The best tips for a family city trip to picturesque Ghent

No endless lines at Schiphol or hours in traffic jams and no exhausted crying children in the backseat, because you are there in no time. And what is nicer than arriving at your destination relaxed, still full of energy to explore the place of destination?

That energy will certainly be spent, because once in Ghent you will stumble over the historical buildings, churches, picturesque streets and canals. With a little imagination you could even imagine yourself in the Middle Ages. Also because the largest part of the city center consists of car-free zones: wonderfully quiet, and children can happily wander around carefree.

^{Foto: Kasteel Gravensteen / Bas Bogaerts / Stad Gent - Dienst Toerisme}

Ghent can call itself a true friend of all, and is therefore a top choice for parents with children. You have the best museums - for young and old - an abundance of child-friendly restaurants, swimming pools and playgrounds . Combine culture sniffing with culinary excursions and wonderful romping in the open air. Take your time, a means of transport of your choice (for example, rent a buggy at Buggypunt Gent or - in true Dutch style - a cargo bike ) and let the little or big explorer in you loose.

^{Foto: The world of Kina: the House / Bas Bogaerts / Stad Gent - Dienst Toerisme}

Sightseeing

For example, it is fun to climb the 254 (!) steps of the 91-meter high Belfort tower , to be rewarded with a magnificent view of the entire city. The Sint-Pietersabdij , the Boekentoren , the Stadshal : from this tower you can spot them all. Other Ghent must-sees/do's are the Gravensteen castle, boating on the Leie or kayaking through the city center , and: eat the typical Ghent sweets cuberdons until your tongue suddenly turns purple. (Don't worry about that; with one brushing your tongue will simply have its normal color back!)

^{Foto: Bootje varen / Bas Bogaerts / Stad Gent - Dienst Toerisme}

Perhaps it is time for a refreshing dip in the water after this. You can do this in one of the many swimming pools that Ghent has to offer. Another fun swimming alternative is the Blaarmeersen recreational lake : for a day out in itself. Tip: camp with your kids at the child-friendly camping Urban Gardens Blaarmeersen . 

^{Foto: Recreatieplas Blaarmeersen / Bas Bogaerts / Stad Gent - Dienst Toerisme}

And so Ghent has many other fun options for day trips or things to do, below you can read a top three of the nicest, original outings. Oh, and a list of the most child-friendly hotels and restaurants can be found here . All that remains is to bring your good mood, and your city trip can't go wrong!

3 x fun things to do with children

Dragon Phosphorus Search

Fancy a discovery tour with the whole family? Then download the Dragon Fosfor app: your new travel companion for a fun, original walking treasure hunt through the city. Dragon Fosfor is the tough guardian angel of Ghent and takes you through the entire city: in search of his lost glasses. Along the way you will do assignments, encounter all sorts of things and also learn all sorts of things about the city. Fun, educational, and active! The treasure hunt takes about two hours, and is designed for children between the ages of 5 and 12.

Doll exhibition

In the Huis van Alijn there is an exhibition of theatre puppets, from the 20th century to the present. A fun and special way to get acquainted with the magical world of theatre and puppetry: fun for all ages! On display until 26 March 2023.

Street art city walk

Ghent, as an open-minded and hip cultural city, is a canvas for street artists. You can do various guided street art tours , or take a walk along various works of art yourself. An absolute highlight is the car-free Werregarenstraatje in the centre of Ghent, which has the nickname 'graffiti street': you will find a cacophony of colours there. Cosy, and extremely photogenic.

^{Foto: Street-art Gent / Martin Corlazzoli / Stad Gent –Dienst Toerisme}

CityCard

Useful to know: children often get a discount at museums and other tourist attractions. And sometimes the visit is even free! For parents, purchasing the CityCard is a good option when you are going to visit a lot of attractions. This card gives access to all sights, museums and public transport. A boat trip and renting a bike for one day is also included.

^{Foto: CityCard Gent/Stad Gent - Dienst Toerisme}

Going to Ghent yourself? For more tips and information, visit the VisitGent website >