How to Get from Brussels to Ghent & Vice Versa (2024)
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Travelling between Brussels and Ghent? We’ll help you discover How to get from one city to the other.
Including both Brussels and Ghent in your go-to list is something you will never regret.
Most travellers will start their journey in the capital city, however, when it comes to hidden gems, Ghent is one of our favourite places in the world.
The city has a wonderful young and trendy feeling and will leave you stunned with its many sights.
🏆 Our Top Pick: Train from Brussels to Ghent
Transportation between Brussels and Ghent is easy, regardless of whether you prefer driving, taking the train, or opting for a bus.
The road connections are well-developed, which makes it convenient for visitors to drive between the two cities.
Let’s explore each option in detail so you can choose the one that suits your travel needs!
Things to Know Before Travelling from Brussels to Ghent
Before your trip from Brussels to Ghent, it’s important to know about transportation choices, travel durations, and must-visit sights.
Being familiar with this information will make your travel planning easier and ensure an enjoyable adventure.
💡 Where is Ghent Located?
Ghent is a city located in the northwest of Belgium, at the junction of two rivers, the Leie and the Schelde.
It is often considered to have a perfect location due to its proximity to various significant places.
Ghent is situated only 50 kilometres away from Brussels. It is the capital of the Flemish Region and the third-largest city in Belgium.
💡 What is the Distance from Brussels to Ghent?
Brussels and Ghent are only 56 kilometres apart, making it easy to travel between the two lovely cities.
💡 How Long Does it Take to Get from Brussels to Ghent?
It takes around 30 minutes to 1 hour to get from Brussels to Ghent which allows you to visit both cities in one day or as part of your trip.
💡 What is the Cheapest Way to Get from Brussels to Ghent?
The cheapest way to travel between cities is typically by using public transportation such as buses and trains.
These transportation options often offer affordable fares and can be a cost-effective choice for travelling from Brussels to Ghent.
💡 What is the Fastest Way to Get from Brussels to Ghent?
The fastest way to travel from Brussels to Ghent is by taking a high-speed train, which typically takes around 30 minutes to 1 hour.
🥇 Best option to Get from Brussels to Ghent
🚉 If you are looking for the fastest way to reach Ghent when you’re coming from Brussels, we recommend catching the train. Both cities are too large to comfortably use the car and parking is rather costly.
Besides, the journey will only take about 25-40 minutes (depending on the station) while driving should at least take an hour. You can book your train tickets here!
🚘 If you’re looking for the most convenient way to get to Ghent from Brussels, we recommend booking private transport.
Join the community! Make sure you join our Belgium Travel Planning Facebook group. This is the place to ask any questions about your trip, to be inspired, and to connect with other Belgium travelers. Click here to join!
4 Ways to Get from Brussels to Ghent
Option 1: Brussels to Ghent by Car
Many people travel in their own car while in Belgium. In that case, you’ll obviously want to bring it along with you.
And even if you’re flying in, if you prefer to have your own means of transport, renting a car is a pretty popular choice to travel around the country.
The distance from Brussels to Ghent is 57 km which should take you about 1 hour with regular traffic.
💡 The drive is pretty straightforward, as you only have to take the highway between both cities (E40 Brussels – Ostend) and transfer to the connecting highway E17 in the direction of Antwerp where you’ll find the Ghent city centre exit a couple of kilometres along the road.
Keep in mind that traffic jams are no exception. Overall, the major problematic zones are the highways around Brussels and Antwerp, so if you’re driving the Brussels-Ghent distance you might get lucky and avoid being stuck.
However, make sure to add at least half an hour to your schedule if you’re driving during rush hours.
Parking in Ghent
If you don’t have a free parking space included in your accommodation, it might be a good idea to leave your car at one of the 7 parks + ride parking zones.
These free car parks on the edge of Ghent allow you to drop your car close to the highways and use public transport to get into the city.
Keep in mind that these car parks are not secure (however, we’ve never had any issues).
🚘 Read more about the different Park&Ride areas here
Option 2: Brussels to Ghent by Train
Most travellers will choose to take the train from Brussels to Ghent as it is by far the most convenient way to travel between both cities.
Brussels is a fairly large city and has 3 main train stations to choose from (there is also a Brussels Airport train station and a couple of smaller ones in the suburbs).
🚃 All intercity trains stop at every station.
The 3 train stations in Brussels are called Brussel-Noord/Nord (North Station), Brussel-Centraal/Central (Central Station) and Brussel-Zuid/Midi (South Station). The last one is where international trains such as Thalys, Eurostar, TGV and ICE serve.
Ghent has 2 train stations, with Gent-Sint-Pieters being the main hub but about 2,5km outside the city centre, while Gent-Dampoort is a lot smaller but only a short walking distance from all the main sights.
There is a direct Brussels – Ghent train to Gent-St-Pieters four times an hour.
There is no direct train to Gent Dampoort. However, there are connections between Gent-Sint-Pieters and Gent Dampoort every 5 minutes or so.
Other options if you arrive at Gent-Sint-Pieters, are to walk into the centre (30 minutes) or take tram #1 in front of the station.
The Brussels to Ghent train time is 25 min if you’re leaving from Brussels South, 36 min from Brussels Central and 40 minutes from Brussels North.
The earliest trains from Brussels to Ghent leave around 5.30 AM and the last one is around 00.30 AM.
🚉 CHECK THE CURRENT BRUSSELS-GHENT TRAIN TIMETABLE HERE
Ticket Prices
- 🎫 Single Ticket: €12
- 🚊 Retour: €24
- 🙎🏼♂️ Under 26 years old: €6,6 (single ticket) and €13,2 (retour)
- 👨👨👧👦 Children under 12 years travelling with a paying adult: Free
Should you travel during the weekend (from friday at 7PM to sunday), you can buy a retour ticket at 50% of the price It is convenient to book your train ticket online. Click here to find know the Brussels to Ghent train cost.
Option 3: Brussels to Ghent by Bus
Local Bus
Although the local bus is by far the cheapest way to travel around Belgium, it’s not recommended to use this form of transport for this connection.
Buses from Brussels to Ghent offer no direct service, so you’d have to pass through Aalst (70 min, bus #214, get off at the station) and then continue on to Ghent (60 min, bus #96, get off at Gent-Sint-Pieters).
➡️ You can use this website to plan your trip
Belgian buses are not convenient to transport luggage. I’m not saying it isn’t possible (because it is, we’ve done it many times), but there is no room to store your suitcase, so you should put it in the middle section of the bus and stay there to keep it from falling.
Ticket Prices
- 🎟 Regular ticket: €2,50 (valid for 60 minutes)
- 🚌 Entire trip cost: €7,50
The cheapest bus tickets are the ones you can buy in the app. Other options are smartphone tickets or regular tickets bought at a store. You can no longer buy them from the driver.
Flixbus
Flixbus is another option.
However, they only offer 1 bus a day from Ghent to Brussels and it leaves at 1.15 AM. So, I’m guessing that’s not really an option.
If you believe that’s your cup of tea, though, be my guest and book your trip here.
It’s pretty cheap with prices starting at €4,99, but you have to pay an additional service fee.
Option 4: Brussels to Ghent by Taxi
❗️ A taxi from Brussels to Ghent can definitely be the most expensive mode of transportation.
However, if you do not wish to rent a car and prefer a private means of transport, a taxi or private transport company might be the best choice for you.
Besides, it’s a pretty convenient way to travel without having to drag your luggage.
And if you’re travelling as a larger family or a group, this might even end up being cheaper than taking the train!
🚖 A 3-person standard car will cost you about €71 for this trip, while an 8-person minivan would be €88.
How to Get from Ghent to Brussels
If you’d like to return to Brussels, the same options as above are available.
For travellers with their own car or a rental, driving from Ghent to Brussels is pretty straightforward.
Keep in mind that traffic around the capital is usually heavy and traffic jams are common.
The distance from Ghent to Brussels is 60 km and should take you about an hour in regular traffic.
🚕 If you prefer private transport but don’t want to drive yourself, you could travel by taxi. This will cost you €62 for a regular car (3p) or €124 for a microbus (8p).
🚃 The third and best option is to take the train from Ghent to Brussels. The trip from Gent-St-Pieters to any of the Brussels stations will take between 25 and 40 minutes. A regular single ticket will cost you €12.
🚌 The last option is taking the Ghent to Brussels bus, but as there is no direct route, this option is fairly complicated and long. It will take you about 2,5 hours to complete this trip.
With Flixbus, you can catch the bus from Ghent to Brussels at 3.45 AM.
How to Get from Brussels Airport to Ghent & Back
The Best Way to Get from Brussels Airport to Ghent
🚌 The most convenient way to get from the airport to Ghent is by shuttle bus. With 13 buses a day, there’s definitely one that will fit your flight schedule.
Brussels Airport to Ghent by Car
Driving from Brussels Airport to Ghent will take about 55 minutes if you don’t encounter too much traffic.
Brussels Airport to Ghent by Taxi
If you’re not up to driving by yourself, you can book private transport from Brussels Airport to Ghent or from Ghent to Brussels Airport. It’s a very convenient way to get to your destination.
💰 A 3p regular car will cost you €67 and an 8p minivan is €95. Check the price and availability here.
Brussels Airport to Ghent by Train
To travel from Brussels Airport to Ghent by train there are direct trains available every 30 minutes. One of those trains takes 1 hour and the other 1h20.
Additionally, it’s possible to take a train to one of the 3 main stations in Brussels (North, Central or South) – there should be one every 10 minutes or so – and then take the intercity train to Ghent.
The same route can be followed for the train from Ghent to Brussels Airport.
All trains from and to the airport require a Brussels Airport Supplement, also known as “Diabolo fee”. This makes a regular ticket for trains from Brussels Airport to Ghent €20.
Brussels Airport to Ghent by Bus
By shuttle bus
How to get to Ghent from Brussels Airport? The easiest way is by shuttle bus.
This convenient bus takes only 1 hour to reach its destination.
🚃 The earliest one leaves at 5.15h and the last one is at 23.45h. There are 13 buses a day.
If you’re looking to catch this shuttle bus the other way around: the earliest bus leaves Ghent at 3.15h and the last is at 21.45h.
💰 The shuttle bus costs €21 for a one way trip.
By local bus
Taking the local bus from Brussels Airport to Ghent or the other way around is impractical and therefore we wouldn’t recommend it.
🚌 If you really prefer to take the bus instead of the train, take bus #272 or #471 from Brussels Airport to Brussels North Station.
Then, hop on bus # 212 or # 214 to Aalst Station. Continue on to Gent-Sint-Pieters with bus #96.
💰 It should take you a little over 3 hours so buy a day ticket in the app for €7,50. If you’re looking for the most budget proof way to get from Brussels Airport to Ghent, this is it!
Things to Do in Ghent
There are so many things to do in Ghent that you can easily spend 2 or 3 days. But if you only have time for a day trip from Brussels to Ghent, the city is more than worth a visit too.
🏰 Take a Boat Tour
Take a boat tour along Ghent’s canals to enjoy scenic views and learn about the city’s history and landmarks from a unique perspective.
Knowledgeable guides on board will share interesting stories and facts about the attractions you pass by to help you gain a deeper understanding of Ghent’s cultural heritage.
🏰 Visit Grote Market (Ghent Market Square)
Experience more of the city’s vibrance at the Market Square where you can admire the stunning historical buildings, soak in the lively atmosphere, and enjoy a delightful meal or drink at one of the cozy cafes or restaurants.
The square serves as a hub for events and festivals, making it a perfect starting point to explore the city’s hidden treasures.
🏰 Explore Ghent’s City Centre
Discover Ghent’s captivating city centre with its colourful streets, stunning architecture, and iconic landmarks.
It’s a worthwhile destination that offers a memorable experience blending historical insights and delicious food.
🏰 Enjoy Shopping at Belforstraat
Take your time to wander through the street, browse through the distinctive offerings, and indulge in a memorable shopping experience.
Belfortstraat is a lively street in Ghent, known for its diverse array of shops, boutiques, and art galleries.
It’s the ideal place for shopping and art lovers to uncover a variety of unique items.
WHERE TO STAY IN GHENT
Budget: Hotel Onderbergen
Enjoy Ghent without breaking the bank as it offers comfortable rooms at affordable rates to make the most of your travel budget.
Mid-range: B&B Hotel Gent Centrum
B&B Hotel Gent Centrum provides the perfect base for exploring the city’s attractions and immersing yourself in its vibrant atmosphere.
Luxury: Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof Ghent
Experience luxury at the elegant Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof Ghent. With upscale amenities, this hotel guarantees an unforgettable stay.
FAQ: how to get from Brussels to Ghent & Vice Versa
How do I get from Brussels to Ghent?
You can go from Brussels to Ghent by car, private transport or train. But don’t take the bus. It’s not a good option.
How do I get from Brussels to Ghent by train?
You can take a direct train from Brussels to Ghent St Pieters. There are three main train stations in Brussels: North, Central, and South. The two major train stations in Ghent are called Gent-Sint-Pieters and Gent-Dampoort. There are 4 trains an hour and the average train time is 35 minutes.
How long is the train journey from Brussels to Ghent?
The train journey from Brussels Central Station to Ghent St Pieters is about 35 minutes. There’s an additional 7 minutes if you’re travelling from Brussels North Station and 7 minutes less if you’re travelling from Brussels South Station.
How much is a train from Brussels to Ghent?
The standard fare from Brussels South Station to Ghent is €9,30. You can get a discount if you’re under 26, 65+, or going on a return trip during the weekend. Kids under 12 travel for free.
What is the cheapest way to get from Brussels to Ghent?
The cheapest way to get from Brussels to Ghent is by BlaBlaCar. The trip will only cost you €6, but you’re depending on other people’s schedules.
What is the fastest way to get from Brussels to Ghent?
The train is the fastest way to get from Brussels to Ghent because it is a direct journey and it only takes 25 to 40 minutes depending on your departure station.
Is there a direct train from Brussels Airport to Ghent?
There is a direct train from Brussels Airport to Ghent that runs every 30 minutes. The trip takes 1 hour.
Does Brussels Airport have a train station?
Yes, Brussels Airport has a train station. You can find it at the -1 level, directly underneath the arrival and departure halls.
How far is Ghent from the airport?
There are three airports that are close to Ghent. Brussels Airport, Antwerp Airport and Ostend Airport are all roughly 67km from Ghent. The two other airports in Belgium, Charleroi Brussels South Airport and Liège Airport are 112km and 149km away.
Is there an airport in Ghent?
There is no airport in Ghent. The three closest airports are Brussels Airport, Antwerp Airport and Ostend Airport.
Are there any direct flights between Brussels and Ghent?
There are no direct flights between Brussels and Ghent. In fact, there is no airport in Ghent at all, nor are there any flights between cities in Belgium. The direct train connection is pretty convenient though and it only takes 30 minutes.
Final Thoughts on How to Get from Brussels to Ghent & Vice Versa
When deciding your way of transportation between Brussels and Ghent, consider your preferences.
Do you like to reach your destination as quickly as possible or would it be nice to be able to stop along the way?
Do you mind travelling with others, possibly having to stand up if you’re travelling during rush hour? Is the budget important or do you not mind spending a little extra for more comfort?
Although travelling by car is easy and convenient, parking in the cities can be quite a hassle.
If you don’t need the freedom of your own car, we’d recommend the Brussels – Ghent train or the Brussels Airport train to Ghent.
Trains in Belgium are convenient, fast and not overly expensive. The connection between Brussels and Ghent is a great one.
If you prefer your own transport and don’t mind spending a little extra, hiring a private driver or taxi is a great idea.
Especially for people travelling in a bigger group, this might be an interesting option.
No matter which option you utilise, you’ll be sure to have an amazing time in Ghent.
Have a great trip!
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BELGIUM TRAVEL PLANNING RESOURCES
Getting to Belgium: Fly into one of the main international airports: Brussels Airport (BRU) or Charleroi Brussels South Airport (CRL). Take an international train to Brussels South Station. Or take a ferry to Dover or The Netherlands, then drive or take the train to Belgium.
Getting Around: For the major destinations, the train is by far the best option. You can book your train tickets here. If you’d like to visit smaller places, the most convenient way would be to rent a car. We always use Discover cars, they compare all the rental companies and give you the best rates.
Accommodation: Booking.com is the most popular accommodation platform in Belgium. It’s what I use every single time.
Guided tours: Use Get Your Guide or Viator to find fun tours in Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp. Or Guruwalk to find free walking tours in multiple destinations.
