station, where you can purchase everything from tram and bus tickets, to pocket-sized transport maps.

Central Ghent is compact and fairly small, and so the best way to travel between sights within this part of the city is simply on foot. However, bicycles are becoming increasingly popular with tourists and a number of the one-way roads actually permit bicycles to travel in both directions, although do watch out for the cobblestone streets, which can be rather bumpy.

Airports / Arriving by Air

Ghent is conveniently located close to a number of the country's most prominent airports. Brussels International Airport is Belgium's biggest and most important air facility, and lies just 69 km / 43 miles to the south-east, while Charleroi Airport is around 105 km / 65 miles to the south-east and has become an important hub for many low-cost carriers, such as Ryanair and Wizz Air. Both of these airports are within easy reach of Ghent and connected by a range of transport options, such as buses and car hire.

Brussels Airport (BRU) Guide

Car Rental

The dense and busy network of highways around Ghent connect much of Belgium and allow those who have chosen to hire a vehicle to travel to destinations such as Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels, Geraardsbergen, Kortrijk, Leuven, Liege, Ostend and Roubaix. Both the E17 and the E40 highways are amongst the most important roads close to the city and can get extremely busy during the peak traffic hours. Other notable roads close by include the R4 and the R40, which link a number of surrounding districts, suburbs and villages.

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Buses, Trolleybuses and Trams

Public transport in Ghent is extremely reliable and punctual, being operated by Belgium's De Lijn transport organisation. Tickets can be purchased from ticket machines next to the main stops and at central kiosks, being valid on city buses, trolleybuses and also trams. Most tickets remain valid for one hour, from the time of purchase. Tourists tend to prefer to travel around Ghent on the city's trams, which are surprisingly speedy and particularly comfortable. Powered from overhead electric cables, the city's trolleybuses are always popular and fast. Eurolines buses depart outside of the actual office, on the Koningin Elisabethlaan, next to St. Pietersstation.

Trains

The railway stations within Ghent feature regular trains to Belgian cities including Antwerp, Brussels and Bruges, while trains also link Brussels Zaventem Airport, along with the French cities of Lille and Paris. Ghent is home to two railway stations, the Gare Gent Dampoort and the Gare Gent Sint Pieters (St. Pietersstation), which are connected by regular buses and trams. St. Pietersstation is the main railway station and stands around 2 km / 1.5 miles to the south of Ghent city centre and resembles a fortress in its appearance.