Travel Tips: How to Experience a City Like a Local
Welcome to Ghent! Get ready to walk through centuries of history, taste delicious Belgian treats, and discover the city's best-kept secrets. Explore Ghent at your own pace and let the city unfold naturally.
Tips for Ghent
Ghent travel tips for visitors who want to experience the city like a local — not rush from landmark to landmark, but truly understand how the city works and feels.
Planning a visit to Ghent and wondering how to make the most of your time? Whether you’re staying for a few hours, one full day, or a weekend, these tips will help you explore the city in a relaxed, meaningful way.
Ghent is not a city made for rushing. It’s compact, walkable, and full of small moments that unfold when you slow down.
How long do you need in Ghent?
Many travelers search for “one day in Ghent” — and the good news is: one day is enough to feel the city, if you explore it at the right pace.
A few hours in Ghent
— a short walk through the historic center, coffee by the river, and a first impression of the city
One day in Ghent
— a gentle walking route, local food, hidden corners, and time to pause
A weekend in Ghent
— space to slow down even more and discover different neighborhoods
Ghent is ideal for self-guided exploration.
How Ghent really works
Before you start exploring, it helps to know how the city lives day to day.
Opening hours
Most shops, cafés, bakeries, and boutiques close around 6 PM.
On Sundays and public holidays, many places are closed or have limited hours.
After 6 PM, the rhythm of the city changes.
Evenings in Ghent
When shops close, Ghent opens up in a different way. Bars, wine spots, and restaurants fill the streets with light and conversation.
Evenings in Ghent are about:
slow dinners, Belgian beer, candlelit terraces, and lingering moments by the water.
This is when the city feels especially alive.
A living city, not a checklist, Ghent is a living city, and it changes constantly. A café you read about might be closed today. A small shop may have changed its character. A street might surprise you more than a famous landmark. This is part of what makes the city feel real.
Good to know
Small local details that make your time in Ghent smoother.
🚲 Ghent is a cycling city — bikes have priority almost everywhere, even in the historic center. Always check both sides before crossing bike lanes.
💧 Tap water is safe and free — tap water in Ghent is perfectly drinkable, and many cafés will happily refill your bottle if you ask.
🌧 Don’t let the weather stop you — Ghent feels especially cozy on cloudy or rainy days, when cafés, museums, and streets slow down beautifully.
The best way to explore Ghent
If you’re searching for “best places in Ghent”, here’s something worth knowing: Ghent is not about ticking off attractions.
The city reveals itself through: the way streets connect, the contrast between busy squares and quiet corners, and the moments in between destinations.
The best way to experience Ghent is on foot, without strict timing, and with room for curiosity.
Want to truly feel Ghent — even if you have little time?
If you’re visiting Ghent for a few hours, one day, or a weekend and prefer to explore: independently, with your partner, family, or alone, without crowds or rigid schedules, there is a unique way to experience the city.
GoExplore: Ghent
A curated one-day walking route designed to help you feel Ghent, not just see it.
It’s a relaxed, self-guided experience — created for travelers who want atmosphere, local stories, and space to make the day their own.
Perfect if you want a meaningful day in Ghent and a souvenir that goes beyond the usual guidebook.
