Getting Around Ghent: The Complete Transport Guide

Arriving in Ghent: Getting Here from Brussels Airport

Ghent has no airport of its own. The city of 270,000 is served primarily by Brussels Airport (IATA: BRU), located about 55 km to the east. Getting from the airport to Ghent is straightforward by train, and the rail connection is one of the better airport-to-city links in Belgium.

From Brussels Airport, head to the station on level -1 of the terminal building. You have two practical options. The first is a direct train to Gent-Sint-Pieters, which runs approximately once per hour. The second is to take any frequent train toward Brussels (up to 4 per hour) and connect at either Brussel-Noord or Brussels-Midi, where around three trains per hour continue to Ghent. Journey time from Brussels-Midi to Gent-Sint-Pieters is roughly 30 minutes. Allow 50-70 minutes total from the airport terminal to Gent-Sint-Pieters, depending on which route and connection you take.

Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) is used by some low-cost carriers and sits around 80 km from Ghent. The connection is less direct and typically involves a bus shuttle to Brussels-Midi then a train onward. It is worth factoring in the extra transit time if booking flights there.

Gent-Sint-Pieters: The Main Station and Getting into the Centre

Gent-Sint-Pieters is Ghent's principal railway station and the hub for onward connections within the city. It sits about 2 km south of the historic core around Graslei and Korenlei. On foot the walk takes around 25-30 minutes along a straightforward route, which is a genuine option if you're travelling light and want to orientate yourself immediately.

The faster option is tram line 1, which connects Gent-Sint-Pieters directly to Korenmarkt in the heart of the medieval city in approximately 5-10 minutes. Trams depart frequently from the stops directly outside the station's main exit. This tram corridor is one of the busiest in the network and runs from early morning until late at night.

De Lijn: Trams, Buses, and How the Network Works

De Lijn is the Flemish public transport authority and operates all trams and buses in Ghent. The network is well-suited to both daily commuters and visitors. Four tram lines cross the city, running through the centre and connecting the main residential and student districts to the historic core. Buses complement the trams on routes that the tram network does not cover.

For most visitors, the tram is the only public transport you will regularly need. The key lines run through the centre, passing stops near the Ghent Belfry, Sint-Pieters station, and the university quarter. The De Lijn route planner at delijn.be is reliable for trip planning, and the De Lijn app provides real-time departures.

• Single ticket (€3) Valid for 60 minutes from first validation, covering unlimited tram and bus transfers within that window. Purchased via the De Lijn app, ticket machines at stops, Lijnwinkel shops at Gent-Sint-Pieters and Korenmarkt, or contactlessly on board.
• Day ticket (€9 for ages 12+, €4.50 for ages 6-11) Valid for 24 hours from first use. Useful if you plan more than three individual trips in a day, which is common when combining museums and neighborhoods.
• Children under 6 Travel free on all De Lijn services when accompanied by a paying passenger aged 12 or over.
• Contactless payment on board Pay by tapping a debit card, smartphone, or smartwatch. Each tap covers one person only: you cannot tap once for two people. The fare is €3 per person and includes 60 minutes of free transfers.
• SMS ticket Text 'DL' to 4884 for a mobile ticket. Lower per-unit cost than single on-board purchases, though the app is more convenient for most travellers.

CityCard Gent: Is the Visitor Pass Worth It?

The CityCard Gent is the main tourist pass and bundles transport with museum access. The 48-hour version costs €49 and the 72-hour version costs €55. Both include unlimited De Lijn tram and bus travel within the city boundaries, one day of rental bike use, one day on the hop-on hop-off water tram, and free or discounted entry to a range of museums and attractions including the Gravensteen castle, the MSK Ghent fine art museum, and the STAM city museum.

Whether it is worth the price depends heavily on your itinerary. If you plan to visit three or more paid attractions and use public transport daily, the card typically pays for itself. If you are mainly walking the historic centre and only visiting one or two museums, the entry cost may exceed what you would spend individually. The transport component alone does not justify the price unless you are staying further from the centre.

One important limitation: the CityCard covers De Lijn travel within Ghent only. It cannot be used on De Lijn services to neighbouring towns or on NMBS trains. If you plan day trips by public transport, you will need separate tickets for those journeys.

• CityCard 48h: €49 per adult
• CityCard 72h: €55 per adult
• Includes unlimited De Lijn trams and buses within Ghent (not NMBS trains)
• Includes one day of rental bike use (subject to availability at the rental point)
• Includes one day on the hop-on hop-off water tram (seasonal: check current timetable at visit.gent.be)
• Museum entry discounts and free admissions vary: check the full current list on the official Visit Gent website before purchasing

Walking and Cycling: The Honest Assessment

Ghent's historic centre is genuinely compact. The main cluster of medieval sights, from the St Bavo's Cathedral and the Belfry to Graslei and Korenlei and the Gravensteen, fits within an area you can cross in 15 minutes on foot. For anyone staying centrally, the tram is often unnecessary for sightseeing. Walking is the best way to explore the medieval lanes, canal-side quays, and the Patershol neighbourhood.

Cycling is extremely practical in Ghent, which has extensive dedicated bike infrastructure. The city is flat, making it accessible for most fitness levels. You can rent bikes through the CityCard scheme, from Blue-bike rental points at stations, and from various private hire companies. Ghent has a large car-free zone in the historic centre, which makes cycling through that area straightforward and pleasant. Note that the inner car-free zone does have some time restrictions and access rules that change periodically, so check current regulations if you plan to enter by vehicle.

For a structured route covering the main sights on foot, the Ghent walking tour guide lays out a practical itinerary. If you are short on time, the one day in Ghent guide covers the most efficient combination of walking and tram use.

Practical Tips and Common Mistakes

A few recurring misunderstandings trip up first-time visitors. The most common is around contactless payment: tapping your card on board covers a single passenger only. If you are travelling with a partner or family, each person needs to tap individually with their own payment method, or you need separate pre-purchased tickets. There is no way to pay for two people with one tap.

The 60-minute validity of a single ticket is a genuine advantage that many visitors underuse. If you board a tram, ride to one stop, then later board a different tram or bus within the same 60-minute window, the second journey is free. The clock starts at first validation, not at purchase. This makes single tickets more flexible than they initially appear.

During major events such as the Gentse Feesten festival in July, De Lijn operates modified routes and some tram stops in the historic centre are temporarily relocated. The De Lijn app will show real-time diversions, but it is worth checking in advance if your visit coincides with a large event. The best time to visit Ghent guide covers seasonal crowd and transport patterns in more detail.