Party Like a Local: Ghent Day Trip Guide

Party like a Belgian in Ghent!

22 April 2023

Ghent, Belgium is the perfect destination for a stag do with its lively atmosphere, beautiful architecture, and excellent beer scene. From brewery tours and pub crawls to canal cruises and historical tours, there's no shortage of things to do in this vibrant city. With plenty of pubs, bars, and clubs to enjoy, Ghent promises to be a weekend of unforgettable celebrations.

Day trip plan

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Day

Ghent or Bust!

  • Start the day with Belgian waffles and coffee at Café Labath before exploring the medieval Gravensteen castle.
  • Stroll through the colorful street art-filled neighborhood of Werregarenstraat before heading to the ornate St. Bavo's Cathedral to see the world-famous Ghent Altarpiece.
  • Enjoy a quick Belgian beer at the cozy Dulle Griet pub before taking a relaxing boat tour of the city's picturesque canals.
  • Grab lunch at the De Frietketel food stall and indulge in Belgium's national dish fries with mayo.
  • Check out the contemporary art at the S.M.A.K. museum before heading to the bustling Korenmarkt square to sample some local craft beers at the Trollekelder pub.
  • Finish the night off with live music and dancing at the Charlatan nightclub.
  • No time for sleep? End the night at the Gentse Feesten, a city-wide, 10-day cultural festival in July full of music, food, and carnival-like revelry. Let your inner party animal out and go wild!

How to get there

Plane

The best way to get to Ghent by plane is to fly to Brussels Airport and then take a train from Brussels Airport-Zaventem to Ghent-Sint-Pieters station. The total journey time is approximately 1 hour and tickets can be purchased at the airport train station.

Car

The best way to get to Ghent by car is to take the E40 from Brussels and follow the signs to Ghent. The journey time is approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on traffic.

Train

The best way to get to Ghent by train is to take a Eurostar from London St. Pancras to Brussels Midi and then change to a local train to Ghent-Sint-Pieters station. The total journey time is approximately 3 hours and tickets can be purchased on the Eurostar website.

Boat

The best way to get to Ghent by boat is to take a river cruise from Amsterdam to Ghent. The journey time is approximately 7-8 hours and tickets can be purchased on various river cruise websites.

Bus

The best way to get to Ghent by bus is to take a Flixbus from London Victoria Coach Station to Brussels North Station and then change to a local train to Ghent-Sint-Pieters station. The total journey time is approximately 6 hours and tickets can be purchased on the Flixbus website.

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