Ghent with Kids
Ghent with Kids – Ghent was one of the best city breaks I’ve experienced and, considering we took the kids, that’s saying something. Ghent’s so beautiful and the food was perfect for children – who can say no to frites, waffles and hot chocolate? Here’s the best places to visit, things to do, and where to eat and stay.
Boat Trip – Ghent with Kids
We started Day 1 drifting down the River Lys on a 40 minute boat tour with De Bootjes van Gent. A scenic, entertaining and informative introduction to the city with English commentary available. We saw castles, monasteries, heard tales of lively kings and queens and generally took in the beauty of the ancient riverside houses. The boat dropped us off at Cafe Meraki (see below under Food & Drink).
Food & Drink – Ghent with Kids
I don’t usually feature food this high up an article but this city really leads with its food and drink. Every pitstop seemed child friendly and a cultural experience. It doesn’t break the budget either.
Cuberdons
These sweet raspberry treats are on sale right across the city, roughly around the €5 mark. There’s a traditional stall on the Groentenmarkt that’s particularly photogenic. A lovely souvenir or sweet to try.
Sweet/Chocolate Shops
Belgium is associated with chocolates, with shops such as Sophie’s making my mouth water. We dropped by the traditional old skool sweet shop Temmerman’s which feels like stepping back in time. The children bought a fantasy lolly ‘like something from Charlie and the Chocolate factory’ for €3 each. Cuberdons are also for sale in both Sophie’s and Temmerman’s.
Hot Chocolate & Waffles
An image I saw on Instagram of Bistro Meraki sold Ghent to me. I didn’t just want to go to Ghent, I wanted to sit in that exact cafe and experience the exact same view, so we did. An ideal place for light lunches, such as waffles or indulge in a hot chocolate like we did.
Another excellent hot chocolate stop is the very central In Choc. Made from melted chocolate I was in heaven.
Beer
Belgium is renowned for its beer, we even drove past Hoegarrden and I didn’t even realise it was an actual place. In Ghent we found children were welcome in the bars, they enjoyed a fizzy drink as we had an occasional beer. Do not miss De Dulle Gruet, famous for stocking over 500 beers and for its 1.2 litre Max beers. Quirky, curious interiors are enhanced when you’re asked to exchange one of your shoes for the renowned Max beer glass as a form of deposit. My 8 year old son volunteered immediately and his shoe was hoisted into the air in a basket containing about 30 other shoes. We got a lot of laughs.
Book a Beer & Sighteeing Adventure Here
Everywhere seems to stock good beer so you can easily follow your nose, but take a look at the city’s beer trail if you fancy some research. Other stops we enjoyed, excellent river views over to Castle of the Counts from the beer garden at Arca Theatre, plus we dropped by the city’s oldest bar Cafe de Turk – it’s a total boozer, down to earth and easygoing.
Mémé Gusta
I didn’t know what traditional Flemish food was but Mémé Gusta delivers, with excellent children’s options and varieties of main dishes too. The stews are delicious (I opted for the vegetarian option), we tried Belgian wine, and we finished off with a creme brûlée as the kids tucked into the children’s dessert of chocolate profiteroles. Thoroughly recommend this relaxed but delicious joint.
Frites
If you think frites are French, you’re wrong, they originated in Belgium. For a cheap but tasty and filling lunch visit Frites Ateliers – basically serving luxury chips with a variety of toppings. I opted for frites with parmesan and basil sauce (fancy!), hubby had chips with a stew topping, and the kids had frites and ketchup (typical). Each dish was around €5-6 each.
Other Family Friendly Food Recommendations
For pizza with imaginative toppings book a table at Otomat. I went for Give Pears a Chance (pears and blue cheese pizza) and Mr Scots2Travel enjoyed Rock the Casbah (a pizza with Moroccan inspired toppings). Yes, this restaurant has a fab beer fridge too.
For a casual lunch Tearoom Martens did a range of simple toasties and sandwiches, which hit the spot when it came to budget, informality and my youngest son’s simple palate!
We were never childfree, but if we were I liked the look of riverside restaurant De Acht Zaligheden.
Castle of the Counts – Ghent with Kids
Back to sightseeing! The very central Castle Gravensteen (also know as the Castle of the Counts) is a fun historic stop. The audio guide is so funny, there isn’t a kids version as children are laughing anyway. My boys loved the tales of people clapping whenever the king pooped into the river. The tales of romance between royals Judith and Baldwin, and Philip and Elizabeth are brilliant, and the concept featuring out of date yogurt made me chuckle. The stone walls are brought to life.
Belfry – Ghent with Kids
The belfry features 366 steps to climb (and a lift) for great views of Ghent’s skyline and neighbouring buildings St Bavo and St Nicholas. On each floor there’s interesting things to see (the Belfry reminded me of Scotland’s Wallace monument in this respect) such as a huge terrifying metal dragon and a massive carillon music drum . The children are set on an excellent treasure hunt, following a guide from floor to floor in search of a dragon’s egg. Photograph the egg to receive a prize at the ticket desk. This occupied my kids really well.
Cathedrals – St Bavo
As the Belfry’s right next to St Bavo and St Nicholas be sure to step inside. The craftsmanship, artistry and architecture are awe-inspiring. St Bavo is home to Ghent’s most famous artwork, The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, if you wish to pay €12.50 to see it.
Graffiti Street/Sorry Not Sorry
Free street art is available right across the city. You can’t help but see it. It’s worth heading to Graffiti Street for a whole alleyway of murals and colour (it reminded me of Provincetown’s Bob Gasoi Memorial Alley), or follow the Sorry Not Sorry Street Art Trail.
Dragon Treasure Hunt – Ghent with Kids
A fun family family free treasure hunt is available via a free app. Head from point to point, solving child friendly clues and indirectly learning nuggets about Ghent as you search for Fosfor the Dragon’s glasses. My youngest son was in navigation heaven (which I never knew was a thing).
Book a Private Walking Guide here
Outdoor Beach – Ghent with Kids
This is slightly out of town, but Blameersen is only €1 per adult if booked in advance and kids are free. We’re talking a series of outdoor pools including a kids play pool, flumes, slides, a beach house serving food and drink with excellent outdoor seating, a playground plus a host of sessions running. When we turned up they were offering free SUP sessions so hubby and the boys paddled off into the sunset. Great spot for sunbathing too. What a fantastic facility for any city to have.
Museums – House of Alijn
Ghent has several museums on offer. We enjoyed the museum of everyday life, or the Huis of Alijn. Each room represents a month of life, covering topics from summer holidays to weddings, school and Hogmanay. All very relatable for all ages. A long running expo is focussing on the 1990s (runs till 21 April 2024). Yes I am now a museum piece, exploring life before the internet. Explaining how music and processing holiday snaps worked before smart phones is more complicated than it seems!
Where to Stay – Comic Art Hotel
The Comic Art Hotel is central, new and very funky as it’s inspired by comics. Statues of Asterix and Obelix greet guests at reception and the bar is lined with comics for visitors to read. Each room has a different comic theme. We opted for a family room with sun loungers on a terrace called ‘Flight to Proxima Centauri’ with space-age artworks by Jean Giraud. The breakfast is fantastic, and even includes sparkling wine.
Our whole family adored Ghent. For more ideas and inspo browse VisitGent.
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