Quick Answer
- Winter Festival: 3 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, with a Ferris wheel on the Korenmarkt and an ice rink under the Stadshal.
- Castle and tower: the Gravensteen costs 15 euros and the Belfry 13 euros; both close on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.
- Ghent Altarpiece: 16 euros with the AR tour, 12.50 euros alone; photos replace seven panels until the restoration ends, expected in spring 2027.
- CityCard Gent: 49 euros for 48 hours or 55 euros for 72 hours, with trams and buses included; sold in person only.
- Getting there: 36 minutes on average by SNCB train from Brussels, a direct train from Brussels Airport, then trams 1 or 3 to the centre.
At a glance
- Best time
- May–Sep; December for the Winter Festival
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 days
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- Dutch
- From the airport
- Direct train from Brussels Airport, about 45 min
- Getting around
- Trams 1-4, on foot; SNCB trains
Ghent is the bigger, busier sibling of Bruges: a university city on the rivers Lys and Scheldt with a medieval castle in the middle of town, a waterfront of guild houses and one of the most famous paintings in Europe. It trended on Tripadvisor’s winter list for trips from November 2026 to February 2027, and its Christmas market runs into the first weekend of January. Prices and dates below were checked on 29 October 2026; our Belgium country guide covers the rest of the country.
When is the best time to visit Ghent?
| Month | Average high / low | Rain | Sunshine a day | What it is like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.7°C / 1.1°C | 72.7 mm | 2.1 h | Cold and quiet; the Winter Festival ends on 3 January |
| February | 7.6°C / 1.1°C | 61.3 mm | 2.9 h | Frost on about 10 nights, few visitors |
| March | 11.1°C / 2.8°C | 56.2 mm | 4.5 h | Spring city break, low prices |
| April | 15.1°C / 4.8°C | 46.2 mm | 6.4 h | Driest month |
| May | 18.6°C / 8.6°C | 62.7 mm | 7.1 h | Mild, long days on the Graslei |
| June | 21.3°C / 11.5°C | 72.0 mm | 7.2 h | Long evenings by the water |
| July | 23.4°C / 13.4°C | 81.7 mm | 7.2 h | Warmest and sunniest, busiest |
| August | 23.4°C / 13.0°C | 90.8 mm | 6.8 h | Warm, with summer showers |
| September | 20.0°C / 10.2°C | 75.8 mm | 5.5 h | Mild, students return |
| October | 15.4°C / 7.4°C | 74.3 mm | 3.9 h | Autumn on the canals |
| November | 10.4°C / 4.3°C | 88.6 mm | 2.4 h | Grey and quiet before the festival |
| December | 7.1°C / 1.8°C | 93.4 mm | 1.8 h | Winter Festival from 3 December |
Figures are the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium’s 1991-2020 climate statistics for the municipality of Ghent. Rain of at least 1 mm falls on 10 to 14 days a month, December is the wettest and darkest month, and frost comes on about 11 nights in December and January. Snow rarely settles: on average there are only about five days a year when the temperature stays below zero all day. Pack a compact umbrella from our best travel umbrellas guide and, in winter, a warm layer from our best packable down jackets guide.
Christmas in Ghent: the Winter Festival 2026-2027
The Gentse Winterfeesten run from Thursday 3 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, according to the official festival site. Entry to the market is free; you pay for the rides and the food.
- Christmas market. Chalets spread across the squares of the historic centre, between the Korenmarkt and Saint Bavo’s Cathedral.
- Ferris wheel on the Korenmarkt. It opens every day of the festival, high above the old centre.
- Ice rink under the Stadshal. The open-sided city pavilion next to the Belfry becomes a skating rink; hours and ticket prices for 2026 had not yet been published on 29 October.
- Sapin Magique on the Goudeleeuwplein, plus free children’s activities every day.
For food, look for Ghent’s own sweets, which Visit Gent lists among the city’s specialities: cuberdons (chewy purple cones filled with raspberry syrup) and mastellen, cinnamon buns caramelised in a waffle iron, plus a bowl of waterzooi, the local chicken or fish soup, to warm up. Because the festival opens later than Bruges (20 November) and Brussels (27 November), Ghent is the one to save for December and the week between Christmas and New Year. Compare it with the others in our Christmas markets in Europe 2026 guide, and see our Christmas market packing list for evenings at around 2°C.
What to pack for Ghent
Four picks from our gear guides that suit this trip. Each card opens the live Amazon price; the links below lead to the full comparisons.
25 x 18 x 4 cm, 254 g, 2.1 L. Locking zips, a cut-resistant double-cable strap, an RFID passport pocket and a strap that clips to a chair. Reader’s Digest’s best crossbody for travel.
Check price on Amazon Live price on AmazonThe best value compression set going. A double-zip pulls the air out so a week of clothes shrinks to a few inches thick, and you get eight pieces (cubes plus a shoe and laundry bag) for roughly the price of one branded cube. The fabric is thin and the zips aren’t lifetime kit, but for the money nothing beats it.
Check price on Amazon Live price on AmazonThe reliable all-rounder: three USB-C and two USB-A ports, plugs for 200+ countries, and a built-in fuse with a spare. The adapter most people should buy.
Check price on Amazon Live price on AmazonModel A1259, 10,000mAh, about 37Wh, 215 g. Two phone charges in a jacket pocket, and small enough that the two-bank limit never becomes a question.
Check price on Amazon Live price on AmazonWhere should you stay in Ghent?
The medieval centre is compact, and trams link it to the main station, so the choice is between atmosphere and convenience.
| Area | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Korenmarkt, Graslei and Korenlei | The Winter Festival, the castle and the waterfront on your doorstep | Busiest and most expensive |
| Patershol | Quiet medieval lanes behind the Gravensteen, full of restaurants | Narrow streets, few hotels |
| Around Saint Bavo’s and the Kouter | Cathedral, Belfry and shopping streets close by | Busy during the festival |
| Gent-Sint-Pieters station area | Arriving by train, the MSK and Citadelpark | A tram ride from the old centre |
For a first visit, stay between the Korenmarkt and the Graslei for the Winter Festival, or in Patershol for quieter nights a few minutes’ walk from the castle. Check live rates here: compare Ghent hotel prices .
How do you get to and around Ghent?
From Brussels. SNCB runs 86 direct trains a day between Brussels and Ghent, and the average journey takes 36 minutes, according to the national railway. You do not need to book a seat; buy a standard ticket in the SNCB app or at the station. Most trains stop at Gent-Sint-Pieters, the main station; Gent-Dampoort, in the east of the city, is a 15-minute walk from the historic centre.
From Brussels Airport. The station is under the terminal and there is a direct train to Ghent, about 45 minutes away, according to Visit Gent. Tickets to or from the airport include the Brussels Airport supplement. Flixbus also runs daily between Brussels Airport and Gent-Dampoort.
From Charleroi. Brussels South Charleroi Airport has no train station, but Flibco runs 12 coaches a day from the airport to Bruges via Gent-Sint-Pieters.
From London or Paris. Take Eurostar (or TGV from Paris) to Brussels-Midi and change there; from France you can also change at Lille. Our Christmas markets by train guide has rail routes through Belgium.
Getting around. Trams 1 and 3 run from Gent-Sint-Pieters to the centre every 10 minutes. A De Lijn ride costs 3 euros when you tap a contactless bank card, phone or watch on the white reader, and you can change freely within the hour. Ghent’s centre has a low-emission zone: foreign-registered cars must be registered online before entering, even if they meet the standard.
What should you not miss in Ghent?
| Sight | Adult price (2026) | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts) | 15 euros (19 to 25: 7.50 euros) | Audio guide included; open daily 10:00 to 18:00, last entry 16:40 |
| Ghent Altarpiece, Saint Bavo’s Cathedral | 16 euros with the AR tour, 12.50 euros altarpiece only | Last AR tour entry 16:00; under-12s 8 euros |
| Belfry | 13 euros (19 to 25: 6.50 euros) | Climb about 100 steps, then a lift; last tickets 17:00 |
| Graslei and Korenlei | Free | Guild houses facing each other across the Lys |
| MSK (Museum of Fine Arts) | Ticket includes the altarpiece restoration studio | Closed on Mondays |
- The Gravensteen. The 12th-century castle of the Counts of Flanders stands in the middle of the city, on the Sint-Veerleplein. Children up to 12 go free, and with the NMBS Discovery Ticket you get castle entry plus 40% off the train journey.
- The Ghent Altarpiece. Jan and Hubert van Eyck’s polyptych, also called the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, is in Saint Bavo’s Cathedral, open 8:30 to 17:30 Monday to Saturday and 13:00 to 17:30 on Sunday. The final restoration phase, of the upper register, began in May 2023, and during it the seven panels in the cathedral are replaced by high-quality colour photos; the cathedral expects to finish in spring 2027. At the MSK you can watch the restorers behind glass from Tuesday to Friday, except from 24 December to 2 January.
- The Belfry. A UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Sint-Baafsplein, open daily 10:00 to 18:00, with views in all four directions from the top.
- Graslei and Korenlei. The two quays face each other across the Lys; Saint Michael’s Bridge at the end gives the classic view of the three towers. Visit Gent says traditional boat trips run daily, with a guide on board; in winter, go early in the afternoon, before the light fades.
- CityCard Gent. 49 euros for 48 hours or 55 euros for 72 hours, starting at first use. It includes the Gravensteen, the Belfry and the MSK, unlimited De Lijn trams and buses, a guided boat trip and a day of bike rental, plus a once-only 10-euro discount on an online-booked Ghent Altarpiece ticket. It is sold only in person, and under-18s already get free entry to most Ghent museums.
What day trips can you take from Ghent?
- Bruges. Direct trains run every hour or more often, and the Bruges Christmas markets open earlier, on 20 November 2026. See our Bruges city guide.
- Brussels. 36 minutes by train on average, with the Grand-Place and the Winter Wonders market from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. See our Brussels city guide.
- Antwerp. The port city of the Flemish north, with its cathedral and Grote Markt, is on the SNCB network from Gent-Sint-Pieters.
What goes wrong in Ghent?
- Arriving in late November for the market. The Winter Festival does not open until 3 December 2026; go to Bruges or Brussels first if you travel earlier.
- Expecting the full original altarpiece. Until the restoration ends, photographs stand in for seven panels in the cathedral; the originals are in the MSK studio.
- Driving into the centre. The low-emission zone applies to foreign cars too, and you must register before you enter. Use the train or a park-and-ride.
- Planning the castle on New Year’s Eve. The Gravensteen and the Belfry are closed on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.
- Expecting snow. December averages 93.4 mm of rain and 1.8 hours of sunshine a day; it is usually damp and grey rather than white.
How many days do you need in Ghent?
One day covers the Gravensteen, the Graslei and Korenlei, the Belfry and the Ghent Altarpiece. Two days is better: add the MSK and the restoration studio, Patershol and, in December, the Winter Festival after dark. With three or four days, use Ghent as a base for Bruges and Brussels, which are both a short train ride away.
Belgium is in the Schengen area, so days spent here count towards the 90-day limit; see our Schengen 90/180 rule explained guide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Ghent Christmas market in 2026?
The Ghent Winter Festival (Gentse Winterfeesten), which includes the Christmas market, runs from Thursday 3 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, according to the official festival site. It fills the historic centre, with a Ferris wheel on the Korenmarkt, an ice rink under the Stadshal next to the Belfry and free children’s activities every day. It opens later than Bruges (20 November) and Brussels (27 November).
What is the best time to visit Ghent?
May to September is the most comfortable time, with average highs of 18.6°C in May and 23.4°C in July and August, according to the Royal Meteorological Institute’s 1991-2020 normals for Ghent. December is the time for the Winter Festival, but expect highs of about 7°C, 93.4 mm of rain and under two hours of sunshine a day.
How much does it cost to visit the Gravensteen?
An adult ticket for the Gravensteen, the Castle of the Counts, costs 15 euros, including the audio guide. Visitors aged 19 to 25 pay 7.50 euros, 13 to 18 pay 3 euros and children up to 12 go free. The castle is open every day from 10:00 to 18:00, with last admission at 16:40, and is closed on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.
Can you see the Ghent Altarpiece during the restoration?
Yes. Saint Bavo’s Cathedral sells a 60-minute augmented reality tour with a visit to the Ghent Altarpiece for 16 euros, or the altarpiece alone for 12.50 euros. While the upper register is being restored, the seven panels in the cathedral are replaced by high-quality colour photos; the cathedral expects the restoration to finish in spring 2027. You can watch the restorers at work behind glass at the MSK, the Museum of Fine Arts, from Tuesday to Friday.
How do I get from Brussels to Ghent?
Take an SNCB train: the average journey from Brussels to Ghent takes 36 minutes, with 86 direct trains a day. Most stop at Gent-Sint-Pieters, from where trams 1 and 3 run to the centre every 10 minutes. Brussels Airport also has a direct train to Ghent, about 45 minutes away, with the Brussels Airport supplement added to the fare.
Is the CityCard Gent worth it?
The CityCard Gent costs 49 euros for 48 hours or 55 euros for 72 hours and covers single entry to the main museums and monuments, including the Gravensteen and the Belfry, plus unlimited De Lijn trams and buses in Ghent, one guided boat trip and a day of bike rental. The Gravensteen and the Belfry alone cost 28 euros, so it pays off with a third or fourth sight. It is sold only in person, for example at the tourist office.
Start planning your Ghent trip
Book the room first for December weekends, when the Winter Festival fills the centre, then the Gravensteen and altarpiece slots. Most visitors fly into Brussels Airport and take the direct train; from London, Eurostar to Brussels-Midi and a 36-minute connection avoids the airport altogether. For a longer rail trip, add Bruges, Brussels or Amsterdam.
Find cheap flights to Brussels | Compare Ghent hotel prices
More ideas: where to go in December, where to go in November and the hotels hub.
