How much does it cost to travel to Ghent?
You should plan to spend around $128 (€118) per day on your vacation in Ghent. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $37 (€35) on meals
- $21 (€19) on local transportation
- $155 (€143) on hotels
A one week trip to Ghent for two people costs, on average, $1,794 (€1,656). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Ghent has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Ghent expensive to visit?
Prices in Ghent are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Ghent is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Bordeaux or Gijon.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Ghent Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Ghent?
The average Ghent trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Ghent travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
€143
($155)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
€19
($21)
|
|
Food 2
|
€35
($37)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
€8.64
($9)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
€9 -
27
($10 - 29)
|
Accommodation Budget in Ghent
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Ghent is $78 (€72). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Ghent is $155 (€143). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Ghent? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Ghent
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Ghent is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $21 (€19) per person, per day, on local transportation in Ghent.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$21
€19
How much does it cost to go to Ghent? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Ghent will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Ghent
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Ghent can vary, the average cost of food in Ghent is $37 (€35) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Ghent should cost around $15 (€14) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Ghent is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$37
€35
Entertainment Budget in Ghent
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Ghent typically cost an average of $9.36 (€8.64) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$9.36
€8.64
Alcohol Budget in Ghent
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $19 (€18) on alcoholic beverages in Ghent per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$19
€18
Ghent On a Budget
Ghent, Belgium
Ghent is a large city in the northern part of Belgium (the Flanders region) with a population of about 250,000. This city was one of the most powerful cities in Europe during the Middle Ages, which is portrayed today, mostly through architecture. There is a large university in Ghent with over 60,000 students, and a large portion of the population are young students. However, among the natives and students, there are also many foreigners and artists that you will find walking the streets of the city. Ghent is also Belgium's second largest port city.
Sights
Visit Sint Niklaaskerk (St. Nicholas's Church) in Korenmarkt. This church was paid for by wealthy medieval merchants and guilds during the 13th century. It was built in a Schelde Gothic style, which is historically Flemish. Another cathedral to see is Sint-Baafskathedraal (St. Bavo's Cathedral). The exterior portrays Gothic, Romanesque, and baroque architecture. Inside you can find the famous altarpiece, "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb".
The Belfry and Cloth Hall (Belfort en Lakenhalle) in Emile Braunplein are other symbolic sights in Ghent. The Belfry was completed in 1380 and you can take an elevator all the way up (66 meters) to see the bells, as well as beautiful views of the city. The Cloth Hall was a place where wool and cloth merchants gathered and it dates back to the 1400's. For a history of the story of Ghent, visit STAM, the Ghent City Museum. Within the museum are over three hundred historical objects as well as interactive multimedia that help illustrate the story of Ghent. The city also has two art museums, The Museum of Fine Arts (MSK) and the City Museum For Contemporary Art (SMAK). They are situated across from each other in Citadelpark. The former holds collections dating back to the Middle Ages, while the latter is known for its permanent collections of famous works by Francis Bacon, Andy Warhol, and much more.
Neighborhoods
Ghent is part of the Flanders region of Belgium. It is west of both Brussels and Antwerp, two other large cities in this region. Brussels is home to the European Union headquarters and its official language is French. Antwerp is the largest municipality of Belgium and is known for its history in diamonds and fashion. Dutch is the official language of the region as a whole, although many people can speak fluent English as well. Another city in this region is Bruges, which is west of Ghent. Here, the quiet cobblestone roads run along beautiful canals and old medieval buildings.
Activities
The ten day long Gentse Feesten (Ghent Festival) is one of the largest cultural festivals in all of Europe. It happens around mid-July and brings in over a million visitors each year. The festival is free and includes music, comedy, theater, and many more outdoor and indoor activities. Another great activity in Ghent is to take a canal tour around the city. Rederij Dewaele offers cruises for seven euro that last about forty minutes and take you around to many of the cities highlights.
If you are someone who enjoys running, you can take a jogging tour of the city. The company is called Jog-Tours and they aim to keep tourists active. The runs are usually five kilometers or more.
A great activity if you happen to be in the city on a weekend is the Vridagmarkt. It is a lively market that happens every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Each day specializes in something different so be sure to check it out!
Transportation
Ghent is a very accessible city. It is a thirty-minute train ride from Brussels, where there is an international airport. It is on the line between Brussels and Bruges making it an easy stop if you are travelling throughout Belgium. You can also get to Ghent by bus. Eurolines have routes to Ghent from other major cities all over Europe like London, Paris, and Amsterdam.
Once in the city, you can get around on foot, bicycle, or via public transportation. Be sure to have some experience on a bicycle if you choose this as your mode of transportation. There are many uneven, cobblestone streets in the city that can be tricky to navigate on a bike. Also, be sure to lock your bike, as there is a high rate of bike theft in the city. The bus and tram system are very easy to figure out and pretty reliable. A single ticket costs three euro on board but you can get a ticket for less if you buy them at the ticket machines prior to riding.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.