If you’ve been following this blog, you might have noticed that I am not a fan of all those one-day guides that are all over social media.
But this blog post is an exception to that preference. I finally knew that a lot of people squeeze their itineraries, and this time I had to do that as well.
But still, I wanted to blog about something which you can’t find anywhere else: a half-day blog about Ghent, which was my final stop in Belgium.
I felt like I committed a sin just staying there for half a day, but still, it didn’t feel like I was in a rush.
I’ve marked things to see on Google Maps like this: notice that the hearts concentrate on Ghent’s city centre?
The centre is very walkable, and you can sightsee all those places in half a day without feeling in a hurry or anything.
The only thing that this map didn’t show was the boat tour route, which I detail later on.
My overall impression of Ghent was superb. I did not regret travelling and roaming around despite the torrential downpour during my half-day visit. So, please do plan Ghent into your Belgium itinerary 🙂
Belfort
That “Het Belfort van Gent” on the map — or, as it is called for short, Gent Belfort — is a well-preserved medieval clock tower. If you fancy some exercise, you’ll love the 366 steps to the top for a €13 entry.
There’s a lift after around 80 steps (that means you have to climb up some steps even if you’d like to take the lift), but it was out of order on my visit.
Then I had no choice but to complete all 366 steps — it was worth it, though. Dear reader, you should not expect the lift to be operational, but come prepared for those steps.
Starting from the underground chamber, the tower entertains visitors with the engineering side of its structure. In medieval times, the tower served to signal the time of day to the locals who were illiterate — they could not even read the numbers on the clock.
So the bell ringing at the tower was their only way to know what time it was. How impressive…
Halfway to the top, a bronze dragon will be delighted to welcome you and unfold its story.
It was not the top yet, but this postcard view was breathtaking.
And congratulations! You did all 366 steps, and here is your reward:
Although it was very cloudy and windy, I was very proud of myself completing the ascent. So will you be!
Saint Bavo’s Cathedral Ghent.
Situated just across from the Belfort (yes, this photo was taken from that tower), this cathedral is home to the Mystic Lamb (the sacred altarpiece) and has been around for more than 1000 years.
Entry is free, and you will enjoy the grandeur, peace and tranquillity inside the cathedral. However, visiting the Mystic Lamb costs €12.50.
If you can afford it, go for the Mystic Lamb and admire its beauty. Please note that the altarpiece will close its panels at 5:15 pm daily, so factor that into your visit.
Gravensteen Castle
Just a 10 to 15-minute walk from Belfort, Gravensteen is probably Ghent’s most popular tourist attraction. Castle fans or not, you should spend a few hours on the castle grounds.
We could not enter this castle as all the tickets were fully booked during our visit… So, dear reader, please book your ticket in advance or come very early for a ticket at the door (it opens at 10 am daily). It costs €15.
Patershol
Just a few minutes’ walk from Gravensteen, Patershol is probably the hippest part of Ghent to walk around. This neighbourhood has cool museums like Huis van Alijn in the above photo, as well as local and international restaurants and bars.
If you are a fan of traditional architecture in Ghent, stroll through the alleys and corridors made up of fairy-tale houses and shopfronts.
Graslei and a Boat Tour
Graslei is the viewpoint where you can snap the most iconic, Insta-worthy photos in Ghent. It also lies in the centre of Ghent, which hosts dazzling and buzzing restaurants and bars.
Boat tours depart right here from Graslei. I absolutely recommend taking a tour, which is only €11 per person and lasts 45 minutes. Every cent was worth it for me.
Our tour guide was a cheerful gentleman who did the tour in multiple languages — the local French and Dutch, and also English to cater to the tourists.
The guide also operated our boat and narrated everything in three languages at the same time. You could feel that he was used to that multitasking…
He also took us to the residential area on the canal, which showcases two jumping-person bronze statues — which I did not know existed prior to this tour.
Now you know I enjoyed this tour a lot. If you do the tour too, please don’t forget to tip your tour guide.
Popular Local Bites in Ghent
On our boat tour, my buddy spotted a crisp food point on the canal near the Gravensteen. As it was our last few hours in Belgium, he was very keen on tasting the Belgian fries before our departure.
We got to find that food point (De Lange Friet), where we woofed down that golden, crispy goodness.
We also tried two types of local dishes in succession, which we loved despite the torrential downpour — luckily, we had a canopy tent over our heads.
You can see the heavy rain on the street – but this mussel dish was heavenly.
See my budget food guide in Ghent for more 🙂
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