All citiesGhent Things to do and walking itinerary
Belgium Ghent travel guide
22 things to do in Ghent, where to stay, airport transfers, 2 MICHELIN-starred restaurants. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in Ghent
- St Bavo's Cathedral — church in Ghent, Belgium (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Museum of Fine Arts Ghent (MSK) — museum of fine arts in Ghent, Belgium (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Gravensteen — museum (visit ≈ 75 min)
- Saint Nicholas' Church — church in Ghent, Belgium (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Belfry of Ghent — medieval tower in Ghent, Belgium (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst — contemporary art museum in Ghent, Belgium (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Saint Michael's Church, Ghent — church building in Ghent, Belgium (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Saint Peter's Abbey — former monastery in Ghent, Belgium (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Prinsenhof — historical neighborhood in Ghent, Belgium (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Our-Lady Ter Hooyen — béguinage in Ghent, Belgium (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Oostakker Basilica — church building in Ghent, Belgium (visit ≈ 30 min)
- St Bavo's Abbey, Ghent — former abbey in Ghent (visit ≈ 40 min)
- Vrijdagmarkt — square in Ghent (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Drongen Abbey — monastery in Ghent, Belgium (visit ≈ 40 min)
- Huis van Alijn — museum in Gent, Belgium (visit ≈ 120 min)
- STAM Ghent City Museum — museum (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Woodrow Wilsonplein — square in Ghent (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Korenmarkt, Ghent — square and street in Ghent, Belgium (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Korenlei — street in Ghent, Belgium (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Ghent University Botanical Garden (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Design Museum Gent — museum in Gent (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Sint-Jacobskerk — church building in Ghent, Belgium (visit ≈ 30 min)
2-day Ghent walking itinerary
Starting point: Graslei / Korenlei. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 4.8 km · 6,430 steps · 1 h 4 min on the way): Gravensteen → Saint Nicholas' Church → Belfry of Ghent → St Bavo's Cathedral → Saint Peter's Abbey
- Day 2 (≈ 5.1 km · 6,930 steps · 1 h 9 min on the way): Museum of Fine Arts Ghent (MSK) → Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst → Saint Michael's Church, Ghent
Hidden gems and overlooked spots in Ghent
- Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen — Urban nature reserve west of the city with wet meadows and birdwatching spots. (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Vooruit — Eclectic 1914 building made for a workers' cooperative, now a concert and performing arts centre. (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Werregarenstraat (Graffiti Street) — Narrow alley where graffiti is allowed; constantly repainted walls look different on every visit. (visit ≈ 15 min)
Where to stay in Ghent
- Graslei / Korenlei: Historic canal quays at the heart of town, full of views and restaurants.
- Patershol: An old quarter of narrow lanes, known for small restaurants.
- Gent-Sint-Pieters Station: Ideal for trains; the centre is ≈ 10 min by tram.
- Kouter / Veldstraat: Central and elegant, near the shopping street and the opera.
Getting from the airport to Ghent
- Brussels Airport (BRU): Direct train ≈ 1 h
Getting around
The historic centre is car-free and walkable; tram 1 runs from the station to the centre. Bikes are also very handy.
Classic places to eat
- Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant: A canal-side bar with a wide range of Belgian beers.
- 't Dreupelkot: A small, cosy bar serving dozens of jenevers.
- Pakhuis: A large brasserie in an old warehouse; Flemish and French dishes.
- Groot Vleeshuis: East Flemish produce and light dishes in the medieval meat hall.
- Temmerman: An old sweet shop selling Ghent's cone-shaped cuberdon sweets.
MICHELIN-starred restaurants
Last known stars; check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- Chambre Séparée — 2 MICHELIN stars, Creative, fire cooking
- Vrijmoed — 1 MICHELIN star, Modern
Romantic views
- St Michael’s Bridge (Sunset): Ghent's three towers and the canal quays in one view.
- Korenlei Quay (Evening): A stroll facing the guild houses as the lights come on.
- Belfry (Afternoon): A wide view over the red rooftops from the tower.
- Patershol Lanes (Evening): Narrow cobbled lanes, quiet and lovely in the evening.
- Citadelpark (Afternoon): A large park with a pond, a small waterfall and paths.
Good to know before visiting Ghent
- Fine: Clothing that fully covers the face is banned in public.
- Fine: Foreign cars must register in advance to enter low-emission zones in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent.
- Fine: Smoking indoors is banned.
- Warning: You're required to carry ID or a passport.
- Warning: Don't walk on cycle lanes.
- Warning: Watch for pickpockets at Brussels' main stations.
- Emergency: 112 (police 101)
- Plugs: C/E, 230V
- Tap water: Tap water is safe; restaurants usually serve bottled.
- Tipping: Service is included; round up if pleased.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: Belgium, Wikivoyage — Belgium, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
Ghent travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in Ghent?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 2 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 4 days for the top 20 places within walking distance.
- What are the top things to do in Ghent?
- Highlights: St Bavo's Cathedral, Museum of Fine Arts Ghent (MSK), Gravensteen, Saint Nicholas' Church and Belfry of Ghent. The map has 22 things to do in total.
- Where to stay in Ghent?
- Graslei / Korenlei: Historic canal quays at the heart of town, full of views and restaurants. Other options: Patershol, Gent-Sint-Pieters Station and Kouter / Veldstraat.
- How do you get from the airport to Ghent city centre?
- Brussels Airport (BRU): Direct train ≈ 1 h
- How do you get around Ghent?
- The historic centre is car-free and walkable; tram 1 runs from the station to the centre. Bikes are also very handy.
- Which MICHELIN-starred restaurants are in Ghent?
- According to the last known data there are 2 starred restaurants: Chambre Séparée (2 stars), Vrijmoed (1 star). Check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- What is the emergency number in Ghent?
- Emergency: 112 (police 101).
- Do you tip in Ghent?
- Service is included; round up if pleased.
Nearby cities
Bruges · Brussels · Antwerp · Rotterdam · The Hague · Amsterdam · Cologne · Luxembourg
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