Best of Belgium: How to Spend 1 Day in Ghent

By Catalina | January 5, 2019

When you first think about places to visit in Belgium, popular cities such as Brussels, Bruges, and Antwerp are probably the first to spring into your mind. Over the years, Ghent has become and an increasingly popular destination for visitors to Belgium, and it is easy to see why. The city is home to beautiful buildings and churches that create a unique skyline, lovely canals which wind through the city, and is the perfect blend of historical charm and contemporary flair.

Oh, and did I mention that Ghent is home to one of the most famous art-historical masterpieces in the world? The city is indeed the location of Hubert and Jan van Eyck’s Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, also commonly referred to as the Ghent altarpiece.

Clearly, Ghent is a worthy addition to any Belgium itinerary, and I was so excited to visit it during my 3 day weekend in Belgium!

One could easily spend a weekend exploring the hidden treasures of this alluring Belgian city. If you’re like me, however, and are planning a visit as part of a weekend in Belgium, this itinerary will help you squeeze in the main sights of Ghent in just one day.

Getting to Ghent

Ghent makes for a perfect day trip as it is easily accessible from other Belgian cities such as Brussels, Bruges, and Antwerp. In fact, Ghent can also easily be reached by train in 2-4 hours from London, Paris, and Amsterdam. Belgium truly is so centrally located!

Public transit in Belgium is incredibly easy to use, and trains to and from Ghent run frequently. A journey should cost between €7.00-€11.00 each way, and if you are under 26 don’t forget to ask for a discounted ticket!

Train times:

1 Day Ghent Itinerary

After arriving at Ghent Sint Pieters Station (pinned in red), a 30-minute walk will take you to the center of town. I opted to hop on a tram (it was raining!). The tram costs €3.00 and gets you to Graavensteen, the first stop on this itinerary, in about 15 minutes.

To follow this map, simply follow the pins in rainbow order! I designed this itinerary to avoid backtracking, however, Ghent is quite compact and easy to walk around.  Even if you go out of order, you should be able to fit in quite a lot of sights in one day!

As always, I recommend altering this itinerary to fit your schedule, personal interests, and the opening times of various attractions so you can make the most out of your day in Ghent. Some sites, in particular the world-famous Ghent Altarpiece, have limited hours. You’ll want to plan accordingly!

Grey pins indicate museums you can visit if you have extra time in town, and black pins indicate other points of interest that could also easily be added into the itinerary.

 

Gravensteen

I started my day in Ghent by hopping off the tram right next to Gravensteen, a medieval castle situated along Ghent’s Lieve canal. This fortress, whose name translates to “Castle of the Counts”, dates back to the 12th century and belonged to the Counts of Flanders for over 150 years. While Gravensteen has served as a prison, mint, and cotton mill, today it is home to a museum and offers an incredible city view from the keep. You can find hours and prices here.

Great Butcher’s Hall

Just a short walk from Gravensteen, you’ll find the Het Groot Vleeshuis, or Great Butcher’s Hall. Quickly take a few minutes to pop into this historic building which today serves as a market for regional products from Flanders. You’ll see cured hams hanging from the ceiling and have the opportunity to sample typical Flemish food. Learn more here.

Ghent Boat Tour

Perhaps it is just me, but I absolutely adore boat tours and love exploring cities from the water. If the weather is bad, or you’d like an excuse to rest your feet, consider hopping on a boat your. You’ll learn information about the city while relaxing and enjoying city views. There are several companies, most of which charge less than €10 per person for a tour.

Leie Riverfront: Graslei and Korenlei

The Leie river flows through Ghent and is home to two particularly lovely quays, Graslei (Grass Quay) and Korenlei (Corn Quay). The two sections of the river feature some of the most beautiful and historic architecture in Ghent. Take a stroll and enjoy the beauty around you. Here, you will discover Ghent’s narrowest building, as well as some of the city’s incredible guild houses.

From here, you can easily head to Korenmarkt, a lovely square perfect for a coffee or lunch break.

St. Michael’s Church and St Michael’s Bridge

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How perfect is this spot for an Instagram photo? Follow me on Instagram @missadventuresabroad to see more of my favorite photos from Belgium and beyond! 

Near St Michael’s Church, or Sint-Michielskerk to locals, you’ll find one of the most photographable spots in all of Ghent, St Michael’s Bridge. From this bridge, you have a lovely view of Gravensteen, Graslei and Korenlei. Additionally, when standing along this bridge, you can get a shot of the city’s three famous towers- Saint Nicholas’ Church, the Belfry, and Saint Bavo’s Cathedral, all in a row. I spent the night in Ghent, so I headed over just as the sun was rising and managed to get some amazing photos before heading to Bruges for the day.

Saint Nicholas’ Church

View from Ghent Belfry

Saint Nicholas’ Church, or Sint-Niklaaskerk, is a standout landmark when visiting Ghent. After viewing the church from St Michael’s bridge, simply head over to see the interior of this impressive church for yourself.

Ghent Belfry

For an incredible view of Saint Nicholas’ Church and the city, pop just down the street to the Ghent Belfry, Het Belfort van Gent. This medieval tower is the tallest belfry in Belgium, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I highly recommend visiting if you love city views. Hours and prices listed here.

Saint Bavo’s Cathedral

If there is one site that you absolutely cannot miss when visiting Ghent, it is Saint Bavo’s Cathedral. Sint-Bavo is home to the world-famous Ghent Altarpiece. If you haven’t heard of this altarpiece, don’t be alarmed! I was an art history major, so naturally, this influential piece would stand out in my mind. The Ghent Altarpiece, or Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, was painted by Hubert and Jan van Eyck in the 15th century.

While the epic masterpiece is impressive on its own, it is also famous for being the world’s most stolen artwork of all time. 

The altarpiece has spent hundreds of years in transit and hiding, and has been pursued by the likes of Napoleon and Hitler. Today, the Ghent altarpiece finally rests in Saint Bavo’s Cathedral, and visitors are able to see the work which has inspired such controversy, theft, and secrecy throughout the centuries.

If you’ve ever seen the movie or heard of The Monuments Men, this was perhaps the most precious art object that the team hid from Hitler during World War II.

Important Note: The altarpiece is only open for visitors in winter from 10:30-3.45 PM and in summer from 9:30-4.45 PM. You may want to move this item further up on your itinerary so as not to skip this world treasure. 

Be sure to double check the hours and prices here before planning your visit.

Duivelsteen

Just 3 minutes walk from St. Bavo’s Cathedral, you’ll find Duivelsteen Castle. Named after “Geeraard the Devil”, this 13th-century fortress has had many functions throughout the years. A former residence, monastery, school, arsenal, seminary, insane asylum, orphanage, and prison, this multi-faceted landmark is worth popping by.

 

Have more time in Ghent?

Visit a Museum

Ghent is home to quite a view museums that are worth checking out. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to stop by one during my visit. Here are a few if you find yourself with extra time:

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Other Points of Interest

  • Patershol-historic neighborhood near Gravensteen perfect for a stroll.
  • Vrijdagmarkt-Friday market, if you are visiting during a Friday morning or Saturday afternoon, be sure to make a stop at this lovely square and peruse the shops and stalls here.
  • Ghent City Hall-16th century city hall
  • Citadelpark-park near the train station if you are looking to enjoy a sunny day outdoors.
  • Saint Bavo’s Abbey– 7th century abbey.

As you can see, there is so much to see and do in Ghent, making it the perfect addition to any Belgium itinerary!

Are you planning a visit to Ghent? Which of these sights caught your eye? Let me know in the comments below!

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