Ghent is easy to reach by bus. The rebellious art city is only 45 minutes away from Bruges and Brussels (both at 53 km) and a little less than an hour away from Antwerp (60 km).

Two European motorways (E17 and E40) intersect in Ghent. If you arrive from the E17, take the exit “Gent Centrum”. If you arrive at the cloverleaf interchange in Zwijnaarde from the E40, first follow the direction of Antwerp (E17) and then take the exit “Gent Centrum”.

Coach drivers who want to drop off their customers at a hotel within the pedestrian zone can request a permit from the hotel.

Ghent has a low emission zone

The Ghent city centre (the area enclosed by the ring road) has been designated as a low emission zone (LEZ) with the purpose of improving the quality of the air. Buses and coaches are to meet the applicable requirements as well. Only buses for transporting people with disabilities are exempt from the entry requirements, provided that they are registered in advance via www.lez.gent.. 

Low emission zone: register your coach to avoid a fine

Your vehicle’s Euro standard and fuel type determine whether or not you are allowed to enter the city centre of Ghent. Clean vehicles can enter the city, polluting vehicles must pay. If your vehicle is allowed to enter the city centre but you do not have a Belgian or Dutch number plate, you should ALWAYS register it!

Information about the low emission zone can be found here.

Stopping and parking in Ghent

Passengers can quickly and easily reach the pedestrian areas of the city centre from the different Kiss & Ride areas and car parks.

Kiss & ride zones

Kiss & Ride Godshuizenlaan

This K&R is situated at Music Centre De Bijloke and STAM. Coaches can stop here free of charge to allow their passengers to disembark free of charge (30 minutes maximally). Parking is not allowed. The nearest parking area for coaches is Parking Yachtdreef (B2).

Tip: the Hop-on Hop-off water tram is an easy way to travel from the Bijloke site to the city centre. Would you rather book a boat trip for the entire group in advance? Then contact one of the Ghent boat operators beforehand. The captain aboard guides in several languages. 

K&R Godshuizenlaan

Godshuizenlaan
9000 Gent
Belgium

Route planner

Kiss & Ride Bijlokekaai

This K&R is also situated at Music Centre De Bijloke and STAM. Coaches can stop here free of charge for a maximum of 30 minutes to enable their passengers to disembark. Parking is not allowed. The nearest parking area for coaches is Parking Yachtdreef (B2).

Car parks

Parking area Station Gent Dampoort (B1) 

This parking area is situated next to the Gent Dampoort railway station and in the immediate vicinity of the historic St Bavo’s Abbey, at the place where Ghent was first founded in the seventh century.

You can park your car here between 9 am and 7 pm for up to 5 hours, which will cost you 9 euro. Otherwise, you pay 1.80 euro per hour. From 7 pm until 11 pm, you pay 1.50 euro per hour. Between 11 pm and 9 am, and on Sundays and public holidays, you can park your car free of charge. If you are staying longer than 5 hours, make sure you have a parking ticket for the time exceeding those 5 hours.

This parking area can accommodate 24 coaches.

Passengers can reach the historic city centre on foot in less than 15 minutes via the Portus Ganda marina. People who are less mobile can take bus 10, 11, 12a, 12b (Korenmarkt) or 33, 70, 71, 76, 77, 78 (Zuid of Heuvelpoort).

Parking area Yachtdreef (B2)

This car park is located at Watersportbaan. There is space for 14 coaches.

A day ticket costs 3.5 euros. You can use it between 9 am 7 pm. Between 7 pm and 9 am, on Sundays and public holidays, you can park your car free of charge.

Have any questions?

Have a look at frequently asked questions about coaches

Local coach operators

Ghent has a wide selection of local coach operators. See the list below for an overview.

Durme (De) Reizen bvba

Weidel Tours bvba

Weidel Tours bvba

Langendam 108
9940 Evergem
Belgium

Route planner

Vanock Travel bvba

Stap bvba

Van de Voorde bv

Robby Cars bv

Reizen De Boeck

Ferrycars nv

Johanna Cars

Van Damme A & R Reisgenoegens

Van Hoorebeke & Zoon bvba

Van Cauter Travel bvba

Weyn Autobussen & Autocar nv

Frequently asked questions

Where can I park a coach?

There are several car parks where you can park a coach. View all car parks for coaches here. 

Where can I drop off travellers by coach?

There are several kiss-and-ride zones for coaches. Dropping travellers off by coach in other locations is only possible if the driver finds a free spot where stopping is allowed according to the highway code, and if the parked coach does not cause any hindrance or danger to other road users.   

If the police find that a coach is parked/waiting for travellers who haven’t arrived yet, they can impose a fine. It is therefore important that the coach does not stop longer than necessary for travellers to get on or off.  

Note:a large part of the historical centre is a car-free zone.   

May I drive in the car-free zone with the coach

Coaches (and other means of transport) must strictly adhere to the rules for the car-free zone in line with the Mobility Plan (which has been in effect since 3 April 2017).  
All licence plates of vehicles entering the car-free zone are scanned. If you do not have a valid permit, you will be fined. 

Exception: dropping off or picking up overnight tourists at their hotel in the zone is allowed, provided you have a permit. This permit can be requested from the hotel in question. 
 

May I pick up or drop off overnight tourists at their hotel in the car-free zone?

Coaches may drop off or pick up hotel guests at their hotel, if they have received a permit from the hotel (located in the car-free zone). This permit can only be requested from the hotel. 

I want to organise a coach trip to Ghent. Which coach companies can help me with that?

There are many local coach companies to choose from. You can consult a list with various coach companies here. 

Can I reach Ghent by a scheduled international bus?

There are various companies that have scheduled international bus routes to Ghent. You can find them here.  

Can I travel from the airport to Ghent by bus?

Yes. More information about bus transfers between Ghent and the airports can be found here: 

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