Where to stay in Ghent
Ghent is a compact city, and everything below is within a short drive of the symposium. Whether you want to be minutes from the venue or in the middle of the medieval centre, here is what we would suggest — and how to get there.
- Symposium: Thursday 8 and Friday 9 October 2026. Most delegates arrive the evening before and leave on the Friday evening or the Saturday.
- Optional pre-course: the afternoon of Wednesday 7 October. If you are joining it, book the Wednesday night as well.
The venue: Nobel Auditorium, UZ Gent
The auditorium is immediately on your left as you come through entrance 7. Every distance quoted below is measured to this building. Ghent is busy in October, so we would book early — and a flexible rate is never a bad idea.
Closest to the venue
The Nobel Auditorium sits on the UZ Gent campus in the Nieuw Gent–UZ district, south of the city centre. These three hotels are the ones our delegates and faculty use most often.
Van der Valk Hotel Gent
- 260 rooms, four-star
- Spa, sauna and fitness on the 9th floor
- Skybar with panoramic city views on the 10th
- Three restaurants, two bars
- Underground parking, free Wi-Fi
GIEQs has housed faculty and workshop delegates here for previous meetings.
Residence Inn by Marriott Ghent
- 105 suites, each with a fully equipped kitchen
- Belgium's first Residence Inn
- Well suited to longer stays or travelling with family
- On-site parking, free Wi-Fi
voco Gent by IHG
- Recently renovated and rebranded from Holiday Inn
- Luma Restaurant & Bar Lounge
- Beside Flanders Expo, direct E40 / E17 access
- On-site parking (charged) — straightforward if you are driving
Prefer the historic centre?
Many delegates choose to stay in medieval Ghent — around the Korenmarkt, Graslei and Patershol — and travel in each morning. You trade a few minutes of commute for canals, restaurants and one of the best-preserved city centres in Europe.
Expect 15–20 minutes to the venue by tram or taxi. There is a wide range of independent and boutique hotels; the centre is compact enough that almost anything within the ring works well.
October is high season in Ghent. Central rooms are the first to sell out, so book early if this is your preference.
Getting to Ghent
Brussels Airport (BRU) is the most convenient arrival point — roughly an hour by direct train to Gent-Sint-Pieters. Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), Brussels South Charleroi (CRL) and Lille (LIL) are all workable alternatives.
Gent-Sint-Pieters is the main station, with fast connections from Brussels-Midi (Eurostar) and across Belgium.
Tram 4 runs from Gent-Sint-Pieters to the UZ Gent campus. Ghent's tram network is undergoing works, so please check De Lijn for the current route before you travel. Taxis and ride-hailing are readily available.
The E17 and E40 both pass the city. All three hotels above have parking, and the Ghent city centre has a low-emission zone and limited-traffic area — a hotel with its own car park is the easier option if you are driving.
Need a hand with your stay?
If you are travelling with colleagues, need a group booking, or simply want a steer on which area suits you best, our symposium office is happy to help.
Email the symposium officeThese hotels are listed for the convenience of delegates. All reservations are made directly with the hotel, and GIEQs cannot accept responsibility for bookings, rates or availability. Distances and journey times are approximate.