Vrijdagmarkt

Ghent, Belgium

A historic market square popular with shoppers, lined with independent stores and quiet guesthouses.

Places in Vrijdagmarkt

Dulle Griet A 15th-century beer pub with heavy beams and heraldic ceiling, stocking over 500 beers; famous for requiring a shoe as security for its signature glass.

Best time to visit: April to June and September bring mild weather for walking the canals and Citadel Park. The Gentse Feesten in July brings a ten-day street festival, worth timing a visit around if crowds don't bother you.
Getting around: Ghent's compact centre is best explored on foot or by bike, with an extensive tram network covering the wider city. A tram stop near Villa Emma makes the Zuid district easy to reach from the centre.
Currency: Euro (€)
Language: Dutch. English is common in tourism.
Timezone: CET (UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer)
Current trends: The area around Brabantdam and the old post office building has become a dense hub of contemporary restaurants, alongside a continuing wave of craft-beer-focused bars.

Patershol — A tangle of narrow medieval streets that form Ghent's traditional restaurant quarter, dense with Belgian kitchens.
Zuid — A creative, youthful district with stylish budget-friendly stays and colourful independent boutiques.