Things to do in  Ghent

Yes, Ghent is definitely worth visiting—whether as a stop on your Belgium tour or as a weekend getaway. The city is home to a medieval center full of gothic architecture, a postcard-perfect riverfront, loads of bars and pubs serving up Belgian beer, and restaurants both traditional and international.

Yes, one day in Ghent is enough to see the main attractions in the city center. However, if you choose to spend two days in Ghent, you have plenty of interesting places to go outside the historical center and a long list of bars and restaurants to try.

Whether Ghent or Bruges is better to visit comes down to personal preference, as both cities are entertaining to visit. Bruges is the more famous of the two and is easier to explore, while Ghent has a bohemian feel to it and a better nightlife thanks to its student population.

The Belgian city of Ghent is famous for several reasons. There's the Ghent altarpiece painted by brothers Hubert and Jan van Eyck, the purple cone-shaped candy called cuberdon, the city’s medieval landmarks including Gravensteen Castle, and the university—older than the nation of Belgium.

With just one day in Ghent, start by visiting the Ghent Belfry for its city views. Continue through the historical center to the Graslei and Korenlei quays—they're lined by the city’s prettiest buildings—before reaching Gravensteen, the city’s moated castle. End the day with a Belgian beer at a pub.

Gent-Sint-Pieters, the main train station in Ghent, is a 30-minute walk or a 15-minute tram ride from the Korenmarkt square in the center of the city. The other train station in the city is Gent-Dampoort, which is a 20-minute walk or 10-minute bus ride away.