Things to Do in Ghent, Norfolk
Explore Ghent - Post-industrial riverside district where yesterday clings like humidity - part working port, part college town, moving to a slow salt rhythm.
Explore ActivitiesDiscover Ghent
Ghent feels like a river town that blinked and found itself a city. The Elizabeth slides slow and brown past red-brick warehouses with rusted fire escapes, carrying diesel exhaust from the docks and yeast from the old Pabst brewery. Container ships clang against Lambert's Point while live oaks drop Spanish moss onto cracked sidewalks. On humid summer nights, salt and creosote from the port drift deep into the neighborhood. This is Norfolk's oldest quarter, where 19th-century shotgun houses press against converted tobacco warehouses, and barber shops still spin striped poles while men argue fishing reports. Norfolk State students keep the streets alive, hauling instrument cases past corner stores with pickled eggs floating in jars, as older residents watch from porches their grandparents once used. Directions here come by churches and corner stores, never street names.
Why Visit Ghent?
Atmosphere
Post-industrial riverside district where yesterday clings like humidity - part working port, part college town, moving to a slow salt rhythm.
Price Level
$
Safety
moderate
Perfect For
Ghent is ideal for these types of travelers
Top Attractions in Ghent
Don't miss these Ghent highlights
The Hermitage Museum & Gardens
Follow the reflecting pool where koi break the surface with soft plops, through gardens thick with camellia perfume. Inside the 1908 Arts and Crafts mansion, Tiffany glass catches afternoon light in blues and golds.
Tip: Come at 3pm when the sun hits the stained glass and the school buses have pulled away
Chelsea District murals
Brick warehouse walls burst with color - a three-story octopus wraps tentacles around windows while jazz musicians painted in blues and reds play across an old music store's facade. Aerosol still lingers in the alleys where footsteps echo between buildings.
Tip: Start at Colonial Avenue and 21st Street, then work south in zigzags for the tightest cluster
Lambert's Point Pier
Watch container ships glide past close enough to read rust patterns and smell diesel. The pier creaks beneath you while gulls circle overhead, diving for scraps from the fish plant.
Tip: Evening light brings the best views and cooler air, plus locals dropping chicken necks for crab
Ghent Farmers Market
Saturday mornings bring kettle corn and basil, banjo players trading licks with gospel singers. Vietnamese spring rolls sit next to Amish pies under white canvas.
Tip: Get there at 8:30am when vendors unpack but before the heirloom tomatoes vanish
Old Ghent historic district
Victorian houses in sun-faded pastels tilt on their foundations, wraparound porches sagging under Norfolk humidity. Iron fences radiate morning heat while plaques mark Civil War damage and yellow fever.
Tip: The brick sidewalks between 20th and 22nd Streets survive best and photograph better
Where to Eat in Ghent
Taste the best of Ghent's culinary scene
Doumar's Cones & BBQ
Vintage diner
Specialty: Original waffle cone with hand-dipped ice cream, around $4-6
Luce
Italian-American
Specialty: Crab ravioli in sherry cream sauce, entrees $16-24
Yorgo's Bageldashery
Local breakfast spot
Specialty: Norfolk Navy Yard sandwich (turkey, swiss, russian dressing) on fresh-baked everything bagel, $8-10
Gersi
Egyptian street food
Specialty: Koshary bowl with lentils, rice, and crispy onions, $9-11
Fellini's
Late-night pizza
Specialty: Garlic knots dripping butter and parmesan, $5-7
Ghent After Dark
Experience the nightlife scene
The Ghent Bar
Dark wood and brass neighborhood bar where locals fight over the jukebox and bartenders learn your order by the second round
Loyal regulars, cheap beer, no pretense
Smartmouth Brewing Pilot House
Warehouse brewery with exposed beams and malt in the air, where professors and longshoremen argue over IPAs and stouts
Craft beer crowd, board games, food trucks
Crudo Nudo
Natural wine bar in a converted garage, where the list changes weekly and you might share a table with painters or Navy brass
Natural wine nerds, rotating vinyl, small plates
Getting Around Ghent
The Elizabeth River Trail cuts straight through Ghent - grab a bike from Pedego on 21st Street ($12/hour) and follow it past the hospital to downtown. The Tide light rail stops at EVMC/Fort Norfolk station on the edge, rolling every 15 minutes to downtown and the airport. Most people walk - it's 20 minutes from Colley Avenue to the water. Parking meters take cards at $1.50/hour days, free after 6pm and Sundays. Uber shows up but takes time - Norfolk State kids grab the Lime scooters scattered everywhere.
Where to Stay in Ghent
Recommended accommodations in the area
Moxy Norfolk
Boutique
$120-180
Granby Guest House
Budget
$65-85
The Commodore
Mid-range
$90-140
RVA Loft Apartments
Mid-range
$100-150
Book Activities in Norfolk
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Explore Ghent Your Way
From The Hermitage Museum & Gardens to hidden gems, Ghent offers something for everyone. Book your activities now and experience the best of this district.
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