72 hours in Ghent: a must-do city trip itinerary

Upon Arrival

Do you want to enjoy your city trip to Ghent without worrying about the costs? Then buy the CityCard Ghent . With this card you get free access to many sights, monuments, museums and public transport. For only 48 euros you can use all the benefits for 72 hours. For example, visit Gravensteen Castle for free , the SMAK Contemporary Art Museum and the Ghent University Museum . Travel between the Ghent highlights for free by bus or tram. With the CityCard you can also rent a bike for one day for free, experience a guided boat trip and use the Ghent hop-on/hop-off water tram for a day. 

Tip: buy your CityCard Gent directly upon arrival in Ghent. You can do this at the VisitGent Information Office, all participating museums and attractions, sales points of the transport company De Lijn and various hotels. You can also choose to buy a card for 48 hours, which costs €42. Also see the complete overview of sales points .

^{Foto: CityCard / Martin Corlazzoli / Stad Gent - Dienst Toerisme}

Day 1: The Friday Market

Start your city trip in Ghent with a walk to the historic Vrijdagmarkt , one of the most vibrant squares in the city. In the past, grand festivities were celebrated here and people were occasionally executed. Nowadays, the square with the statue of the Ghent hero Jacob Van Artevelde is mainly known for the cozy market that is held here on Fridays and Saturdays. Stroll among locals along the stalls and through the surrounding alleys.

In the Serpentstraat and the Baudelostraat you will find vintage shops and trendy clothing stores. Are you ready for a break? Choose from the many catering establishments around the Sint-Jacobskerk. For a real Ghent atmosphere, sit down at Afsnis or Trefpunt. Be warned of the shoe-against-glass ritual at café De Dulle Griet (we will not reveal what that entails exactly). After a delicious lunch, continue your city walk in Ghent.

^{Foto: Vrijdagmarkt / Martin Corlazzoli / Stad Gent-Dienst Toerisme}

Day 1: strolling through Ghent

Walk from the Vrijdagmarkt to the Zuivelbrugje and cross the Leie river. Admire the beautiful designs in the window of wallpaper shop Priem and buy old-fashioned Ghent sweets at Confiserie Temmerman . Take a bag of Ghent delicacies such as mugs, knopkes, muilentrekkers and cuberdons with you for snack moments along the way. Walk along the water towards Huis van Alijn, where research is being done into memories from the 20th century. Take a look at Ghent's history and have a drink in the museum café. Finished your drink? Time to continue!

Walk into Ghent's culinary hotspot via Hertogstraat. Stroll through the medieval streets of the Patershol while the smells of food greet you. Choose one of the cozy restaurants, cafés and bars and make a reservation for dinner. Is it not yet dinner time? Then walk on to the shops at Groentenmarkt to buy Ghent specialties . Get delicious artisan bread at Himschoot bakery  or pick up a jar of spicy Ghent Tierenteyn mustard to take home. Fancy a shot of good coffee? Walk on to Korenmarkt to the retro-style coffee house Mokabon .

^{Foto: Tierenteyn-mosterd / Bas Bogaerts / Stad Gent-Dienst Toerisme}

Day 1: a perfect ending

If you want to end the day with an impressive piece of architecture, walk on to the Stadshal . Ghent residents were not happy with the construction of this building in the historic city, but many residents now like to come here. Don't forget to look up at the special roof. It is extra cozy here during concerts, dance performances and markets. Enjoy the last rays of sunshine of the day in the nearby city park The Green and then go back to your favorite catering establishment in the Patershol.

Tip: you can find the precise instructions for this city walk here .

^{Foto: Stadshal / Martin Corlazzoli / Stad Gent-Dienst Toerisme}

Overnight stay in Ghent

After a day of walking through Ghent, it is time to find your hotel. Fortunately, you do not have to leave the city centre for the most beautiful hotels in Ghent. On the banks of the river Leie in the oldest district of Ghent, you will stay in a pleasant and comfortable atmosphere at Hotel Harmony .

Relax your muscles in the heated outdoor pool and then find the comfortable bed in your stylish room. The next morning you will be spoiled with a breakfast, so that you can start the second day of your city trip with a full stomach.

^{Foto: Hotel Harmony / Stad Gent-Dienst Toerisme}

Day 2: Shopping Saturday in Ghent

Is your second day in Ghent a Saturday? Then you can go shopping among the locals in the cozy shopping streets. Choose a shopping area that suits you. Are you looking for luxury and originality? Go to SoGo. The perfect combination of classic and modern? Go to East District. Prefer design and vintage? Visit the neighborhood Rond Sint-Jacobs. In the most famous shopping area of ​​Ghent, Gent Central , you are always in the right place. Here you will find a combination of small shops and branches of large retail chains. End your morning of shopping at a trendy lunch spot near you. Tip: vegetarian lunch bar Boon opposite Gravensteen castle.

On this page, choose the shopping area that suits you.

^{Foto: Winkelstraat / Martin Corlazzoli / Stad Gent – Dienst Toerisme}

Day 2: Strolling through Sunday markets 

Is your second day in Ghent a Sunday? Then you're in luck, because Sunday is market day in Ghent. At the six markets in the city you can find everything: from a bag of apples to antique furniture. Download the three-kilometre walking route along the markets and don't forget to bring your bag to transport your finds. Most markets last from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., so don't get out of bed too late. Enjoy lunch at the market or find a seat at a bistro or restaurant.

Day 2: cycling in Ghent

With the CityCard Gent you can rent a bike for a day for free. The perfect opportunity to take a tour along fifteen hidden gems in the city. The Ghent Cycling Route is 37 kilometers long, but can be shortened by nine kilometers if you take a shortcut. Three locals have marked their favorite stops along the route on the free downloadable cycling map. Step back in time in Gravensteen Castle, have a cup of coffee in the gardens of the Bijlokesite and/or go bird watching in the Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen Urban Nature Reserve . Bring your swimsuit to cool off along the way with a dip in the Blaarmeersen recreational lake.

Would you rather follow a different cycle route? View the thematic routes in Ghent here .

^{Foto: Sint-Pietersplein / Bas Bogaerts / Stad Gent – Dienst Toerisme}

Dining in Ghent

Ghent is a foodie heaven. Even as a vegetarian or vegan, you have a wide choice of eateries and dishes here. Ghent is not called the 'veggie capital of Europe' for nothing. For example, sit down at the table in a living room atmosphere at De Appelier and enjoy a vegetarian dish of the day or let yourself be pampered with specialties from the organic kitchen of La Botaniste. Beer lovers who also love food can go to Hal 16 , an old warehouse at the harbor that has been transformed into a culinary treat. At Rizoom they prove that you don't have to fly halfway across the world for delicious Korean and Japanese food.

^{Foto: Vegetarisch eten / Bas Bogaerts / Stad Gent-Dienst Toerisme}

For a star meal, reserve a table at restaurants with intriguing names such as Roots, Karel de Stoute and Aroy Aroy. End your evening in a cosy brown café , such as the former brothel Waterhuis aan de Bierkant or the poetry, jazz and comedy pub Hotsy Totsy.

Day 3: visiting museums

The last day of your city trip in Ghent we start historically and culturally with a visit to a museum of your choice. Or, if your planning allows it, two or more museums. Discover the developments in painting from the Middle Ages to the 19th century in the MSK or admire more modern art in the SMAK . Learn about the Ghent cloth industry in the Industry Museum or delve into the history of psychiatry in the Dr. Guislain Museum . You can admire more than 400,000 scientific objects in the Ghent University Museum . It is also fun to include the St. Bavo's Cathedral . Here you can admire the restored panels of the Mystic Lamb with VR glasses and discover many other special art treasures.

^{Foto: MSK Museum / Martin Corlazzoli / Stad Gent-Dienst Toerisme}

Day 3: On the water

End your city trip on the water. With your CityCard Ghent you can go on a boat for free. Visit the highlights you want to see before you go home with the hop on hop off water tram  (from April to October) or go on a boat trip through the old city center. Would you rather be at the helm yourself? Rent a sloop and sail on the Leie or discover the Ghent waters from a kayak.

^{Foto: Boottrip Gent / Martin Corlazzoli / Stad Gent-Dienst Toerisme}

Events in Ghent

Want to make your city trip to Ghent extra special? Then visit the city during one of the annual events and festivals . During the Ghent Festivities, a large festival is held in the city centre for ten days. Enjoy a summery atmosphere with national and international musicians, street artists and other artists. You can also enjoy parades. Are you a jazz lover? Then you should not miss the Ghent Jazz Festival with contemporary and Belgian jazz at the Bijloke site. During OdeGand you can enjoy music and light art from the water. Enjoyed the flamingo concert and ready for something different? Sail to the next location with jazz, classical or one of the many other music styles. Film lovers are also not forgotten in Ghent. The Film Fest Gent is popular far beyond the Belgian borders. At this largest international film festival in Belgium you can enjoy films, concerts and conversations with other film lovers.

Check out this page to see what's currently happening in Ghent.

^{Foto: Odegand Festival / Bas Bogaerts / Stad Gent-Dienst Toerisme}

Are you looking for more tips for a city trip in this cozy city? Check out the inspiration page of Visitgent.be .