Is Ghent Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Solo travel

I went to Ghent for 3 days and stayed at the Upplink hostel. It was a great experience because the hostel has a lot of young people, it is in a perfect location and very well organized. The hostel staff were very friendly and gave me a city tour. The city is very beautiful and easy to get around because all the attractions are close by. The castle is definitely worth a visit. Try the Ghent Noses. The restaurants are expensive, and for a solo traveler with a very small salary, I think it is worth buying a sandwich at Carrefour for lunch 🤣

Group travel

Even though it was a one-day trip, we tasted delicious beers, frites and hamburgers. The architecture of the city is magical and I assure you one day is enough to visit Ghent, we were 4 girls and we never felt insecure, nor rushed. One of the best quick trips to do!

Family travel

Ghent is a really nice and historic city to visit. I do think around 3 days in Ghent will be enough to explore the city. The atmosphere was nice and friendly, we felt very safe. You can take a really nice boat tour, during this a guide will tell you all about the city’s history. Also nice museums are around, like the ‘museum voor schone kunsten’. You will also find some nice bars and pubs.

Solo travel

I spent 4 months in Ghent as an exchange student and it was the best experience of my life!! I stayed with a great hostess, made lots of friends, saw beautiful places and had an amazing time. As a woman I never feel unsafe, and was always treated with respect even though I do not speak Flemish. Would totally recommend visiting for at least 2 days so you can see everything in that beautiful city.

Group travel

Small, cozy place, felt super safe, nice bike infrastructure and amazing nature, the city centre is gorgeous, the beer is delicious! Public transport is safe and convenient, museums are very interesting. Not so many tourists as it isn’t the most touristy place.

Solo travel

Ghent is an amazing city to go to as a woman. It's very safe, many cool things to do and very open-minded. You can easily walk alone at night and ask for help in any bar or club if you are feeling unsafe. The prices are a bit high, but you can find some nice budget places such as Panos or other chains.

Besides some areas, Ghent is pretty safe. And even in the bit more sketchy neighborhoods, you are still very unlikely to be attacked or robbed. After dark you should be a little more careful, especially as a woman around some neighborhoods or in the party areas. There are cases of sexual harassment and assault but overall if you are a bit careful and speak up when something might happen, you should be safe. Most bars and clubs are very serious about keeping it a safe space so always let them know if someone is being inappropriate.

For 2 years now I have been studying at university in Belgium and living in Ghent. Many nights I have had to go home alone, either because of rush hour or after a party. Of course it depends on where you stay, but I think the center is safe. I don't think you will have any problems during the daytime.