Your Complete Car Rental Guide for Exploring Ghent with Ease
Ghent is one of the most unusual medieval cities in Belgium; located in Flanders. Note: Flanders is a historical region in what is now the Netherlands, Belgium, and France; historical county, (translated from the Dutch Vlaanderen translates as "low-lying swamp"). It was founded in the 7th century, and by the 13th century it was considered the second most important city in Europe after Paris.
Ghent is the largest city and capital of East Flanders. The climate is moderately warm, characterized by high rainfall. The population is about 270 thousand people; the city is not overly crowded with tourists, so it is great for those who want to see the sights at a relatively relaxed pace.
The visiting card of Ghent is the architecture that carries the centuries-old history of the city.
The closest operating Antwerp Airport is 60 km from Ghent, you can use a rented car for a comfortable ride.
You can learn more about the life of Ghent on the city's official website at the link: visit.gent.be
What to see in Ghent
Ghent is famous for its architectural sights that literally take tourists to the medieval streets.
Castle of the Counts of Flanders (Gravenstein)
Gravenstein – built in the 12th century, this castle is one of the most famous fortresses in northwestern Europe. Initially, in the 9th century, a small building served to protect against Viking attacks, but after 3 centuries, during the reign of Robert I, a huge stone tower was erected. Throughout its existence, the fortress was used as a mint, a court, a factory and even a prison.
Today, everyone can visit the Castle of the Counts of Flanders, inside the museum of justice and weapons is open to visitors, exhibits are presented in the form of ancient weapons, instruments of torture and paintings.
The tower operates an observation deck with great views of Ghent.
Saint Bavo's Cathedral is a Gothic cathedral built on the site of a chapel. Located in the city center, it is the main cathedral of Ghent. The heightof the building is about 87 meters.
The Grosli and Korenli embankments.
The Grosli and Korenli embankments are two of the most beautiful embankments the city of Ghent, located on the two banks of the river Lys in the heart of the old city.
Where to go near Ghent
There are several beautiful cities near Ghent that you can visit in 1-2 days. To move around the cities, you can rent a car (for example, Bookingautos - car rental in Ghent).
Bruges
Small town Bruges - the capital of West Flanders - is located 40 km from Ghent, close to the border with the Netherlands. The influence of Dutch traditions is felt in the life of the city, language, architecture and cuisine. It is one of the most picturesque places in Europe.
Durbuy
200 km from Ghent is the smallest city in the world, with population of 500 people. The town has retained its medieval architecture. A river flows in the center, along which you can ride a boat.
Food: the best restaurants in Ghent
The national cuisine of Belgium combines dishes from neighboring countries such as France, the Netherlands, Germany.
Seafood dishes are especially popular in the north of the country; meat in the south.
Belgian waffles with chocolate are the hallmark of the country.
Ghent's popular places:
Restaurant Valentijn (+32 9 225 04 29. Rodekoningstraat 1 Patershol, Gent 9000 Belgium). Official website of the institution - restaurantvalentijn.be
Vrijmoed (+32 9 279 99 77. Vlaanderenstraat 22, Gent 9000 Belgium). The establishment has 2 Michelin stars. Official website - www.vrijmoed.be
Where to park in Ghent
There are several car parks in Ghent to park your car. On Sundays, street parking is free.
Best paid parking lots:
P7 Sint-Michiels (+32 9 266 29 20. Sint-Michielsplein 8 9000 Gent, Belgium) 472 parking spaces; Parking for 7 minutes is free, 30 minutes is €1, all day is €14, and Monday and weekend parking is €6 per day.
* Prices are based on orders processed over the previous 2 years.
The best month to rent a car in Ghent is November. There are fewer tourists and a lot of available cars. You can book a compact class model at a price from €17. This is 31% cheaper than the average during the year.
The best time to rent a car in Ghent is November. During this period the cost of renting a car of a compact category starts from €17, which is approximately 32% lower compared to the average price during a year.
In the summer, you should be prepared for an increase in the cost of rent. Price growth can be about 30-50% with a simultaneous reduction in the range of available offers. For example, the average price during July for VW Jetta starts from €47per day.
In Ghent you can choose from over 40 models of different car classes and for any budget. We provide only new cars with low mileage. You can easily choose a familiar car, and we guarantee its safety and perfect technical condition.
The rental price of a car in Ghent is determined by its class, season, and rental duration. The standard cost of renting budget cars: Opel Corsa and Fiat 500 will be €32-€45 per day. If you rented in advance and through our website - pay for the day just around €14. The average daily price for renting a car of a higher class, VW Jetta, BMW X1, Opel Astra Estate will be €32. In addition, on Bookingautos.com you can rent minivans, luxury and electric cars. The lower rental price of these cars starts from €69 per day and can reach up to several hundred dollars.
In recent years in Ghent the demand for electric rental cars has been growing steadily. Their popularity is due to the presence of numerous free parking lots and recharging stations. You will be able to rent Tesla Model X in Ghent by selecting start and end dates of the rental in the search filter.
Documents required for car rental
Driving license
Credit card
Voucher
Passport
Attention!
A valid international driver's license is required!
10 Key Tips for a Smooth Car Rental Experience
Download Google maps offline
Download the map in the Google Maps mobile app in advance. Select the desired area, type "OK MAPS" in the search box and start the search. Then wait for the map to save. Ready! Navigation will work even without an internet connection - thanks to the GPS function. It is present in all modern smartphones. You can not only find the desired address, but also build a route. And all this is free.
Book a car in advance
Ghent is a popular tourist destination, so car rental is consistently in demand. The earlier you book a car, the more options there will be and the lower the prices will be. Choose transport online at least 6 weeks before your visit. Better yet, do it as soon as you start planning your vacation. If plans change, you can cancel your booking without penalty up to 48 hours before it starts.
Which car to choose for rent
Tourists who expect to drive only around the city and its immediate surroundings prefer to rent compact cars, Fiat 500 or Opel Corsa. For trips to the mountains, you need a car with increased power. You should go on such a trip with a full tank, as fuel consumption in the mountains increases one and a half to two times. An all-wheel drive crossover would be the ideal car for this. Renting Opel Astra Estate in Ghent will cost €47 per day.
What you need to pay attention to when receiving a car
Before picking up, you are required to carefully inspect the car and point out to the rental company manager for scratches, damage and defects, such as dirty seat upholstery. You should check the ignition and the fuel level in the tank. You need to know the conditions for returning the car - where exactly, with what amount of fuel to return the car.
The rental agreement must include a telephone number to contact the rental company. It is designed so that customers can get help in emergency situations, such as when a car breaks down or in the event of an accident. A call to the rental company should be done first, even before the arrival of the police.
Insurance advice
Rental companies in Ghent may offer different insurance options. They differ in price and set of options. Here are the basic types:
Third Party Liability (TPL)/Third Liability Protection (TLP). This is a third party liability protection. If you are the culprit of an accident, the insurance will compensate for the costs of the victims for you.
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). This is to protect your vehicle from any damage. She works with a franchise. This is the amount that you will have to pay in case of damage in any case. The company will cover anything over the limit. The insurance does not cover theft.
Theft Insurance (TI)/Theft Protection (TP)/Theft Waiver (TW). This is car theft protection. Operates with a franchise.
Super Loss Damage Waiver (SLDW)/Theft Protection+Collision Damage Waiver (TP+CDW). Full protection against theft and damage, even if you are the culprit of the accident.
Personal Accident Insurance (PAI). This is medical insurance for the driver and passengers.
If you want to save money and choose the cheapest insurance, carefully inspect the car upon receipt. Make sure the machine is not damaged.
Fuel Policy
When renting a car, you should pay attention to the fuel policy of rental companies. Often, when renting, tourists have to pay the cost of a full tank of fuel. This option is suitable for long-term rentals and long trips. But if you're only renting Ghent for a day or two, or if you're only planning short trips, such as to a small island, then you probably won't need a full tank. You can get acquainted with the fuel policy in the "Important information" section of the car you have chosen.
Mileage without limits
The rental company may set a daily mileage limit. You will have to pay extra for exceeding the limit. Please check this condition before booking. It is possible that a more expensive rental option will turn out to be more profitable in the end: it will not require any additional expenses. To filter cars with unlimited mileage - use the "Mileage" filter in the search results.
Compare conditions of different rental companies
When choosing a rental car in Ghent, you should carefully read all the terms of the rental. This is due to the fact that different companies may differ not only in rental prices, but also in conditions for limiting mileage, the cost of additional services, and the amount of the deposit. To compare rental conditions, it is convenient to use the search and booking system on our website.
How to choose a rental company
When renting a car in Ghent, you should carefully read all the conditions offered by the rental company. Depending on the specific company, they may differ in mileage, insurance coverage, deposit amount, accompanying services and their cost. You should choose proven and reliable companies that offer new cars and stand out due to the well-thought-out organization of work with customers. Additionally, you can study the rating of distributors, which is also available on our website.
If we talk about the best companies in Ghent, then it is worth highlighting sixt with a rating 9.8 and budget, the average rating of which is 9.7 points.
Car pick-up procedure
Before signing a car rental agreement, it should be carefully checked for damage and defects. Do not be shy to point out the identified problems and problems - then you will not have to answer for them. When returning, pay attention to the fuel in the tank. Its volume must correspond to that prescribed in the agreement.
Also, do not ignore the phone number provided by the technical support representative when concluding the contract. After all, even the most experienced driver is not insured against a breakdown, accident or other force majeure event. In such a case, contact a specialist before the arrival of the police.
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Car rental reviews: Ghent
Based on 8255 reviews
Rate 4,8/5
Based on 8255 reviews
Tony
4,8
Without a doubt, I will continue to use Bookingautos on a regular basis. Thank you very much for your assistance!
Michael
4,7
Excellent value for money. The pick-up process was a little confusing, but I would use it again!
Luna
4,5
The search was very simple to use, the price was really low, and there were no problems with the rental car company.
Jody
4,9
Everything proceeded as expected. The complete coverage compensation really worked.
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