How to Spend 24 Hours in Ghent Belgium
Belgium has a lot of different places worth visiting. When you ask other travellers they will most likely mention Brussels or Bruges as a must see place. I do agree that both these cities are worth a visit. However if you want to avoid the crowds, but still get the beautiful views, Ghent is the place to be.
It is located in the East Flanders province and is home to about 250K people. Nowadays the port city has transformed in to a vibrant city with many students, culture and history. The city is known for its alternative vibe. Vintage stores, vegan food restaurants, and bars are on every corner.
How to Get to Ghent?
Belgium has a well connected train system which allows you to travel between cities fairly easily. If you are coming from Brussels, Ghent is only a 30 minute train ride on an IC train and about 45min-1hour ride on a slower train. The train might stop in both Gent-Dampoort and Gent-Sint-Pieters. You will want to get off the train at Gent-Sint-Pieters. You can also travel by car, but parking in the city is more expensive and often hard to find.
What to Do in Ghent?
Below you can find a perfectly crafted itinerary for your day trip to Ghent. From good food, to finding cultural sites, this blog post has it all. So let's start your day off with grabbing a coffee near the train station and making your way over to the city center. It takes roughly 25 minutes to walk to the next stop, but if you prefer you can also take a tram.
Vintage Shopping
Your first stop on this trip will be the vintage shops on the street "Nederkouter" (Think Twice & Vintage Factory). If you are really interested in finding more vintage shops, check out this google maps list for all the places you can visit when in the city of Ghent. They are spread out over the whole town, so along your adventures you can find more stores. If this is not your thing, and you prefer the regular shops, check out the main shopping street at "Veldstraat".
Wander the Streets & Canals
The city of Ghent is surrounded by little canals and beautiful old buildings with a lot of character. When on your tour around the city you cannot forget to look up once in a while. Take a pause and enjoy a little break at the waterside. You can grab a drink to go or just enjoy your time whilst people watching and snapping some beautiful photos of your surroundings.
Grab Lunch
After all the walking you did in the morning, you will surely get hungry. This is the perfect moment to grab some lunch near the water.
I recommend getting something to eat on the "Ajuinlei" as there are a lot of good spots for a quick bite. My personal recommendation is Bocca, an italian style restaurant. They also do take out if you want to sit by the water to eat your lunch.
Visit Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts)
One of the biggest sightseeing spots in Ghent is to visit the Castle of the Counts that is located in the center of the city. This castle has a dark past, but if you want to learn more about the Medieval Times in Belgium, I highly recommend you visit it. Prices vary from €2-12 depending on your age. Entrance is free for kids under 12 and people with a disability (+1 assistant).
Grab a drink at the Korenmarkt
After your visit to the Gravensteen, head over to the Korenmarkt to enjoy a drink. It is the city's main spot to grab a drink and people watch.
Be careful for the trams that are passing thru the main square. Drinks are a bit more expensive, and you can also find a more local alternative depending on what you are looking for.
Snap some photos at Graffiti Alley
Other than the vintage stores, culture and good food, Ghent is also known to be an artist hub. A lot of artists find their way to Ghent because of its accepting culture. People find themselves to be more free and are not afraid to show some personality. If you want to experience this a bit as well, make sure to head over to the Graffiti Alley in Ghent. This public canvas is the place that young artists can express themselves without getting in trouble. If you want to explore more street art in Ghent, make sure to check out this Street Art Map.
Finish the Day with Dinner
After the long day of exploring, shopping and having a good time, end the day with a nice meal. There are a few different options for dinner.
You can try a local meal of Belgium (and especially Ghent) and look for some "Gentse Waterzooi" or go for an international meal and head to Taco Santo for some Mexican Tacos.
Where to Stay the Night?
If you cannot get enough of visiting the city stay the night to explore the nightlife of this buzzing city. Make sure to check out some of these recommendations from my friends and my personal research to find the perfect accommodation for the night.
Get an AirBnB
Stay at a Hostel (13 O' Clock, Hostel 47, ...)
Sleep at a nice Hotel (Ghent River Hotel, Marriot Ghent, 1898 The Post)
Visiting other parts of Belgium as well? Make sure to check my other posts on Belgium.
If you are ready to book your adventure, make sure to Pin this Post.
