ibis Gent Centrum Opera is a straightforward, good value base on Nederkouter, beside the Opera and a short walk from the lively Vooruit arts centre and the shopping streets. It does not have the old-town atmosphere of the pricier hotels, but it is clean, practical and well placed for a budget stay, with the Belfry, the cathedral and the Mystic Lamb about a kilometre away on foot. It suits solo travellers, couples on a budget and families who just need a comfortable bed.
Location and getting around
The hotel is at Nederkouter 24, about 200 metres from the Opera and roughly 500 metres from De Vooruit. The Belfry and the cathedral are about a kilometre away, so it takes around fifteen minutes on foot to reach the heart of the old town, and Veldstraat's shops are about three minutes away. Ghent-Sint-Pieters station is about two and a half kilometres away, so trams and buses are useful. Brussels and Bruges are both easy day trips by train.
Rooms and facilities
The rooms are compact, from a small double for single use of about nine square metres to rooms of about fourteen square metres with a double bed or two single beds, and a larger accessible room with an extra bed. Air conditioning and free WiFi are standard.
There is a bar and lounge, a continental breakfast buffet, a small meeting room and an underground car park, which carries a fee, so ask about the rate. Pets are welcome and the property is non-smoking. Check-in is from three in the afternoon and checkout is by noon.
Who it suits and what to know: it is a good choice if you want to spend your money on food, beer and museum tickets rather than on the room. Recent guest comments mention roadworks near the hotel that made access with luggage harder and caused noise, so ask the hotel about the current situation and request a room away from the street.
Families should note that rooms are small, so a family of four may be more comfortable in two rooms or in one of the larger hotels. Rates are among the lowest in the centre, though they rise on busy weekends.
Why stay here
- ✓Continental breakfast buffet
- ✓Bar and lounge
- ✓Underground parking (fee)
- ✓Air conditioning
- ✓Free WiFi
- ✓Pet friendly
- ✓Accessible room
- ✓Non-smoking property
Good questions
How far is ibis Gent Centrum Opera from the old town?+
The Belfry and the cathedral are about a kilometre away, roughly a fifteen minute walk. The Opera is only about 200 metres from the hotel.
Does the hotel have parking?+
Yes, there is an underground car park that carries a fee. Visitors driving into Ghent must also register for the low emission zone.
Are the rooms large?+
No, they are compact, from about nine to seventeen square metres, so families may prefer two rooms. They are clean and have air conditioning and free WiFi.
