Ghent tastes better when you walk it with a local. This 2.5-hour small-group tasting blends bites (sweet and savory) with city stories you can carry with you as you explore. I especially like the mix of classic staples like cheese croquettes and ham with treats like Belgian chocolate and candy. I also like that the guide brings Ghent’s legends and fun facts into the route, not just food stops. One thing to consider: this is not a sit-down meal, and a few people have finished hungry.

Meet at Saint Michael’s Church and you’ll end near Ghent City Hall. Along the way you’ll taste things tied to specific places, including spots like Chapeluur and Ghent’s old bars. If you want a history-heavy walk with food along the way, that’s the vibe; if you want lots of volume, bring a snack buffer or plan a proper dinner after.

Key Highlights You’ll Feel Fast

• Small group, real local pace: up to 15 people, with at least 8 tastings plus drinks
• Sweet and savory in one route: croquettes with mustard, ham, beignets, waffles, cookies, candy, and chocolate
• Adults-only fun built in: local beer and a shot of jenever (plus other local drinks)
• Famous Ghent flavors, not generic samples: chocolate from Vandenbouhede and candy from an old 17th-century shop
• Guides who keep the story moving: names spotted include Tom, Lemme, and Iris, each steering the walk with energy
• Not a full meal tour: expect bites, not a stomach-filling buffet

Entering Ghent’s Flavor Scene From Saint Michael’s Church

You start at Sint-Michielsplein 4, at Saint Michael’s Church. It’s a solid launching point because it puts you right in the heart of the historic center, where Ghent’s food culture makes sense. The tour runs about 2 hours 30 minutes and uses a mobile ticket, so you’re not juggling paper.

This is a walking tour with a clear endpoint: Ghent City Hall at Botermarkt 1. That matters. You finish in a showpiece area, and you can keep exploring without needing extra transport. It’s also one reason the tour feels useful even if you’re just in town for a short stop.

If you’re the type who likes to understand a place through what people actually eat and drink, this format fits. You get multiple stops, each tied to a specific flavor category and a few stories to go with it.

What You’ll Actually Taste: Snacks, Chocolate, Beer, Jenever, and Candy

The tour focuses on snacks and small tastings, not full meals. The official set includes 8 snack tastings (both zoet en hartig, sweet and savory) plus 3 alcoholic tastings. In practice, you’ll likely experience around 12 different tastings, depending on the exact selection that day.

Here are the kinds of items you can expect:

• Cheese croquettes with local mustard (a classic Ghent move)
• Belgian chocolates, including chocolate from a chocolatier Vandenbouhede, noted for a Gault Millau–rewarded connection
• Local beer, served at Ghent’s oldest bar, including Gulden Draak
• Local ham, including dried Ganda ham
• Jenever, Ghent’s juniper-and-apple spirit, plus other local drinks such as Roomer (white wine and elderflower)
• Old-school candy, including tastings tied to the city’s oldest candy shop and traditional pieces such as marzipan (marzapan)
• Savory bakery bites that show off Ghent’s take on snack food, like broccoli beignet with tartare sauce and a potato waffle with pickles

I like how the food isn’t random. It’s themed around the city’s signature tastes: crisp comfort food, sweet shops, and the drinking culture that sits right beside it.

Stop-By-Stop: How the Route Makes Ghent Feel Like a Story

Instead of one long food slog, the route mixes “comfort food” stops with “treat yourself” stops. It’s not just about sampling. It’s about how the city’s identity shows up in small places.

1) Savory start in the city center

You kick off with Ghent’s sweet and savory identity right away. Expect things like cheese croquettes and mustard on a picturesque square setting. This opening matters because it sets the tone: you’re eating your way through the city, not just collecting snacks.

One example stop mentioned in detail is Chapeluur, known for serving croquettes in a lively, modern-feeling setting. If you love that blend of old ingredients with newer presentation, this part works well.

2) Sweet shop momentum: Belgian chocolate

After savory comes the sweet. You’ll visit Belgian chocolate shops and sample multiple chocolates. One highlighted chocolatier is Vandenbouhede, tied to the Gault Millau recognition you’ll hear about from your guide.

This stop is useful even if you’re not a hardcore chocolate person. It helps you spot the difference between mass-market sweetness and chocolate built for flavor and texture. I also like that the guide uses the shops as a springboard into city stories, rather than just handing you a piece and moving on.

3) Old candy shop character (and why it can surprise you)

Then comes the candy stop, including tastings tied to Ghent’s oldest candy shop in town (a 17th-century building run by the same family since 1904). You can sample traditional sweets such as snowballs and marzipan-type candy pieces.

This is where the tour can feel either charming or off-track depending on what you want. If you like classic candy culture, it’s a treat. If you were craving more savory or a larger volume of food, candy will feel like a twist rather than a main course.

4) Drinks that explain local culture: beer and jenever

A big highlight is the drinking portion. You’ll get local beer at Ghent’s oldest bar, including Gulden Draak, plus a shot of jenever—the juniper-and-apple spirit that’s practically a Ghent landmark on its own.

There’s also mention of another local drink, Roomer, based on white wine and elderflower. If you like learning what makes a local spirit taste different (rather than just having a drink), this section pays off.

5) Ham, cheeses, pickles, and the snack-food logic of Ghent

Interspersed with sweet and drink stops are classic savory tastes: dried Ganda ham, local cheeses, pickles, and other small bites like beignets and waffles. These are the parts that help you understand why Ghent food works as “snacking city” food—shareable, portable, and built for wandering.

Price and Value Check: Is $75.49 Worth It?

At $75.49 per person, you’re paying for three things:

1) Multiple tastings (both sweet and savory snacks),

2) Alcoholic tastings included (3 drinks),

3) A local entertaining guide who connects food to place and stories.

That combination is where the value sits. If you tried to replicate this on your own, you’d spend time hunting shops, coordinating multiple stops, and guessing what’s worth tasting. Here, the selection is done for you, and the walking route reduces the “logistics overhead.”

Also, this is small-group: max 15. Smaller group sizes usually mean you get more attention, more back-and-forth, and a better sense of the city rather than being one face in a crowd.

What’s not included: bottled water. That’s minor, but it’s smart to plan for it. In a 2.5-hour walk, you’ll likely want sips between tastings.

Language, Group Size, and the Walk Pace in English

The tour is offered in English. If you read the reviews closely, you’ll see this is a common point. The company notes that guides speak Dutch as well, but the public tour itself runs in English.

In my view, this doesn’t have to be a dealbreaker. Food tasting works with a guide’s explanations plus the sensory experience. Still, if you’re hoping for a fully multilingual experience where everything is repeated in another language, you might want to look for a Dutch option instead.

The maximum group size (15) is the other pacing factor. You’ll spend less time waiting, and you can keep moving. That said, expect walking and standing during tastings. Comfortable shoes are not optional.

If you end up with a guide like Tom (noted for fun delivery), Lemme (mentioned for keeping things lively), or Iris (praised for charm), you’re likely to get the best version of the tour: clear stories, quick transitions, and tasting moments that feel like stops, not chores.

The Biggest Trade-Off: You Might Finish Hungry

This is the key “think twice” point. This tour is a tasting tour, not a full-meal food crawl.

One critique that shows up is that people ended the tour hungry, especially if they expected a larger amount of savory food. The tour’s own framing supports this: it’s built around quality bites rather than big portions.

My practical advice:

• If you’re a big eater, plan a meal afterward.
• If you have a strong preference for savory, note that the tour balances sweet and savory, and candy/chocolate take time.
• If you’re celebrating and want a more filling meal, treat this like your flavor warm-up, then do dinner near the City Hall end point.

Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who It Might Not)

You’ll probably love this tour if you:

• Want to explore Ghent by walking and sampling,
• Like both sweet and savory,
• Enjoy local drinks like beer and jenever,
• Prefer a guide who adds story and context, not just a checklist of tastings.

It might not be your best choice if you:

• Want a traditional “food tour” with heavy portions,
• Prefer history with minimal snack time,
• Are the type who needs a full dinner experience built into the schedule.

Still, even if you’re picky, the selection covers a lot of classic Ghent flavors—so you’re not just tasting one food type for 2.5 hours.

Booking Strategy: When to Reserve and What to Wear

Tours like this get booked early, and the average booking lead time is around 36 days. If you’re traveling in peak season or on a weekend, don’t wait until the last minute.

For your comfort:

• Wear shoes you can stand in for a while.
• Consider bringing a small personal snack if you know you get hungry between tastings.
• Pace yourself with the alcohol—three alcoholic tastings are included, so you’ll want to feel steady for the walk.

Because the endpoint is Ghent City Hall, you can plan your next stop as a relaxed walk around the center rather than a rushed search for dinner.

Should You Book This Ghent Tasting Tour?

Book it if you want an efficient, guided way to taste Ghent’s signature foods and drinks while learning what the city is about. The biggest strengths are the variety—croquettes, ham, chocolate, candy, beer, and jenever—and the small-group format with a guide who keeps the story flowing. It’s also a great fit for first-time Ghent visits because it ends right where the sightseeing gets easy.

Pass or adjust expectations if you’re chasing volume. This is tastings, not a buffet. If you crave a heavy meal, plan dinner right after, and you’ll likely enjoy it much more.

FAQ

How long is the Ghent Food & Drink Tasting Tour?

It runs for about 2 hours 30 minutes.

What is the price per person?

The price is $75.49 per person.

Is the tour in English?

Yes, the tour is offered in English.

How many people are in the group?

The tour has a maximum of 15 travelers.

What does the tour include?

It includes snacks (8 tasters, sweet and savory), alcoholic beverages (3 tasters), a local entertaining guide, and all fees and taxes.

What is not included?

Bottled water is not included.

Where do I meet the guide?

The start is at Saint Michael’s Church, Sint-Michielsplein 4, 9000 Gent, Belgium.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Ghent City Hall, Botermarkt 1, 9000 Gent, Belgium.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time.

Is the tour accessible for people needing accommodations?

Service animals are allowed, it is near public transportation, and most travelers can participate.