Europe·Belgium·Updated May 3, 2026

Ghent Scams to Avoid in 2026 (Belgium)

Ghent is a historic Flemish university city between Brussels and Bruges, known for its medieval Gravensteen castle, St. Bavo's Cathedral, and a vibrant student nightlife. Less touristed than Bruges, the city sees pickpocketing in the Korenmarkt and Vrijdagmarkt areas, overpriced tourist restaurants near the three towers, and issues with unlicensed street food vendors during the Gentse Feesten summer festival. The festival brings one million visitors and creates peak conditions for opportunistic crime.

Risk Index

5.2

out of 10

Scams

14

documented

High Severity

0

0% of total

5.2

Risk Index

14

Scams

0

High Risk

Ghent has 14 documented tourist scams across 8 categories in our database. Scam activity is rated lower. The most commonly reported risks are Gentse Feesten Festival Pickpocketing, Korenmarkt Tourist Restaurant Overcharging, Online Accommodation Scams for Gentse Feesten.

Editorially reviewed — sources cross-referenced before publishing. How we verify →

Traveler Context

What Travellers Should Know About Scams in Ghent

Ghent carries 14 documented tourist scams in our database — none classified high severity, but the volume of medium-severity reports (8 of 14) reflects an active tourist-fraud environment that travellers should know in advance. Street-level scams accounts for the largest share (5 reports), led by Gentse Feesten Festival Pickpocketing: The Gentse Feesten ten-day summer festival fills the city centre with up to one million visitors and is one of the highest-risk periods for pickpocketing in Belgium. Travellers familiar with Hamburg or Marseille will recognise the broad shape of the risk environment in Europe, though the specific local variations in Ghent are what catch first-time visitors out.

Specific documented risk areas include Vrijdagmarkt square, Korenmarkt, the streets of Patershol neighbourhood, and the outdoor stages around the Gravensteen during Gentse Feesten (mid-July); Restaurants on and immediately around Korenmarkt square, waterfront terraces facing Sint-Michielsbrug bridge; Fraudulent listings claiming to be in the Ghent city centre, Patershol, or near the Gentse Feesten venues; primarily on Facebook rental groups and lesser-known platforms. A separate but related pattern is Korenmarkt Tourist Restaurant Overcharging: Restaurants with outdoor terraces on the Korenmarkt waterfront charge significantly above local rates and sometimes add undisclosed service charges, bread fees, or terrace supplements. The single most effective protection across these patterns: Use a money belt or secure inner pocket for your phone and wallet. Carry only the cash you need for the evening and leave cards and passports at your accommodation. Stay alert to anyone pressing unusually close in crowd surges near stages.

How It Plays OutMedium Risk

Gentse Feesten Festival Pickpocketing

The Gentse Feesten ten-day summer festival fills the city centre with up to one million visitors and is one of the highest-risk periods for pickpocketing in Belgium. Thieves work in groups in the densely packed outdoor concert areas, beer tents, and the crowded streets of the Patershol and Vrijdagmarkt zones.

Vrijdagmarkt square, Korenmarkt, the streets of Patershol neighbourhood, and the outdoor stages around the Gravensteen during Gentse Feesten (mid-July)

How to avoid: Use a money belt or secure inner pocket for your phone and wallet. Carry only the cash you need for the evening and leave cards and passports at your accommodation. Stay alert to anyone pressing unusually close in crowd surges near stages.

This scam type is also documented in Hamburg and Marseille.

Key Risk Areas

Where These Scams Are Most Active

Specific areas and landmarks with the highest concentration of documented incidents in Ghent.

Gentse Feesten Festival Pickpocketing

Street Scams

Vrijdagmarkt square, Korenmarkt, the streets of Patershol neighbourhood, and the outdoor stages around the Gravensteen during Gentse Feesten (mid-July)

Korenmarkt Tourist Restaurant Overcharging

Restaurant Scams

Restaurants on and immediately around Korenmarkt square, waterfront terraces facing Sint-Michielsbrug bridge

Online Accommodation Scams for Gentse Feesten

Accommodation Scams

Fraudulent listings claiming to be in the Ghent city centre, Patershol, or near the Gentse Feesten venues; primarily on Facebook rental groups and lesser-known platforms

Unlicensed Taxis During Festival and Event Periods

Taxi & Transport

Outside Gent-Sint-Pieters train station, festival exit points around Vrijdagmarkt and Korenmarkt during Gentse Feesten

Overpriced "Local" Food at Tourist-Facing Festival Stalls

Street Scams

Festival food stalls around Korenmarkt, Sint-Baafsplein, and the Vrijdagmarkt during Gentse Feesten; waffle and frites vendors on tourist routes near the three towers

Distraction Theft Near Sint-Niklaaskerk

Street Scams

Shopping streets between Sint-Niklaaskerk and Korenmarkt, the Veldstraat pedestrian shopping street, and the area around the Gent-Sint-Pieters rail approach

These areas are safe to visit — knowing the setups in advance makes them far easier to recognize and avoid.

Street-level scams are most common in Ghent

5 documented street scams target tourists near major attractions. Unsolicited approaches, "free" gifts, and distraction techniques are the main patterns.

Safety Checklist

Quick Safety Tips for Ghent

Key precautions based on the most frequently reported scams here.

  • Use a money belt or secure inner pocket for your phone and wallet. Carry only the cash you need for the evening and leave cards and passports at your accommodation. Stay alert to anyone pressing unusually close in crowd surges near stages.
  • Look at the menu displayed outside before sitting down and confirm whether any supplements apply. Walk one or two streets back from the Korenmarkt waterfront into the Patershol neighbourhood to find restaurants with more honest pricing.
  • Book accommodation well in advance through Booking.com, Airbnb, or directly with hotels. Never transfer a deposit outside a secure booking platform. Contact your accommodation by phone to confirm the booking in the weeks before arrival.
  • Use the Uber app or pre-book a licensed taxi through Taxistop or the Gent taxi association. If hailing on the street, use the official taxi rank outside Gent-Sint-Pieters station and confirm the metered fare before entering.
  • Look for stalls that display prices clearly before you order. Compare prices across several adjacent stalls before committing. During Gentse Feesten, the official festival areas have regulated pricing guidance — check the festival website before attending.

FAQ

Ghent Safety — Frequently Asked Questions

What scams target tourists in Ghent?
The most frequently reported tourist scams in Ghent are Gentse Feesten Festival Pickpocketing, Korenmarkt Tourist Restaurant Overcharging, Online Accommodation Scams for Gentse Feesten. Most scams operate near transit hubs, tourist attractions, and busy markets. Reviewing each type before you arrive significantly reduces your risk of being targeted. Similar patterns are also documented in Hamburg and Marseille.
Are taxis safe in Ghent?
Taxis in Ghent carry documented risk for tourists — 2 transport-related scams are on record. Use the Uber app or pre-book a licensed taxi through Taxistop or the Gent taxi association. If hailing on the street, use the official taxi rank outside Gent-Sint-Pieters station and confirm the metered fare before entering. Where available, verified ride-hailing apps (Uber, Grab, or local equivalents) are generally safer than street taxis.
Is Ghent safe at night for tourists?
Ghent is a historic Flemish university city between Brussels and Bruges, known for its medieval Gravensteen castle, St. Bavo's Cathedral, and a vibrant student nightlife. Less touristed than Bruges, the city sees pickpocketing in the Korenmarkt and Vrijdagmarkt areas, overpriced tourist restaurants near the three towers, and issues with unlicensed street food vendors during the Gentse Feesten summer festival. The festival brings one million visitors and creates peak conditions for opportunistic crime. After dark, extra caution is advised near Vrijdagmarkt square, Korenmarkt, the streets of Patershol neighbourhood, and the outdoor stages around the Gravensteen during Gentse Feesten (mid-July). Use app-based transport at night and avoid unsolicited approaches from strangers.
Which areas of Ghent should tourists be most careful in?
Documented scam activity in Ghent is concentrated in high-traffic tourist zones. Based on reported incidents: Vrijdagmarkt square, Korenmarkt, the streets of Patershol neighbourhood, and the outdoor stages around the Gravensteen during Gentse Feesten (mid-July) (Gentse Feesten Festival Pickpocketing); Restaurants on and immediately around Korenmarkt square, waterfront terraces facing Sint-Michielsbrug bridge (Korenmarkt Tourist Restaurant Overcharging); Fraudulent listings claiming to be in the Ghent city centre, Patershol, or near the Gentse Feesten venues; primarily on Facebook rental groups and lesser-known platforms (Online Accommodation Scams for Gentse Feesten). These areas are safe to visit — knowing the common setups in advance makes them far easier to recognize and avoid.
How can I avoid being scammed in Ghent?
The best protection against scams in Ghent is preparation — knowing the specific tactics used here before you arrive. Key precautions: Use the Uber app or pre-book a licensed taxi through Taxistop or the Gent taxi association. If hailing on the street, use the official taxi rank outside Gent-Sint-Pieters station and confirm the metered fare before entering. Always confirm prices before agreeing to any service, use official or app-based transport, and slow down if anyone creates urgency or distraction — that is almost always the setup.

Ghent · Belgium · Europe

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Editorial note: Scam warnings for Ghent are compiled from government travel advisories (US State Dept, UK FCDO, Australian DFAT), verified news sources, travel community reports, and traveler-submitted incidents. All entries are reviewed for accuracy and local specificity before publication. Read our full methodology →