15 Things to Do in Ghent, Belgium – 1 or 2 day itinerary

Many people regard Bruges as being Belgium’s most beautiful city. However, it’s neighbour, Ghent, cannot be overlooked. With fewer crowds, a fun, upbeat atmosphere and a medieval canal network that is just as nice as Bruges’, it’s quickly becoming the go-to European city break choice for those that want to escape mass tourism.

Colourful architecture, some of the country’s best churches and castles, and a quaint riverfront are the main draws to Ghent. You then have its modern and trendy side. Cosy microbreweries, vibrant street art and some excellent cafes and restaurants are scattered throughout its city centre.

Whether you’re stopping by for a whirlwind day trip or staying for the weekend, here are the absolute best things to see, eat and do in Ghent.

Google Map of all locations in our guide

Graslei and Korenlei

Graslei and Korenlei are two of Ghent’s most historic and picturesque quays. Facing each other on either side of the river, they’re the place to visit in Ghent to soak in the river scenery the city is famous for. Graslei is on the closest side of the river to the city centre. It features several iconic buildings with beautiful architecture, including the old post office.

You can reach Korenlei Street by crossing the bridge. This side of the river arguably has nicer views, with rows of flower arrangements and several cafes and bars with outdoor terraces. Allocate a couple of hours to sightseeing in this area of Ghent. It’s undoubtedly the most beautiful spot in Ghent for photos.

Canal Boat Trip

Graslei and Korenlei give you a good view of the river from the quay. However, to see the true beaty of Ghent’s famous waterways, you’ll need to board a boat tour. Small, electric boats meander up and down the river throughout the day, taking you to areas that are difficult to reach on foot. The tour takes you under bridges, alongside important buildings and to stunning viewpoints.

You can board the boat tour at various points along the river, with vendors all offering similar prices. It takes around 40-minutes and is well worth checking out. The journey is relaxing, scenic, and the commentary from the tour guide is very entertaining.

See the iconic churches

Like Belgium’s other major cities, historic churches are amongst the top attractions to see in the city centre. Ghent’s churches are huge, grand, and home to some incredible architecture, inside and out. Add its four main churches to your itinerary and spend time exploring each building.

Saint Bavos Cathedral is the must-see. It’s an 89-meter-tall Gothic building that hosts a famous, hand-painted altarpiece known as the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. Other top churches include St. Nicholas Church, St Jacob’s Church and St Michael’s Church. Each building has its own captivating design and fascinating history.

St Michael’s Bridge

Alongside St Michael’s Church we just mentioned sits St Michael’s Bridge. Connecting the city centre with the western bank of the river, the bridge is a great spot to visit for sunset. The light cascades off St Bavo’s Cathedral in the distance, creating an incredible skyline and silhouette of the city.

Cross St Michael’s Bridge to get a nice view of the river from above and pay careful attention to its intricate statues and street lamps. We visited St Michael’s Bridge once during the day and again in the evening. The warm glow of its lights after dark provides a charming and romantic atmosphere.

Climb the Belfry of Gent

In our Bruges travel guide we listed its Belfry as a great place to get a panoramic, overhead view of the city. Ghent has its own belfry and it’s just as historic and scenic as Bruges’; it’s just shorter in height. A UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site, the belfry is a building with medieval spires, a well-preserved bell tower and winding staircases.

For a small entrance free, you can climb the 366 narrow steps to reach the top of the tower, passing several historic exhibits along the way. It also has an elevator for those that don’t fancy climbing up narrow staircases. We found the views from the top of the Belfry to be the best in Ghent. There aren’t any fences or glass; it’s just unobstructed, 360-degree views of the city below.

Korenmarkt Square

Korenmarkt Square is the busy, beating heart of Ghent City Centre. Surrounded by rows of traditional Flemish houses and with an art installations at its centre, it’s a gathering point for locals and tourists. It’s without a doubt the busiest area of Ghent, making it a good spot for people-watching. Visit Korenmarkt Square to soak in the atmosphere or enjoy a drink or meal in one of the many restaurants. It’s a good place to start your Ghent sightseeing.

If you visit on a weekend or during the summer months, there’s a good chance the square will be hosting a music festival, procession or another event.

Explore the Old City Centre

Exploring Ghent’s charming city centre on foot is a highlight of any visit. Look around you as you sightsee and you’ll see detailed Flemish buildings, architecture from several eras and old, cobblestone streets. Ghent’s centre mixes old with new and you’ll find modern shops and restaurants alongside its medieval and gothic buildings.

Spend a few hours wandering around the old centre before seeing the main sites. We also encourage you to head away from the main squares. Ghent’s side streets and inner-city neighbourhoods provide a more local experience and slower pace away from the tourist crowds.

Neuhaus Chocolate Shop

Just like many other Belgian cities, chocolate shops are a unique, treasured part of Belgium culture. You’ll find them on every corner of the city centre. Belgian chocolate is top-quality and famous worldwide, so you’d be missing out if you didn’t sample some or buy a treat to take home.

Stop by one of Ghent’s chocolate shops to taste some delicious truffles or buy chocolate as a gift. We highly recommend Neuhaus Chocolate Shop. With a history dating back to 1857, this chocolatier is said to be one of Belgium’s finest. Chocolate here is high-end and can be a little expensive, but it’s well worth it.

Graffiti Street

In a city as historic and tidy as Ghent, we were surprised to find a sprawling street of graffiti in its centre. Graffiti Street (view on Google Maps) is a narrow alley that was given to the city’s street artists to use as they like. This legal graffiti zone has a collection of hundreds of quirky pictures, tags and colourful characters.

Admittedly, the street is a bit of a mess in some areas, though there are some cool designs that are worth seeing. It’s a cool concept, and if you appreciate graffiti art or simply want a unique place to visit in Ghent, add Graffiti Street to your itinerary. It’s just a short walk from the riverside.

Ghent Sint-Pieters Station

It may sound strange including a train station on our list, but Ghent Saint Peters isn’t just any station. It’s one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. Its old station hall is full of golden wall and ceiling murals representing different Belgian cities. The outside is just as impressive, featuring a clocktower, a cobblestone entrance and a park with a fountain.

The 20^th-century architecture throughout the station is a great welcome to this beautiful city. Take time to appreciate Ghent Saint Peters when arriving or leaving by train.  

Vrijdagmarkt Square

Vrijdagmarkt, also known as Friday Market Square, has hosted weekly open-air markets continuously since 1199. It’s surrounded by grand Flemish landmarks and guild houses, with an imposing statue of Jacob van Artevelde at its centre. Visit on a Friday and you’ll see it come alive with market stalls. It has a bustling, upbeat atmosphere, with vendors selling everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to clothing, flowers and chocolate.

If you happen to be visiting Ghent on a Friday, be sure to add Friday Market Square to your itinerary. It’s a fun place to wander around for an hour or so. If you’re in the city on another day of the week, it’s still worth a visit; it’ll just have a much quieter atmosphere. The bars and restaurants that surround the square are a great place to enjoy a drink.

Castle of the Counts

As far as castles go, they don’t get better than Castle of the Counts. Rated as the top place to visit in Ghent on TripAdvisor, this stunning medieval castle has a history dating back to 1180. Known in Dutch as The Gravensteen, it has had many uses in the past 1000 years, from a court, to a prison, residence and cotton mill, to today’s use, a museum. The castle has a fairy-tale-like appearance, with several turrets, ramparts and spiral staircases.

We’ve visited many castles on our travels and Castle of the Counts is no doubt the best. Admire its grand exterior from the river banks or main entrance before paying a small fee to enter. Inside, you can along the walls, climb up to the highest points and then descend to the dungeons below. One of our favourite areas is the armoury. It’s full of menacing medieval weapons and armour.

Try the local beers at Artevelde Brewery

Belgians love their beer. All cities have their own prized breweries, and in Ghent, Artevelde is regarded as one of the best. Stop by this city centre micro-brewery and bar to sample its fine Belgian blonde and dark ales. The outside of the brewery has a nice terrace and outdoor seating on a scenic city centre street.

Venture inside Artevelde and you’ll get to see the giant brewing tanks, which show each stage of the beer brewing process. The bar is a fun place to sample local Ghent beers and see how they’re made. You can order a flight of three to taste small amounts of different brews.

Try the local snacks (Belgian fries and waffles)

It’s not just beer you’ll want to try during your time in Ghent. The country is famous for delicious snacks such as Belgian fries and waffles, and while waffles aren’t as common as they are in cities such as Brussels and Bruges, there are still plenty of places to try them. Visit Fries Atelier for gourmet Belgian fries or stop at one of the many snack stalls for a sweat treat.

Walking around Ghent sampling fries, chocolate, beer and waffles is an attraction in itself!

Try Cuberdons

The must-try snack in Ghent is undoubtably the Cuberdon, a cone-shaped candy with a sweet filling. The city is famous for them! You can find Cuberdons in local sweet shops and bakeries, or in one of the specialist market stalls of the city centre.

We tried Cuberdons a few times during our visit and they’re surprisingly good! Be sure to buy a selection of different flavours.

Patershol neighbourhood

We’ve already mentioned some of Ghent’s most picturesque riverside streets. If you want to see the beauty of the city’s canals away from the tourist crowds, head north to the Patershol district. This quaint, quieter part of the city is home to some amazing medieval architecture. Colourful buildings, cobblestone streets and bridges with a view make it a great spot for photos.

It’s also a top place to eat and drink. Along Patershol’s main street you’ll find dozens of international restaurants, ranging from Nepalese, Korean and Mexican, to classic Italian restaurants and local spots. We recommend visiting during the day to explore its beautiful waterside streets, Kraanlei and Oudburg. Return in the evening for a dinner with a great atmosphere.

Thanks for reading our guide on the top things to do in Ghent, Belgium. It’s an excellent place to visit on a day-trip from other Belgium cities but you could easily spend a few days here. Its city centre has some excellent attractions, restaurants, cafes and bars, whilst its riverfront provides unbeatable peace and quiet. It may not be as fairy-tale-like as cities such as Bruges, but many people prefer the lack of tourist crowds and equally-as-beautiful river scenery.

If you have any questions about any of the places we’ve featured, be sure to post a comment.