This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Ghent.
Ghent was first a Celtic settlement; in the Middle Ages, Ghent grew through the flourishing cloth trade as one of Europe's largest cities and a major trade center on the continent. After a short period of decline, Ghent was one of the most industrialized cities in mainland Europe toward the end of the eighteenth century. In the city, the Pacification of Ghent (in the sixteenth century) and the Treaty of Ghent (in the nineteenth century) were signed.
Today, Ghent is not the major industrial center that it once was, but it is still a very developed city with great infrastructure and population of about a quarter of a million people. The dynamic history of the city and its affiliation to many countries and the participation in many wars have left an enormous cultural heritage. It is important to know that there is a special museum pass for museums in Ghent. And there are quite a lot -- the famous Ghent City Museum for the history of the city of Ghent and the Stedelijk Museum for Contemporary Art are only a few of them. The city hosts numerous cultural events. The Music Festival van Vlaanderen is held annually since the fifties. The International Film Festival also takes place here and there are many other events.
There are quite a few Ghent hostels from which you can choose; you should be aware that hostels in Ghent are quite expensive, so you need to take this into account when you plan your trip and allocate your budget. Apart from the high prices of hostels in Ghent, the places are quite good. Almost all hostels in Ghent have very good living conditions, which should be expected for the prices charged. A big advantage is that Ghent hostels are spread out in the city and you can book a hostel almost anywhere -- starting from the center and finishing almost in the outskirts of the city.
Written by local enthusiast for Ghent hostels
George Traveller
