How Much Does a Ghent Trip Cost? (2026)
Sightseeing prices
Paid major sights: Gravensteen EUR 13 (12th-century castle, audio guide, 90 min–2 h). Canal cruise EUR 13–15 (50 min, year-round). St Bavo Altarpiece EUR 13 (Jan van Eyck, 15 min–1 h). Belfry EUR 13 (tower, 364 steps, 45 min). STAM museum EUR 12 (city history, 2 h). MSK or SMAK EUR 12 each (art museums, 1–2 h). Both museums EUR 20 combined. CityCard EUR 42 (48h) covers most, breaks even after 3 sights.
Free sights: Graslei & Korenlei quays (free). Patershol lanes (free). St Bavo nave (free). Belfry exterior (free). St Michael’s Bridge viewpoint (free). Vrijdagmarkt square (free). Werregarenstraat street art (free). Parks and canal paths (free). STAM free first Thursday of each month.
Food prices (2026)
Street food & cheap eats: Belgian fries (thick, double-fried) EUR 3–4 (with sauce, a meal). Waffles EUR 2.50–5. Cuberdon candy (pyramid, fruit liqueur) EUR 0.50–1 (souvenir). Sandwich EUR 4–6. Hot dog EUR 4–5. Bakery croissant + coffee EUR 4–5. Espresso or latte EUR 2–3. You can eat a full street-food day for EUR 8–12.
Restaurant meals: Breakfast (café) EUR 4–7 (coffee, pastry). Lunch (casual) EUR 5–15 (soup, fries, pizza). Casual dinner EUR 12–20 (Flemish stew, fish, pasta). Mid-range sit-down EUR 20–35 (wine, appetizer, main). Beer EUR 3–7 per glass (abbey beers, Gruut craft). House wine EUR 5–8 per glass. Waterzooi (vegetable stew) EUR 12–18 at locals’ places.
Specialties to budget: Food tasting tour EUR 59–68 (8 stops). Brewery tour + tasting EUR 18. Chocolate tour EUR 60. Beer adventure EUR 95.
Transport prices
Tram & bus (De Lijn): Single ticket EUR 2.20 (1 zone, 1 hour). All zones EUR 3. Day pass EUR 6. The centre is 1.5 km; most arrive on one ticket.
Bikes: Rental EUR 8–15 per day (classic fixed-gear). Donkey Republic and shops throughout centre. Lanes everywhere; locals bike everywhere. Essential if staying 2+ days.
Day trips by train: Bruges EUR 6 (return), 30 min. Antwerp EUR 8, 40 min. Brussels EUR 11 (one way), 32 min. All from Gent-Sint-Pieters station (south edge of city).
Three daily budgets (excluding hotel)
Shoestring (EUR 70/day): Breakfast bakery EUR 5. Gravensteen EUR 13 (skip interior, see quay free). Fries + beer EUR 5. Lunch EUR 5. Waffles EUR 3. Casual dinner EUR 8. Coffee EUR 3. Patershol walk (free). Sunset at Graslei (free). Total: EUR 70. Fits budget travellers, university students, backpackers.
Mid-range (EUR 150/day): Breakfast café EUR 6. Two paid sights: Gravensteen EUR 13 + Belfry EUR 13 (EUR 26 total). Tram day pass EUR 6. Lunch EUR 12 (casual restaurant). Afternoon coffee EUR 3. Casual dinner EUR 20 (local restaurant). Drinks (beer, wine) EUR 8. Bike rental EUR 15 (if 2 days). Graslei walk, museum, brewery tap room. Total: EUR 150. Standard city visitor, couple with modest budget, small family.
Comfortable (EUR 260/day): Breakfast café EUR 8. Three paid sights: Gravensteen EUR 13 + Belfry EUR 13 + STAM EUR 12 (EUR 38 total). Bike rental EUR 15. Lunch EUR 15 (better restaurant). Afternoon tour EUR 60–70 (food or beer specialist). Casual dinner EUR 25 (local, no rush). Nicer drinks EUR 10. Museum or gallery EUR 12. Total: EUR 260. Leisure visitors, couples, families with comfort priority.
Sample day breakdown (mid-range)
09:00 Bakery breakfast: croissant + coffee (EUR 5).
09:30–11:30 Gravensteen entry + climb (EUR 13).
11:30–12:30 Canal cruise (EUR 13).
12:30–14:00 Lunch: fries + beer + waterzooi (EUR 10).
14:00–16:00 Patershol walk (free) + St Bavo Altarpiece (EUR 13).
16:00–17:00 Belfry climb (EUR 13).
17:30–18:30 Golden hour at Graslei: beer + terrace (EUR 5).
18:30–20:00 Dinner: casual restaurant, waterzooi or fish (EUR 18).
Total: EUR 90 (sightseeing + food + drink). Add hotel, and your day cost is EUR 160–230.
Money-saving tips
Walk the 1.5 km core. No tram needed unless you visit outer museums or brewery. Wear comfy shoes for cobblestones.
Bakery breakfast (EUR 5) beats hotel breakfast (EUR 15–20). Open 07:00, close 18:00. Croissant + coffee in 5 minutes.
Eat one good meal, two cheap. Budget EUR 20 for dinner, EUR 5 for lunch, EUR 3–4 for street food. Spreads cost across day.
Free sights are genuine: Graslei, Patershol, bridges, viewpoints, church naves are the *heart* of Ghent. Pay for one museum (Altarpiece or Gravensteen).
CityCard breaks even after 3 sights: Gravensteen EUR 13 + Belfry EUR 13 + Cruise EUR 13 = EUR 39. Card EUR 42 saves EUR 3 on sightseeing alone; add tram + bike and you save EUR 15–30.
Skip the little museums. STAM and MSK are good, but the city itself is the museum. Spend time in lanes and quays instead.
Eat where locals eat. Terrace bars on Graslei are touristy but worth one drink for the view. Restaurant menus inland, away from water, are cheaper and better.
Ghent is cheaper than Copenhagen, Amsterdam, or Brussels. A full day (food, sights, transport) costs EUR 70–150 depending on budget. Walk, eat cheap (fries EUR 3), pick one or two paid sights (EUR 13 each). A bakery breakfast saves EUR 10–15 vs. hotel. Free sights (Graslei, Patershol, bridges) are the heart; don’t pay for everything.
Frequently asked questions
Trip cost?
Shoestring EUR 70/day, mid-range EUR 150, comfort EUR 260 (excl. hotel).
Expensive?
No. Sightseeing EUR 13–18, food EUR 3–30. Cheaper than Copenhagen/Amsterdam.
Food cost?
Breakfast EUR 4–7, lunch EUR 5–15, casual dinner EUR 12–20, mid-range EUR 20–35.
Cheaper than Bruges?
Roughly same. Bruges has tourist traps; Ghent has locals. Both EUR 150–200/day.