What to see in Ghent

If we are asked about Belgium, we have to talk about Ghent not only because it is one of the places we liked the most in the country, but also because this small city located in between Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp has a charm that is worth knowing.

In this article, we will tell you about the sites not to be missed and we will also share with you some hidden places that we discovered during our visit and we thought it was essential for all readers of the blog to know. In addition, in this other article we tell you about the best places to have lunch or dinner in Ghent.

1. Graslei and Korelei Streets

The first must-see in Ghent are the two most iconic streets of the city: Graslei y Korenlei. These streets are located on the banks of the Lys River and are part of the historic center of the city. The view is spectacular: old guild houses with pastel colors and red roofs are reflected in the water, while tourist boats pass through the medieval bridges. It's a beautiful sight!

Graslei and Korenlei were the commercial center of Ghent in the Middle Ages, as the port of Ghent was once located there. Today, the guild houses have been converted into restaurants, bars and souvenir stores, making it the perfect place to take a stroll, sit on one of the terraces overlooking the river (especially in summer) and drink a good Belgian beer.

Another way to walk through these streets is by making a boat excursion We did it and we really enjoyed the experience. It is a very cool way to see the city from a different perspective.

👀 Recommended plans in Ghent!
Free tour of Ghent
Free tour of the mysteries and legends of Ghent

2. Saint Michael's Bridge (Sint-Michielsbrug)

At one end of the Graslei and Korelei streets is one of the most beautiful bridges in Ghent: the Graslei Bridge San Miguel Bridge which is one of the most photographed places in the city.

As you walk across this bridge, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Lys River and many of Ghent's most iconic buildings.

📸 Did you know that this is the only place where you can frame the 3 towers of Ghent in a single photo?
The tower of the church of St. Nicholas, that of the bell tower of Ghent and that of the cathedral of St. Bavo.
You can also see Graslei and Korenlei with the Old Fish Market, the Castle of the Counts of Flanders in the distance or the Church of St. Michael. Quite a sight!

The San Miguel Bridge offers one of the best views of the city We recommend you to go at dusk or at night, since all the monuments are illuminated and the lights are reflected in the river, making the views even more magical.

3. Meat market (Groot Vleeshuis)

The meat market is an impressive 15th century building that formerly housed the covered market where the sale of meat was centralized, as its name suggests. Nowadays it has been transformed into a landmark site gastronomic It still has a market, as well as restaurants and bars where you can taste the different Flemish gastronomic specialties.

Here you can taste the famous Ghent hams, the so called "Ghent hams" Ganda hams or the Tierenteyn mustard, cheeses made with local beers, etc. It's the perfect place for any foodie!

We were unlucky to find it closed for renovations when we went. Even so, we were impressed by its exterior and its size.  

Korenmarkt

The square korenmarkt is one of the best places to visit in Ghent. Being in the historic center of the city, it is the perfect place to start a tour of the city, as it is close to many of the most important tourist sites in Ghent. Right in the same square is the church of San Nicolás The church is one of the oldest churches in Ghent with an impressive bell tower, and we will tell you more about it below. There is also the building of the old post office, an imposing Gothic building with a striking facade and is now a shopping center.

This square is a place full of life and movement since there is a wide variety of bars and restaurantsThis makes it the perfect place to sit down for a Belgian beer and enjoy the lively atmosphere of the city if you don't mind paying a little more, as being a tourist area, prices are a little high.

If you want to go to a typical Belgian brewery, we recommend you go to Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant It is not located in the square itself, but it is very close and overlooks the canal. It is a bit more expensive than other breweries that you will find further away from the center, but it is in a very nice location.

5. Saint Nicholas Church (Sint-Niklaaskerk)

As we mentioned before, in Korenmarkt square you will find the church of San Nicolás built in the thirteenth century over an old burned temple. This magnificent gothic building is impressive inside and out, so we recommend you to come and take a look as the entrance is free.

One of the main characteristics of the church is its 69-meter tower The tower, which offers breathtaking views of the city from above, is the highest point in the city. For those who dare to climb the 422 steps, the views are spectacular.

🍭 Attention if you have a sweet tooth
Right next door, in the Leonidas chocolate shop, you can buy a very typical Ghent sweet called Cuberdon. They cost us 3€ / 5 units.

6. Belfry of Ghent (Belfort van Gent)

A few meters from the church of St. Nicholas, we continue our tour through the historic center of Ghent and we find the majestic bell tower of Ghent (Belfort). This is one of the three medieval towers that characterize the old town of this city and one of the best viewpoints of Ghent. At its feet is the Lonja del Paño the old fabric market of the city.

Its construction began in the 14th century and has served as a bell tower as well as a watchtower and a warning tower for the population. Did you know that its main bell has its own name? Roland o Triomphante have been some of the names it has had over time. In addition, the spire of the bell tower has at its tip a dragon with open wings, guardian and mascot of the city.

The tower is 91 meters high, which offers panoramic views impressive views of the city. You can go up the stairs or by elevator, and general admission is 10€, with various discounts for children and students.

7. St. Bavon Cathedral (Sint-Baafskathedraal)

This impressive Gothic cathedral is one of the main points of interest of the city and a must on any visit to Ghent. It gets its name from St. Bavo the patron saint of Ghent.

Inside, it houses a small collection of works of art, the main attraction of St. Bavo's Cathedral being its famous 15th century altarpiece, "The Altarpiece of St. Bavo".The Worship of the Mystic Lamb"The masterpiece of the famous van Eyck brothers. It is a true jewel of medieval art history.

The entrance to the cathedral is free and you only have to pay to go to the visitor center, the area where the works of art are located. The price is 16 € for general admission or 12.5 € if you only want to see "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb".

Behind St. Bavo's Cathedral, there is a large monument with statues of the Van Eyck brothers.

8. Ghent City Hall (Stadhuis Gent)

This is one of the most curious buildings that can be seen in the historic center of Ghent. Its façade has a mixture of two architectural styles, one of them a gothic part and another Renaissance The Gothic façade is full of statues, representing the Counts of Flanders. The Gothic façade is full of statues, representing the Counts of Flanders, and the Renaissance façade has a row of columns distributed in three levels.

Inside there are different rooms (Sala de la Panificación, Sala del Trono and Sala del Arsenal are some of the most important ones) that can be visited with a guided visit although we did not get to go inside due to lack of time.  

9. Graffiti Street (Werregarenstraat)

This narrow pedestrian street is one of the most curious places to visit in the center of Ghent. It is, as its name indicates, a street full of graffiti. What is most surprising about this street is the quantity of graffiti (more than the quality) and the bright colors that decorate the entire street.

It is a very instagrammable where you can take some pretty cool pictures. In addition, the appearance of the street is constantly changing as new graffiti is constantly appearing, always under one rule: respect the works better than yours.

10. Vrijdagmarkt

A little further away from the historic center of Ghent, but only a few minutes walk away, is this beautiful square full of traditional Flemish houses and a lot of bars and restaurants. Both during the day and at night, when they turn on all the little lights that are hanging, it is a very nice place. If you are looking for where to eat in Ghent Take a look at our article with the best restaurants we tried in the city.

On Fridays and Saturdays, there are different markets The fresh produce market is located on the Vrijdagmarkt, although we were not lucky enough to see it.

Right next to the river Lys, a few meters from this square, is the famous 15th century red cannon Dulle Griet. This cannon also gives its name to one of the most famous breweries in Ghent, also located on this square, the Dulle Griet Dulle Griet.

11. Castle of the Counts of Flanders (Gravensteen)

This impressive medieval castle Surrounded by imposing walls and a large moat, it is located in the historic center of the city. Originally built in the 12th century, the castle was used as a residence by the Counts of Flanders and was later used as a prison and barracks.

Currently, the castle houses a museum which narrates the history of the city and its inhabitants. In addition, you can visit the impressive throne room, with its wooden ceiling and majestic furnishings, and the Torre del Homenaje, from where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the city.

As a curiosity, the castle houses a unique collection of torture instruments, as well as a collection of historical objects dating from Roman times to the present day.

 The entry to the castle with audio guide included costs 12€ for adults.

⛲ Did you know that Ghent has its own Manneken Pis?
Very close to the castle, on Kraanlei street are the so-called Manneke en meiske pies. Three children named Lenna, Nestor and Luna pointing to the street from the ledge of a building.

12. Patershol neighborhood

This small neighborhood located next to the Castle of the Counts of Flanders is full of bars and restaurants perfect for dinner and a little walk afterwards. Above all, we recommend the Oudburg road to Kraanlei It is a super nice walk at night with all the houses illuminated. We also went at Christmas time so everything was decorated with Christmas decorations making it a magical walk.

13. DE Krook

From Krook is one of the most important buildings modern that you will find in Ghent, although it does not have much to do with the rest of the city, we wanted to bring it to this article because we found it a surprising building. Located next to the river Lys This impressive building houses Ghent's main library, an innovation center and several exhibition halls.

We recommend visiting it both as a cultural activity and to enjoy the views of the river from its terrace. You can even have a drink in the cafeteria, which has a very good reputation for snacks and light meals.

If you want to read other articles ideal for your trip that complement What to see in Ghent you can visit our posts about Belgium.