The Belfry of Ghent is a medieval bell tower and UNESCO World Heritage Site on Sint-Baafsplein, in the heart of Ghent’s historic centre, Belgium. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and other practical visitor tips.
This guide was checked and updated in June 2026. One change worth flagging: Ghent residents now get free entry on the first Sunday of each month, a discount that starts from 1 February 2026 and is missing from older guides.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Daily 10am–6pm (until 8pm from 1 July–31 August) |
| Ticket prices | €13 individual adult; concessions available |
| Address | Sint-Baafsplein, 9000 Ghent |
| Nearest transport/parking | Tram 1 or 4 to Korenmarkt, or underground car parks at Vrijdagmarkt, Kouter, or Sint-Michiels |
| Typical time needed | 30–60 minutes |
Belfry of Ghent opening hours
The Belfry is open daily from 10am to 6pm, with last tickets sold at the box office at 5.20pm.
From 1 July to 31 August, it stays open until 8pm, with last admission at 7.20pm. The tower is closed on 24, 25, and 31 December and on 1 January, but otherwise opens every day of the year, including most public holidays.
Belfry of Ghent ticket prices
A standard adult ticket costs €13.
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Individual adult | €13 |
| Groups of 15+, teachers | €11 |
| Ghent residents, UiTPAS Ghent | €9 |
| Youngsters (19–25) | €6.50 |
| Teens (13–18) | €2.60 |
| Children up to 12, Ghent residents up to 18 | Free |
Other free-entry categories include carers accompanying a visitor with a disability, holders of the European Disability Card’s companion pass, ICOM and Flemish Museum Association members, and Ghent schoolchildren (online reservation required for the latter).
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in June 2026.
The Belfry is included in the CityCard Gent (€42 for 48 hours, €48 for 72 hours), which also covers entry to the Castle of the Counts (Gravensteen), the S.M.A.K. contemporary art museum, and St Peter’s Abbey, plus unlimited tram and bus travel, one day of bike hire, and a canal boat tour.
How to get to the Belfry of Ghent
The Belfry stands on Sint-Baafsplein, in the pedestrianised heart of Ghent. From Ghent-Sint-Pieters railway station, take tram 1 or 4 towards the city centre and get off at Korenmarkt, which is about a 5-minute walk from the tower.
If arriving from outside Belgium, trains run frequently to Ghent-Sint-Pieters from Brussels, Antwerp, and Bruges. Coaches can drop passengers at Gent-Dampoort station, from where the centre is reachable on foot or by bus 10 or 11.
Parking at the Belfry of Ghent
The closest options are the underground car parks at Vrijdagmarkt, Kouter, or Sint-Michiels, each around a 5-minute walk from the Belfry.
Ghent’s historic centre sits inside a low emission zone, so vehicles must meet emission standards and register in advance to avoid a fine. Coaches should use the Dampoort car park near Gent-Dampoort station, which has space for 24 coaches.
How long to spend at the Belfry of Ghent
Most visitors spend 30 to 60 minutes inside the tower.
A lift runs from the first floor most of the way to the top, cutting out the bulk of the roughly 350 medieval steps, though a short stretch of stairs remains unavoidable both before and after the lift. Visitors who climb the full staircase rather than using the lift should allow closer to an hour.
Accessibility at the Belfry of Ghent
The Belfry is not accessible to visitors with reduced mobility; a lift operates only from the first floor upwards, so reaching it still requires climbing an initial flight of stairs.
Assistance dogs are welcome inside the tower. Historische Huizen Gent is a partner of the European Disability Card scheme, so a companion accompanying a cardholder is admitted free of charge.
Inside the Belfry: what to see
The visit starts in the Secreet, a fortified chamber on the lower floors where Ghent’s medieval city charters and privileges were once locked away for safekeeping.
Higher up, exhibits trace the story of the gilded dragon that has stood on the spire since 1377; the current dragon, installed in 1980, is the third version, and an earlier one is on display inside the tower.
The carillon of 54 bells, cast mainly by the Hemony brothers in the 17th century and weighing around 30 tonnes in total, can be seen close up, along with the drum mechanism that plays a tune every quarter hour. Live performances take place on Sunday mornings between 11am and noon, and on summer Saturday evenings in July and August.
From the top gallery, walkways on all four sides give views over Ghent’s three medieval towers and the surrounding rooftops.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit shortly after opening or in the early evening for fewer crowds at the lift. |
| Crowds | Booking online in advance secures a time slot and avoids queuing at the box office. |
| Layout | Wear flat, comfortable shoes, as some stairs are narrow, steep, and uneven. |
| Entry process | CityCard Gent holders do not need to book ahead and can enter at any time. |
| On-site logistics | Eating and drinking are not permitted inside, so have refreshments beforehand. |
Frequently asked questions about the Belfry of Ghent
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Belfry of Ghent suitable for children? | Yes, though the stairs and tower setting are not suited to very young children or pushchairs. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Belfry of Ghent? | Booking online is recommended to guarantee a place, though tickets are also sold at the box office while capacity allows. |
| Is the Belfry of Ghent open on Sundays? | Yes, it is open every Sunday from 10am to 6pm (8pm in July and August). |
| Are pets allowed at the Belfry of Ghent? | Only assistance dogs are permitted; other pets are not allowed inside. |
| Is the Belfry of Ghent wheelchair accessible? | No, it is not accessible to visitors with reduced mobility, as the lift only starts from the first floor. |
Things to do near the Belfry of Ghent
- Castle of the Counts (Gravensteen) – a moated medieval castle a short walk away, with armoury displays and rooftop walkways.
- St Bavo’s Cathedral – home to the Ghent Altarpiece, just across Sint-Baafsplein from the Belfry.
- Graslei and Korenlei – a guild house-lined stretch of the River Leie, a few minutes’ walk from the tower.
- St Nicholas’ Church – a Gothic church between the Belfry and the Korenmarkt tram stop.
- Design Museum Gent – a museum of decorative arts and design housed in a historic mansion nearby.
What to visit tomorrow
- Belfry of Bruges, Belgium – around 35 minutes away; a 13th-century belfry with an 83-metre tower, part of the same UNESCO listing.
- Belfry of Tournai, Belgium – around 1 hour away; the oldest of Belgium’s belfries, dating from the 12th century.
- Belfry of Mons, Belgium – around 1 hour away; a Baroque-style belfry overlooking the city’s historic Grand Place.
- Belfry of Ypres (Cloth Hall), Belgium – around 1 hour away; a rebuilt medieval belfry above the city’s Cloth Hall.
- Belfry of Lille, France – around 1.5 hours away; a 104-metre Art Deco belfry attached to Lille’s Chamber of Commerce.
More Belgium travel
Other Belgium travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Antwerp attraction guides: The Plantin-Moretus Museum, Red Star Line Museum, MAS and Antwerp Cathedral.
- What you need to know before visiting the Groeninge Museum in Bruges.
- Ghent attraction guides: The Gravensteen, St Bavo’s Cathedral and Ghent’s Museum of Fine Art.
- Everything you need to know before visiting the In Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres.
- All the key information for visiting Bouillon Castle in the Belgian Ardennes.
