Things to do in Ghent: our 2-day weekend itinerary

We had been wanting to visit Ghent for a while… 3 years, to be exact! That summer, we went to Bruges and had seriously thought about combining the two cities for our long weekend. Worried about running out of time, we changed our minds and… we were right to! This time, we were able to spend 2 days in Ghent. Taking our time, we discovered a pleasant, laid-back and incredibly foodie city, all under glorious sunshine. Do you know this Belgian city? Join us for a weekend in Ghent, with our day-by-day itinerary and all our favourite places.

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Ghent at a glance

2 days in Ghent: our itinerary

A quick note to start with: Gand, Gent or Ghent, it’s all the same city! These are its names in French, Dutch and English respectively. It lies in the Flemish region of Belgium, 60 kilometres from Brussels. The city isn’t very big, but there are plenty of things to see and do. Here is the itinerary we recommend for a weekend in Ghent, based on our own. All the places mentioned are described in more detail further down.

Day 1: the historic centre and the canals

• Morning: climb the Belfry for the view over the city, then visit St Bavo’s Cathedral and its famous Ghent Altarpiece.
• Late morning: St Nicholas’ Church, then head to the Graslei and St Michael’s Bridge for the best view of Ghent’s three towers.
• Lunch: fries on the go at Frites Atelier, on the Groentenmarkt.
• Afternoon: St Michael’s Church, then a boat trip on the Leie (ideally late in the day, when it’s quieter).
• Evening: dinner, then the night walk to admire the lights along the canals.

Day 2: markets, castle and street art

• Morning: if you’re there on a Sunday, it’s market time! The flower market on the Kouter, the book market and the Bij Sint-Jacobs flea market.
• Late morning: visit Gravensteen, the Castle of the Counts of Flanders, and its ramparts.
• Lunch: a foodie break, with cuberdons and mustard from the Groentenmarkt for dessert… more or less!
• Afternoon: a street art walk, without missing Werregarenstraat (Graffiti Street), then a museum if you still have the energy.
• Evening: an exceptional dinner at Volta restaurant, in a former power station.

Ghent in 1 day: our express version

Only have one day, for example if you’re combining it with Bruges? Focus on the historic centre: the Belfry, St Bavo’s Cathedral, Gravensteen Castle, then the Graslei and St Michael’s Bridge. Save time for a boat trip on the Leie and a foodie stop on the Groentenmarkt. Everything can be done on foot, the sights are just a few minutes apart.

Things to do in Ghent: the must-sees

Between walks, visits and food discoveries… we didn’t have a dull moment! Here’s what you shouldn’t miss during your stay.

The Belfry

Built between 1313 and 1380, it played an important role in the city’s history. It is one of the three iconic towers of the historic centre. Standing 95 metres tall, it offers a 360° view over Ghent and the surrounding area, exactly the kind of panorama we love! You can climb the stairs, but there’s also a lift. Entry is included in the CityCard, which we tell you about at the end of the article.

St Bavo’s Cathedral

Opposite the Belfry stands this religious monument where Emperor Charles V was baptised. Entry to the cathedral is free, except for the treasure it holds… The famous masterpiece by the Van Eyck brothers, the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, which requires a paid ticket. Book online, especially at weekends.

Gravensteen, the Castle of the Counts

One of the rare cities (maybe even the only one) where we found a castle right in the centre! Gravensteen, a moated castle, is remarkably well preserved and offers a panoramic view over the whole city from its high towers. The visit follows a signposted route with an audio guide. The audio guide, with its quirky humour, is really interesting, including a whole section on the torture methods of the time.

St Nicholas’ Church

A funny story: we went into the church on the Saturday and found a small craft market being set up, with limited access to the building. We didn’t stay long and went off to see the Belfry… It was only when we walked past again on the Sunday that we realised there was another entrance to the church!

The Graslei

Near St Michael’s Bridge, the Graslei (Herb Quay) lines up its magnificent guild houses on the right bank of the Leie. Just opposite, the Korenlei offers another viewpoint. This is where you’ll find one of the most beautiful views of the city!

St Michael’s Bridge

Head to St Michael’s Bridge for a second must-see view. From this exact spot, you can see Ghent’s 3 towers, the symbols of the city, at a single glance: the Belfry, the cathedral tower and the tower of St Nicholas’ Church. By day and by night, we really enjoyed wandering around here. The locals settle on the banks of the Leie with music, snacks and drinks, to sunbathe during the day or chat in the evening. Very much the place to be.

St Michael’s Church

Another important church in the city. This one is very large and houses many paintings and sculptures by renowned artists. Its interior is a little austere, but we’re always impressed by the height of the vaults.

A boat trip on the Leie

We love canal cruises! You let yourself drift along, enjoying the sun and discovering the city from a different angle… The guide tells us more about the river Leie and the surrounding canals. We sail as far as the Rabot, a former fortified gate of the city. We chose to do the trip just after lunch, to rest our legs after all that walking. But as a result, it was quite busy… We’d recommend going early in the morning or late in the day! We even spotted cruises with drinks on board.

Street art in Ghent

As well as the usual city maps, we were given one listing all the street art! We loved the idea, so we set off on a 2-hour walk. The full route features nearly a hundred works: we started near our hotel and looped round to our restaurant for dinner. Don’t miss Werregarenstraat, nicknamed Graffiti Street. Download the map here.

Ghent’s markets: which day to go?

Ghent is a city of markets, and there’s one almost every day! But if you’re looking for the best market day in Ghent, remember Friday and Sunday mornings above all. Here’s what you’ll find:

• The Friday market: every Friday morning, the Vrijdagmarkt, one of the city’s most beautiful squares, hosts the traditional market with fresh produce and all kinds of stalls. On the same day, an organic vegetable market sets up on the Groentenmarkt.
• The flower market: the Bloemenmarkt takes place every Sunday morning on the Kouter. Perfect for plant lovers, and a chance to have a drink with the locals.
• The book market: also on Sunday mornings, along the Ajuinlei. Book lovers will find a bit of everything here.
• The craft market: on Saturdays and Sundays on the Groentenmarkt. This is also the square where you’ll find Ghent specialities such as cuberdons and locally made mustard!
• The flea market: on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings at Bij Sint-Jacobs, the meeting place for bargain hunters!

Days and times may vary with the seasons and public holidays, so check the tourist office calendar before you go.

The museums

We didn’t have time to visit any, but the city has many interesting museums. One of the must-sees is the Museum of Fine Arts (MSK), with a fine collection of Flemish painting. There’s also STAM, the city museum, S.M.A.K., the municipal museum of contemporary art, and the Design Museum. Don’t hesitate to tell us in the comments if you’ve visited any and what you thought!

A night walk

The city has also invested in beautiful lighting along its streets and canals, perfect for a moonlit stroll. As night falls, daylight gives way to illuminated works of art. This signposted light walk is 5 kilometres long and takes about 2 hours. The map can be downloaded here. Don’t leave it too late, because at midnight the magic switches off. Of course, it was another walk we loved! We’re keen photographers and love beautiful reflections on the water: these light installations are a real playground for photographers!

Visiting Ghent: practical information

Getting to Ghent

Getting to Ghent is quick and easy. We came from Paris by train to Brussels (the former Thalys, now Eurostar), then took a connecting train of about 30 minutes to Gent-Sint-Pieters station. From London, the Eurostar to Brussels followed by the same train connection makes it an easy trip.

Where to stay?

We stayed at the Hotel de Flandre, which is ideally located. To our delight, we had a very spacious room and just the kind of breakfast we love: with loads of choice. The little extra? Thoughtful touches, like the jug of lemon water in the lobby.

Where and what to eat?

We tried several places, from quick bites to gourmet meals, as well as some trendy spots. The city is often considered the culinary capital of Flanders. Here are our favourite addresses! You can also read our article on Belgian specialities (in French) to find out more about the country’s food.

Where to eat in Ghent

Frites Atelier, to enjoy one of the local specialities on the go or comfortably seated!
➺ Groentenmarkt 20, 9000 Gent

Balls & Glory: a trendy spot with an original concept, XXL meatballs made with chicken, pork or vegetarian.
➺ Jakobijnenstraat 6, 9000 Gent

Volta restaurant: the standout meal of our stay, in an unusual setting…
➺ Nieuwewandeling 2B, 9000 Gent

Ghent specialities

Of course, you’ll find the famous waffles, fries, beers and chocolates here. But the city also has its own specialities! Don’t miss:

➺  Cuberdons, a small cone-shaped sweet with a fruity flavour.
➺  The mustard from the Tierenteyn-Verlent shop, made right here, in the cellar!

You can try both on the Groentenmarkt. We go into more detail in our foodie guide to Ghent (in French).

The CityCard Gent

We bought the CityCard Gent and we highly recommend you do the same! It includes entry to most of the city’s sights (the Belfry, Gravensteen, museums…), a boat trip, the city’s trams and buses and even a day’s bike hire. For the Ghent Altarpiece, it gives you a discount, provided you book online. The card comes in a 48-hour or 72-hour version, ideal for a weekend in Ghent. In 2026, expect to pay €49 for 48 hours and €55 for 72 hours. All the information on this page.

Getting around Ghent

As we mentioned in the introduction, the city isn’t very big, and anyway, we always recommend exploring a place on foot! 🙂 That said, we did use the tram to get back from Volta restaurant and from our street art walk, and to get to the station on the day we left. Public transport is very well signposted, with several trams and buses serving the city. And if you’ve bought the CityCard, transport is included.

Ghent or Bruges?

It’s a question we’ve been asked! And one we can’t really answer… Either way, we didn’t get bored in either city! 3 days in Bruges and 2 days in Ghent weren’t too much. Ghent is livelier and slightly less touristy, Bruges more picture-postcard… If you can’t decide, you can always combine the two: the cities are only 25 minutes apart by train!

FAQ: visiting Ghent

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This fourth stay with our Belgian neighbours only confirmed our love for the country. It also convinced us that it’s often unfairly overlooked! A foodie weekend, a tour of Flanders: we’re not short of ideas if we need to win you over! Either way, if you’re looking for a foodie, pleasant and beautiful destination, don’t hesitate and choose to visit Ghent. We promise you won’t be disappointed!

A huge thank you to Visit Flanders and Visit Gent for this lovely invitation, and to all the partners involved in the weekend!