Ghent is our favorite city in Belgium. It really has it all – beautiful buildings, intertwining canals, a great food scene, and friendly locals.
It’s no wonder, we chose to spend a year of our lives living here.
That’s why we’re extra excited to share this city guide about all the best things you can do in Ghent whether it be on a one day trip or living here permanently.
We’ll go through all the top attractions, the best free things to do, how to get around in Ghent, and where to stay. So hopefully, you can start planning your own trip to this amazing city in Belgium.
Ghent is often overlooked by tourists, who tend to visit the more popular destinations in Belgium like Brussels and Bruges.
But do yourself a favor and spend at least one day in Ghent, and we’re sure you’ll fall in love with this city just like we did.
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Plan your trip to Ghent in Belgium
In this section, we share some practical information on how to get around in the city and where to stay in Ghent. But if you’re not interested in the planning part, then you can jump to all things to do in Ghent here.
Now let’s start out with 10 reasons why we think you should visit Ghent in the first place.
Why you should visit Ghent
Here are 10 good reasons to why you should visit Ghent in Belgium:
- It’s a very historical city full of interesting old buildings.
- Canals run through the streets of Ghent, which gives an extra ambiance to the city.
- Ghent is so lively. It’s full of people looking for a good time and there are bicycles everywhere, which my Copenhagen heart just loves.
- The food scene is delicious! Ghent is home to many international eateries, so you can find almost anything to eat. There are more than 700 restaurants in Ghent.
- It’s a great city to go out and experience Belgium’s crazy nightlife.
- Ghent has a big shopping street and a few malls for those looking for something new to the wardrobe.
- Apart from a ton of bars, you can also find many coffee shops with delicious cappuccinos and a laid-back vibe.
- There are many events throughout the year such as the Ghent Festival, the Light show, and the Christmas Market.
- Many expats and international students settle down in Ghent, so it’s not unusual to hear English in the streets.
- There is always something happening in Ghent.
How to get around in Ghent
The normal way to get around in Ghent is by either walking or biking.
However, if you’re just visiting Ghent for one or two days, then it makes sense to use the public transport to save yourself some time.
Your first entry point in Ghent with public transportation will be Gent-Sint-Pieters train station. Here you can catch the train to Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp, basically everywhere else in Belgium.
From Gent-Sint-Pieters, the fastest way into the city center is to take a tram, which costs €2,5 per ride and the ticket is valid for 1 hour. It’s also possible to take the bus around Ghent, it costs the same as the tram.
Walking from the main train station to the city center will take between 20-30 minutes depending on how fast you walk. So that’s also an option for you.
Where to stay in Ghent
If you’re just visiting Ghent on a one day trip then this section isn’t for you. But if you want to stay a night or two, which we highly recommend, then check out these recommendations below:
Cheap accommodation in Ghent
- Treck Hostel: The most affordable hostel in Ghent that still has great reviews.
- Hostel Uppelink: Undoubtedly the most popular hostel in Ghent with an amazing location.
Mid-range accommodation in Ghent
- Hotel Onderbergen: This hotel has a great location and is very affordable for two people.
- B&B Hotel: For the couple who wants something modern and new with the perfect location.
Luxurious accommodation in Ghent
- The Boatel: Want something extraordinary? Try staying in this houseboat.
- Marriott Hotel: For those who are looking for the whole package – historical building, city center location, modern facilities, and pure luxury.
Top attractions & Things to do in Ghent
Now that we’ve been through how to plan your trip to Ghent, let’s dive right into the most popular things to do in this beautiful city in Belgium.
If we can recommend one thing you really must do on your day trip to Ghent, then it’s visiting the incredible Belfry Tower, which offers the best views of the city. So let’s start here.
1. Belfry Tower
The Belfry, also known as the Belfort van Gent, is one of the most beautiful landmarks in Ghent.
And with its 91 meters height, it also happens to be the tallest Belfry in all of Belgium.
The Belfry of Ghent has a long history with a construction that started back in the Middle Ages in 1313. Today it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you can surely see why!
It’s our favorite tourist attraction in all of Ghent because it gives you an amazing view over the city. The Belfry is therefore the perfect first stop in Ghent. Here you can really get an overview of the city and all the old building surrounding the city center.
The Belfry of Ghent is open daily from 10 AM – 6 PM with last entry one hour before closing. The tickets cost €11 for adults, but you can find reductions for children, students, and people living in Ghent. You can either buy your ticket at the front desk or book your time slot in advance here.
2. Gravensteen Castle
Another really interesting building in Ghent is the Gravensteen Castle that dates back to 1180.
It’s called, “The Castle of Counts” and is known for its dark Medieval history. The Gravensteen Castle is the home of a big torture chamber that both intrigues you and makes you feel super uncomfortable. If you’re into dark tourism, we can definitely recommend a visit here.
Apart from all the torture, the Gravensteen castle is a beautiful landmark in Ghent that also has a great view of the city. Visiting the castle is definitely one of the best things to do on a trip to Ghent.
The Gravensteen Castle is open every day from 10 AM – 6 PM but the last admission is in the time slot between 4:20 – 4:40 PM. The adult ticket price is €13 and you can expect reductions for children and students.
3. The Ghent Altarpiece
One of the most popular things to do is to see the iconic art piece in Ghent called “The adoration of the mystic lamb”.
It was completed by the famous Van Eyck brothers in 1432 and it’s located in St Bavo’s cathedral in Ghent.
The altarpiece became even more famous when two of its panels got stolen back in 1934. The theft still remains unsolved today.
We personally haven’t seen the painting, so we don’t have any pictures to show you. But apparently the Van Eyck brothers created an extra dimension, which makes it look like there is an inner glow from the painting, also known as, “The light of the divine”.
So if you like art and history, and you want to discover one of Ghent’s most popular pieces, then we suggest you make a stop at St Bavo’s cathedral. It’s a bit expensive but the entrance fee to the cathedral itself is free – the cathedral is also Ghent’s most beautiful church!
You can see the altarpiece every day between 10 AM – 4:30 PM except for Sundays when the opening hours differ. The adult ticket price is €12,5, which is a bit steep, but there are at least reductions for children.
4. Boat Tour in Ghent’s canals
Another popular thing to do on a day trip to Ghent is a boat tour. In our opinion, you can’t visit this city without going on a boat tour in the canals – it’s really a must.
A boat tour is an amazing opportunity to see and learn about Ghent and all of its attractions from a different perspective.
The basic prices are the same for all boat tour operators, and it should be around €10 for the basic adult ticket, which is pretty affordable for what you get in return. There are also reductions for children and group tours.
5. Kayak in Ghent’s canals
Now for the more adventurous traveller, what better way to see Ghent than from a kayak?
That way you can see the city from the canals at your own pace while having a lot of fun!
However, there are a few cons about choosing a kayak over a boat tour. First of all, you don’t get any information since you don’t have a tour guide, you also have to work your biceps in order to get anywhere, and it’s pretty pricey.
The prices are much steeper than the boat tours. A single kayak costs €29 and a twin kayak costs €39 for a maximum of 3 hours. So it’s definitely cheaper if you split the cost with a friend and get a twin kayak. You can find more information at Korenlei Kajaks.
6. Join a fun day tour in Ghent
If you want to dive deeper into everything that Ghent has to offer, but you don’t want to spend your one day joining a big walking tour group, then we suggest you book a themed day tour.
We’ve listed some options in the table below because we thought it could be fun to learn about Ghent through chocolate tastings, beer tastings, or by biking through the city.
Free things to do in Ghent
If your wallet is looking empty or you just prefer to spend your money on food, then not to worry.
Luckily there are plenty of free things to do in Ghent.
7. Korenmarkt central square
Korenmarkt is the name of Ghent’s city square in the old historical center, and it translates to the “Corn market”.
In Korenmarkt you will see plenty of historical buildings such as the impressive St Nicholas’ church …and some rather new establishments such as McDonalds and Starbucks.
Korenmarkt is truly the heart of Ghent. From here you can easily walk to all the tourist attractions we’ve mentioned earlier.
This is where you want to start you exploration of Ghent.
8. The church and cathedral
The city center of Ghent is home to a very impressive old church and a beautiful old cathedral. And both of them are completely free to enter.
The St Nicholas church is situated in the middle of Korenmarkt.
The church is very old and it really looks massive from the outside. It was built in a gothic style in the 13th century and today it’s one of Ghent’s famous landmarks and best free things to do. If you visit the St Nicholas’ church, then make sure notice its impressive organ.
A 2-minute walk from St Nicholas’ church, you will find St Bavo’s cathedral. We absolutely adore the St Bavo’s cathedral because of its beauty. This is also where you find the famous Ghent Altarpiece.
St Bavo’s cathedral is the oldest parish church in the heart of Ghent, and is another great landmark in the city. Apart from the famous altarpiece, it has a 89 meter tall iconic tower and some beautiful stained glass windows!
Even if you’re not catholic or religious in any way, you should still pay the church and cathedral a visit. They are two iconic and beautiful buildings in Ghent, which both represent the history of this glorious city.
9. Canal walk
One of our favorite things to do in Ghent is to go for a canal walk.
You can basically follow the canal out of the city center and into the residential areas.
This way, you can explore more than just the city center of Ghent. Plus walking is free.
I used to walk around the canals in Ghent on a daily basis and one thing I noticed is that Ghent is full of houseboats. So follow the canal out of the city center and discover all the old tanker ships on the way. All these floating homes are very impressive.
Plus there is actually a lot of picturesque old places to see along the way.
So if you’re into photography or you just enjoy walking in general, then we can 100% recommend a canal walk around Ghent.
10. Graffiti Street
One of the cooler things to do in Ghent is to visit the graffiti street.
It’s basically a small shortcut, which is full of graffiti!
Type in “Werregarenstraat” in google maps, and you’ll find Ghent’s coolest and most impressive street art.
The graffiti street is a canvas for street artists, and there is always someone creating something colorful with their spray cans. Every time we walk through the graffiti street it looks different from the last time.
It’s a super cool place to take some pictures and best of all – it’s free to visit this amazing spot in Ghent!
This was our city guide to all the best things to do on a one day trip to Ghent. We sincerely hope you found the information helpful and that it will be useful for when you’re planning your own trip to Ghent.
If you have any questions about this amazing city in Belgium, then feel free to leave a comment in the box below.
Make also sure to read our blog post about what Belgium is famous for before your trip.
Thanks for reading, happy travels, and enjoy your one day in Ghent!
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