In Ghent, my favorite photographer and I stayed in two very different hotels: the Yalo and the Pillows Reylof. Here I share our stays in 2022 and 2024, including what we enjoyed and the little drawbacks too. I’ve added three other places I found in the city, where I haven’t stayed yet.
And for walks and food stops, have a look at my full guide to visiting Ghent.
Plan your stay
Which hotel should you choose in Ghent?
Two hotels we stayed in, plus three other places we found.
Hotels where we stayed
Yalo Urban Boutique Hotel Ghent
Decor we enjoyed and breakfast beneath the glass roof.
Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof
A stay with a spa.
Good to know: Our room in the rear wing was quiet.
Other places found, not personally tested (3)
B&B HOTEL Gent Centrum
Central location, with family rooms.
1898 The Post
In the former post office, on the Graslei.
Ganda Rooms & Suites
Eight rooms on Houtbriel.
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Table of Contents
Which area of Ghent should you stay in?
Ghent’s historic center is very easy to explore on foot, and the five places in this selection are all within about ten minutes’ walk of the Korenmarkt. Here is where each one is, with approximate walking times from the hotel’s address.
Around the Graslei and the Korenmarkt
This is the heart of the old town, with the Graslei along the river Leie, the Korenmarkt and, a few minutes further on, the Gravensteen. 1898 The Post is right on the Graslei, two minutes from the Korenmarkt, while B&B HOTEL Gent Centrum is on Voldersstraat, about four minutes from both the Korenmarkt and St. Bavo’s Cathedral.
East of the center, around St. Bavo’s Cathedral
The Yalo is on Brabantdam, a six-minute walk from St. Bavo’s Cathedral (home of the Ghent Altarpiece) and about ten minutes from the Korenmarkt. It’s a lively place: the music is in full swing there until past midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Ganda Rooms & Suites, on Houtbriel, is a seven-minute walk from the cathedral and about ten minutes from the Korenmarkt.
West of the center, on Hoogstraat
The Pillows Reylof is on Hoogstraat, an eight-minute walk from the Korenmarkt and nine minutes from the Gravensteen. Our room in the rear wing was quiet.
Near the main railway station
Gent-Sint-Pieters, the main railway station, isn’t in the center: it’s about a 30-minute walk from B&B HOTEL Gent Centrum and nearly a 45-minute walk from Ganda Rooms & Suites. We haven’t stayed in this area and none of the places in this selection are there, but it’s the side of town where you’ll find the Museum of Fine Arts (MSK) and the Citadelpark. Trams link the station to the center; the line has had construction work in recent years, so check your journey on the De Lijn website before you go.
By car: the area inside Ghent’s ring road is a low emission zone. Whether your car can enter depends on its Euro standard and fuel type, and a vehicle without a Belgian or Dutch license plate must always be registered (link to the Visit Gent page on the low emission zone). The city also has free Park & Ride lots on its outskirts. As for our two hotels, the Yalo has direct access to the parking garage at Vlaanderenstraat 26, and the Pillows Reylof has on-site parking.
My best hotels in Ghent
Yalo Urban Boutique Hotel: The trendy, designer option
I absolutely fell in love with this boutique hotel nestled in the very heart of Ghent! The place boasts sharp decor and a decidedly trendy atmosphere. In addition to offering cozy rooms, the property houses a restaurant and a bar that attract all of Ghent’s elite. During our visit, the place was actually fully booked for the entire weekend, as it’s a very popular address with the locals.
While we unfortunately couldn’t dine there due to a lack of space (the menu looked so tempting!), we really enjoyed the vibrancy of the place. A small word of caution though: a festive address also means a bit of noise. On Fridays and Saturdays, the music is in full swing until past midnight. This didn’t bother us at all, but it’s an important detail to keep in mind if you’re a light sleeper or like to go to bed early.
As for our room, I was completely won over by its decor, done up in lovely emerald tones. The windows looked directly into the hotel’s interior, right above the majestic glass roof. The bedding was absolutely comfortable, and the final touch: a record player with a few vinyls was at our disposal! A true delight to enjoy the distinctive sound of this music while lounging. In short, a space that is both super functional and particularly warm.
The breakfast, for its part, was another major highlight of our stay. Served under this huge, light-flooded glass roof, it offers a generous buffet made up of very good products. The setting is so enchanting that we would have happily stayed there for a good part of the morning before heading out to explore the city…
Tested in 2022
Yalo Urban Boutique Hotel Ghent ☆☆☆☆
Brabantdam 33, 9000 Gent, Belgium
On foot: 6 min to St. Bavo’s Cathedral, 10 min to the Korenmarkt
Good for: travelers who like a lively atmosphere
Parking available at Vlaanderenstraat 26. The parking area has direct access to the hotel
Check rates for your dates.
Link to book a room For a more transparent world…If you book a room by clicking on this link, a small commission will be paid directly to us by the site. This has no impact on the price you pay, but in return you support the blog and help it grow. It's up to you 🙂
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Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof: Luxury and refinement
Change of scenery with this sumptuous 4-star establishment nestled in a former baron’s mansion built in 1724. After surviving World War II and serving as offices for an insurance company, the building began a new life about fifteen years ago when it became a hotel. Freshly renovated under the name Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof, it now offers a stunning marriage between the splendor of Louis XIV-style decor and very contemporary design furnishings.
During this stay, we were set up in the new wing built at the back of the complex. Our room, featuring a superb balcony, was a true cocoon of calm. And if you need to relax, be aware that the hotel has its own spa (accessible to guests), nestled under the vaults of the former carriage house. As for gastronomy, two lovely restaurants complete the experience: Olivier Le Petit Bistro and the gourmet restaurant LOF (crowned with a lovely 14/20 in the Gault & Millau guide). Although we didn’t have the opportunity to dine there, we were lucky enough to meet the talented chef Paul de Groote. Note that both restaurants proudly pay tribute to the first owner of the premises, the baron Olivier de Reylof.
Tested in 2024
Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof ☆☆☆☆
Hoogstraat 36, 9000 Ghent
On foot: 8 min to the Korenmarkt
Good for: a stay with a spa
On-site parking
Check rates for your dates.
Link to book a room For a more transparent world…If you book a room by clicking on this link, a small commission will be paid directly to us by the site. This has no impact on the price you pay, but in return you support the blog and help it grow. It's up to you 🙂
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Where to stay in Ghent: three other places I found
Here are three other places I found in Ghent. I haven’t stayed in them yet, so I’ve kept them separate from the two hotels described above.
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1898 The Post: in the former post office
1898 The Post occupies Ghent’s former post office on the Graslei. The building and its location are what caught my eye when putting this selection together.
The hotel also houses the cocktail bar The Cobbler. I haven’t tried the hotel or the bar yet.
1898 The Post
Graslei 16, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
On foot: 2 min to the Korenmarkt
Check rates for your dates.
Book your stay For a more transparent world…If you book by clicking on this link, we receive a small commission from the site. This does not affect the price you pay, but it helps support the blog. It's up to you 🙂
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Ganda Rooms & Suites: eight rooms on Houtbriel
Ganda Rooms & Suites has eight rooms in an 18th-century house on Houtbriel. It’s a small property I found, but I haven’t stayed there yet.
Ganda Rooms & Suites
Houtbriel 18, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
On foot: 7 min to St. Bavo’s Cathedral
Check rates for your dates.
Book your stay For a more transparent world…If you book by clicking on this link, we receive a small commission from the site. This does not affect the price you pay, but it helps support the blog. It's up to you 🙂
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B&B HOTEL Gent Centrum: a central location
B&B HOTEL Gent Centrum is on Voldersstraat in the city center. It offers double, triple and family rooms.
I’ve included it among the places to compare when looking at your budget, although I haven’t stayed there. Rates depend on your dates, so check the price for your own stay.
B&B HOTEL Gent Centrum
Voldersstraat 17, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
On foot: 4 min to the Korenmarkt and St. Bavo’s Cathedral
Check rates for your dates.
Book your stay For a more transparent world…If you book by clicking on this link, we receive a small commission from the site. This does not affect the price you pay, but it helps support the blog. It's up to you 🙂
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I hope that with all this, I’ve helped you find your idyllic accommodation in Ghent and if you also have your own good addresses for this destination, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments below!
MY ARTICLES ON FLANDERS
⇒ Bruges
⇒ Ghent
⇒ Leuven
⇒ The Belgian Coast and Ostend
MY ARTICLES ON WALLONIA
⇒ The Gaume Province
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