Are you thinking about visiting the Belgian city of Ghent (Gent in Dutch)? Ghent is a small, but one of the most picturesque cities in northern Europe. On this page we discuss the best way to spend one day in Ghent and show you all the best things to do and see in this underrated city.
Ghent doesn’t get the international fanfare it deserves. In Ghent, grand cathedrals tower over quiet café-lined streets below. Flemish architecture is on full display all throughout the center of the city. If you’re visiting Belgium, you don’t want to skip this beautiful medieval city. So read on to see all the fabulous things to do in Ghent!
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Ghent – What You Need to Know
Where is Ghent?
Ghent is in northwest Belgium, about 55 km northwest of Brussels, 50 km southeast of Bruges and 220 km from Amsterdam. It’s in the Flemish part of Belgium, which means the buildings look more Dutch than French.
How to get to Ghent
There is no airport in Ghent, as Brussels International is your starting point for anywhere in Belgium (though there is a small airport in Antwerp as well). The easiest way to get to Ghent from Brussels is to take the Intercity train about 35 minutes from central Brussels or a bit less than an hour from Brussels Airport.
Unfortunately, the main train station in Ghent is not as central as in many other European cities, so you’ll have to walk about 30 minutes or change trains to get to Ghent Zuid (Ghent South Station) in the city center.
Driving to Ghent is also a great way to get there. There are plenty of free parking options just outside the city center and you can walk into the city from there. If you’re staying overnight in the city center, however, there are many affordable parking garages that will make life easier for your day in Ghent.
Click here to find a great deal on a rental car in northern Europe!
If you’re coming from Amsterdam, Paris, or another city outside Belgium, you can also take the train. The Eurostar (formally the Thalys) runs numerous daily trains between Brussels and other major cities. From Brussels, you’ll take the SNCB local train to Ghent.
International trains in Europe are not cheap, however, so if you’re looking to save some money, book a Flixbus.
Lastly, there are numerous tour companies that offer day trips from Brussels to Ghent and Bruges. You most likely won’t find an option that just hits Ghent on its own, so you don’t actually get a full day in Ghent and it’s a long, busy day hitting both cities. A few recommended options for tours of Ghent are shown below.
Weather and when to visit
Northern Europe is not known for its weather. But it changes quickly. I had a miserable day in Ghent my first time there and went into a bar for a few beers. When I came outside it was clear blue skies and I had a lovely evening.
Summers are mild and rarely get hot, with average highs of around 73 degrees (23 C). Winters are not too cold, with average daytime highs around 43 degrees (6 C) and overnight lows around freezing. Winters can be pretty damn gloomy with a lot of dreary rain, though.
Like all of Europe, Ghent is busier in the summer. But Ghent does not get the hordes of tourists like Bruges or Amsterdam, so crowds won’t be as much of a concern. I’ve been in late May and early August and both times had no issues with crowds. The city is getting more popular though, and more and more tourists are arriving every year.
For the best combination of weather and crowds, May is the best month to visit. But Ghent can be visited year-round. Days are long in the summer – like 10:00 PM sunset long – so you can benefit from longer days if you go in May, June or July.
How to get around Ghent
About 260,000 people call Ghent home, so it’s a sizable city. But the city center is pretty small and super easy to walk around in a day. Everything discussed in this post is easy to see without ever needing to get on public transportation or getting in an Uber.
Should you not want to walk too much though, central Ghent has a superb tram system. There are three lines and stops all over the central city. The tram lines also extend out into the suburbs, making it possible to stay outside the city and easily get downtown.
Paying for a tram ride is as easy as tapping your debit card, credit card, or Apple Pay (so long as your cards have contactless payment). It costs 2.5 euros per ride, but if you’re within one hour you don’t have to pay again.
If you don’t have contactless payment you can buy a ticket from the kiosks at the tram stations. Or if you have the CityCard Gent public transportation is included as part of your purchase.
Language
This part of Belgium speaks Flemish, which is basically Dutch with some minor differences. But not to worry, everyone you’ll come across will speak fluent English. If you don’t speak English or Dutch though, you might have an issue. Many Belgians also will speak French but it’s not guaranteed everyone you encounter will be fluent.
Food
Did someone say chocolate and waffles? Yes, this is chocolate and waffle territory. But don’t waste your money on the cheap side of the road waffles. You can get those anywhere. Sit down at a restaurant and get a fresh waffle with your choice of toppings.
Or better yet, order the Flemish stew, my personal favorite when traveling in Belgium. Ghent isn’t known for having any particular amazing culinary delights, but you’re sure to find something you love.
For chocolate, you can either spend a ton of money on a fancy name brand chocolatier, or just get some cheap ones from the gift shop. I find the cheap ones still pretty damn tasty, especially the truffles. Chocolate shops are literally everywhere in Ghent. It’s just a matter of finding the one you want.
Where to stay in Ghent
If after spending a day in Ghent you feel inclined to stay the night, there are a ton of charming hotels and rentable apartments to choose from. For quality service and a fantastic location I recommend the Ghent Marriott Hotel or the 1898 The Post hotel.
There are plenty of cheaper options as well in and around the city. You can check out the full listing of hotels and apartments for rent in Ghent on booking.com here.
How to long to stay in Ghent
All the main things to do in Ghent are centrally located, so one day is sufficient to see all the highlights and have time to sit down for a few Belgian beers at a quaint Belgian beer cafe. It’s easy to see Ghent in a day, but should you want a more intimate experience, you can spend two nights and fully immerse yourself in the culture.
Ghent can be done as part of a greater tour of Belgium or Northern Europe, combining it with places like Brussels and Leuven.
Travel Insurance
When touring around northern Europe, it’s a good idea to have travel insurance so that you’re prepared for the unexpected. We use World Nomads when we travel internationally. Word Nomads provides coverage to travelers in over 100 countries. You can search for a coverage plan using the link below.
The Cathedrals of Ghent
For a small city, Ghent has a high concentration of large medieval gothic cathedrals in its city center. One look at the city on Google Earth will make this clear. While most cities its size will have one feature cathedral in the city, Ghent has four.
There is one spot where you can stand and see three of these behemoth cathedrals – plus the bell tower of Ghent, which looks like a church tower – without having to turn your head. One of the best things to do in Ghent is just to explore all the gothic cathedrals. Let’s run through all the main cathedrals in Ghent here.
Saint Michael’s Church
Free entrance, but only open to visitors in the summer months.
Built in the 1400s and destroyed and rebuilt numerous times over its existence, this cathedral is unique because it was originally planned to have a massive 134 meter tall tower which never got built, so a flat roof was put over it in the 1800s. You can tell that it looks out of place when you’re standing in front of the church and the bell tower just sort of stops.
Saint Nicholas Church
Free entrance
Dating back to the 1200s, this cathedral with its fully realized tower sits right in the heart of Ghent and is a focal point for the city. The tower is in the exact center of the church, which is unique as most church bell towers are over the main entrance or on the side.
Saint Nicholas Church deteriorated over the centuries but has been restored and today is looking as grand as I’m sure it did in the 1200s. The organ is massive and one of the most acclaimed church organs in Europe.
Saint Bavo’s Cathedral
Free entrance (note that inside is not open until 13:00 on Sundays)
This gorgeous church dates back to the 10th century. Like the others it has a tumultuous history and its construction stopped and started many times. It’s most famous for the 15th century painting by the van Eyck brothers, known as the Ghent Altarpiece.
The church also offers a virtual reality tour of the Altarpiece which I have not personally done (12.50 EUR).
Saint Jacob’s Church
Free entrance
Similar to the others, but with three smaller towers instead of one feature tower. It’s away from the main street that the other three are on, but not more than a few minutes walk away.
The map below shows the cathedrals of Ghent along with the key spots to hit discussed in the next section. I recommend going inside each church, as well as walking around the outside and getting some nice views of these masterful buildings from all angles. There are many other churches in Ghent that you can walk to, but they are not quite as impressive as these four.
Other Key Spots to Hit in Ghent
It’s no exaggeration to say that every street in central Ghent is gorgeous. Little houses and buildings with the typical gabled roofs found in Dutch and Flemish architecture line every street. Some of the buildings are shops, some restaurants, some museums, and some are private houses. But no matter what they are, you can’t walk down a street in Ghent and not be impressed. The streets here just ooze charm.
Like most old European cities, the best thing to do in Ghent is to just walk around and hit all the main sights. The previous section discussed the main cathedrals, but there are many other must-see spots in Ghent. These are discussed below.
So lace up your shoes and get walking. If walking all day isn’t for you, remember that the tram system is quite extensive in the city center so you can always hop on trams when your legs are tired.
Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts)
Entrance 12 EUR
Gravensteen is an 11th century castle with a moat that’s mostly dry right in the heart of the city. It’s one of few castles you’ll find in Europe directly in a city center outside of the UK.
Dating back to 1180, it has served many purposes throughout the years, such as a prison and a courthouse. It was restored in the late 1800s into the beautiful castle it is today. Get the audio guide to learn about the history of the castle as you walk around.
Het Belfort van Gent (the Ghent Belltower)
8 euros to climb the tower stairs to the top
Perhaps the most prominent landmark in Ghent is the 14th century bell town in the middle of the city. From the top of the tower you get a lovely 360 degree view of Ghent. The tower itself looks like a church tower, but it has served various other non-religious purposes in its 600 year history.
Graslei
This is a street along a canal with some fantastic displays of Flemish architecture. If you stand in front of the Ghent Marriott hotel on the other side of the river you’ll see what I mean. The view from that side of the canal should absolutely not be missed. It’s hard to find a more picture-perfect spot in all of Belgium!
Stadhuis Gent (Ghent City Hall)
The Ghent City Hall still serves a function as the city hall, so you probably shouldn’t go in unless you have some business to attend to. But it sure is worthy of being admired from outside. Grab an outdoor seat at Bier Central Gent across the street and you’ll have a view of the city hall along with the bell tower. You’ll also have an excellent beer!
Vrijdagmarkt (Friday Market)
This is a large plaza in the city lined with beautiful little buildings on each side. There is an actual market on Friday and Saturday mornings. When the market is not there, it’s an open space and you can see the statue of Jacob van Artevelde, a local hero for reviving the Ghent textile industry in the 1300s.
Huis van Alijn (Alan’s House)
Entrance 8 euros
If you want some slightly more recent history you can head to Huis van Alijn, where you can learn about life in Ghent over the last 100 years. The museum is located in a building from the 1300s that served as a place for children’s and elderly hospice care.
Naturally, this is not an exhaustive list of everything to do in Ghent. But if you hit all these spots you’ll have seen the best sights in the city. Even if you don’t go inside any of the buildings you will still leave Ghent satisfied, as it’s just such a goddamn good looking city!
Short Tours of Ghent
While Ghent might not have as many canals as Amsterdam or Bruges, there are still a fair amount of waterways around the city. Enough to make a short scenic boat tour through the city worth it.
There are a few companies that offer boat tours. Head over to De Bootjes van Gent for a 40 minute cruise around the city. It only cost 8.50 EUR, but if you’d prefer they also offer hop-on-hop-off water taxi service for 15 EUR per day.
If you’re not into boat tours, another great thing to do in Ghent is to join a free walking tour. Check out the Legends of Gent Free Walking Tour for a guided tour of the highlights of Ghent we discussed above.
One of the best things about Europe is that most cities offer free walking tours where you can learn a lot about the city from a local. Just remember to tip (so it’s not totally free). While there is no charge for the tour, you’ll need to book a spot in advance (use link above). The tour runs daily at 13:00 and meets near St. Michael’s Church.
When in Ghent, Drink a Beer
Belgium is definitely one of the best countries in the world to have a beer, and you’ll find no shortage of watering holes to quench your thirst for a Belgian triple in Ghent. Pretty much any café or restaurant will have multiple different local beers on tap, so you really can’t go wrong with anywhere you stop. If you want to go somewhere that offers dozens of choices though, here are some options.
- Dulle Griet: A small beer café featuring over 500 different Belgian beers, including many on tap. I spent an ample amount of time here waiting for the weather to clear and fondly remember it. They have a sign that reads “no wifi, pretend it’s the 1990s and talk to each other.” Brilliant.
- ‘t Galgenhuis: A quaint beer cafe in a charming little building. And by little I mean little. Like tiny. There are only a few tables indoors, so if you want to enjoy a beer here you just might have to wait. Worth it though. I’ve had a few pints here too and the ambiance is inviting.
- Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant: This quintessential Belgian beer cafe is right on the water and offers dozens of local beer options.
- Brouwbar: Local microbrewery with more non-Belgian style beers like IPAs and stouts, in case you want to take a break from blondes and dubbles.
If you’re looking to combine sightseeing in Ghent with epic beer drinking, then you might be interested in the Ghent Beer and Sightseeing Adventure tour. It even includes a boat ride through the city once you’re nice and tipsy.
Ghent – Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ghent famous for?
Ghent is famous for its medieval castles and cathedrals amongst beautiful streets lined with brilliant Flemish architecture. The city is particularly known for having a high concentration of large gothic cathedrals in its city center.
Which is prettier, Ghent or Bruges?
Both Ghent and Bruges are stunning cities, but most people would argue that Bruges is just a bit more picturesque. When you’re in Ghent it’s hard to imagine what could be nicer, only realizing once you arrive in Bruges.
How much time do you need in Ghent?
One day in Ghent is the ideal amount of time to comfortably explore and get to know the city. Spending a night is also a great way to experience the city after dark and explore some quaint Belgian beer cafes.
Should I go to Ghent or Antwerp?
If you have the choice between Ghent and Antwerp and you can only visit one of them, then I’d advise you to go to Ghent. While Antwerp is also a beautiful city with a charming city center, it’s hard to beat Ghent when it comes to Belgian cities. Really only Bruges can take that crown.
One Day in Ghent – Final Word
The highlights of Ghent are easy to see in a short amount of time and you will not regret spending one day in Ghent. You will lose track of time walking around the quaint little streets and gazing up at the giant towers of the cathedrals. And when you need a break from all the walking, there are so many cafes to stop at for a fresh Belgian beer that you can’t go wrong. You will surely love Ghent!
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