Tucked away between Brussels and Bruges, Ghent is a medieval masterpiece with a vibrant canal-side lifestyle. Here are the best things to do on a day trip to Ghent.
By: Paul Healy | Last Updated: | Jump to Comments
Ghent was once one of Europe’s largest cities and the powerhouse of medieval trade. Growing wealthy from the textile industry, by the 14th century, it matched Paris in terms of size and influence.
Today, you can witness the remnants of Ghent’s heyday in soaring Gothic masterpieces, imposing castles and medieval cobbled lanes with iconic guild houses.
We loved visiting Ghent. It has the history, grandeur, beer and chocolate of its more popular neighbours without the crowds.
You could spend more time in Ghent, but it works really well as a day trip. It’s conveniently located between Brussels and Bruges, and the compact, walkable centre makes it easy to get around all the major sights in a day.
This guide covers what we thought were the best things to do in Ghent, in the order in which you should visit them.
MAP, GHENT
Our map has all the main attractions in Ghent so you can take it with you while you are exploring. All the sights within the historic centre are easily walkable. We took the bus to the museum district in the afternoon, then walked to the train station after the museums.
Public transport is easy to use and free with the CityCard Ghent — more about that is further down in this blog post.
USING OUR MAPS. Click on the top right corner to open in the Google Maps app. Click on the star to save to your Google account.
THINGS TO DO IN GHENT
1. BELFRY OF GHENT
The Belfry of Ghent is the middle of the city’s three famous towers, the others being St. Bavo’s Cathedral and St. Nicholas’ Church.
Climbing to the top is a great way to get your bearings in the compact medieval city.
It was built in the 14th century as a watchtower and to guard important civil documents. Today, the belfry is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it provides excellent views of Ghent’s cobbled streets.
The staircase is extremely narrow, and at times you may need to wait for people coming from the opposite direction.
There’s hardly anywhere to move, so this might involve standing on a step on one foot to give the other people room to get around you. If you are not a fan of cramped spaces, the belfry might not be for you.
CITY CARD // If you visit all the attractions listed in this itinerary, it’s cheaper to buy the CityCard Ghent. You can buy the card from the ticket office under the Belfry. They will give you a physical card, which you can use to get into the other participating museums.
2. ST BAVO’S CATHEDRAL
You can enter St Bavo’s Cathedral for free and have a look around. However, the main reason to visit is to see the Ghent Altarpiece, considered one of the masterpieces of European art.
It is a classic example of the transition from Medieval to Renaissance art, and many experts consider it the first major oil painting in the world.
The work is called the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, and it was started by Jan van Eyck in the mid-1420s but was finished by his brother, Hubert van Eyck.
Some of the panels have recently been restored. Other restorations on the upper panels are currently underway, and you can see the work if you visit the Museum of Fine Arts (MSK), which I include later in this guide.
Seeing the altarpiece was a highlight of our trip to Ghent, and it’s something we highly recommend doing. If you want to visit, you need to book a timed entry in advance.
Here’s how to do it:
After you pick up your CityCard Ghent from visiting the Belfry, you can book a timeslot to see the Altarpiece in the Cathedral. I booked on my phone using the cathedral website and had no problem getting a timeslot straight away.
When you are booking, select the “Entrance with CityCard” option, and you will see the price is €2.50 rather than €10 for a regular adult. I booked the 25-minute altarpiece only tour.
A few minutes after booking, I received an email with the QR code. I used this to enter the museum inside the church, and someone was there to check my CityCard Gent.
3. STADSHAL
After leaving the cathedral, head to the nearby Stadshal, a modern addition to Ghent’s historic centre. It’s a 40-metre-long gabled room made from laminated timber featuring hundreds of skylights.
Concerts and markets are regularly held at the Stadshal, so it’s worth having a quick look to see what’s on. Otherwise, you can just admire the structure and continue on.
4. ST NICHOLAS CHURCH
St Nicholas’ Church is one of the oldest churches in Ghent and an iconic landmark. When it was built in the 13th century, it served the guilds of the craftsmen from the nearby Korenmarkt (wheat market).
Today, you’ll find chapels dedicated to various crafts. It’s free to enter.
5. GRAFFITI STREET
Next, head over to Graffiti Street, one of the best free things to do in Ghent.
Officially called Werregarenstraatje — we’ve included the location on the map above — this narrow street serves as a public canvas for young street artists.
In the 1990s, it was designated as a legal space for artists to practise, and it hasn’t been devoid of colour since. With rules similar to those in the Shoreditch Street art scene in London, any space is up for grabs, so the art is constantly changing.
6. KORENMARKT
Once you’ve snapped a few photos of the highlights at Graffiti Street, head over to Korenmarkt for a wander.
It was the medieval trading hub where merchants sold grain and today it’s one of the busiest streets in Ghent. The historic guild houses make a great base for cafes, shops, restaurants, events, markets and festivals.
7. ST MICHAEL’S BRIDGE
Spend a bit of time exploring this part of Ghent, navigating towards St Michael’s Bridge. It’s a 20th-century neo-Gothic structure, elegantly spanning the River Leie.
There’s a great photo opportunity from the centre of the bridge with the 3 towers of Ghent (St Nicholas’ Church, the Belfry and St Bavo’s Cathedral) perfectly lined up.
8. GRASLEI
Continue on to Graslei, the street parallel to Korenmarkt but closer to the river.
Graslei is another picturesque location in Ghent on the banks of the River Leie. It’s lined with medieval guild houses and was once the heart of Ghent’s grain trade.
There are several cafes that spill out onto the riverfront, but to be honest, they are all very touristy, so you would probably be better off finding somewhere else for lunch.
I ate at the café in the Museum of Fine Arts later in the day, and it was really good.
9. CANAL BOAT TOUR
Most of the canal boat tours in Ghent leave from Graslei, so after you’ve finished exploring the area, catch the 40-minute tour that is included on the Ghent CityCard.
There are departures every 15 to 20 minutes; booking ahead is not required. The boats are open or closed depending on the weather.
Tours glide past Graslei and Korenlei, down past the Rabot Towers, the old meat market and the Castle of the Counts.
10. GRAVENSTEEN CASTLE
Next, head to Gravensteen Castle or the Castle of the Counts. This medieval fortress, located in the centre of Ghent, was constructed in 1180 and served as the residence of the Counts of Flanders until 1353.
The tour of Gravensteen (included on the CityCard) provides a glimpse into medieval life, including how justice was administered in a gruesome manner.
On the self-guided audio tour, you stroll around the rooms with medieval exhibits and explore the fortified walls, towers and moat. The roof has a great view of Ghent.
The audio guide is as corny as they come and provides limited information, but it’s free, so you may as well pick one up.
Gravensteen Castle is included on the CityCard.
11. MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART (SMAK)
After Gravensteen Castle, I took the tram over to the museum district on the eastern edge of Citadelpark.
I had lunch at the café in the contemporary art museum, called Wilde Weide. It’s very good, but it does modern cooking. If you’d prefer something more traditional, it might be better to eat in the old town before heading over.
The tram ride is free with the CityCard.
The collection at the Contemporary Art Museum (SMAK) is considered the most important contemporary art collection in Belgium. It features works by top Belgian and international artists covering Pop Art, Minimalism, and Conceptual Art.
I really liked the collection. It’s interesting yet accessible without being too obscure.
12. MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS (MSK)
Finally, I went across the road to visit the Museum of Fine Arts. It’s Belgium’s oldest public art museum with a collection that spans from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century.
It has a diverse selection of works, including paintings, sculptures, and prints from artists including Hieronymus Bosch, Pieter Bruegel the Younger, James Ensor, and René Magritte.
The highlight for me was seeing the restoration of the upper register of the altarpiece from the Cathedral. From Tuesdays to Fridays, you can see the restorers working live. On weekends and holidays, the panels are set up so that they are visible to the public.
PLANNING & LOGISTICS
WHEN TO GO?
The best time to visit Ghent is during the shoulder seasons: April-June and September-October.
From April to June, the weather is mild, the gardens are in bloom, and the crowds are manageable. July is festival month with the Gentse Feesten, a 10-day cultural extravaganza that takes over the whole city.
In September and October, you may start to get clear, crisp days, and visitor numbers will be lower at this time as well.
Ghent is beautiful over Christmas, but the weather will be cold and damp, and it can get very busy.
Peak season is July-August when the weather is around 15-23°C (59-73°F). It can be busy and you’ll probably pay the most for accommodation.
HOW LONG DO YOU NEED?
You can see most of the main attractions in one day, which is how we have designed this itinerary. If you have more time, a weekend in Ghent will allow you to visit some of the neighbourhoods outside the city centre and explore some of the other museums.
HOW TO GET THERE?
The best way to get to Ghent is by train. Belgium has an excellent rail network that is fast, efficient, and generally good value.
Here are the most common train routes to Ghent:
- From Brussels: Direct trains every hour, journey time 30 minutes.
- From London: Eurostar to Brussels (2 hours), then connecting train (total 3-4 hours)
- From Amsterdam: 3-4 hours with one connection in Brussels or Antwerp
- From Paris: Thalys to Brussels, then connecting train (total 4 hours)
All your train journeys can be booked via thetrainline.com or omio.com. Both platforms accept international cards.
GETTING AROUND
Gent-Sint-Pieters train station is about 3.2 kilometres from the historic centre, which is a 30- to 40-minute walk from the station.
There is a tram stop directly outside the station, making it very easy to get into the centre.
A single trip on the bus costs €3, payable by tapping a contactless card on the white machines on the bus. (The dark machines are for local travel cards).
The CityCard gives you free public transport.
The historic centre is compact and entirely walkable.
WHERE TO STAY?
If you decide to make a weekend of it and stay overnight, we’d suggest staying near the historic centre. Here are a few recommendations.
- Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof Ghent (€€€€) – A luxury retreat with full spa facilities and stylish rooms, walking distance from the historic centre.
- 1898 The Post (€€€€) – A beautifully preserved post office turned boutique hotel right on the river.
- Hotel Harmony (€€) – Experience Ghent’s medieval charm from this cosy canal-side hideaway.
CITYCARD GHENT
The CityCard Ghent provides access to the top attractions, museums, and experiences in Ghent, as well as free public transport. Even if you are visiting for one day, it should save you some money.
The cost of the card is:
- 48-hour pass: €42
- 72-hour pass: €48
You can see from the section below whether you will save money on the Ghent card, as the card covers all the museums we have listed.
Children under 18 get free access to most museums in Ghent, so it’s probably not worth getting a card for them.
The CityCard cannot be purchased online. The card can be purchased from most hotels in the city, and all the museums covered by the card.
If you want to get one straight away, there is a booth called Lijnwinkel at Sint-Pietersstation.
MUSEUM OPENING HOURS & PRICES
- Belfry: €11, every day
- Cathedral: €12.50 (€2.50 with CityCard)
- Gent Watertoerist: €10 every day
- Castle of the Counts: €13 every day
- MSK Museum of Fine Arts: €13, closed Mondays
- SMAK: €18, closed Mondays
PRACTICAL TIPS
- Dutch is the official language, but English and French are widely spoken.
- It’s a compact city, and you’ll do a lot of walking so wear comfortable shoes.
- We got soaking wet and sunburnt all on the same day, so be prepared for all types of weather.
- Contactless payment was accepted everywhere. We literally didn’t even have any euros with us, and it was never a problem.
MORE BELGIUM GUIDES
- We’ve covered all the best things to do in Bruges on our 1 or 2 day itinerary.
- Discover the best things to do in Antwerp.
- Our guide to visiting Mechelen.
- How to visit Ghent on a day trip.
- What to do in Leuven, Belgium.
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