{"id":23585,"date":"2025-01-15T15:03:51","date_gmt":"2025-01-15T14:03:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cityseacountry.com\/?p=23585"},"modified":"2025-04-10T07:44:46","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T06:44:46","slug":"ghent-in-one-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cityseacountry.com\/en\/ghent-in-one-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Ghent In One Day: The Best Itinerary For First-Time Visitors"},"content":{"rendered":"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.<\/span><\/p>\n

We share the most important attractions in Ghent, tips for authentic food, the best restaurants and caf\u00e9s, where to stay, and how to get there.<\/span><\/p>\n

* <\/span>contains affiliate links<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

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Contents<\/p>\n

  • Ghent In One Day At A Glance<\/a><\/li>
  • Is Ghent Worth Visiting?<\/a><\/li>
  • Things To See On A Ghent Day Trip<\/a><\/li>
  • Korenlei And Graslei<\/a><\/li>
  • St. Michael’s Bridge<\/a><\/li>
  • Belfry Of Ghent<\/a><\/li>
  • St. Bavo’s Cathedral And The Ghent Altarpiece<\/a><\/li>
  • Ghent City Hall<\/a><\/li>
  • Graffiti Street – Street Art In Werregarenstraat<\/a><\/li>
  • Huis van Alijn Museum<\/a><\/li>
  • Gravensteen Castle<\/a><\/li>
  • Boat Tour Along The Canals<\/a><\/li>
  • Map Walking Tour Of Ghent, Restaurants, Caf\u00e9s, And Bars<\/a><\/li>
  • Culinary Specialties From Ghent<\/a><\/li>
  • Best Restaurants, Caf\u00e9s, And Bars In Ghent<\/a><\/li>
  • Where To Eat: Restaurant Recommendations<\/a><\/li>
  • Caf\u00e9s In Ghent<\/a><\/li>
  • Jenever And Belgian Beer<\/a><\/li>
  • Where To Stay In Ghent<\/a><\/li>
  • How To Get To Ghent<\/a><\/li>
  • Final Thoughts About The One Day In Ghent Itinerary<\/a><\/li>
  • About the Author<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n

    <\/span>Ghent In One Day At A Glance<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

    Here’s a quick overview of what to experience in Ghent:<\/span><\/p>\n

    What to see:<\/b> Korenlei and Graslei, Ghent Altarpiece<\/span>
    \n<\/span>What to do:<\/b>     boat tour on the canals<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>walking tour<\/span><\/a>, view from the Belfry<\/span>
    \n<\/span>What to try:<\/b> Cuberdons, Jenever<\/span>
    \n<\/span>Where to stay: <\/b>    Hotel Ghent Marriott<\/span><\/a> with a view of the canal and Graslei<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    <\/span>Is Ghent Worth Visiting?<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

    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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    <\/span>Things To See On A Ghent Day Trip<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

    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 <\/span>best things to do in Ghent<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    <\/span>Korenlei And Graslei<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
    \"sunrise
    Graslei<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    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.<\/span><\/p>\n

    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.<\/span><\/p>\n

    <\/span>St. Michael’s Bridge<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
    \"Gent
    View from the St. Michael’s Bridge with the St. Niklaas Church, the Belfry, and the St. Bavo-Cathedral.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    For the perfect Ghent photo, head to St. Michael’s Bridge.<\/span><\/p>\n

    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.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u2b50\ufe0f Insider tip: The best photo spot to capture all of Ghent’s towers is from Korenlei, just to the left of the bridge.<\/span><\/p>\n

    <\/span>Belfry Of Ghent<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

    From the 95-meter-high Ghent Belfry, you have one of the most beautiful views of the old town.<\/span><\/p>\n

    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<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

    The integrated museum in the tower is also worth seeing.<\/span><\/p>\n

    This time, however, we’ll skip this worthwhile destination and move on to one of the highlights:<\/span><\/p>\n

    <\/span>St. Bavo’s Cathedral And The Ghent Altarpiece<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

    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.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u2b50\ufe0f Download our free <\/span>travel planning checklist<\/span><\/a> and become a VIP insider. We share exclusive travel deals, travel guides, and travel inspiration.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n