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Ghent

The Ghent Altarpiece, a Castle and Canal-Side Guildhalls

Plan this trip
2 daysIdeal stay₹9,050From / night₹2,880Food / day₹1,380Entry

A medieval city that is also a big student town, so it feels lived-in rather than a museum. St Bavo's Cathedral holds the van Eyck brothers' Ghent Altarpiece (the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb); the Gravensteen castle, the Belfry, the guild houses of the Graslei and Korenlei and the view from St Michael's Bridge are a short walk apart. Ghent is one of Europe's most vegetarian-friendly cities, with a weekly veggie day since 2009 (estimate). The Gentse Feesten fill the streets for ten days in July. Trains from Brussels take 30-35 minutes; Gent-Sint-Pieters station is 2 km south of the centre, by tram 1.

Highlights

  • The Ghent Altarpiece
  • Gravensteen castle
  • Graslei and Korenlei
  • Belfry views
  • St Michael's Bridge at sunset
  • Canal boat tour
  • Vegetarian cafés
  • Gentse Feesten in July

Things to do

  • St Bavo's Cathedral and the Ghent AltarpieceMorning · 2h
  • Gravensteen castleMorning · 1h 30m
  • Graslei, Korenlei and a canal boat tourAfternoon · 2h
  • Belfry climb and St Michael's BridgeAfternoon · 1h 30m
  • Patershol lanes and dinnerEvening · 2h

Tours & tickets

Tours & tickets in Ghentvia GetYourGuideTours & tickets in Ghentvia Klook

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When to go

Best time: April – June, September – October; July for the Gentse Feesten

  • Ghent Christmas market — Stalls round St Bavo's Cathedral and the Korenmarkt through December (in 2026 from early December, sources differ on the dates), with a big wheel and a skating rink.
  • Gentse Feesten (Ghent Festivities) — Ten days of free street music, theatre and fairs across the old centre in the second half of July, ending round 21 July. Hotels fill and the centre is loud late into the night; book well ahead or stay out of the centre if you want sleep.