Gorgeous Ghent in Belgium is a worthy addition to anyone’s travel bucket list.
With its network of narrow canals, red-brick buildings and magnificent Gothic architecture, it has a medieval cityscape to rival that of Bruges, its more famous neighbour. Furthermore, it has history and culture in spades, friendly locals and excellent beer brewed in the heart of the city.
Like many cities, Ghent has a tourist pass. But is the Ghent City Card worth it?
Even if you stick to a handful of attractions in just one day, the Ghent tourist pass is likely to save you money and includes free bus and tram rides. Get the lowdown in my CityCard Gent review. Prices and inclusions are current as of December 2024.
What is the CityCard Gent?
CityCard Gent is a visitor pass that offers free or discounted admission to its clutch of museums, galleries and other attractions, plus additional benefits.
There are two tourist cards available. A 48-hour pass or one that is valid for 72-hours.
The 48-hour Ghent Card costs €42. A 72-hour pass will set you back €48.
You can buy your CityCard Gent at the following locations:
· The VisitGent tourist information office at Sint-Veerleplein 5
· All participating museums and sights in Ghent
· At hotels in Ghent
· The sales points for De Lijn public transport company
There is further information about sales locations here.
The Ghent City comes with a handy fold-out map listing included attractions
What is Included in the CityCard Gent?
Attractions that are free with the CityCard Gent
- Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts)
- Ghent Belfry
- St. Peter’s Abbey
- House of Alijn
- Museum of Fine Arts Ghent (MSK)
- S.M.A.K. (Ghent’s Contemporary Art Museum)
- STAM (Ghent City Museum)
- Museum of Industry
- Dr Guislain Museum
- GUM (Ghent University Museum)
- The World of Kina: the House
- The World of Kina: the Garden
- Hotel d’Hane Steenhuyse
- Arnold Vander Haeghen House
Discounted admission
The pass gives you €10 off the ticket price of one of Ghent’s biggest draws, The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb (Ghent Altarpiece).
Free transport in Ghent
Take your pick from the following options:
- All city trams and buses
- Free bicycle rental for one day
- One guided canal boat tour
- One day’s access to Ghent’s hop-on-hop-off water tram
All temporary exhibitions at Ghent’s museums
Temporary exhibitions are often subject to an additional fee with many city passes. This is not the case in Ghent.
Do You Need to Book Ahead with the Ghent City Card?
Except for the Ghent Altarpiece, you do not need to book ahead. Just flash your card and you are good to go.
An online reservation for the Ghent Altarpiece is mandatory (you will not be able to buy a ticket at the cathedral’s ticket office). However, you can make this reservation before you buy your city pass by selecting the Inkomticket CityCard option from the dropdown menu.
Can the Ghent City Card Save You Money?
Like any city card, you need to do the maths to figure out if it will be good value for you. All it takes is a quick back-of-the-envelope calculation. Scribble down how you plan to use the pass and compare its cost with the cost of individual attractions.
ONE DAY IN GHENT
Let’s take my one-day Ghent itinerary as a sample day. This includes the best things to do if you have limited time in the city.
Pay As You Go
- Ghent Altarpiece €12.50
- Belfort of Ghent €11
- Ghent boat tour €10
- Castle of the Counts €13
Ghent City Card
- 48-hour Ghent City Card €42
- Discounted admission to Ghent Altarpiece €2.50
Bottom Line
So even if you were spending just one relaxed day in Ghent, you would still come out on top with a tourist pass.
TWO DAYS IN GHENT
If you have more time in Ghent, the opportunities for maximising the value of your city card grow. As an example, this is how I used my 48-hour CityCard Gent:
Pay As You Go
- Ghent Altarpiece €12.50
- Belfort of Ghent €11
- Ghent boat tour €10
- Castle of the Counts €13
- Museum of Fine Arts €13
- House of Alijn €9
Ghent City Card
- 48-hour Ghent City Card €42
- Discounted admission to Ghent Altarpiece €2.50
Bottom Line
Is the Ghent City Card Worth It?
Even if you only spend a day in town, the Ghent City Card is worth it.
I’m not usually a massive fan of these city cards. Often they don’t represent good value or there’s the risk of running yourself ragged to break even.
Ghent is one of the few cities where a tourist pass is likely to be worth your hard-earned cash, and that’s before you take convenience into account.
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About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.