{"id":10926,"date":"2021-08-25T19:00:34","date_gmt":"2021-08-25T18:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/girlaroundtheworld.co.uk\/?p=10926"},"modified":"2023-05-02T19:02:04","modified_gmt":"2023-05-02T18:02:04","slug":"things-to-do-in-ghent-belgium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlaroundtheworld.co.uk\/things-to-do-in-ghent-belgium\/","title":{"rendered":"Complete Guide: 9 Exciting Things to Do in Ghent, Belgium"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ghent is one of the oldest and largest cities in Belgium<\/a>. With quirky bars and restaurants to world class museums and medieval architecture, this city has lots to offer for all kinds of audiences! And in case you\u2019re planning a trip to this wonderful port city soon, this guide is here to help you out. Scroll down to find my complete list of things to do in Ghent, as well as exciting info about where to stay, which tours to take, where to eat and more. Lots more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s dive right into it and find my best recommendations for the top things to do in Ghent:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>Why visit Ghent, after all?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Never heard of Ghent before? Well, I\u2019m sure you\u2019re not the only one. But this means you have no idea what you\u2019re missing! Ghent (or Gent<\/i> in Dutch) is a charming city in Belgium renowned for its numerous classified buildings. If you ask me, it\u2019s one of the top hidden gems of this beautiful country! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though you might not expect it, there are SO many things to do here – beautiful architecture, canals, and incredible food! Plus, Ghent is very pedestrian-friendly, which means you can visit all those incredible places during a long walk. I totally recommend spending more than one night in order to completely soak in everything that this wonderful destination has to offer. A weekend would be best!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RELATED READ: <\/strong>12 Top Attractions in Brussels, Belgium<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>9 Best things to do in Ghent, Belgium<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cathedrals, three impressive towers, canals, bridges, squares and more. Here are the best things to do in Ghent in my opinion:<\/p>\n\n\n

1 – Gravensteen Castle<\/h3>\n\n\n
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This is one of the landmarks of the city and definitely one of the best things to do in Ghent! Gravensteen Castle<\/a> (or the Castle of the Counts) is an impressive castle to explore. It\u2019s dating from the 12th century and it was built for none other than the Count of Flanders. In later years, it was used as a cotton mill for a short period of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awesome thing is that the castle has been incredibly well maintained and is the only castle in Flanders to have an intact defence system and moat! There\u2019s a lot to be explored here – the castle\u2019s gatehouse, ramparts, keep, count\u2019s residence and stables are all open to the public. I recommend you head down to the castles pantry as well in order to see the unique collection of torture equipment on show. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Price: <\/strong>10\u20ac\/person for adults. Kids under 18 years old can enter for free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TIP:<\/strong> <\/b>Don\u2019t forget to check out the rooftop as well if you want an amazing view of the entire Ghent city!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2 – St. Bavo\u2019s Cathedral<\/h3>\n\n\n
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St. Bavo’s Cathedral<\/a> (Sint-Baafskathedraal) is another iconic cathedral in Ghent, dating from the 11th century! Why is it so famous? One of the main reasons is that Charles V (the Roman Emperor) was baptised here. Another reason is \u201cThe Adoration of the Mystic Lamb\u201d which can be found here – an iconic Ghent altarpiece painted by Jan van Eyck and Hubert in the 15th century. It is said to be one of the earliest oil paintings in the world!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Price: <\/strong>4\u20ac to see the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. Visiting the rest of the cathedral is free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TIP: <\/strong>Don\u2019t miss St. Bavo’s Abbey<\/a> as well – an impressive abbey dating from the 7th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3 – St. Nicholas\u2019 Cathedral<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Yes, yes, another cathedral on my list of Ghent attractions, but they\u2019re all worth it, trust me! St. Nicholas\u2019 Cathedral<\/a> dates back to the 13th century and is built in a Scheldt Gothic style. This impressive landmark is located in Ghent centre, in front of the Korenmarkt (Wheat Market), a beautiful square. By the way, the central tower of Saint Nicholas\u2019 Church is one of the three main towers of Ghent and is an iconic part in the city\u2019s skyline!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Price: <\/strong>Free<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RELATED READ: <\/strong>Complete Guide: 7 Unmissable Things to Do in Bruges, Belgium<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4 – Ghent Belfry<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Prepare for the tallest belfry in all of Belgium and one of the best places to see a panoramic view over the city! The Ghent Belfry<\/a> is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the three towers that overlook the city centre. At 91 meters tall, it is said that Ghent Belfry\u2019s dragon (a copper one, not a real one for sure!) watches over the city and guards the belfry. Once used as the main watchtower of Ghent, visitors can now climb to the top of the bell tower for views of the city. Don\u2019t worry though, you can take the lift to\/from the first floor!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Price: <\/strong>8\u20ac. You can purchase your skip-the-line ticket in advance here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5 – St. Michael’s Bridge<\/h3>\n\n\n
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St. Michael’s Bridge<\/a> (or Sint-Michielshelling) is another landmark of the city and a great place to go if you want to capture some postcard-worthy photos of medieval Ghent. Why is it so special? Here\u2019s the catch: from this bridge you can spot most of the city\u2019s main sites – Gravensteen Castle, St. Michael\u2019s Church and the three famous towers of Ghent: Ghent Belfry, St Nicholas\u2019 Church and St. Bavo\u2019s Cathedral. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After going to St. Michael\u2019s Bridge I also liked walking down the Graslei (river quay) to check the impressive architecture of the riverside buildings. A must-do!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Price: <\/strong>Free<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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6 – Graslei & Korenlei<\/h3>\n\n\n
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A walk along Leie River is definitely well-worth if you want to see Ghent from a different perspective! Grasley and Korenlei literally means the \u201cGrass Quay\u201d and the \u201cCorn Quay\u201d. These two beautiful quays located along Leie River are located right in the centre of Ghent and they\u2019re the perfect place to go for a cup of coffee and people watching. Plus countless photo opportunities, as this is one of the most photographed places in the entire city – and with good reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RELATED READ:<\/strong> Where to stay in Brussels – Best Areas and Hotels<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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7 – Geeraard de Duivelsteen<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Geeraard de Duivelsteen<\/a>, also known as the Castle of Gerald the Devil, is a gothic castle from the 13th century. The building has survived through multiple renovations and has been used as a knight\u2019s residence, an arsenal, a monastery, a school and a bishop’s seminary. Yes, it has an impressive history and it is definitely a must on your Ghent itinerary!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Price: <\/strong>Free<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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8 – Vrijdagmarkt<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Vrijdagmarkt<\/a> (literally meaning the \u201cFriday Market”) is a place of history and tradition. This is one of the main squares in Ghent\u2019s historic centre and, as the name suggests, you can find a market here each Friday – ever since the 12th century! The entire square is lined with 18th century guildhalls that are now home to restaurants and bars. In the middle of the square stands a statue of Jacob Van Artevelde, a man who sided with England during the Hundred Year\u2019s War and died in the square in 1345.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Price<\/strong>: <\/b>Free<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TIP: <\/strong>While you\u2019re there, you might want to consider a visit to Dulle Griet<\/a> for a drink. They have a beer called \u201cMax\u201d that comes in a boot-shaped glass and I think that\u2019s oh-so-Belgium! It doesn\u2019t get any better than this when it comes to drinking a pint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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9 – Take a canal cruise<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Okay, we\u2019ve done quite a lot of walking on the streets of Ghent until now in order to take a look at the famous Saint Nicholas Church, the Belfry of Ghent and St. Bavo\u2019s as well, but what if I told you there\u2019s another way of exploring the city\u2019s highlights? Yes, I\u2019m talking about a canal cruise! Pick a sunny day and head over to the multiple locations in the city that organise canal cruises and start your adventure of admiring some beautiful buildings and learning more about Ghent city\u2019s history. Or you can book your canal cruise in advance by picking one of my suggested tours below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n