Best Hotels in Ghent 2026: Belgium's Secret Alternative
Every year, millions of tourists pour into Bruges. They photograph the canals, eat overpriced waffles on the Markt, and leave thinking they have seen the best of Flemish Belgium. They are wrong. Forty-five minutes down the train line sits Ghent, a city with all the medieval grandeur of Bruges but with a thriving local life, a world-class food scene, a rebellious art culture, and a fraction of the tourist crowds. Ghent is where Belgians actually go for a weekend away. That should tell you everything.
Medieval buildings reflected in the canals of Ghent
Ghent is a university city with over 70,000 students, which means the bars, restaurants, and cultural venues are geared toward locals rather than tourists. The Graslei and Korenlei waterfront is just as beautiful as anything in Bruges. Saint Bavo's Cathedral houses the Ghent Altarpiece, one of the most important paintings in Western art. And the food scene, from Michelin-starred restaurants to late-night frituren, is arguably the best in Belgium.
Here is where to stay, with prices verified on Goatodeer.
1.1898 The Post — City CenterView on Booking.com ↗
Price: From $180 per night
This is Ghent's most spectacular hotel. Housed in the former central post office, a neo-Gothic masterpiece built in 1898, the building itself is a work of art. The lobby features the original post office hall with soaring ceilings and ornate stone carvings. Rooms are divided between the Courier and Chamber categories, with the higher-tier rooms offering views over the Korenmarkt square. The location is unbeatable, steps from the Belfry and Saint Nicholas' Church. The hotel bar is set in the old mail sorting room and serves excellent Belgian beers. For a city center hotel of this quality, the price is remarkably fair.
2.Pillows Grand Hotel Reylof — Patershol neighborhoodView on Booking.com ↗
Price: From $160 per night
Pillows Grand Hotel Reylof occupies an 18th-century mansion in the Patershol neighborhood, which is Ghent's most charming quarter for restaurants and evening strolls. The hotel has a beautiful interior courtyard, a spa with pool and sauna, and rooms that blend period features with contemporary comfort. The Patershol location is key here. This medieval tangle of narrow streets is home to some of Ghent's best restaurants, including numerous options for the city's famous waterzooi, a creamy chicken or fish stew that originated here. The hotel is a five-minute walk to the Gravensteen castle, which is genuinely one of the most impressive medieval castles in Europe.
3.Sandton Grand Hotel Reylof — HoogstraatView on Booking.com ↗
Price: From $140 per night
The Sandton Grand Hotel is another excellent upscale option on Hoogstraat, one of Ghent's main streets. The hotel occupies a stately building with a neoclassical facade and offers spacious rooms, a fitness area, and a reliable breakfast spread featuring local cheeses, fresh bread, and Belgian chocolate. The location puts you within walking distance of virtually everything, including the Saint Bavo Cathedral and the Design Museum Gent. Staff are known for being especially helpful with restaurant recommendations, which in Ghent is invaluable.
4.Hotel Harmony — Along the canalsView on Booking.com ↗
Price: From $150 per night
Hotel Harmony is a family-run boutique hotel right on the canal, with views of the Kraanlei waterfront. The rooms are modern and well-designed, and the top-floor rooms with canal views are worth the upgrade. There is a small heated pool, which is a rare find in Ghent hotels. What sets Harmony apart is the personal touch. The family owners live above the hotel and treat guests more like friends than customers. They will draw you a personalized map of the city with their favorite spots marked. Breakfast is served in a bright room overlooking the water and features local and organic products.
5.B&B Hotel Verhaegen — Exclusive townhouse experienceView on Booking.com ↗
Price: From $130 per night
For something truly unique, Hotel Verhaegen is a bed and breakfast set in an 18th-century aristocratic townhouse. The rooms are furnished with antiques and original period details, including marble fireplaces and gilded mirrors, but the beds and bathrooms are thoroughly modern. There are only five rooms, so the experience is intimate and exclusive. The building itself is listed and the salon, where breakfast is served, feels like stepping into a painting. This is the kind of place that makes you feel like a guest in a private home rather than a customer in a hotel.
6.Hostel Uppelink — Budget option with the best view in GhentView on Booking.com ↗
Price: From $30 per night (dorm) / $80 per night (private room)
If you are traveling on a budget, Hostel Uppelink has what is often called the best view in Ghent. Located right at the junction of the Leie and Lieve rivers, the terrace looks directly at the three towers of Ghent: Saint Nicholas Church, the Belfry, and Saint Bavo's Cathedral. Private rooms are simple but clean, and the location cannot be matched at any price. The common room is social and welcoming. For budget travelers, this is one of the best hostel locations in all of Europe.
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