geocalia
The Graslei and the towers of Ghent from the riverGiles Laurent · CC BY-SA 4.0

What to do · Ghent

Boat trip through medieval Ghent

Guided boat · 40 min · €11 adults · €7.50 for ages 3 to 12 · commentary in three languages

InformationFrom €11 adult
From
€11 adult
Duration
40 min
Season
All year, weather permitting
Who it's for
All ages

Forty minutes by boat on the Lys and the Lieve, passing in front of the Graslei and the Korenlei, beneath the Castle of the Counts and through the canals of the Patershol district. It is the way to see the city from the water, which is how it was built.

How it works

De Bootjes van Gent runs regular departures with other passengers: the trip lasts 40 minutes and costs €11, €10 for over-60s and students and €7.50 for ages 3 to 12. The commentary is in Dutch, French or English, and on board there are illustrated translations in Spanish. Tickets are bought on their website or at the landing stage; the departure point is on their route map.

Tips

  • First thing or late afternoon In summer at midday there is a queue; the first departures are quieter.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the boat trip in Ghent cost?

€11 for adults and €7.50 for children aged 3 to 12.

Is it in Spanish?

The commentary is in Dutch, French or English, with illustrated translations in Spanish on board.

With young childrenAs a familyWith teenagers

Who runs it

Opening hours and prices can change: check them before you go.

Round off the plan

Where to eat, where to stay and what else to do

To eat nearby

A long table laid in the dining room of Du Progrès© Du ProgrèsHome-style Belgian cooking, third generation

Du Progrès

Restaurant · Ghent · Korenmarkt · €€€€

What to order: the Ghent-style chicken waterzooi or a Blanc-Bleu Belge beef steak with chips

Closed Sundays and Mondays · dogs not allowed
The dining room of Pakhuis, a former warehouse with green iron galleries and a glass roof© PakhuisBrasserie in an iron and glass warehouse

Pakhuis

Restaurant · Ghent · next to the Korenmarkt · €€€€

What to order: the seafood and oysters from the counter, or a Belgian dish with local produce

Monday to Saturday, lunch and evening · short menu from 14:15 to 18:00 · closed Sundays and public holidays
The Amadeus dining room in the Patershol© AmadeusAll-you-can-eat ribs in the Patershol, every evening

Amadeus Gent 1 (Patershol)

Restaurant · Ghent · Patershol · €€€€

What to order: the all-you-can-eat ribs and, for dessert, an Irish coffee

Dinner only, every day: Sunday from 17:30

To stay nearby

Hostel

Hostel Uppelink

Hostel facing the three towers · Kayaks · Breakfast with a view

Why we like it: Hostel in a 1909 building beside St Michael's Bridge, with the view of Ghent's three towers, a kitchen, a bar and kayaks to go out on the canals.

A suite with exposed wooden beams, leather sofas and a four-poster bed© Ghent River HotelHotel

Ghent River Hotel

Renaissance house from 1518 and cotton mill from 1857 · 78 rooms · Beside the Lys

Why we like it: Hotel with 78 rooms in a Renaissance house from 1518 and a cotton mill from 1857, on the banks of the Lys and next to the Vrijdagmarkt.

Itineraries

Features in these plans