4.8
Highlights & Hidden Gems of Ghent
- 3 hours
- City Highlight Tours
- Ghent
Choose one of 3 locals available
Experience hosted by Benedikt, Arn & one other local
- Private Tour
- Carbon Neutral
- Destination
- Ghent, Belgium
- Category
- City Highlight Tours
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Transport mode
- Walking tour
- Available languages
- Deutsch, English, Français, Nederlands
- Included
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- Private Guide
- 1 Local Snack or Drink
- All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral
- Excluded
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- Entrance to attractions
6 reasons to book this tour
- Explore the best of the city in only 3 hours
- Spot classics like The Belfry of Ghent & Ghent City Hall
- Discover hidden gems away from the tourist paths
- Experience the city from a local’s perspective
- Can be 100% personalized to your wishes
- Privately guided by a local expert
What you can expect
Ghent, is a magical place! And with the local host of your choice, you are going to experience it all. So get ready; culture, history, and local lifestyle await!
Dive into the origin of Ghent as you see the city’s main landmarks like The Belfry of Ghent , Ghent City Hall, and St. Bavo's Cathedral. And how about the hidden gems? Oh, you’re in for a surprise! Every host has its own story to tell, so pick your favorite, and you’ll discover the city through their eyes. Experience their Ghent to the max based on their passions and expertise. They’ll make sure you have fun enjoying a unique and local perspective of Ghent.
Want to take a break? Leave it up to your host! This is the perfect opportunity to visit that special eatery where only the locals come and your chance to enjoy a local treat hand-picked by your host. Feel free to ask your host more about their life in their city or get recommendations about the top things to do in Ghent. Remember, the locals know best.
The best part of any city tour is definitely the unique stories. Everybody has a story to tell, especially your host. Each one of the local hosts has a different background ranging from arts to history. They can’t wait to share their knowledge with you and exchange ideas and perspectives! Feel like changing the route a bit? No problem, the hosts will be happy to personalize the tour to your wishes and make their Ghent, your Ghent!
Choose your local
Get to know these 3 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.
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Benedikt
Passionate History & Culture Superspreader
4.722 reviewsEnglish・Nederlands -
Arn
Born and raised Ghentian
5.012 reviewsDeutsch・English・Français・Nederlands -
Merel
The storyteller
4.23 reviewsDeutsch・English・Français・Nederlands
This is the plan
Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.
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Meeting point
Meet at Ghent City Hall, in front of the main entrance - Ghent to start your journey
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Itinerary
This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.
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City Highlights
See from The Belfry of Ghent , Ghent City Hall, St. Bavo's Cathedral, and other landmarks and must-sees of the city. Your local host will take you to the main spots in town so you can get the perfect overview of what makes Ghent so unique -
Hidden Gems
Along the way, your local host will show you treasures hidden in plain sight that only the locals know about. Get to know the city through a different perspective, the local way, and discover places and stories that not many tourists experience -
Magical Storytelling
Behind every landmark and every stop, there’s a story, and your local host is ready to tell it all. Get ready to listen to incredible stories, one-of-a-kind insights, and fun facts only a knowledgeable local would know! -
Special Treat
Follow your host to one of their favorite eateries for a snack or a drink beloved by the locals. Take a break and catch up with your new local friend and get the answers to all your travel questions -
Make it yours
Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.
Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.
Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.
Flexible cancellation policy
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Feel confident booking
Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.
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Change of plans?
Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.
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Loved by travelers worldwide
Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.
Reviews from guests
Patrick🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
25 February 2025
We had a great experience with Ben as our tourguide and enjoyed his expertise, humour and recommendations for places to go very much. He is very fond of European history and art, but also knows about the current hot spots in the city. As he loves to travel himself, he has a fine sense for an authentic experience. Thank you for sharing your time with us!!!Perfect time
Julia🇫🇮 Finland
(About local )
19 February 2025
nkqzjn9k97
(About local )
3 February 2025
Mirjam
(About local )
3 February 2025
We hadden een hele leuke rondleiding door Gent met Benedikt.
Het was heel ontspannen en ondertussen vertelde hij de mooiste verhalen over de geschiedenis van Gent. Echt een aanrader!Geweldige gids
Lauren
(About local )
7 January 2025
We had a great tour with Benedikt. He was so passionate about the city, kept the tour very interesting, funny and engaging. All the suggestions he gave us were brilliant.
Despite the chilly weather, we thoroughly enjoyed the tour and felt like we left with a great understanding about Ghent. Such a beautiful city. Wonderful tour
Steve🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
29 December 2024
Benedict was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable- we got am amazing back ground into Ghent - that we would never have received with most other tours. I highly recommend using his service. Bravo!Guide Extrodinaire
Evan🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
27 December 2024
Had a great tour with Ben. He’s very knowledgeable and informative. Highly recommend.Very informative!
Judd🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
7 December 2024
This is a great tour with a great guide. Learned so much about the city in our two hour evening stroll. After the tour we ended up in a local bar and where we all made friends with some historians of the city. We talked about everything from, art, architecture, to F1. It was a chance meeting but it just completed the experience. Great Tour And Made Friends
Heidi🇳🇱 Netherlands
(About local )
3 December 2024
My partner and I both visited Ghent before, but wanted to learn more about the history of the city and experience it with a local. We decided at the last minute to book a private tour with Benedikt and that was a great choice. He is very friendly and enthusiastic. Benedikt learned us a lot about Ghent’s history, architecture and culture and took plenty of time to answer our questions. Plus he introduced us to local sweets and the best chocolate in town. The tour was definitely one of the highlights of our citytrip. Highly recommended. Learned a lot about Ghent!
Henri🇨🇭 Switzerland
(About local )
28 October 2024
Benedikt has a great ability to convey his enthousiasm about his home town. We got to discover hidden gems and must-sees in Ghent. Great moment of sharing. Thanks BenediktGreat Ghent tour with a authentic insider
Robbert
(About local )
25 October 2024
Robert🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
23 September 2024
I had a great walking tour of Gent with Ben. He gave me a wealth of information on this ancient city and explained all of the architectural highlights. I would do it again.Great Walking Tour
Tyler🇫🇷 France
(About local )
22 September 2024
Benedikt is an excellent guide - personable and knowledgeable - and provided a great tour of Ghent. Very highly recommended!Great Ghent tour
dwhitehurst2🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
9 September 2024
Benedikt was a very knowledgeable and friendly guide. He not only showed me around Ghent, but also helped me to book a virtual tour in the cathedral, bought me chocolates and gave me historic candy. I enjoyed my tour and took advantage of his restaurant recommendation to enjoy great moules frites!A Great Guide
Daniel🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
9 September 2024
Ben is an amazing guide! He went the extra mile to make our trip that much more special. He gave us an insider perspective and helped correct some of the wrong information we had been told about Ghent prior to the trip. I would absolutely ask him to be our guide the next time we are ever in town. 10/10 you will miss out if you don’t use Ben!What an experience
steffen🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
31 August 2024
Voller Enthusiasmus hat es Ben verstanden über die Details einen Eindruck der gesamten Stadt zu verschaffen.Ein wahrer Geschichtenerzähler
Leah🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
18 August 2024
Benedikt was a saviour! After another guide cancelled on my clients (not booked through Withlocals), Benedikt was able to guide last minute and provide great service! Thank you!Amazing tour
Cagla🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
3 August 2024
Ben was an amiable and informative guide on our well-paced, enjoyable tour. He also made helpful recommendations for our remaining time in Ghent. I would recommend him highly.Great tour
Alex Lavagnini
(About local )
18 July 2024
Benedikt took a very good care of our clients during the tour of Gent. He is informative and caring. We will definitely use his services in the future.Awesome guide!
Alex🇳🇱 Netherlands
(About local )
5 July 2024
We hebben genoten van de rondleiding door het oude Gent. Benedikt heeft ons op een humorvolle rondleiding getrakteerd, waarbij zijn kennis van de geschiedenis van Gent en zijn gebouwen een waardevolle toevoeging waren voor onze dag. Na de drie uur durende tour keken wij toch echt met een andere blik rond.
Benedikt, nogmaals dank hiervoor.Ervaren gids met veel kennis van zaken
Neal🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
12 June 2023
I signed up for a food tour (six tastings) along side seeing the highlights of of the city. I picked a guide based on profiles provided and then shortly afterwards was told that I was being transferred to someone completely different. )This happened again on my tour in Brugges.)
Our food tour consisted of the guide giving us store bough candy (one piece each) and cookies. We only had restaurant experience and were only allotted a 3 Euro drink.
I paid nearly $500 for the tour. What an absolute joke.
Waste of Money
bastdesrochers
(About local )
3 March 2025
Our tour with Arn was a great experience. My family of five thoroughly enjoyed tasting the local specialties all while gaining insightful knowledge about Ghent and Flanders. Arn delivered a highly personalised tour and was a pleasure to converse with. I highly recommend!Awesome food tour!
Roxanne
(About local )
15 February 2025
Arn was an amazing tour guide. He knew a lot of historical stuff and was great at explaining. We visited the main sites and learned lots of funny stuff. We loved our tour!Gand tour
Joseph
(About local )
6 February 2025
We had such an amazing, interesting and fun walking tour with this group. Our tour guide Arn was absolutely fabulous and so knowledgeable about his hometown and beloved city of Gent. My partner and I were traveling in Belgium and Europe together for the first time and this was by far our favorite tour. Would highly recommend and also take Arn's suggestions on where to eat and visit in addition to the tour!
Our favorite tour in Europe
Piet
(About local )
1 February 2025
This tour was great. Our guide Arn told a passionate story about his city, full of interesting anecdotes and fun facts. Highly recommend this tour!
Great tour in Gent
Julie🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
21 December 2024
What a wonderful view of Ghent through Merel’s thoughtful and informative tour. This is exactly what I wanted and why I travel! Merel showed us highlights and hidden gems of local eateries to experience Ghent. And I can’t say enough good things about the snacks she gave us, including something she baked herself that was still warm from the oven when we met. Thank you so much! Merel the magnificent!
Verified
(About local )
16 December 2024
We did the tour on a Wednesday with a large group with very many different nationalties and our guide was Arn,a very funny guy with lots of info about Gent with humor.the city is a great place for a short holiday.lots of nice restaurants.
Great tour in Gent
Michele
(About local )
11 December 2024
Wonderful day walking tour of Gent led by Arn!
Wonderful
Ben
(About local )
10 December 2024
Arn our guide was great, we have done quite a few free walking tours around Europe and both my wife and I thought Arn was the best tour guide we have had. The information was well put across, in chronological order and with gents place within Europe through it's history prominent. Really interesting.
Brilliant.
Chloe
(About local )
6 December 2024
Our guide, Arn, delivered the Historical Tour of Ghent with captivating precision. He filled the 2 hours tour with interesting facts and his knowledge of the area he grew up in was incredible. A brilliant tour guide.
A true Ghentian guide - brilliant!
Cinthya
(About local )
6 December 2024
Arn was so passionate and knowledgeable. Thanks for making the tour so enjoyable, I learnt more than I expected, Thanks Arn😊
Most in Gent
Unknown
(About local )
2 December 2024
Allereerst wil ik zeggen dat deze review niks met Merel als persoon te maken heeft. Merel is een heel aardig mens. Maar wij waren een beetje teleurgesteld. Wij hebben meerdere “10 tasting tours” gedaan bij with the locals, 5 in totaal. In Rome (met Claudia), Valencia (met Valentin), 3x in Parijs (2x met Zoltan, 1x met Jerôme) en in London (maar ik weet niet meer met wie. Maar je betaald met zijn vieren €340 euro voor zo’n tour. Dat is toch aardig wat geld. Bij alle voorgaande food tours die we hebben ervaren kregen we 10 tastings, waarbij we voor elke tasting naar verschillende lokale tentjes en kraampjes gingen om een lekkernij te halen. Daarbij kregen we vaak een heel zakje van iets mee, een heel zakje bonbons, een heel zakje met koekjes, drie verschillende grote koeken om te proveren, soms zelfs 4 verschillende kleine taartjes en dan altijd zulke porties per ronde. En daardoor zaten we ook wel bomvol voor het einde van de tour. Maar zo weet je dat je geld besteed is. Ons is namelijk ooit verteld dat de tourgidsen van with locals een minimaal bedrag uit moeten geven. Maar bij deze tour was alles anders. Als eerste waaide het die dag enorm en het was 3 graden. Erg koud dus om drie uur te wandelen. We ontmoette Merel bij de kerk en ze trok uit haar rugtas een broodtrommel, en daar had ze 4 kleine bonbonnetjes in zitten. Ze vroeg of we er een wouden, ik en mijn vader sloegen af omdat we onze trek wouden bewaren voor het “echte” werk. Na 20 minuten lopen trok ze weer haar broodtrommel tevoorschijn, ik en mijn vriend keken elkaar aan, want ik begon me af te vragen of dit bij de tour hoorde. We kregen weer allemaal een snoepje per persoon aangeboden, die mijn vader en ik weer afsloegen. Ik heb nog nooit een tour gehad waarbij er dingen uit een broodtrommel kwamen.. en dan al helemaal dat iemand thuis dus een doosje bonbonnetjes en snoepjes heeft, en er telkens maar eentje per persoon mee neemt naar de tour.. Enorm geld besparen dus. Wat is de moeite om even naar een speciale Gentse chocolatier te lopen… En zo kregen we nog spekuloos en andere koekjes uit haar tas. Ik begon er zelf chagrijnig van te worden. Want dit hebben wij nog nooit meegemaakt voor zo’n bedrag. Na een uur en 20 minuten gingen er eindelijk in de vreselijke kou naar binnen, om allemaal een echte gentse wafel te eten met wat drinken. Daarna gingen we weer aan de wandel en toen bedacht ik me dat we na 2,5 uur wandelen nog maar 5 tastings hadden gehad, waarvan 4 uit haar eigen tas, en maar bij een tent naar binnen zijn geweest. Toen vroeg ik of we nog friet met stoofvlees gingen proberen, en haar antwoord was ja! Daar keken we allemaal enorm naar uit. Nu stonden we bij een afhaal friettent. En kregen we twee zakken om te delen (ze waren wel erg groot dus dat was top). Nu gingen we bij een andere tent die niet bij de frietzaak naar binnen om daar ons friet op te eten. Dat had Merel afgesproken omdat we daar een biertje gingen drinken. Wij begonnen te eten van de friet en tot mijn verbazing zat er geen stoofvlees in… we hadden friet met stoofsaus gekregen😂 Ik weet nou niet of dat komt omdat ze zelf een vegetariër is, of omdat het 2 euro scheelde per frietzak. Ik keek om me heen en kwam erachter dat deze tent hun eigen friet verkocht met echt dikke stukken stoofvlees, ze gaf aan dat we die niet zijn gaan halen omdat je daarvoor 20-30 min in de rij moest staan. Het was toch het einde van de tour en wij hadden dan liever daar zelf nog staan wachten, en echte kwaliteit en vlees gehad. En in die tent mochten we een biertje uitzoeken. Mijn moeder drinkt geen alcohol dus gaf aan dat ze daardoor geen bier hoefde. En toen nam ze zelf een biertje en kreeg mijn moeder niks anders aangeboden… Toen is mijn moeder er vandoor gegaan omdat ze er klaar mee was. We kregen aan tafel nog een aangebroken pak wasa crackers met twee aangebroken potjes met een mosterd en een uiencompot om te proeven. Dit was leuk om te proeven en de potjes en de crackers mochten we meenemen naar huis. En misschien zijn wij wel enorme zeikers, dat kan ik goed begrijpen. Maar wij zijn het zo anders gewend, dat wij echt verbaasd waren dat je van een 10 tasting tour, überhaupt maar 8 dingen te proeven krijgt, waarvan 5 allemaal aangebroken en uit een tas kwamen. Dit hebben wij nog nooit meegemaakt. En absurd dat er in de verwachtingen staat dat je minimaal 3 tenten naar binnen gaat, waarvan we in 3 uur op een enorm koude dag maar 2 tenten naar binnen zijn gaan, en maar twee keer wat te drinken kregen waarvan een al bier was wonder water of iets anders… We hebben zelfs tours gehad dat de tourgidsen flesjes water meenamen voor iedereen. Hierbij sluit ik mijn enorm langdradige verhaal af. Ik wou toch even mijn ei kwijt omdat mijn vader gewoon enorm hard werkt voor zijn geld en ik het zonde vind om het op deze manier te moeten uitgeven. En ik meen het echt Merel is een super aardige vrouw. Het viel tegen.
Johanne
(About local )
29 November 2024
Arn was an amazing guide. Full of local tips and brought the history of Gent to life. Kept us engaged throughout the 2 hours.
3city tour of Belgium with a 2 night stay in Gent
Betsy
(About local )
14 November 2024
I had an amazing tour with Arn. He is very knowledgeable and he made the tour engaging and fun. It was clear to see that he loves the city and enjoys telling its stories. Highly recommend!
Great Tour!
Verified
(About local )
10 November 2024
Arn was very knowledgeable of the city history and fun facts , and communication skills is very excellent . We highly recommend the tour, the pace was also good , he provided valuable suggestions as well.Excellent Ghent tour. It's a must
Ryan
(About local )
10 October 2024
Merel took us through the heart of the city and gave us snacks, insights, and local history. Great tour
Peter🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
20 September 2024
My clients loved their food tour with Benedikt.Clients loved
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