Things to do in Ghent in one day

In the Middle Ages, it was one of the most important commercial cities in Europe, and today it’s an urban settlement with historic buildings and modern constructions.

 

There are plenty of things to do in Ghent in one day, an experience that will reveal all the contrasts of this city, between old and new, historic and contemporary, elegant and cool, and the list can go on.

 

Meanwhile, Ghent has become one of the largest university cities in Europe, bringing a new, youthful breath to a city that abounds in medieval elements.

 

It’s a super exciting mix where you can find a cafe with an ultra-modern design next to hundreds of years old buildings with Gothic architecture. Or even near a medieval castle.

 

Although it’s one of the big cities of Belgium, visiting Ghent in one day is enough to discover the main tourist attractions here, given that most of them are centered around the Saint Michael Bridge.

 

Ghent is situated at the intersection of the rivers Lys (Leie) and Scheldt (Schelde), it’s less crowded than Bruges, but the architecture is very similar, with the same style of gingerbread houses, typical of Flemish architecture.

 

 

Ghent fun facts

 

• has a population of over 400,000 inhabitants, of which over 50,000 are students
• it’s the third-largest city in Belgium
• is the capital of the Flemish region of Belgium
• at the beginning of the 19th century, it was the first industrial city in Belgium
• the largest city in Flanders after Antwerp
• owns one of the strongest beer industries

 

 

Where to stay in Ghent – Best hotels in Ghent

 

If you want to spend more than 1 day in Ghent, you need suitable accommodation. I recommend you look for a hotel in Ghent in the old center, in the area of the most important tourist attractions in Ghent.

 

These are, for the most part, concentrated around Korenmarkt Square. These are my recommendations for the best hotels in Ghent, depending on the budget:

 

• budget: B&B HOTEL Gent Centrum – central, parking, Wifi, delicious breakfast, rooms with a view, pet friendly
• mid-range: Yalo Urban Boutique Hotel Gent – central, fitness room, specially designed rooms, bar, restaurant, delicious breakfast
• luxury: 1898 The Post – ultra-central hotel in a historic building near Saint Michael’s Bridge, rooms furnished in retro style, bar, parking, room service, delicious breakfast

 

 

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What I use every time I travel:

• To book hotels: Booking.com
• To book tours: GetYourGuide.com

 

Things to do in Ghent in one day 

 

 

St Michael’s Bridge

 

Saint Michael’s Bridge seems to be the ideal starting point for one day in Ghent. It is, without a doubt, the most beautiful bridge in the city, a monumental bridge with arches from where you can see the most important buildings in the town.

 

You can admire from here the three representative towers of Ghent: the Belfry, the Saint Nicholas church tower, and the Saint Bavo Cathedral.

 

The construction is splendid and retains its character as a medieval bridge, with cubical stone and wrought iron fences. The piece of resistance is the bronze statue of the archangel Michael, pointing a sword at the dragon at his feet.

 

The bridge was built between 1905 and 1909 by the architect Louis Cloquet. From the Saint Michael bridge, you can admire the houses of Graslei and Korenlei, the two banks of the Leie river.

 

Next to the Saint Michael bridge is the cathedral with the same name. It is one of the places worth checking when you go for a day trip to Ghent.

 

 

Boat ride | One day in Ghent, Belgium

 

The canal boat tour was the leitmotif of my trip to Holland and Belgium. I went on four boat tours in Giethoorn, Amsterdam, Bruges, and the last one was in Ghent.

 

Each boat tour was unique, mainly due to the guides, who did an excellent job showing us the city and unknown stories behind the beautiful facades.

 

So the experience of seeing the city from the boat is sensational because it offers not only different perspectives of the city but also its discovery in an interactive way.

 

The guide provides the information you might not otherwise be able to find out, especially if he is a local and has lived his whole life in Ghent, as was the case with our guide.

 

At the same time, if you only spend one day in Ghent, the boat ride is the best way to explore the most beautiful places to visit in Ghent in one day.

 

 

The best-rated boat tours in Ghent ↓

 

 

 

Gravensteen Castle

 

The big surprise on my day trip to Ghent was, from my point of view, the Gravensteen castle, a tangible symbol and even a landmark of the city.

 

Built in 1180 by Philip of Alsace, count of Flanders from 1168 to 1191, right on the banks of the river that runs through the town, Gravensteen Castle today houses the Weapons Museum and is a popular place even for wedding photo sessions.

 

Gravensteen is also known as the Castle of the Counts because, until the 14th century, it housed several counts from Flanders.

 

Inside the castle, you will find a collection of instruments of torture because centuries ago, the counts of Ghent were fascinated by this area and their power. It’s basically an entire exhibition with these instruments used to torture people in the cruelest ways in the Middle Ages.

 

READ ALSO: One day in Brussels, Belgium – perfect itinerary

 

 

The castle was restored in 1885 but still retains its medieval appearance. Like any medieval castle, it’s equipped with towers and moats, but the fact that it is in the center of the city gives it uniqueness.

 

You can admire the city’s panorama from its roof when you visit it, and this is one of the most extraordinary things to do on your Ghent day trip.

 

To better understand what used to happen in the rooms of Castle of the Counts, I suggest you buy an audio tour. As an introduction, I tell you that it was a factory, a court, and a prison during its long history.

 

 

 

Saint Bavo’s Cathedral | Day trip to Ghent

 

One of the most important cathedrals in Ghent is almost half a millennium old. Saint Bavo’s Cathedral was built in the Gothic style in 1569, with a height of 89 meters. It is, without a doubt, the oldest parish cathedral in Ghent.

 

Inside is the world-renowned artwork ‘The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb,’ Jan van Eyck’s masterpiece, one of Belgium’s most significant works of art. Initially, in the 10th century, there was a small wooden chapel called the Chapel of Saint John the Baptist, and later it became the impressive cathedral of today.

 

 

Best tours in Ghent ↓

 

 

Belfry Tower

 

At 91 meters high, it is the tallest tower in Belgium, surpassing the one in Bruges. Not only is it higher, but you can go up in it with the elevator, which makes things a lot easier.

 

The Belfry Tower is part of UNESCO and was completed in 1380. I recommend you reach the top or if the weather is good. You can admire an incredible panorama of the city and take a closer look at the copper dragon, sitting on its top.

 

 

Saint Nicholas’ Church | Ghent day trip

 

In the immediate vicinity is the Saint Nicholas church, one of the largest and oldest in Ghent. Of course, the competition is high in the Belgian city because you will always get to admire majestic churches and cathedrals during your Ghent day trip.

 

The church was built mainly from Tournai blue stone and forms, together with the Belfry tower and the Saint Bravo Cathedral tower, a kind of triangle that dominates the city skyline.

 

 

Graslei and Korenlei

 

If you arrive in Ghent, you will hear about Graslei and Korenlei immediately. They are the city’s main attraction, two keys in the historic center along the Leie river.

 

They are the two beautiful banks lined with fabulous houses and nice cafes with lovely views, perfect for socializing. Coming here is one of the best things to do when spending 1 day in Ghent.

 

Most of them are part of the Middle Ages, and although they are so old, they are very well preserved, and we can admire them even today.

 

During the boat tour, you could also see the oldest facade in Ghent here in Graslei. We are talking about the 12th century! You will learn more about the buildings in Graslei and Korenlei from the guides on the boat tour or a presentation tour of the city.

 

 

 

Korenmarkt Square | Things to do in Ghent in one day

 

I don’t know if Ghent has an official city center, but from my point of view, it would be Korenmarkt square. It’s the main one in the city and the most touristy among them, the perfect place to stop and enjoy a coffee and a waffle while watching the passers-by.

 

Graffiti Street

 

Officially named Werregarenstraatje, graffiti street is where young artists express their talent freely. The street keeps changing its appearance because there is no room for other designs; the old ones are frequently replaced with new ones.

 

It’s actually a narrow alley that connects Hoogpoort and Onderstraat. But this alley is not the only place in Ghent where artists express themselves.

 

There are many other fabulous drawings and paintings that you can discover by crossing the city on foot or by boat.

 

One of the most famous artists is the local Roa, who makes drawings in black and white, generally with animals. Visiting these Graffiti Street and places with incredible drawings might be one of the best things to do in Ghent in one day.

 

 

Vrijdakmarkt – one of the most beautiful squares in Ghent

 

In translation, Vrijdakmarkt means Friday Market because markets used to be organized here every Friday starting with the 12th century. Here there are a lot of restaurants and cafes, even chocolate shops, and the atmosphere is delightful.

 

A statue of the prominent 14th-century politician Jakob van Artevelde dominates the center of the square. However, the main attraction is the row of gorgeous houses comparable to those in Korenlei.

 

 

Stadshal / City Pavilion

 

The modernist style of this pavilion, opened in 2012, contrasts the medieval architecture. It’s impossible not to notice it since it looks like a barn, a contemporary architecture belonging to the architects Robbrecht & Daem / Marie-José Van Hee.

 

It’s built of concrete, wood, and glass, with over 1400 small windows through which the sunlight enters beautifully during the day.

 

Its purpose was to host concerts, markets, or street artists. And this is what happens under the impressive roof of this building.

 

As I said, it doesn’t look like the surrounding buildings, but I always appreciated the elements that stand out in a landscape through a completely new style.

 

It seems to me that it gives the place uniqueness and makes it easier to recognize. This is why I decided to add it to my Ghent day trip itinerary.

 

 

 

Where to eat in Ghent

 

Ghent is a culinary destination, without a doubt.

Some of the delicacies that you can try here are cuberdon (some candies in the form of purple cones), waterzooi (a soup with vegetables), and many vegetarian dishes (Ghent is even said to be the vegetarian capital of Europe ).

 

Of course, chocolate and waffles cannot miss from the list, but neither can fried potatoes or Belgian beer.

 

You will find a lot of places where you can try tasty dishes. Among my recommendations are the following restaurants:

• Giuseppe’s – Pizza Forno a Legna – they have delicious pizza, the atmosphere is cozy, and it’s centrally located
• Foodstorms – many vegetarian dishes worth trying
• Wereldkeuken Gent – buffet restaurant with specialties from all over the world
• Bakery Himschoot – one of the oldest patisseries in Ghent

 

 

Best tours to try when visiting Ghent in one day

 

 

Given that time is limited, you must plan your day in Ghent in detail. It doesn’t mean you cannot relax over a coffee in Graslei, but I want to say that it would be good to have your homework done in advance.

 

I use GetYourGuide every time to book the best tours in every place I visit, and I’ve never had any problems. These are the best tours in Ghent, in my opinion:

 

• Boat tour through the medieval center of the city – for 40 minutes, you will be able to admire the most representative buildings of Ghent (including Gravensteen Castle) up close, and you will learn exciting stories from the guide
• Private 2-hour city walking tour – if you don’t prefer the boat, then a more extended tour is ideal
• A culinary tour of the city – you will visit 5 places where you can taste food and drinks, places less known by tourists, but known by locals
• Chocolate tasting tour – such a tour could not be missing from a Belgian city.

 

 

Things to know before your day trip to Ghent

 

How to get to Ghent

 

In Belgium, you can travel very well and quite conveniently by train. Trains are frequent between the most important cities in the country, and the distances are pretty short, being a relatively small country. I went by train from Brussels, and it only took 30 minutes.

 

From Bruges, you will travel approximately 25 minutes; from Antwerp, you will need one hour.

 

Prices vary depending on the class and the offers available, but you should expect to pay around 6-10 Euros each way, which is quite convenient.

 

The closest airport to Ghent is Brussels International Airport (BRU), located approximately 70 km away. South Charleroi is not very far either, so it depends on which of these airports you find more affordable tickets.

 

 

How to get around Ghent

 

Moving around in Ghent is effortless because the public transport system is very well developed and you can walk, especially since most tourist attractions are in the same place.

 

Some many buses and trams will take you wherever you want, and the payment methods are various. You can also pay by SMS for the trip.

 

 

Is Ghent worth visiting?

 

If you have reached the end of this article, you probably want to visit Ghent and have already decided to go there. However, if you still doubt whether it is worth checking this Belgian city, I tell you it is worth it.

 

It’s a larger-scale version of the city of Bruges; the difference is that here you will meet diversity in terms of architecture, shopping and residents.

 

If I had to choose between the two, Burges remains my favorite, but Ghent was also a pleasant surprise.

 

 

How many days do you need to visit Ghent?

 

One day in Ghent is enough to explore the city and even for a boat tour of the canals. I recommend arriving as early as possible in the morning and leaving on a late train in the evening. They often circulate anyway, so you don’t have to worry.

 

You can also opt to spend a night in Ghent if you don’t want to be on the run and want to enjoy everything the city has to offer leisurely, but for more than 2 nights, it already seems like a lot to me.