Gent-Sint-Pieters station, the hub of Ghent
Arrive by train and get going with De Lijn
©Stad Gent - Dienst Toerisme
Are you coming to Ghent by train? Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station is where you will start. It is easy to get into the city from here. Take the tram, bus or a taxi. Prefer exploring at your own pace? Simply hire a bicycle! You can also get a bite to eat in and around the station. Or buy a CityCard that will open up the whole city to you for two or three days. Now you’re ready to go!
Arrival in Ghent
When you arrive at Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station, you have several options for getting into town.
On foot
Do you want to start your city break with a visit to a museum? It’s just a 10 minutes’ walk to the Arts Quarter. Walking into the city centre takes about 20 minutes.The green signposts will show you the way. Would you prefer to walk along beautiful spots and green areas? You can find a mapped walk to the city centre here.
Public Transport
Take tram 1 in the direction of Wondelgem / Evergem and you’ll be in the Arts Quarter (Van Nassaustraat stop) or the city centre (Korenmarkt stop) in no time. You can buy a CityCard from the De Lijn shop. It gives you free admission to top attractions, museums and monuments for two days. You can also use it to travel free-of-charge on public transport in Ghent, without restrictions. It’s a great way to explore the city for a weekend, completely hassle-free!
Taxi
If you’d rather take a taxi, you will find one under the bus station. (to the left of the railway station at level -1) It’s a 10 minutes’ drive to the heart of the city.
Bike
Rent a bike from De Fietsambassade behind the railway station and explore the city. If you have a CityCard Gent, you can get a bike free of charge (standard city bike for one day).
Luggage storage
Want to enjoy everything Ghent has to offer without having to carry around a big bag or suitcase? You can leave them at the Gent-Sint-Pieters luggage storage.
Need a break?
Feeling a bit peckish when you get off the train? There’s no need to look far. You’ll find everything you need on Koningin Maria Hendrikaplein! A cosy pub, tearoom, brasserie or hotel: all of them are right outside the station. Need something from the shops? There is a small supermarket as well. This is the perfect place to replenish after your train journey. Or why not enjoy a quick snack or drink before you leave?
Art at the railway station
Did you know that the Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station was built on the occasion of the 1913 World’s Fair? The railway station was decorated with murals and ceiling paintings of 13 Belgian cities, so visitors could also discover the rest of Belgium. Ostend, Mechelen, Oudenaarde, Ypres, Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges and Courtrai, among other cities, are depicted.
Next time you are in the railway station, make sure to look up and see if you can recognise all 13 cities!
The information continues beneath the illustrations.
