How to Spend a Perfect Day in Ghent with Itinerary Map

Ghent cityscape

Ghent

Check Point
・Sightseeing spots such as churches and bell towers concentrated in the square

・Beautiful cityscape along the canal

・Strong medieval fortress

City description

It is the third largest city in Belgium. Like Bruges, it is a city located in western Belgium that once flourished in the textile industry. Today, it is still a thriving student city. In the city you can see one of the Belfry Groups of France and Belgium, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of Belgium’s 7 hidden treasures. Although there is a long distance from the station to the center, the sightseeing spots in the center are concentrated and easy to visit.

Overall rating

 ★★★★☆

Time required

 3h30

Budget

 29 euros
(45 euros including the tour of the 7 Great Treasures)

Fatigue

 ★★★☆☆



Itinerary Map

Navigation

【Start】
①Gent-Sint-Pieters Station

★Route Time required: 10 minutes, 2.50 euros one way
From the station to town, take the tram.
Exit the station and turn left ⇒ Buy a round-trip ticket at the ticket vending machine ⇒ Take platform 2, platform 1 (red line) bound for Evergem Brielken ⇒ Once you get on board, stamp it with the stamp machine

②Gent Korenmarkt perron 5

★Route Time required: A few minutes
Go out from the street to the square and turn right ⇒ You will see the bell tower

③Belfry of Ghent

★Route Time required: A few minutes
Exit the bell tower ⇒ Go to the church across the street

④Saint Bavo’s Cathedral

★Route Time required: A few minutes
Exit the church and turn right ⇒ Follow the path to the right of the bell tower ⇒ You will see the city hall

⑤Ghent City Hall

★Route Time required: A few minutes
Return to the square from the town hall and turn right ⇒ enter the church

⑥Saint Nicholas’ Church

★Route Time required: 5 minutes
Exit the church and exit the square from the road in front ⇒ You will arrive at the bridge.

⑦Saint Michael’s Bridge

★Route Time required: A few minutes
Cross the bridge ⇒ You will see the church on your left

⑧Saint Michael’s Church

★Route Time required: 15 minutes
Turn left before the bridge ⇒ Proceed along the river ⇒ Cross the next bridge ⇒ Turn left at the first intersection ⇒ Turn left at the next intersection and cross the bridge ⇒ You will see the castle on your left

⑨Castle of the Counts

★Route Time required: 15 minutes
Return to the square in front of the castle ⇒ Take tram line 1 (red) bound for Flanders Expo ⇒ Return to Ghent station (Sint-Pietersstation perron 1)

【Goal】
Gent-Sint-Pieters Station


Downtown map

Click the square mark on the top left of the map to see a list of tourist spots. If you open the enlarge button on the top right corner on your smartphone, this model course will be displayed on Google Maps along with its location information. You can also quickly return to this map from the table of contents in the sidebar (if using a smartphone, select “Go to table of contents” from the menu at the bottom of the screen).



【Start】

①Gent-Sint-Pieters Station

Gent-Sint-Pieters

★Route Time required: 10 minutes, 2.50 euros one way

From the station to town, take the tram.
Exit the station and turn left ⇒ Buy a round-trip ticket at the ticket vending machine ⇒ Take platform 2, platform 1 (red line) bound for Evergem Brielken ⇒ Once you get on board, stamp it with the stamp machine

List of stopping stations
https://www.delijn.be/fr/lijnen/2101/?richtingCode=1

Route map
https://assets.ctfassets.net/32fmeyn9t08i/4uiWAlIYrTvsFuepwgLZYk/6f319208187e475c841eea8ab5f47bac/Schematisch_tramnet_Gent_stad.pdf


②Gent Korenmarkt perron 5

Gent Korenmarkt perron 5

Get off the tram here.

★Route Time required: A few minutes

Go out from the street to the square and turn right ⇒ You will see the bell tower


③Belfry of Ghent

Belfry of Ghent

Het Belfort van Gent

Time required: 30 min

Admission fee: 11 euros

Opening hour: 10 am – 6 pm

Close: 1/1, 12/24, 25, 31

It is a bell tower located in the center of the city that is 91 meters high. It has been a symbol of Ghent since it was built in the 14th century. At the top of the belfry is a dragon monument brought from Bruges, which you can see on your way up the tower. There are also 53 bells in the bell tower, some of which weigh 30 tons. It is used to tell the time, but in the past it was used with different tones to warn of enemy advance or to signal victory in battle. You can take the elevator to the top and enjoy a panoramic view of Ghent.


★Route Time required: A few minutes

Exit the bell tower ⇒ Go to the church across the street


④Saint Bavo’s Cathedral

Saint Bavo's Cathedral

Saint Bavo’s Cathedral

Time required: 20 min

Admission fee: 0 euro

Opening hour: 8h30 am – 5h30 pm
(open from 1 pm on Sunday)

Close: No

It is a Gothic style cathedral completed in the 17th century, but traces of the Romanesque style can be seen here and there. The interior has a chic atmosphere with white and black floors and gray stone walls. The main attraction is the 12-panel altarpiece called “The Ghent Altarpiece” by Jan van Eyck, which is one of Belgium’s seven treasures and has been taken to Germany and returned to Germany many times. To see this painting, there is a separate admission fee of 16 euros which includes a VR goggle tour, and the museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm (1 pm to 5 pm on Sunday).


★Route Time required: A few minutes

Exit the church and turn right ⇒ Follow the path to the right of the bell tower ⇒ You will see the city hall


⑤Ghent City Hall

Ghent City Hall

Stadhuis Gent

Time required: 10 min

Admission fee: 0 euro

Depending on where you look, the exterior of the city hall can be clearly divided into Renaissance and Gothic styles. You can take a guided tour inside, but you can also take a virtual tour from the homepage.

Site for the guided tour
https://visit.gent.be/en/see-do/ghent-town-hall


Enjoy Ghent’s famous dishes! !

Waterzooï

Ghent has a famous dish called Waterzooï. It is a cream stew of chicken that is served straight from the pot.

Check out other Belgian specialties here! !


★Route Time required: A few minutes

Return to the square from the town hall and turn right ⇒ enter the church


⑥Saint Nicholas’ Church

Saint Nicholas' Church

Sint-Niklaaskerk

Time required: 20 min

Admission fee: 0 euro

Opening hour: 10 am – 4 pm

Close: No

This Gothic church was built to replace the original Romanesque church. The interior is similar to other Gothic styles, with the main colors being white and black, with gold accents. Sculptures with weapons and tools are displayed throughout the church.

Saint Nicholas' Church


★Route Time required: 5 minutes

Exit the church and exit the square from the road in front ⇒ You will arrive at the bridge.


⑦Saint Michael’s Bridge

Saint Michael's Bridge

Sint-Michielsbrug

Time required: 5 min

Admission fee: 0 euro

This bridge spans the Leie River, and the view from here is beautiful, making it a popular photo spot. The east side of the river (photo right) is called Graslei, the guild house, and the west side (photo left) is called Corenlei, the granary, and the riverside has become a place of relaxation for the locals.


★Route Time required: A few minutes

Cross the bridge ⇒ You will see the church on your left


⑧Saint Michael’s Church

Sint-Michiels­kerk

Time required: 15 min

Admission fee: 0 euro

Opening hour: 2 am – 5 pm

Close: Saturday

Construction began in the 15th century after the original chapel burned down, but it is a Gothic style church that was completed in the 19th century due to repeated disasters such as religious wars. The interior is similar to other Gothic churches, but the walls are made of brick.


★Route Time required: 15 minutes

Turn left before the bridge ⇒ Proceed along the river ⇒ Cross the next bridge ⇒ Turn left at the first intersection ⇒ Turn left at the next intersection and cross the bridge ⇒ You will see the castle on your left


⑨Castle of the Counts

The Castle of the Counts

Gravensteen

Time required:60 min

Admission fee: 13 euros

Opening hour: 10 am – 6 pm

Close: 1/1, 12/24, 25, 31

Built in the 12th century, it was first used as a residence for the Counts of Flanders, but later was used for various purposes such as a court, a prison, a mint, and a cotton factory, and is now a museum. Inside the castle, weapons and torture devices are mainly exhibited, and if you go up to the roof you can see the entire city of Ghent.

landscape from the castle


★Route Time required: 15 minutes

Return to the square in front of the castle ⇒ Take tram line 1 (red) bound for Flanders Expo ⇒ Return to Ghent station (Sint-Pietersstation perron 1)



【Goal】

Gent-Sint-Pieters Station


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