Although not a hidden gem by any means, a Ghent day trip might not take the top spot on your bucket list of things to do in Belgium. However, I’m here to change that! Truthfully, a trip to Belgium isn’t complete without a visit to this proudly Flemish city, where old meets new – be it the medieval castle and classic cobbled centre paired with the excitingly modern De Krook or eclectic street art, or the blossoming veggie food scene finding its place amongst traditional hearty food and confectionary like cuberdons.
As one of the closest cities to the capital, Ghent is one of the best day trips to take from Brussels, and this easy guide has everything you need to plan one day in Ghent.
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How to Get to Ghent from Brussels
The distance from Brussels to Ghent is small – in fact, the cities are only a thirty-minute train ride apart! Board a train at any of Brussels’ three main train stations – Midi/Zuid, Central/Centraal, or North/Nord/Noord and you’ll alight at Gent-Sint-Pieters station in no time. Trains depart every 20-30 minutes.
Top Tip: Gent-Sint-Pieters train station is not in the centre of Ghent, so you’ll be met with a 15-minute tram ride or 30-minute walk when you arrive.
There’s good news if you want to take a day trip to Ghent from Bruges, as you’ll reach Ghent from Bruges in as little as 20 minutes! Trains between Bruges and Gent-Sint-Pieters depart very frequently and vary between 20 and 45-minute journeys.
Ghent Day Trip Itinerary
Visit a Museum
To break up the long walk between Ghent’s train station and the city centre, start your Ghent day trip with a visit to one of Ghent’s best museums. Opt for SMAK, Ghent’s contemporary art museum in the beautiful and spacious Citadelpark, or STAM, which celebrates Ghent’s history and culture. These museums are definitely some of the best places to visit in Ghent in one day.
St Peter’s Abbey
Continue your journey into the centre passing the spectacular St Peter’s Abbey (Sint-Pietersabdij). The abbey has a rich history – which you can learn about here as the abbey is used as a museum. Make sure you also check out the secret garden at the back of the abbey, one of the best free hidden gems in Ghent!
I also recommend a stop at De Krook, Ghent’s excitingly modern public library. The building was opened in 2017, reviving a previously run-down area of the city while simultaneously providing a space for innovative research and the community of Ghent.
Gravensteen Castle
With only one day in Ghent, Gravensteen Castle is an absolute must-see. The medieval fortress has a spectacular history – it has housed many counts and has been used as a prison, a court, a mint, and a cotton mill!
Nowadays, Gravensteen Castle is used as a museum where you can learn all about this interesting past, and even visit the torture chambers. After, wander around the castle to see the impressive exterior and its surrounding moat – the only one in Ghent.
Read Next: The Best Day Trips from Brussels by Train
Graslei & The Centre
Now it’s time to explore Ghent’s picturesque centre and the city’s riverside hub, Graslei. The cobbled streets, gingerbread house-esque buildings, market squares and outdoor bars are very typical of Belgian culture.
By this point in your Ghent day trip, you might want to grab some lunch and sit down for a coffee – or a Belgian beer. Although a little touristy, I always love to sit at the terraces around Graslei, as the vibes are the views are fantastic. For food, it has to be Belgian fries – try the popular Frites Atelier or Friterie Het Puntzakje.
Some spots to look out for as you explore Graslei and the centre of Ghent are Stadhuis, Ghent’s ornate city hall, Graffiti Street, a vibrant alleyway filled with fun graffiti and street art, and Vrijdagmarkt, a large market square that’s equally worth a visit during and outwith market hours.
If you’re interested in learning about Ghent’s history and culture from a local, I recommend booking a guided walking tour around Ghent. Find some more things to do in Ghent below.
Ghent’s Churches
Ghent’s centre has an abundance of churches to visit – don’t miss St Bavo’s Cathedral (Sint-Baafskathedraal), Saint Nicholas’ Church (Sint-Niklaaskerk), and Saint Michael’s Church (Sint-Michielskerk). You can see them all from the beautiful stone arch bridge, Sint-Michielsbrug.
Cuberdons at Groentenmarket
Sample one of Ghent’s delicacies from traditional carts around the city. Cuberdons are cone-shaped candies that were accidentally discovered by a Ghent native, pharmacist De Vynck, back in the 1800s.
There are plenty of places to try this popular candy in Ghent, but Groentenmarkt is a great spot in the centre. Typically, there are cuberdon shops with little carts outside where you can sample and buy some sweets.
If you’d like to learn about the full story of the cuberdon, check out this guide to Belgian food you must try in Brussels!
Boat Tour
With just one day in Ghent, you’ll want to make the most of your time, and one of the most exciting things to do in Ghent is to jump on a boat tour and see the city from the water. Typically, boat tours come with an audio guide, making this a great way to learn all about Ghent as you ride around.
Ghent Belfry
Ghent’s belfry dates back to the 14th century when it was used as a watchtower and belltower. These days, you can still hear the bells ring out every Sunday, and you can climb to the top of the tower and see amazing panoramic views over Ghent.
Once you’ve visited the Belfry, round up your day trip to Ghent with a walk through the centre – you might want to do a spot of shopping at some of Ghent’s great vintage stores and boutiques along the way. Either grab dinner in Ghent (I’ll leave a few recommendations below) or head back to the capital and check out one of the best restaurants in Brussels.
The Best Things to Do in One Day in Ghent
With the Ghent day trip itinerary above, you’ll be all set to spend a day in Ghent. Here’s a round-up of all the amazing things you can get up to!
- Ghent Belfry
- St Peter’s Abbey
- Ghent Boat Tour from Graslei
- SMAK Modern Art Museum
- STAM, Ghent’s City Museum
- Gravensteen Castle
- Graslei
- Graffiti Street
- Try some Cuberdons
- Stadhuis
- Sint-Michielsbrug and Ghent’s many churches
- Vrijdagmarkt
- De Krook
Read Next: How to Spend a Magical Day Trip in Bruges, Belgium
Where to Eat on a Day Trip to Ghent
Ghent has a great foodie scene – it’s even known as the veggie capital of Europe! You can definitely enjoy a few great places to eat in Ghent on a day trip, and here are a few spots to check out.
Breakfast and Cafés in Ghent:
- Luv l’Oeuf
- Pain Perdu
- Simon Says
- Mokabon
Lunch/Dinner in Ghent:
- Steamywindows
- Mémé Gusta
- Pakhuis
- Balls & Glory
Ghent Day Tours
If you want to take the hassle out of a day trip to Ghent, you could book a Ghent day tour from Brussels. Most tours will combine Bruges and Ghent in a day as they’re close to each other and easily combined in a day trip.
Whether you choose to book a day trip to Ghent or plan one on your own, I’m sure you’ll love this exciting Belgian city. If you’re looking for more Belgian day trip ideas, check out these guides to a day in Bruges or the Belgian Coast.
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