The Perfect 1 Day Ghent Itinerary For First-Timers

Last Updated on 20th May 2025

This post about the ultimate 1 day Ghent itinerary contains affiliate links.

One Day In Ghent Itinerary – Is Ghent Worth Visiting?

Are you wondering what to do in Ghent in one day? This ultimate one day in Ghent itinerary has got you covered with everything you need to know!

Located just 30 minutes from Brussels, 25 minutes from Bruges and one hour from Antwerp via train, Ghent is a fantastic place to enjoy on a day trip.

Home to some truly wonderful feats of architecture such as Saint Nicholas’ Church and St. Bavo’s Cathedral, fantastic market squares such as Korenmarkt and Vrijdagmarkt and of course, an abundance of places to tuck into traditional Belgian dishes such as waffles, fries, stews and chocolate, Ghent is the perfect place for a day trip in Belgium!

If you’re planning to see Ghent in a day, check out my ultimate 1 day Ghent itinerary below, complete with all the best and most unusual things to do in Ghent, where to eat, how to get there, where to stay and more!

Is Ghent worth visiting?

Located in the East Flanders province, Ghent is one of the most beautiful cities in Belgium and it’s definitely worth visiting on a day trip from Brussels, Antwerp or Bruges or indeed, as a dedicated city break in itself.

After spending one day in Ghent as part of our 2-month Europe interrailing trip, I can safely say that Ghent is worth visiting and it was actually one of my favourite cities that we visited on our trip.

One day in Ghent itinerary map

The best things to do in Ghent in one day - Ghent itinerary for 1 day map

Gravensteen Castle
Graslei and Korenlei Quays
Korenmarkt
Saint Nicholas’ Church
Stadshal
Ghent Belfry
Geeraard de Duivelsteen Castle
St Bavo’s Cathedral
Ghent City Hall
Vrijdagmarkt
Dinner at Fries Atelier

You can easily see most of the top sights in Ghent in just one day as the city is relatively small and easily walkable.

Check out all the best things to do in Ghent in one day!

Gravensteen Castle (Castle of the Counts)

This Ghent day trip itinerary begins at one of the city’s most famous sights; Gravensteen Castle, also known as Castle of the Counts.

Complete with its very own moat, this medieval castle located in the heart of the city originally dates back to 1180 and while its original purpose was to house the Counts of Flanders, it has since been used as a prison, a court, a mint and even a cotton factory.

Today, you can head inside the castle grounds and tour the medieval fortress. Tickets cost €12 for adults and €2 for children.

Graslei and Korenlei Quays – 1 day Ghent itinerary

Graslei and Korenlei Quays - 1 day in Ghent itinerary

Just a short 5-minute walk takes you from Gravensteen Castle through Groentenmarkt and along the Leie River to Graslei Quay.

This gorgeous quayside right next to the river is also directly opposite Korenlei Quay; both of which played important roles in the city’s medieval port and now host many of Ghent’s top bars, restaurants and cultural attractions.

Book a medieval guided boat tour in Ghent here!

St Michael’s Bridge (Sint-Michielsbrug)

A little further along, on the Graslei side of the river, you’ll come across the breathtaking St Michael’s Bridge (Sint-Michielsbrug).

This gorgeous bridge is beautiful in itself, but it also boasts impressive views of some of Ghent’s most notable landmarks, such as Saint Michael’s Church, Korenmarkt and Saint Nicholas’ Church.

Korenmarkt – 1 day Ghent itinerary

Most major cities in Europe are famed for their spectacular central squares and Korenmarkt is just one of the numerous squares in Ghent.

This historical market square includes a shopping mall, several cafes and restaurants and some of the city’s most beautiful feats of architecture.

It can get relatively busy and crowded, especially during the peak summer and winter months, but it’s worth having a stroll through to admire the beautiful buildings.

Saint Nicholas’ Church (Sint-Niklaaskerk)

The next stop on this Ghent day trip itinerary is the remarkable Saint Nicholas’ Church. Dating back to the 13th century, it’s one of the oldest and most important religious sites in the city and it’s worth admiring both from the outside and the inside.

Stadshal (City Pavilion) – 1 day Ghent itinerary

Just over the road from Saint Nicholas’ Church, you’ll find Stadshal, also known as the city pavilion.

This uniquely shaped building is a stand-alone canopy in the heart of the city that is designed to host markets, concerts and other assorted performances.

The Stadshal looks somewhat out of place amongst the other historical buildings in the area, but it’s still a very cool and unique structure that should be enjoyed on this Ghent day trip itinerary.

The Belfry of Ghent (Belfort van Gent) – 1 day Ghent itinerary

The Belfry of Ghent (Belfort van Gent) is the tallest belfry in Belgium and one of the three medieval towers in the city of Ghent (alongside Saint Bavo Cathedral and Saint Nicholas’ Church).

The Ghent Belfry is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is an absolute must-see while in Ghent! You can climb to the top of the tower to enjoy spectacular views of the Old Town of Ghent and beyond.

Geeraard de Duivelsteen Castle

Geeraard de Duivelsteen Castle wasn’t originally on our 1-day Ghent itinerary but when we accidentally stumbled across it on our day trip to Ghent, I knew I had to include it in this post!

Translated to the “Castle of Gerald the Devil”, Geeraard de Duivelsteen Castle has been used for many purposes over the years, including a monastery, a school, a prison, a bishop’s seminary, an arsenal and a knights’ residence.

St. Bavo’s Cathedral (Sint-Baafskathedraal)

From Geeraard de Duivelsteen Castle, head to St. Bavo’s Cathedral (Sint-Baafskathedraal), another one of the city’s most famous and beautiful religious sites.

The cathedral’s original structure dates back over 1080 years and it’s also home to the famous Ghent Altarpiece (tickets cost €12.50 per person to see the Altarpiece).

Ghent City Hall (Stadhuis Gent)

Surrounded by the Botermarkt, the Hoogpoort, the Stadhuissteeg and the Poeljemarkt, Ghent Town Hall comprises two main parts, making it a unique political sight within the city.

You can take a tour of the City Hall to see some of its 51 rooms, or you can just admire its intricate facade from the outside.

Sint-Jacobskerk

Sint-Jacobskerk was another excellent find during our day trip to Ghent as we accidentally came across it on our way to Vrijdagmarkt.

The earliest church on the site of Sint-Jacobskerk in the 11th century was made from wood, but it was transformed into a Romanesque church in the 12th century.

It’s a beautiful structure to admire from both the inside and outside and I’m super happy that we stumbled across it completely by accident!

Vrijdagmarkt – 1 day Ghent itinerary

Along with Korenmarkt and Groentenmarket, Vrijdagmarkt is yet another historic square in the city. Its literal translation means “Friday market” and it is named as such due to the weekly market that is hosted within the square.

Not only is Vrijdagmarkt one of the oldest and most important historic squares in Ghent but it’s also surrounded by various statues, bars, cafes and restaurants and you can also see Sint-Jacobskerk from the square.

Frites Atelier – Ghent itinerary for one day

To conclude your 1 day in Ghent itinerary, head to one of the best establishments in the city to enjoy a portion of infamous Belgian fries at Frites Atelier.

A portion of traditional Belgian frites with two sauces (including a choice of classic mayonnaise, ketchup, French Bearnaise, lovely Andalouse, samurai and truffle – my personal favourite) costs €6.

The fries are cooked in the traditional Belgian way and one portion was enough to share between two people as a light snack. They also have numerous other dishes on their menu if you’re feeling hungrier, including burgers, chicken nuggets, croquettes and loaded fries.

How to get to Ghent

Ghent is super easy to get to from most cities in Belgium and beyond. It’s just a short train ride from Brussels, Antwerp and Bruges and you can also take the train from other cities such as Rotterdam (1 hour 30 minutes), Amsterdam (2 hours 20 minutes) and even Paris (2 hours 30 minutes).

How to get around Ghent

There are two main train stations in Ghent; Gent-Sint-Pieters and Gent-Dampoort. Depending on where you’re travelling from will depend on which train station you need to get off at.

Gent-Dampoort is closer to most of the main sights and attractions in the city, but there are typically fewer trains that go to and from this station.

If your train takes you to Gent-Sint-Pieters, you can easily use public transport to get into the city centre. For example, the number 1 tram takes you from Gent-Sint-Pieters train station to the Belfry in just 15 minutes. Tram tickets cost €2.50 for a one-way journey.

How many days do you need in Ghent?

While it is the largest city in the East Flanders region, there aren’t actually that many things to do in Ghent, so you can easily visit it in just one day.

We actually visited Bruges and Ghent in one day on a trip from Antwerp, so it’s possible to spend a few hours in both cities to see the top sights.

Where to stay in Ghent

If you’re only planning to take a day trip to Ghent, you probably won’t need to find accommodation, but if you find yourself wanting to spend longer in Ghent, check out my recommendations of some of the best places to stay in Ghent below.

Budget: De Draecke Hostel
Mid-range: Ganda Rooms & Suites
Luxury: 1898 The Post

Find somewhere to stay in Ghent here!

The best day trips from Ghent

The best things to do in one day - Ghent itinerary

Ghent is a great city to take a day trip to and from.

Conveniently located just 30 minutes from Brussels, 25 minutes from Bruges and one hour from Antwerp via train, Ghent is a great place to base yourself in Belgium if you’re looking to take day trips to nearby cities (and countries!).

Check out some of the best day trips from Ghent below:

Brussels (30 minutes via train, 50 minutes via car)
Bruges (25 minutes via train, 45 minutes via car)
Antwerp (one hour via train, 45 minutes via car)
Lille (one hour 15 minutes via train, one hour via car)
Rotterdam (one hour 35 minutes via train, two hours via car)

Is Ghent or Bruges nicer?

This question is almost impossible to answer as I loved both of these Belgian cities so much, but if I had to pick just one, I would probably say Bruges.

Ghent is such a stunning city with so much gorgeous architecture, but I think Bruges has a little bit more going on and I think you could spend 1-2 days in Bruges as opposed to just a few hours in Ghent.

Related posts:

Pin for later – 1 day Ghent itinerary

Would you like to spend 1 day in Ghent? Is there anything else you’d add to this Ghent itinerary? Let me know in the comments or in my Interrail Facebook Group.