The Brooklyn
of Ghent is
Kunstenkwartier.

See the 23 venues →Where to stay
Galleries Live music Record shops Natural wine Student Walkable
The case for Kunstenkwartier

Kunstenkwartier is the coolest neighborhood in Ghent for digging through record shops, splitting bottles of pet-nat at sidewalk tables, and gallery-hopping.

Kunstenkwartier wraps around Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat like a long, slow exhale south of the city center. Record shops, natural wine bars, and a contemporary art museum all within a ten-minute walk. Students set the pace during the week. On weekends, the crowd skews older, better dressed, parked at sidewalk tables splitting bottles of pet-nat well into the afternoon. The whole strip feels like it was designed for lingering.

In the Kunstenkwartier, S.M.A.K. holds Belgium's most important contemporary art collection, more than 5,000 works spanning post-WWII to the present day, directly opposite the Museum of Fine Arts (MSK).
Close contenders

Other cool neighborhoods in Ghent.

Patershol

Patershol is a medieval knot of cobblestone alleys crammed with small restaurants. Feels like a film set, but the food is real. Best on a weeknight.

Prinsenhof

Prinsenhof is old-money Ghent. Quiet streets, grand facades, and a slower rhythm. Good for a morning walk when the light hits the canal houses just right.

DOK-Noord

DOK-Noord is a post-industrial stretch along the docks being reclaimed by coffee roasters and creative studios. Still rough around the edges. That's the point.

See the full shortlist, ranked →
Three sides of the neighborhood

Where to go in Kunstenkwartier.

01
Stay in Kunstenkwartier

JAM and Yalo put you right in the arts quarter near Citadelpark, which means SMAK and the Museum voor Schone Kunsten are a short walk in any direction.
02
Eat & Drink in Kunstenkwartier

De Hoeve pours behind the bar in a listed 18th-century breedhuis on Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat, Renaud working the taps late.
03
Do & Shop in Kunstenkwartier

Two major museums sit less than 500 metres apart in Citadelpark - Flemish masters at MSK, provocative contemporary work at SMAK.
All 23 spots mapped out

Kunstenkwartier, corner to corner.

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Our 23 top picks

The Kunstenkwartier guide.

Practical info

Good to know.

The boring numbers that decide whether you stay three days or four.

CurrencyEUR
LanguageDutch
Cost level $$Moderate
Best monthsMay, June, and September
Local time UTC+2
Plug type EU plug · 230V/50Hz
Emergency112
Local tip
Thursday nights on Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat are when the whole strip comes alive. Students disappear by Friday, so that's your window.
Europe · Belgium

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Head to head

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Common questions

Things to know about Kunstenkwartier.

What is the Brooklyn of Ghent?
The Brooklyn of Ghent is Kunstenkwartier. Kunstenkwartier wraps around Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat like a long, slow exhale south of the city center. In the Kunstenkwartier, S.M.A.K. holds Belgium's most important contemporary art collection, more than 5,000 works spanning post-WWII to the present day, directly opposite the Museum of Fine Arts (MSK).
What is the coolest neighborhood in Ghent?
Kunstenkwartier is widely considered the coolest neighborhood in Ghent. Kunstenkwartier wraps around Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat like a long, slow exhale south of the city center. Record shops, natural wine bars, and a contemporary art museum all within a ten-minute walk. Students set the pace during the week. On weekends, the crowd skews older, better dressed, parked at sidewalk tables splitting bottles of pet-nat well into the afternoon. The whole strip feels like it was designed for lingering.
Where should I stay in Kunstenkwartier, Ghent?
The best boutique hotels in Kunstenkwartier include Yalo Hotel, JAM Ghent, and B&B Expo 13. Yalo Hotel is the one to book first. A 4-star boutique on Brabantdam with 92 rooms split between 'Uptown' and 'Downtown' vibes, each with parquet floors, vinyl record players, and Grown Alchemist products. The rooftop bar on the sixth floor opens in summer with panoramic views over De Krook and the Boekentoren.
Is Kunstenkwartier in Ghent safe at night?
Yes. Ghent is one of the safer cities in Belgium, and the central districts including the arts quarter are well-lit and walkable late into the evening. Standard pickpocket awareness applies near the main squares and tram stops on weekends. Streets get quiet after midnight on weekdays, which feels calm rather than uneasy. Solo travelers, including women, generally report no issues.
Is Ghent expensive?
Ghent sits in the mid-priced range. A canal-facing boutique room in the arts quarter runs 130 to 220 euros a night in shoulder season, though January and February drop 30 to 40 percent below summer. Service is included at restaurants, so tipping is optional; rounding up is plenty.
When is the best time to visit Ghent?
May, June, and September are your windows, with temperatures around 18-22°C, midsummer daylight past 21:00, and lighter rain than autumn brings. July's Gentse Feesten fills the streets with music for ten days - fun but intense if you want quiet canal walks. Avoid November through February, when it's grey, wet, and dark by 17:00 with terraces shut.

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