Oh, Ghent: this small university city in the Flanders region of Belgium may be perpetually overshadowed by the ever-gorgeous Bruges, but it is a beautiful and charming city in its own right–and since Ghent is so small, it’s very reasonable to conquer the best things to do in Ghent in one day.
We fell hard and fast for this walkable canal city, complete with beautiful views, interesting history, and–of course–excellent waffles.
The city is both gorgeous and relaxing, a delightful combination that makes it a joy to visit, whether you’re spending the night or simply planning a day trip to Ghent.
If you’re planning a trip to Belgium, here’s how to make the most of spending one day in Ghent!
Table of Contents
The Best Things to Do in Ghent in One Day
Take a walk down Werregarenstraat.
What do you do if you want to encourage street art in your city, but also want to protect priceless buildings?
Dedicate an entire street to art, of course!
Werregarenstraat (say that five times fast!) is a walking street home to a bright and ever-changing collection of street art in Ghent.
The street fits in perfectly with Ghent’s youthful, university-city-at-heart vibe, and a stroll down Werregarenstraat is a must-do when spending a day in Ghent (and honestly, it doesn’t take long to see).
Pay a visit to Gravensteen.
If you’re looking for a castle that looks like it belongs in a fairytale, look no further than Gravensteen.
Dating back to the Middle Ages and set directly next to one of Ghent’s canals, Gravensteen is majestic and impressive to behold.
Depending on your priorities during your day in Ghent, you may have time to tour the interior, which operates as a museum open to the public.
Either way, be sure to stop by the castle for gorgeous views!
Soak in the views from St. Michael’s Bridge.
One of the most famous views in Ghent is found by standing on St. Michael’s Bridge.
From there, you can admire all three of Ghent’s medieval towers in one view: the towers of St. Nicholas’ Church, the Belfry, and St. Bavo’s Cathedral.
This is easily one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Ghent!
Wander through Patershol.
Stepping into the picturesque neighborhood of Patershol is like stepping into a storybook: think cobblestone streets and classic Flemish rooflines.
Though the main street has plenty of cafes and restaurants to choose from if you’re looking for something to eat, it’s the quiet back streets that are our favorite to explore.
While we loved the busier sections of Ghent’s medieval center, with its many canals and church spires, Patershol offered a quiet contrast (especially on its more residential streets) and was one of our favorite stops when visiting Ghent.
Visit St. Bavo’s Cathedral.
St. Bavo’s Cathedral has a gorgeous interior, but it is best known for being home to the Flemish art piece The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb.
The altarpiece is currently undergoing the third of three phases of a more than decade-long restoration project, though you can still see (parts) of it depending on when you visit.
The city has a detailed guide to the restoration here–you can even see the restorers working on the piece at certain times at the Royal Institute of Cultural Heritage!
Head to the top of the Belfry for beautiful views over Ghent.
Guarded by a dragon since 1377, heading to the top of the Belfry is one of the best things to do in Ghent!
Located between St. Bavo’s Cathedral and the nearby St. Nicholas’ Church, the Belfry couldn’t be more ideally placed for admiring Ghent from above–which is not surprising, considering that it started life as a watchtower.
When weighing the pros and cons of what to do in Ghent (or any other city, for that matter), we tend to find that we never regret making the climb up to beautiful viewpoints!
… And in this case, that effort isn’t even required.
After climbing up a single story, an elevator will whisk you to the top of the Belfry.
Take a ride through the canals.
Riding through Ghent’s many canals while admiring the views and learning the city’s history is one of the most popular things to do in Ghent for a reason.
There’s nothing like taking to the water to get a different perspective on any city, including Ghent.
Staring up at the city’s beautiful medieval architecture from the canals will give you a whole new perspective on visiting Ghent!
Book your Ghent canal cruise today!
Admire the lights of Ghent by night.
Ghent doesn’t want its magical beauty to fade away when the sun sets–and with a little ingenuity and some clever light installations, it definitely doesn’t.
A series of lights work at night to light up Ghent, casting gorgeous reflections into the canals below.
A walk along Ghent’s canals at night definitely can’t be missed when trying to see Ghent in one day!
Where to Stay in Ghent
If you’re planning to spend the night in town, we recommend choosing an option within walking distance of the city center–especially when you only have a day to enjoy Ghent!
B&B Hotel Gent Centrum gets excellent reviews and offers modern rooms in the heart of the historic center, some with city views! Breakfast is served on-site, though only some rates include it in the price.
If you’re looking for a splurge, the dreamy 1898 The Post is housed in a historic building and would make for an unforgettable stay (and even if you don’t stay there, you might consider swinging by the on-site cocktail bar just to check out the interior of a very cool building).
Looking for apartment-style accommodation with a kitchen? If so, the quiet Getaway Studios Gent is within walking distance of the city center and is an excellent option.
Check rates & book your stay in Ghent today!
What to Eat When Visiting Ghent, Belgium
One day in Ghent may not give you enough time to eat your way through all of the city’s restaurants, but there are a few indulgences (primarily unhealthy ones) that cannot be missed.
(Though if you want to maximize the number of dishes you try with only one day in Ghent, you might consider signing up for a food tour!)
Frites
Think that French fries are, well, French?
If so, don’t say that in Belgium: what Americans call French fries are very proudly known as Belgian frites in Belgium, and they are incredibly tasty.
Typically served with Belgian mayo (which is utterly delicious and not to be confused with the bottled stuff from the grocery store), Belgian frites are a can’t-miss snack in Ghent.
Chocolate
Like Belgian waffles, Belgian chocolate is iconic: find a delicious chocolate store and go crazy.
Since chocolate is so portable, don’t forget to pick some up to bring home!
Waffles
Belgian waffles are known worldwide, but there is nothing like the real thing!
We recommend buying one from a street cart that is cooking them fresh (not simply reheating ones that are hours old).
There are plenty of toppings to choose from, but we’re partial to Nutella.
Beer
No day in Ghent can be considered complete without a taste of Belgian beer!
If you’re a beer lover, consider purchasing a flight of Belgian beer in any number of Ghent’s pubs to make sure you try as many variations as possible during your one day in Ghent.
If you’re a beer lover and want to make the most of your one day in Ghent, consider booking a beer crawl to sample several drinks in one go, all while learning the ins and outs of the local beer scene.
Book your Ghent beer tour today!
Neuzekes
During our first trip to Belgium, we had guides in both Bruges and Ghent claim these candies as originating in their city, but one thing is clear: they’re definitely Flemish.
Also known as Cuberdons, these small candies have a soft raspberry syrup in the center and can be purchased from any number of street stalls and candy shops in Ghent.
Cheap, small, and easy to access, it’s well worth sampling at least one during your time in Flanders!
Getting Around Ghent, Belgium
Ghent is a very walkable city, and depending on where you stay in Ghent, there’s a good chance you won’t need anything more than your feet to explore the city.
However, if you want to move a little faster when exploring all of the things to see in Ghent, the public transportation system is excellent and easy to use.
Please note that tickets for buses and trams can be purchased either near the stops from vending machines or on the bus or tram itself–but if you wait to purchase until you’re on board, you’ll pay more.
Getting to Ghent from Brussels or Bruges
Ghent is conveniently located between Brussels and Bruges on Belgium’s easy-to-use train system. It’s about a 30-minute ride from each city, making it the perfect addition to any Belgium itinerary.
You can visit Ghent in one day from either city, or you can do what we did and stick around for a few days.
Trains run from Ghent to both Brussels and Bruges all day, every day.
While you should definitely check the train schedule in advance, you should have no problem hopping on a train to Ghent virtually whenever you need to.
Looking for a day trip to Ghent?
If you’re limited on time and would rather have someone else handle the logistics, consider booking a day trip to Ghent!
Day trips are perfect for visitors who want to make the most of a short timeframe and can help you see the best Ghent attractions in the most efficient fashion.
This day trip to Ghent and Bruges from Brussels is incredibly popular for good reason!
Book your day trip to Ghent (and Bruges) today!
Read More About Visiting Belgium + Beyond
Planning a trip to Belgium (and possibly its neighbors) soon and eager to keep planning?
You can browse all of our blog posts about Belgium here, or check out these guides:
- Bruges in Winter: Festive Travel Guide + Christmas Market FAQ
- How to Take a Day Trip to Delft from Amsterdam (+ Things to Do!)
- The Ultimate Europe Bucket List: 75 Fun Things to Do in Europe
- Amsterdam in April: Things to Do + All About Tulips!
- How to Plan an Epic 2 Week Europe Trip (+ Europe Itinerary Ideas!)
Such good recommendations – thank you!
Thanks, Rachel!
I keep coming back to this post as I’m starting to plan my trip! The way your organized your post is incredible helpful – so thank you! I’m so excited to share my experience with you after this trip!
Ah, that’s so great to hear Rachel! Hope you have an amazing time. 🙂
Ghent really looks like something out of a fairytale, it’s so pretty. Who can say no to waffles, certainly not me! And I’m sure walking this city is a must as there’s probably so much to see in side streets.
Oh, absolutely–we spent the bulk of our time in Ghent wandering around semi-aimlessly.
I so love the look and charm of this town. Taking the canal ride, walking the streets, trying the waffles and fries, not to mention taking photos would all be highlights for me. Next year we are planning to visit my finance’s original home town in Delft, in the south of the Netherlands, near the Belgian border. I can’t wait to head over to explore Belgium a bit as well after seeing this post.
Sounds like you guys have an amazing trip planned! Flanders is a beautiful part of Belgium, hope you guys get the chance to make it there. 🙂
Great idea’s. Had never even considered visiting Ghent before. Beautiful pictures as well
Thanks, Nicola!
Ghent looks so beautiful and those waffles looks yummy too. I love to take walk while am in a different country/place. Walking makes u explore small little amazing things.
Very true, Nazy! That’s one of our favorite things about visiting cities and towns in Europe.
I never imagined Ghent to be so beautiful, it truly looks like straight out of a fairytale and I mean look at those colourful streets, the graffiti on it. A creative person like me can spend hours just starting at those and riding through the canals is always a luring affair for me. I can again spend hours doing just that.
Fairytale is the perfect word choice for sure!
I lived in Belgium for a year and regularly would visit. It’s been a while though so thanks for jogging my memories. Beautiful photos which really bring it to life
Ah, what a fun place to live for a year! Sounds like a wonderful experience.
I admire the slightly abandoned sort of look Ghent seems to have about it. I particularly enjoyed the first photo of the buildings along the canal. The food sounds delicious as well. I haven’t ever had Neuzekes, and would love to try them if given the chance.
Thanks, Denny! I agree–the slightly less maintained sections of Ghent give it very interesting character.
Ghent looks like its straight out of a fairytale! I love the old architecture and quaint stone streets, as well as how uncluttered the city feels. I’d for sure love to spend a day, or a few here. So beautiful!
Uncluttered–I like that word choice! Very true for what we saw of Belgium in general.