Ghent is the capital of the province of Flanders in the Flemish region of Belgium. Located between Bruges and Brussels, it is a real discovery for the traveler eager to find beautiful images to treasure.
When choosing a city in Belgium to visit, Ghent is a very nice option to add along with Brussels and Bruges.
Renting a car is one of the options for getting around Belgium, and in our case that is what we did. The train is also a very good option given the short distances.
Here I will repeat what I told you in Bruges, if you can, stay one night, that was our choice, because although it is not as touristy as Bruges, during the day there are a lot of people, but at night it is almost literally empty, and seeing it illuminated is worth it.
In the previous post, we referred to the eternal question… Bruges or Ghent?…both!
Have you already seen our post about Bruges?, it can help you to put together your tour: Bruges, what to see in the beautiful city of canals
Indice:
What to see in Ghent?
Although walking and walking through its streets is the most beautiful thing to do, we are going to leave here some places that cannot be missed on the tour.
►Remember that a free tour is always a good option to get to know a city
Belfry of Ghent
The Belfry of Ghent is one of the three main medieval towers in the old town. It is truly beautiful and a postcard of the city.
You can climb it to get beautiful views, the opening hours are Monday to Sunday from 10:00-18:00 and the entrance fee is €8.
St. Bavo’s Cathedral
St. Bavo’s Cathedral, built in honour of the saint, is the oldest parish church in the city and is another of the tall medieval towers that stand out in the old town of Ghent. Inside, among many important works, we find the painting “Adoration of the Mystic Lamb”.
While entry to the cathedral is free, admission to see The Mystic Lamb is €12.50.
St. Nicholas Church
And completing the three towers we mentioned, we find the church of San Nicolás. A truly beautiful building, no matter how many times you walk around the city, you will always end up with your eyes fixed on it.
► A free walking tour of Ghent is a great idea to explore
Castle of the Counts of Flanders
Gravensteen Castle was the castle of the Counts of Flanders and is the only remaining moated castle in Flanders with its defence system almost intact.
The ticket price is €12. ►More information
Graslei and Korenlei quays
Here we arrive at the old docks of Ghent, the quays of the medieval port. The image that comes to you when you see this part of the city leaves you speechless, it is truly a beauty.
St. Michael’s Bridge
On the south side of Graslei and Korenlei is this stone bridge crossing the Lys river.
Korenmarkt
This is the liveliest square in the city, and was once the grain market. Sitting in one of its bars is a pleasant thing to do.
Vrijdagmarkt Square
We arrived at this charming square with the Artevelde monument in the middle. Around the square we find several places to eat and also breweries to taste some craft beers. A brewery worth visiting could be Dulle Griet. It is a very lively square, especially on weekends.
Ghent City Hall
This peculiar building displays two architectural styles on its façade, which leads to it being said to have a double personality. A very beautiful building, which we will surely discover on our tour of the city.
Meat market
In the heart of the Graslei district , you will find a stone building that houses typical hams (Ganda) hanging from wooden beams. You will also find cheeses, mustard, and beer, among other typical gastronomic products of the city. A visit not to be missed.
Boat trip along the canals
For about 40 minutes you will see Ghent from another perspective, a tour of its canals, just like we said in Bruges, is something that is really worth it.
Graffiti street
Werregarenstraat is a canvas for street artists, a short walk that turns out to be a different kind of walk to do in Ghent.
Where to stay?
As we said at the beginning, it is a very good idea to spend at least one night in the city. In our case we stayed at the Ibis Gent Central St Baafs kathedraal, a hotel with a great location, almost next to St. Bavo’s Cathedral, and with views of the city’s bell tower.
Parking at the hotel itself, breakfast (which we did not use so we cannot leave a review), and simple rooms like those at the Ibis, but, at least ours, with wonderful views.
There are several hotels in the city, and the locations, being a small city, are good,
Booking.com
Extras: map and video
NOTE: The information in this article is based on our own experience, being totally objective. This article contains affiliate links.
