A town built on water with a beautiful castle right in its heart, Ghent is definitely a hidden gem. Even though it’s a big city, home to more than 250.000 people, all the sights are close to one another so it’s easy to explore the town, on foot, in only one day! Conveniently located between Brugge, Brussel, or Antwerp, Ghent is one of the best-preserved European medieval cities. So, if you are traveling to this part of Belgium, you need to spend at least one day in Ghent.
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Useful Info For The Perfect One Day In Ghent Itinerary
Getting to Ghent by train
Ghent can be reached by train from Brussels, Bruges, and Antwerp. A return train ticket is half-price to any Belgium destination from Friday, 7 pm until Sunday, 12 am. For example, we traveled to Ghent from Brussel, by train, on the weekend and paid 10 EUR (11 USD) for a return ticket. From Brussel to Ghent, the ride takes no more than 40minutes, and you don’t need to book the tickets in advance.
Getting to the City Centre
The train leaves you at Ghent-Sint-Pieters Railway Station. As you leave the station, on your left side is platform nr.1 From here, tram nr. one will take you to the city center in no more than 10 minutes. Once you’ve reached the city center, get out of the tram at Korenmarkt station.
Cost: 3 EUR (3,30 USD) for a 60 minutes ticket or 7 EUR (7,70 USD) for a day ticket at vending machines. You can also purchase tickets on board, but you’ll pay more.
Visit 2 of Belgium’s most beautiful cities in a day on a guided tour of Bruges and Ghent. Benefit from round trip transfers from Brussels and the services of a professional guide. See an abundance of medieval monuments and picturesque neighborhoods.
BOOK YOUR GUIDED TOUR TO GHENT AND BRUGES FROM BRUSSELS HERE
One Day in Ghent Itinerary. What to do in Ghent for a Day
We flew to Brussels on a late autumn weekend, and after visiting the capital, we took day trips to Ghent and Bruges. We traveled by train to Ghent and walked through the city center and the surroundings. Although we didn’t prepare much, we saw a lot on these day trips.
So, here is a little inspiration for organizing your time if you only have one day in Ghent!
Korenmarkt
Tram no.1 leaves you in the heart of the city, just in front of Saint Nicholas’ Church, one of Ghent’s oldest and most beautiful landmarks. One part church, one part antique market, step inside the market, and maybe you will find something old and unique to take back home.
Cost: FREE
As you leave the church, you’ll find yourself in the middle of Korenmarkt, the historical heart of Ghent. Lots of the buildings house today restaurants, shops, and bars. In need of a coffee? Reach for Mokabon coffee house!
Saint Michael’s Area
If you arrive in Ghent by car, you can park at Sint Michiels parking area and start your walking tour here. At Sint-Michielsplein 12, you can join a free walking tour of Ghent. Tours are daily at 10:00hr, 13:00hr & 18:30hr, Monday – Sunday in English and Spanish and take around 2 hours.
Or explore the historical center of Ghent on a private 2-hour walking tour to see the main attractions of the medieval city center and enter the inner courtyard of an old almshouse.
BOOK YOUR PRIVATE GUIDED WALKING TOUR HERE
Saint Michael’s Bridge is the best place to capture the old buildings of the old harbor, the Leie canal, the churches of St. Michael and St. Nicholas, and the three towers leading to St. Bavo Cathedral.
Cost: FREE
You can also sit on the riverbank, enjoy the view, and then head to Saint Michael’s Church. The first thing you will notice at Saint Michael’s Church is that it has no spire. This is because it was not destroyed; it was the only thing never built. This beautiful church suffered several setbacks, including partial destruction, but now it is a Gothic beauty. The exterior is pretty impressive, but there are a lot to see inside: beautiful wooden carvings, sculptures, and glass windows.
Cost: FREE
Korenlei and Graslei
Korenlei and Graslei, the opposite banks of the river, are the most beautiful parts of the city. With historic buildings that sit alongside the waterfront, this charming place was once one of the most crucial trade areas in this part of the world. Just take some time, stroll around and enjoy the scenery. There are plenty of shops, cafes, and restaurants where you can sit and enjoy the views. Have lunch at one of the many terraces with a river view, or take a boat tour on the Leie River.
Cost: FREE
Canal Boat Tours
Several companies offer round-trip guided tours on the canals. The journey is very informative, giving most of the buildings’ history on both sides of the Leie river. In addition, it’s a lovely way to see Ghent and take some great pictures from a different angle.
Cost around 9 EUR, 10 USD
Duration: 50min
BOOK YOUR GUIDED BOAT RIDE TOUR HERE
Groetenmarkt
On the other side of the Korenmarkt is a small public square called Groetenmarkt. Here you will find Great Butcher’s Hall, which dates back to the 15th century. Now the hall houses a small restaurant inside. You will see Ganda hams hanging from the roof like they once used to.
Cost: FREE
Belgian frites at their best!
Behind Great Butcher’s Hall, there is a small counter called Bij Filip, where you can find good fries. Crisp on the outside and sublime on the inside. Just try some topped with SAMOURAI sauce! Delicious!
Gravensteen Castle
Built in 1180, Gravensteen Castle was the residence of the Counts of Flanders. It used to be a prison, a court, and a cotton factory, but now it’s a museum. We were very impressed by the beauty of this castle, and I realized it was the place we loved the most. It looked amazing from the outside, so we quickly decided to join an audio guide tour to discover the castle’s past.
The audio guide provides the history in a story form, making it enjoyable for children and adults. Funny and quirky, it got me in the first place. An engaging format that got other people, too, since everyone seemed amused.
Don’t miss the rooftop for a 360 degrees view of Ghent. From here, you can see all the 4 Medieval Towers of Ghent.
Cost: 10 EUR, 11 USD
Duration: 90 minutes.
Patershol
What better way to understand and feel the city than walking? One of the most beautiful and exciting areas is Patershol: a little neighborhood with many restaurants and shops. Just take a walk on the cobblestone alleys and enjoy the area.
Cost: FREE
Vrijdagmarkt
Vrijdagmarkt is another lovely square of Ghent, which houses a local market on Weekends, ever since the 12th century. Here you can find some great restaurants and pubs. And you can also have a quick look at Saint Jacob Church before moving further. Dating back to the Romanesque period, this church has gone through a lot of renovation, destruction, and expansion.
Cost: FREE
Graffiti Street
The graffiti street is basically a tiny street filled with bold and bright graffiti. It seems like the alley attracts many tourists, so you can say it’s one of the places you don’t want to miss from your one day in Ghent itinerary. So it is worth a quick stroll to see the graffiti and take some photos on the way to Vrijdagmarkt.
Cost: FREE
Saint Bavo’s Cathedral
Saint Bavo’s Cathedral is an impressive Gothic Cathedral built on the ruins of the 12th-century Romanesque church that once stood here. Both interior and exterior are amazing so make sure not to miss them on your one day in Ghent. It has a beautiful interior with stained glass, marble, a large Altar, and many chapels along both flanks. Of course, everyone wants to see Hubert and Jan Van Eyck’s famous artwork “The Mystic Lamb.” To be honest, we were very impressed by this Cathedral. The tower cannot be accessed, but you get great views from Belfry Tower opposite it.
Cost: 4 EUR, 4,50 USD- for the crypt
Belfry Tower
The Belfry, a Unesco World Heritage, is the symbol of Ghent. Built around 1313, the Belfry Tower is a fiery dragon guarding the city’s heart, standing at about 91m high. For sure, it’s one of the places you don’t want to miss from your one-day in Ghent itinerary.
Tip: Climb the stairs or take the lift from the first floor and reach the top at the hour when the music drum revolves. The small balconies give beautiful views over the city.
Cost: 8 EUR, 9 USD
Belgian Waffles
Eating Belgian waffles is a must during your one day in Ghent, so don’t you dare not try one! However, choosing one is a challenging task with such a great variety of toppings.
Buy the waffles from a street cart that makes them fresh in front of you. Remember, no waffle is complete without a delicious topping like caramel or dulce de leche!
Getting back to the Train Station
After spending a gorgeous day in Ghent, now it is time to head to the train station. From Korenmarkt, platform 4, take the tram back to the Ghent-Sint-Pieters Railway Station.
Interactive Map of Our One Day in Ghent Itinerary
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Hi Lizy,
very nice post!
Thank you for the visit!