Pet-Friendly Transport in Ghent

Belgian Railways operates direct trains from Gent-Sint-Pieters station (15 min by tram 1 from the Korenmarkt) to Brussels-Midi in 30 min, Bruges in 25 min, Antwerp in 50 min, and the Brussels Airport branch (BRU) in 50 min. Dogs travel free on all NMBS/SNCB trains: small dogs in a carrier go anywhere; medium and large dogs need a leash and muzzle.

De Lijn runs the Ghent tram network, with tram 1 (the workhorse) connecting Gent-Sint-Pieters station to the Korenmarkt and Wondelgem, tram 4 to Moscou-Vogelhoek, and tram 24 to UZ Gent hospital. Small dogs in a carrier travel free; medium and large dogs need a 2.50 EUR flat ticket, a muzzle and a leash.

De Lijn runs Ghent's city buses and regional routes to Deinze, Aalst and Sint-Niklaas. Same pet rules as the trams: small in carrier free, large with 2.50 EUR ticket plus muzzle and leash. Brussels Airport BRU has no direct bus from Ghent; transfer at Brussels-Nord or use the IC train via Brussels-Airport-Zaventem branch in 50 min from Gent-Sint-Pieters.

Ghent has Europe's largest car-free historic centre, expanded in 2017, covering the Korenmarkt, Belfort, Sint-Baafsplein, Vrijdagmarkt and the canal quays. Sundays and Wednesdays add more car-free streets in the surrounding rings. The city's flat geography and dense cycle network make a dog-in-the-bike-basket very common; cargo bikes with dog crates are widely rented.