10+ Unique and Free Things to Do in Ghent

You might be surprised to hear that after two trips to the city, I still haven’t visited Ghent’s most popular attractions, like Gravensteen Castle or the Ghent Belfry. The truth is, Ghent is so full of hidden gems that on both trips I’ve found so many other things to fill my itinerary with. This city has so many stories that can be found in the humble streets, the bustling squares, and the quiet green spaces. Whether it’s a history spanning from colonialism to the Hundred Years’ War, or unique art spaces paving the future of Ghent, there is something for everyone to discover and enjoy in this city. Even Ghent or Belgian locals might find something in this list that they haven’t seen before!

The bonus for budget travel lovers is that this list is entirely composed of free things to do in Ghent. You can easily spend a long weekend in Ghent, only paying for your accommodation and food, and still enjoy a culturally rich and interesting trip. Even if your budget can stretch a little further, these activities are still generally some of the best things to do in Ghent so you can add a few to your itinerary.

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De Krook Library

Ghent hosts a beautiful public library near the centre of the city. Opened in 2017, it was a really exciting development for the city as it breathed some life back into a previously run-down area of Ghent. The modern architecture really stands out and it’s a beautiful building to see, inside and out.

First and foremost De Krook is a library, but the building also houses several businesses focused on innovation and research. Ghent University also works with De Krook to bring lectures and other academic activities to the public. The library sits on a bend in the river Scheldt, and the waterfront is the perfect place to relax, especially in the evening, just before the sun goes down.

As mentioned before, the library is wonderful to see inside and out, so unless you’re a local looking to borrow some books, don’t feel like you have to explore the interior. For me, and this is almost always the case, impressive modern architecture buildings are most impressive from the outside, and I was perfectly happy just wandering around the exterior of De Krook. It’s definitely not to be missed, especially if you want to get a glance at the future of Ghent as it is being developed.

Relaxing at Graslei

One of the most charming things about Ghent is how laid back it always is. Head down to the river and join many locals catching up with friends and simply enjoying their day or evening. Bonus points if you take some Belgian beer along with you!

You could choose to sit by the water at the De Krook library (mentioned above), but the most popular spot is at Graslei, right in the centre of Ghent. The street is lined with bars and restaurants so you could opt to dine outside, or find yourself a nice spot on the cobbles and soak up the bustling atmosphere.

St Peter’s Abbey

In the south of Ghent’s city centre, you’ll find one of the most unique churches, in a city that’s full of them! St Peter’s Abbey (known as Sint-Pietersabdij in Dutch) has a rich history, dating back to the 7th century. The abbey had a large influence in the city of Ghent throughout the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth centuries, but eventually fell into decline. Since then, St Peter’s Abbey has changed hands between the church and the city several times. Now, it belongs to the city and is used as a museum, although the church building is still functioning as just that, and is called Our Lady of Saint Peter’s.

The church is free to visit and has a beautiful interior. The ground floor of the Abbey, consisting of the hallways and courtyard, is also free.

Secret Garden

The best thing about St Peter’s Abbey is also one of the best hidden gems in Ghent. Behind the abbey is a beautiful hidden garden and vineyard. Popular with the city’s students to have a small picnic or read for the afternoon, the secret garden really transports you away from the hustle and bustle of city life. If you have good weather during your trip to Ghent, this spot is perfect to take a breath for a little while and soak up the sun. If you are less fortunate with the weather, you can still make a quick stop at the quaint little garden to see it.

The main grassy area of the garden is to the left when you walk in. There is a small area of abbey ruins and a privately owned vineyard to the right. Be careful around the ruins and don’t walk or sit on them.

You shouldn’t have much trouble finding the gardens of St Peter’s Abbey. Take the side street to the right of the abbey (there is an entrance to the left but it is a private vineyard entrance and is locked… I learned that the hard way!). Turn left and you’ll see a rising path with the entrance to the garden.

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Zuivelbrugstraat Bridge

For one of the most beautiful and free things to do in Ghent, head to the bridge on Zuivelbrugstraat. It has everything you need for a perfect view – cute bridge railings, houses lining the river, boats sailing, and traditional terraced Flemish houses in the background. The bridge even has a small platform sticking out over the water which makes for the perfect photo spot!

If you’re willing to wake up early, I recommend heading to this spot at sunrise. You’ll have the city to yourself, and the light is just beautiful as the sun comes up. This is definitely one of the most unique things in Ghent for me.

Safety Note: Please exercise caution if you choose to step out onto the river platform. It is sturdy and safe, but nothing more than a wooden platform. There are no barriers and nothing to hold on to. Be aware of the risks and assess your ability to keep afloat should the worst happen.

Citadel Park Waterfall

If you travel to Ghent by train, Citadel Park will be the perfect first stop on your trip, as it’s on the way from the train station to the city centre. I recommend exploring the whole park and its wonderful green spaces, including the SMAK Contemporary Art museum (not free, but only €2 if you’re under 26!).

The most unique spot in Citadel Park is the beautiful waterfall rock formation in the very northeast of the park. You’ll see a small, peaceful pond that has a large rock formation on one side and a waterfall flowing over it. You can pass through the rock formation and under the waterfall. In Spring, cherry blossoms flower next to the waterfall, and overall it’s a very pretty, picturesque scene.

You can climb to the top of the stone structure (it’s not very high). There, you’ll find a statue called ‘t Moorken which depicts a young Congolese boy called Sakala. The statue also features a plaque with the faces of two men who were prominent in Belgium’s colonisation of the Congo and brought Sakala to Ghent to spend some time there. It sits as a stark reminder of Belgium and Ghent’s colonial past, especially given that the park was used during the 1913 World’s Fair in Ghent.

Saint Bavo’s Abbey

There isn’t much to discover across the water on the right side of the city, but it’s a venture nonetheless to discover Saint Bavo’s Abbey. Like Saint Peter’s Abbey, this dates back to the 7th century and, of course, it also has an interesting history. It has been raided by Vikings, chasing away the monks, used by emperor Otto II in conflict with Louis V of France, and eventually destroyed by Spanish King Charles V during his reign of Ghent and Flanders. He ordered a fortress to be built atop the ruins and the abbey ceased to exist, spare the cloisters and chapel.

On top of its fantastic and tragic history, what makes the Abbey one of the most unique things to do in Ghent, is the way it has been ‘restored’. Although very little of the Abbey remains, tall hedges mark out where the buildings used to lie, and you can walk around and imagine yourself there. You can also walk around the stone ruins.

It is possible to enter inside the Abbey ruins to further explore this incredible space, but only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 2-6 pm. The limited hours are in place to preserve the fragile space as much as possible. However, admission is free so if you happen to visit at those hours and what to dive deeper into the history of Ghent, this is a great activity for you.

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Discover some popular Ghent activities

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Glass Alley and the Red Light District

Note: Adults Only!

You can imagine my shock when I found the beautiful Glass Alley, and then slowly discovered its purpose as I walked up and down posing for photos. Obsessed with covered passages and shopping arcades, I had seen a photo of this one in Ghent and knew I wanted to see it up close. Due to Covid restrictions, the arcade was completely empty so the true nature wasn’t clear, and it took me a while to notice.

In normal times, Glass Alley forms the centre of one of Ghent’s two red-light districts, and women sit in the windows, a tradition that we most closely attribute to Amsterdam. It’s always interesting to see this different part of a city. In Ghent, the red light district doesn’t feel seedy or dangerous and as far as I know, a little more on the modest side compared to other cities.

Whether you’re interested in the architecture of Glass Alley or the cultural side of the Red Light District, this is a really interesting area to visit in Ghent.

Discover more about Red Light District Culture with this Complete Guide to Visiting Amsterdam!

Gravensteen Castle Moat

Gravensteen Castle is not free to visit, but here’s a secret hack if you’re looking for free things to do in Ghent.

Being right in the centre of the city, Gravensteen Castle and its medieval architecture really stand out, and it’s one of the most popular attractions in Ghent! You can admire the exterior from the busy Rekelingestraat, and make sure to cross the bridge next to it to get a cool view of the castle with the river running alongside it. However, to experience something a bit more unique, follow these steps.

First, walk past the castle along Geldmunt. When you’re just past the castle, you’ll see a small alleyway to your left. Walk down and you’ll come to a grassy area where you’ll see more of the back of the castle and the river Leie.

It’s not much and it’s not as exciting as entering the castle and museum, which is one of the top things I would recommend actually paying for here, this hack is a great way to see a little more of the castle without spending any money.

Street Art at Graffiti Street

For a self-proclaimed street art lover, Ghent’s Graffiti Street is a dream. If you like the comic book murals found across Brussels, you’ll love this alleyway filled with the most colourful, creative graffiti that the city has to offer. It really encapsulates the young, hip vibes that Ghent gives off, and is the perfect place for a cool Instagram shot.

Graffiti Street is one of my favourite free things to do in Ghent because it’s like visiting a museum with no rules, and where the exhibitions are constantly changing and making way for new art.

Vrijdagmarkt & Toreken

Many unique things to do in Ghent, and any city for that matter, are discovered by accident, and this is another fantastic example of that. Whilst out wandering the streets before Ghent properly woke up, I found myself in Vrijdagmarkt, a huge square that’s home to a market on Fridays and Saturdays, and beautiful façades and bustling atmosphere all week long! It’s definitely worth coming here during market times if possible, to experience Ghent city life and join in a piece of history at a market that has been around since the late 12th century.

The square has an interesting history and was traditional the site of many celebrations and executions. Most notably, many Flemish Counts were sworn into duty here during the middle ages. There is a large statue in the centre of Vrijdagmarkt of a man called Jacob Van Artevelde. He is considered a hero to the people of Ghent for saving the city’s wool and textile trade during the Hundred Years’ War, and his statue shows him pointing towards England, with whom he continued to trade, despite French resistance, in order to save the industry.

In the corner of the square is a beautiful clock tower, the Toreken. Keeping with the historic nature of this square, the tower and building date back to the 15th century, where it was used by tanners.

Koningin Maria Hendrikaplein

This last free activity in Ghent is definitely a novelty, and only worth visiting if you’re arriving or leaving from Gent-Sint-Pieters train station. Nevertheless, I enjoy seeing it every time I visit and it’s definitely unique.

Queen Maria Hendrika Square, named after the Belgian Queen, is a small square outside Ghent’s main train station. It’s plain and unassuming, except for the fact that it’s surrounded by hundreds upon hundreds of chained up bikes. It’s not known how so many bikes ended up here (other than the fact that cycling very popular here!) or which ones are abandoned and which are still used by commuters, but it’s certainly a fun thing to see when arriving for a day in Ghent.

Other Free Things to Do in Ghent

In this post, I’ve tried to stick to the most unique free things to do in Ghent, but many of the main attractions in the city don’t cost anything!

Ghent is full of different churches and cathedrals, and they are almost always free to enter. You can visit Saint Bavo’s Cathedral and Saint Nicholas’ Church right in the centre of the city. Make sure you also check out Ghent city hall.

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And so concludes this amazing list of 10+ unique and free things to do in Ghent! I am positive that you’ve found at least one thing that has piqued your interest here, and I hope you enjoy discovering them if you visit Ghent in the future.

If you enjoyed this post on the best unique and free things to do in Ghent, you might enjoy some more of my Belgian content, like the Where to Get the Best Belgian Fries in Brussels, or How to Take a Magical Day Trip to Bruges. If you’re a budget travel lover, why not check out these 26 Completely Free Things to Do in Barcelona!

Have you ever been to Ghent? Let me know if you’ve been to any of these spots and, of course, share your own hidden gems with me!