The capital of Belgium or more popular cities like Bruges may overshadow it, but all travelers who decide to visit the jewel of Flanders end up more than happy. There must be a reason! Do you want to know the best things to see and do in Ghent ? In this article we take you to discover the 10 essential places in the city, the plans that cannot be missed and we give you some tips to make the most of your time there.
What to see in Ghent
With its medieval appearance and long history, which is imbued in the buildings of its historic centre, this university city has plenty of atmosphere. Its small size, the charm of its streets and its busy cultural agenda make Ghent one of the essential visits to make in Belgium .
As you wander around, you'll come across bridges spanning canals, gothic buildings, waffle stands, castles and a few more surprises. Are you coming to discover them?
Before you start: sign up for a free tour
If you know us, you'll know that the way we usually start a visit to a city from scratch is by signing up for a free tour, both the typical one that goes through the emblematic places, as well as other thematic or more curious ones . In Ghent you can do these (in Spanish):
- Essential Ghent Free Tour
- Free tour of mysteries and legends
- Free alternative night tour
- Free Tasting Tour : includes waffles, fries, beer, chocolate and more (note: English option)
Remember that free tours are NOT free, they are based on a voluntary tip system.
1. Korenmarkt, the heart of Ghent
This central square decorated with Flemish buildings is the perfect starting point for a tour of Ghent. Its name comes from the fact that in the past this was the place where the wheat market was located … today there are only traces of wheat in the beers you can drink on one of its many terraces .
However, we would walk a little further to reach the legendary De Dull Griet , a beautiful pub where you can order the legendary 1.2 litre beer. The glass is so peculiar that for years it was the most coveted object in the city and probably now adorns many rooms of young (or former) cheeky people… To break this tradition, the owners came up with a trick: everyone who orders it has to leave a shoe as a deposit ! Curious, isn't it?
2. San Miguel Bridge
Walking around and crossing the St. Michael's Bridge will be one of the most romantic moments in Ghent. And if you are shying away from love or are feeling lonely, you still can't miss it. On both banks of the Leie River there are super cool Flemish-style facades , so get ready to take lots of photos.
Take advantage of the proximity to stroll along the Ghent quays (Graslei Street and Korenlei Street), both day and night, as the image changes completely when the light gives way to shadows.
3. Church of St. Nicholas
The grey towers that look like something out of a medieval tale rising in the background belong to the majestic Church of St Nicholas, one of the two religious icons of Ghent. Built in the Gothic style , this church was built thanks to the city's wealthy merchant guild. They decided to dedicate it to St Nicholas, their patron saint.
It can be visited free of charge every day of the week. Inside, the highlights are the huge organ and the colourful stained glass windows.
Remember to get the Revolut card ( with a €10 promo ) to avoid commissions when paying and withdrawing money abroad
4. Belfort Tower
Do you want to take a great photo of the Church of St. Nicholas? Then you have to make a little effort and climb, step by step, the stairs that will lead you to the Belfort Tower viewing platform , about 90 meters above the ground. This tower, also known as “the Belfry of Ghent ”, was formerly a watchtower that warned the city's inhabitants about possible dangers.
According to legend, the spire of the bell tower is inhabited by a mythological creature… a dragon ! If you see it, please take a photo and send it to us, it will surely look really cool in the post 😉
The price of the climb is €11 and includes the lift, but only uphill. The descent has to be done on foot and is about 300 steps, so keep that in mind!
5. St. Bavo's Cathedral
If we talk about religious buildings in Ghent, we cannot forget the Cathedral of Saint Bavo, the city's patron saint . It is a must-see in Ghent for a very specific reason: inside you can admire the altarpiece of the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb (1432), also known as the " Ghent Polyptych ", a work by artists Hubert and Jan van Eyck, standard-bearers of the Flemish style.
If you want to see the altarpiece in front of you, you will have to pay €12.50 (there is even an option for a 3D tour). The rest of the visit is free. And if you are an art enthusiast but would rather save the entrance fee and spend it on waffles, there are many more masterpieces in the Cathedral, for example “ Saint Bavo enters the convent in Ghent ” by Rubens.
6. Boat trip along the Ghent Canals
Do you want to discover Ghent and its buildings from a different perspective ? An original and pleasant plan that we usually do in cities with canals is to get on a small boat and sail through the historic centre , while you relax, enjoy the panoramic view and learn more about the history of this Belgian city.
→ Information and prices for the boat trip in Ghent.
7. Castle of the Counts of Flanders
Did you know that in the very centre of Ghent there is a castle considered to be one of the best preserved medieval defensive fortresses in Europe? It is not only possible to visit it but also highly recommended. You will see the rooms, the walls, the torture chamber and the Keep, from where the views of the city are amazing.
8. Best museums to see in Ghent
Are you one of those travelers who lose track of time between corridors and exhibitions of different museums? Have you had a bad day and are you looking for things to do in Ghent if it rains? There is always a reason to enter a museum, and in Ghent the offer is quite wide and varied. Here we leave you a selection with the best museums to see in Ghent :
- Museum of Fine Arts : perhaps the most interesting, where visitors can take a tour from the Middle Ages to the 20th century through paintings, sculptures and tapestries. Highlights include works by Hieronymus Bosch, Rubens, Van Dyck, Tintoretto and Magritte.
- SMAK : if you prefer to discover curious works of contemporary art.
- Alijin House : an ethnographic museum that focuses on illustrating everyday life in the city in the 20th century. It is located in what was once the Hospital of the Children of Alijn, a place where people with limited financial means, mental problems and no family received care.
- Dr. Guislain Museum : focused on the history of psychiatry.
- Kina's World: a museum-playroom dedicated to natural history, which seems like a great plan to do with children in Ghent. There are sections that talk about dinosaurs, others about minerals and the human body.
9. Graffiti Street
Do you like street art? Then in Ghent you have a date with Werregarenstraat , better known as “ Graffiti Street ” which, as you can imagine, is full of murals, graffiti and other interventions . It reminded us of the alleys with walls covered in graffiti that we saw in cities like Melbourne or Toronto and that we miss so much in other cities with less bright city councils.
10. Patershol neighborhood, one of the best things to see in Ghent
Another great thing to do in Ghent is to visit the charming Patershol district, a testament to the city's medieval splendour . Brick palaces, elegant mansions, cafés, designer shops and a great atmosphere. A unique place in the district is Kunsthal Gent , a contemporary art gallery where there is never a shortage of exhibitions by local artists.
More things to see and do in Ghent
Are you spending a couple of days in Ghent and still have time to spend on other visits, apart from the essential ones? Here is a list of other equally interesting things to do in Ghent:
- Municipal Pavilion : one of the most unusual buildings in the city, built in a modern style and using materials as diverse as wood, concrete and glass. It bears the signature of Robbrecht & Daem and Marie-José Van Hee.
- Vrijdagmarkt Square : is one of the oldest squares in the city, where there is a local market every Friday and Saturday.
- Stadhuis : Ghent's town hall, with two completely different facades… one in Renaissance style and the other in late Flamboyant Gothic style.
- Try a cuberdon , you don't know what it is? We didn't know before we went either 😉 It's a cone-shaped chocolate that tastes like raspberry.
- But if we're talking about desserts and Belgium... you have to have a waffle ! The truth is that they're all delicious. Is it possible to find a bad waffle? I doubt it. However, if you want to eat what many locals consider the best of the best, you have to go to Fritz . We tried the waffle with cream, chocolate and vanilla ice cream and yum!
Visit Ghent on a tour
You may not be planning to spend the night in Ghent and just want to visit it for a day from other places in Belgium. For example, it is without a doubt one of the best excursions to do from Brussels . In that case, we recommend some of these tours, which include transportation and a guide and are usually the best option to make the most of your time:
- Ghent day trip from Brussels
- Complete tour to Ghent and Bruges from Brussels
- Antwerp and Ghent Tour from Brussels
Do you know more things to see and do in Ghent ? We are looking forward to returning and walking around its charming streets and corners again.
