Novotel Gent Centrum stands on Hoogpoort, in the middle of the historic centre, and it is hard to beat for location. The town hall is about a minute away on foot, the Belfry two and the cathedral three, with Gravensteen about five minutes away, so you can walk to almost every headline sight within minutes. The hotel is a reliable, modern chain property with 117 rooms, a restaurant and bar, a sauna and steam room and a gym, and it suits families, first-time visitors and business travellers who want predictable comfort in a very central spot. Family rooms that sleep four make it more practical than many old-town hotels, and the bike rental and electric car charging are handy extras.
Location and getting around
The hotel's address on Hoogpoort puts it in the pedestrian heart of Ghent. Walking times from the hotel are about a minute to the town hall, two to the Belfry, three to St Bavo's Cathedral and the Christmas market area in the season, and five to Gravensteen. Ghent-Dampoort station is about a nineteen minute walk, so use a tram or taxi with luggage, and Brussels Airport is about an hour by car.
The centre is a low emission zone and a pedestrian area, so ask the hotel about parking and access before you arrive, since the hotel's page does not describe parking in detail.
Rooms and facilities
The rooms range from Standard rooms with a double bed, at around twenty square metres, to Superior and Executive rooms with city views, Family Rooms with a sofa bed or multiple beds for four guests and a Suite of around forty square metres. There is a restaurant and a bar, and a buffet breakfast is available for a supplement.
The sauna and steam room and the gym are useful after a day on the cobbles, and there is free WiFi, a business centre, a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage. Bike rentals let you explore like a local, and the hotel is pet friendly, with a fee per pet per night. Check-in is from three in the afternoon and check-out is at noon.
Who it suits and what to know: this is an excellent choice for first-time visitors, families and anyone who values being a minute from the main square. The streets outside are lively in the evening, with bars and restaurants within a few minutes, so ask for a higher floor or a quiet room if you are a light sleeper. The hotel bar may close fairly early, so plan your nightcap elsewhere if you are out late.
Rates rise at weekends, in summer and in the December Christmas market period, so book early for those dates. If you are comparing the hotel with the nearby NH Collection Gent, the two are on the same street and similar in style, so choose by price, room type and availability.
Why stay here
- ✓Restaurant and bar
- ✓Sauna and steam room
- ✓Gym
- ✓Family rooms for four
- ✓Free WiFi
- ✓Bike rentals
- ✓Electric car charging
- ✓Pet friendly
Good questions
Where is Novotel Gent Centrum?+
On Hoogpoort, in the historic centre of Ghent. The town hall is about a minute away on foot, the Belfry about two and Gravensteen about five.
Does the hotel have family rooms?+
Yes, there are Family Rooms and a Suite that sleep four. Ask about bed arrangements and extra beds when you book.
Is there a spa or fitness area?+
The hotel has a sauna and steam room and a gym. Check opening times when you reserve.
