Are you planning to visit Ghent and want to explore the city to its fullest? Here you’ll find the best Ghent tips for one day.
We share the most important attractions in Ghent, tips for authentic food, the best restaurants and cafés, where to stay, and how to get there.
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Contents
Ghent In One Day At A Glance
Here’s a quick overview of what to experience in Ghent:
What to see: Korenlei and Graslei, Ghent Altarpiece
What to do: boat tour on the canals, walking tour, view from the Belfry
What to try: Cuberdons, Jenever
Where to stay: Hotel Ghent Marriott with a view of the canal and Graslei
Is Ghent Worth Visiting?
Ghent, often called the “New York of the Middle Ages,” is a hidden gem among Belgian cities. Less crowded than Bruges but equally charming, Ghent offers a perfect blend of medieval flair and modern urban life.
Things To See On A Ghent Day Trip
While you can easily explore Ghent’s old town in a day, we recommend planning two days for a more comprehensive visit to fully enjoy the best things to do in Ghent.
Korenlei And Graslei
Start your city tour at the Korenlei. Here, you’ll find one of the most beautiful views in the city, including the narrowest house in Ghent and former guild houses.
In summer, the banks of the Leie around Graslei and Korenlei are popular spots to enjoy the sun, eat ice cream, or have a coffee.
St. Michael’s Bridge
For the perfect Ghent photo, head to St. Michael’s Bridge.
From here, you’ll have a stunning view of the gabled houses of Graslei and Korenlei, the battlements of Gravensteen Castle, and the famous Ghent tower row, including the “three towers of Ghent”: St. Nicholas’ Church, the Belfry, and St. Bavo’s Cathedral.
⭐️ Insider tip: The best photo spot to capture all of Ghent’s towers is from Korenlei, just to the left of the bridge.
Belfry Of Ghent
From the 95-meter-high Ghent Belfry, you have one of the most beautiful views of the old town.
I visited the view from this former 14th-century watchtower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, during my last visit to Ghent (-> Ghent things to do).
The integrated museum in the tower is also worth seeing.
This time, however, we’ll skip this worthwhile destination and move on to one of the highlights:
St. Bavo’s Cathedral And The Ghent Altarpiece
A must-visit is St. Bavo’s Cathedral, home to the world-famous altarpiece “The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb” by the Van Eyck brothers. While the church is free to visit, there’s an extra charge to see the Ghent Altarpiece and the altar area.
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Ghent City Hall
The City Hall (Stadthuis) of Ghent is a beautiful photo opportunity. Due to its long construction period, the building’s style varies.
Graffiti Street – Street Art In Werregarenstraat
For a colorful contrast to the medieval atmosphere, we recommend a detour to Werregarenstraat. This street is known as Graffiti Street in Ghent.
Here you can admire modern street art in all its glory.
As you walk through the narrow street, you can turn left at the end and continue past the Vrijdagmarkt over the Zuivelbrug.
After the bridge at the end of the street, you’ll find another insider tip.
At Confiserie Temmermann, a traditional candy shop, you can see and buy special sweets, such as Nonnenpops or Cuberdons in face shapes.
Right next door is another recommendation:
Huis van Alijn Museum
The Huis van Alijn is a museum dedicated to everyday life in the 20th century. If you don’t have time for a museum visit, at least check out the courtyard.
Here you’ll find a peaceful oasis in the heart of Ghent.
Gravensteen Castle
Another highlight is Gravensteen Castle. This medieval castle is the city’s landmark and offers a fascinating insight into Ghent’s history.
There used to be no water here. When the canals were expanded to transport goods, Gravensteen Castle became a moated castle.
Right across is the former fish market (Oude Vismijn). The impressive facade still reminds us of this. In general, there’s a lot to see on the facades in Ghent.
⭐️ Tip: Take a closer look at the facades, as the houses in Ghent tell stories.
Boat Tour Along The Canals
Tip: Book a 50-minute boat tour along the Leie through Ghent’s canals offers a new perspective on the city’s main attractions.
The boarding point is at Korenlei.
Map Walking Tour Of Ghent, Restaurants, Cafés, And Bars
Culinary Specialties From Ghent
While many associate Belgium with waffles and fries, waffles in particular are not a typical food from Ghent.
There are other specialties and unique items here that you should definitely try. These also make great souvenirs and gifts:
Cuberdons: This candy originates from Ghent and tastes like berries. The cone-shaped form resembles noses, which is why they are also called “Neuzekes” (little noses). At Confiserie Temmermann, there’s a face-shaped variant called Cuberdons muilekes.
Ghent Mustard: We got this insider tip from our guide. Across from ‘t Galgenhuijs at the end of Korenmarkt, there’s a specialty shop where you can get spicy mustard filled for you.
Next door is Himschoot. Here you can find:
Pain a la Grecque: This cinnamon-flavored cookie biscuit is handmade here and makes for a perfect small snack.
Chocolate from Holy Cow: If you want to try delicious chocolate without artificial additives, you can visit Holy Cow or even attend a chocolate workshop.
The owners, Ellen and Luca, have established a cocoa plantation in India and produce and sell their fairly produced chocolate in their shop in Ghent.
You can also join a guided chocolate tour through Ghent to see other chocolate shops and taste different chocolate.
Best Restaurants, Cafés, And Bars In Ghent
Ghent is known as the vegetarian capital of Europe, offering excellent vegetarian and vegan options.
Where To Eat: Restaurant Recommendations
Did you know that Ghent is the Veggie Capital of Europe? Consequently, you’ll find excellent vegetarian dishes here, as well as vegan restaurants.
Du Progrès: We recommend Du Progrès at Korenmarkt. They offer meat and fish dishes, as well as vegetarian options.
Knol&Kool: A purely vegan restaurant we tried is Knol&Kool. During the day, you can shop for organic products here, and in the evening, enjoy vegan dishes in a cool atmosphere.
Restaurant tips from a local:
Souplounge: For a quick bite, they offer soups here.
t’Vosken: Fish and seafood, meat dishes, and sandwiches (less suitable for vegetarians and vegans)
Cafés In Ghent
‘t Galgenhuisje: How about a stop at the smallest and oldest café in the city, ‘t Galgenhuisje?
Het Spijker: A local’s tip (café, but also recommended as a bar in the evening)
Jenever And Belgian Beer
No visit to Ghent is complete without tasting jenever (schnapps) and Belgian beer if you drink alcohol.
At t’Dreupelkot, you can choose from a huge selection of jenever varieties. Right next door at Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant, you’ll find an impressive beer selection.
But be careful! Belgian beer varieties are often much stronger than our beer.
⭐️ Insider tip: If you want to try a special beer, try Gruut. This beer from Ghent is brewed without hops, using herbs instead.
Where To Stay In Ghent
– Hotel Ghent Marriott: Directly at the waterfront.
– Hotel Gravensteen: Centrally located.
How To Get To Ghent
If you’re flying to Brussels, Belgium, you can easily reach Ghent by direct train connection.
The journey takes about 1 hour.
From the train station in Ghent, you can take tram 1 towards Gentbrugge Tramloods to reach the city center.
Get off at the Gent Oude Houtlei stop, which is about a 10-minute ride from the station. From there you reach the main attractions in about 10 minutes.
Final Thoughts About The One Day In Ghent Itinerary
Ghent’s slogan “Too much for just one night” is spot on.
While you can see Ghent in one day with our itinerary, we recommend planning at least two days to fully enjoy this fascinating city in Flanders.
If you’re visiting Ghent, you can also explore Bruges and Leuven during a long weekend, as we did in 4 days.
The proximity and good train connections from Brussels airport to all three cities make this easily possible.
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zuletzt aktualisiert am April 10, 2025