Amsterdam to Ghent: Train, Car or Private Chauffeur Compared

Amsterdam to Ghent takes about 2 hours 15 by car and roughly 2.5 to 3 hours by train, with a change in Antwerp or Brussels. Ghent is what people hope Bruges will be: the same medieval bones, a fraction of the crowds, and a real student city living inside the postcard. Here is how to get there without losing the day to the journey.

Amsterdam to Ghent at a glance

• Car or private chauffeur: about 2h15 for roughly 220 kilometers, door to door
• Train: 2.5 to 3 hours with a change in Antwerp or Brussels; Gent-Sint-Pieters station lies 20 minutes from the historic center by tram

Why Ghent over Bruges?

Honest answer: pick Ghent when you want the medieval Low Countries without sharing them. The Gravensteen castle, St Bavo’s Cathedral with the Van Eyck altarpiece (the most-stolen artwork in history, currently at home), and the Graslei quay rival anything in Belgium, but the city belongs to its students and residents rather than to day-trippers. It also pairs naturally with Bruges or Antwerp on a chauffeured loop.

The chauffeured version

Door to door in 2h15 means leaving Amsterdam at 8:30 and standing before the Mystic Lamb at 11:00. The driver waits, the return leaves when you decide, and a stop in Antwerp on the way back costs only the time you spend there. The airport-side variant is our Schiphol to Ghent transfer; the day trip books here.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the journey from Amsterdam to Ghent?

About 2 hours 15 by car or chauffeur, and 2.5 to 3 hours by train with one change. There is no direct train.

Is Ghent worth a day trip from Amsterdam?

Yes, particularly for travelers who found Bruges too crowded. The Van Eyck altarpiece alone justifies the trip for art lovers.

Can we combine Ghent with Bruges or Antwerp?

By chauffeur, comfortably: Ghent plus one of the two fits a single day. All three is possible but rushed.

What does a chauffeur from Amsterdam to Ghent cost?

A fixed price for the whole car including waiting time, agreed before departure. Request a quote via the booking page.