In the last few weeks, I took you around The Netherlands – from the picturesque houses of Amsterdam, the beautiful canals of Utrecht to the quiet but stunning countryside of North Holland. I also brought you to 2 cities in Belgium – the European & country capital Brussels & the fairytale city of Bruges. Let’s admit it, all these cities & regions are amazing & pleasing to the eyes. But hey, the list doesn’t end there. I want you to also know more about an underrated but equally gorgeous Belgian city named Ghent.
Just like in Bruges & Brussels, people recommend staying in Ghent for at least 1-2 nights. I only had limited time in Belgium so I decided to visit the city for a day & not miss it at all. Allow me to share with you my one-day itinerary around Belgium’s underrated medieval port city – Ghent.
PS. Glad I took down notes during the walking tour & I still have some of the pamphlets I got – I can share some details to you.
GHENT
Ghent is an important port city during the medieval times. It started as a settlement where Leie & Scheldt Rivers met. It then developed into a trading city that focused on the clothing market. It was the center of the County of Flanders. In the late 1500s, the city went into wars & had conflicts with the neighboring countries & territories. This led to the fall of the progressive trading city.
The city went back to business during the introduction of cotton-spinning machinery & the opening of the a nearby port. The boom in textile market helped Ghent get back to being a trading port city. The city experienced several market collapses after that but eventually made it back to business. Today, Ghent is still a port & tourist city. It also houses Ghent University, one of Belgium’s top research university.
Curious how I got my Schengen Visa for this trip? Check out this DIY Schengen Visa application post to know more.
Brussels to Ghent
Ghent is about 55 kilometers away from Brussels. Buses & inter-city trains connect these 2 cities. FlixBus only operates 1 trip between Brussels & Ghent. Tickets cost as low as €4,99 one way for an hour-long trip. The buses have comfortable reserved seats, USB charging outlet & WiFi. Taking the bus is the best way to go if you are on a strict budget.
PS. Check out my blog post about Brussels, the capital of Belgium, here.
Inter-city trains depart every 40 minutes from Brussels Central Station. Tickets cost €9,00 one way & €18,00 return in the second-class train cabin. Seats are rare in this type of cabin due to the large number of people taking this train. Trip takes about 35 minutes per way. I took the train both ways because it was faster & more convenient, schedule-wise.
Going Around Ghent
Ghent’s main train station is Gent-Sint-Pieters Station. It is 2.5 kilometers away from Ghent’s city center. Visitors can either take the tram for 15 minutes & a few euros, rent a bicycle or walk to the city center for 30 minutes. I took the long & fun walk for 30 minutes per way; I was not in a hurry.
Upon arriving at the city square, I noticed that the center has no cars. Apparently, the Ghent city center is a no-car zone. Tourists & locals either use trams or bicycles as mode of transportation around the city center. Most tourists explore the city by foot; I explored the city too by foot. Walking is fun, body, budget & environment-friendly.
Gent Free Walking Tours
I took the walking tour organized by Gent Free Walking Tours. They run 3 free (well tip-based) walking tours everyday around Ghent. Tours run for 2 hours & are both in English & Spanish languages. Tours start at Hostel Upperlink at the other end of St Michael’s Bridge, Korenlei side. Tours start at 10:00hr, 13:00hr & 18:30hr. Interested parties can either book their spots online or can simply show up in the hostel at least 5 minutes before the walking tour schedule.
Younes led the 13:00hr English walking tour & took us around the city for 2 hours. He shared to us how Ghent started as a city, how it became powerful during the dark ages, how it fell into the hands of other countries & how it is now as a port & university city. He also shared urban legends, interesting facts & stories about the city. He even gave his recommendations on where to have the best meal, waffle & beer in Ghent. Overall, it was a fun walking tour. I liked how Younes tried to talk to all guests & even asked questions about our countries & cultures while walking to the different Ghent sites.
Did you know I also visited Bruges? Known as the Venice of the North, this medieval city is one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to in Belgium & Europe in general. Check out the Bruges blog post here.
Places to See Around Ghent
Ghent has its own fair share of gingerbread houses, cobblestone streets, beautifully designed buildings & scenic canals. These may not be as fairytale-like as Ghent’s but these places surely have their own medieval charm. Check out the places I visited in that one-day trip to Ghent.
Korenmarkt
Korenmarkt is Ghent’s historic & famous city square. It is between the Leie River & St. Nicholas’ Church. It is surrounded by the church, the former Ghent Post office & guild houses turned cafes & restaurants.
Former Ghent Post Office
The former Ghent Post Office building is in front of St. Nicholas’ Church in Korenmarkt. This building was converted to a boutique hotel & commercial center. The hotel is known as 1898 The Post Hotel.
St. Nicholas’ Church
St. Nicholas’ Church is one of Ghent’s oldest buildings. Built in the 13th century, this church was popular to the locals, tradesmen & guilds who created their own houses beside the church. The church is in Korenmarkt, the city’s main square.
Belfry of Ghent
The Belfry of Ghent is a 91-meter medieval clock & watch tower that overlooks the old city center. This UNESCO heritage-listed tower is the tallest bell tower in Belgium. It is found at the back of St. Nicholas’ Church, right before St. Bavo’s Cathedral.
St. Bavo’s Cathedral
St. Bavo’s Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral named after St. Bavo of Ghent. This huge cathedral is also the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Ghent.
Sint-Baafsplein
Sint-Baafsplein is a small square outside St. Bavo’s Cathedral & surrounded by the Belfry of Ghent & NTGent Performing Arts Theater. This square has a stunning view of the belfry & St. Nicholas Church.
St. Michael’s Bridge
St. Michael’s Bridge is a popular landmark that shows the most beautiful views of Ghent. You’ll see Leie River with Graslei & Korenlei from one angle. You can also see St. Nicholas Church with the Belfry & St. Bavo’s Cathedral from the other angle. The bridge is a few meters away from Korenmarkt.
Graslei
Graslei is the bank / quay located at the right side of Leie River in Ghent. This quay is composed of historic gingerbread guild houses turned cafes & restaurants. This area is part of the medieval port of Ghent. Graslei is one of the most beautiful places in Ghent.
Korenlei
Korenlei is the left side bank of Leie River, opposite Graslei. This side is mostly private buildings which include the famous Ghent Marriott Hotel.
Grasbrug
Grasbrug is the bridge located opposite St. Michael’s Bridge above Leie River. The bridge has a great view of Graslei on the left & Korenlei on the right.
Ghent City Hall
Ghent City Hall or locally known as Stadhuis is the seat of the city government. This beautiful & historical building is at the back of belfry along Botemarkt, Ghent.
Stadshal
Stadshal is an open-air pavilion between St. Nicholas Church & the Belfry of Ghent. This uniquely designed pavilion is a concert hall & events space.
Gravensteen
Gravensteen, also known as Castle of the Counts, is a medieval structure that housed the Count of Flanders. Interestingly, it also became a mint, a prison, an execution place, a cotton factory & even a protest center in the past. It is now a museum that showcases facts about Ghent & the city’s history. I wish I went inside the castle but I didn’t have time to go to.
Patershol
Patershol is a street of old houses turned restaurants, cafes, bars & pubs in Ghent. Younes told us that this street has a variety of cuisines & restaurants to choose from.
Vrijdagmarkt
Vrijdagmarkt is another market square in Ghent. This square was named after the weekly Friday morning market tradition of the locals.
Citadelpark
Citadelpark is a city park near Gent-Sint-Pieters Station that used to house the Dutch citadel in the 1800s. It is a famous recreation place for the local being one of the big parks in the city.
So that’s Ghent! It’s a city that shouldn’t be compared with Brussels & Bruges. It has its own charm & character. I also that there are lesser tourists in this city compared to Bruges & Brussels. Is it worth visiting? Y-E-S! The city is very underrated & one of a kind.
Have you been to Ghent in the past? How did you find the city? Share your thoughts & experiences in the comments section below. Are you planning to visit this city? You should! Spend at least a day or stay longer if you can. Do you have any questions about the city or anything mentioned above? You may send those questions via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Please also help me promote my social media pages – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Thank you for joining me in Ghent today. Watch out for the next post about Belgium.. Until next time!
PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.