Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Ghent?
Most visitors spend one to three days in Ghent when visiting. The youthful city offers so many things to see and explore, so you'll want to take full advantage of the limited time you have. Highlights include the nightlife, the beautiful scenery, the museums and landmarks, and the historic old town.
Ghent is a historic city with world class architecture and impressive canals. The city is filled with sights such as the The Fortress of Gravensteen, which dates back to the 1200s. While it's often overlooked for nearby Bruges, the city offers a less crowded historic center with cathedrals and large plazas. There's also world class shopping and a young student population that gives it a lot of energy.
Do you have one or two days to visit Ghent? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Ghent?
One day is generally not enough time to experience everything in Ghent even though it's not huge. A shorter schedule may leave you feeling like you didn't fully get to enjoy the evening activities, admire the wonderful scenery, browse through museums, and browse around the old town. To genuinely appreciate the best areas of the youthful city, a more lengthy visit is typically recommended. Many tourists opt for one to three days here. After all, Ghent, a small city offering numerous sights and attractions, is fairy popular with visitors. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.
How to spend a day in Ghent
Don't miss the Fortress of Gravensteen during your trip to Ghent, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.
This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. With its young student population, you'll find plenty of lively bars and clubs around town. There are many places where you can party or dance into the early hours of the morning and some of the best places are around Oude Beestenmarkt, De Overpoort, and De Vlasmarkt. There's also the famous Ghent Festival every July.
Ghent is a very walkable city. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. The area's with the most tourist attractions are generally walkable.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Ghent?
Two days or a full weekend in Ghent is often considered the right amount of time to spend here, as many tourists take around one to three days for their trip in the area. A 2-day trip would usually give you enough time to check out the nightlife, the beautiful scenery, the museums and landmarks, and the historic old town. Further down, you'll find our recommendations to kick off your adventure.
Ghent, Belgium
How to spend 2 days in Ghent
If you have more than a weekend (two to three days) in Ghent, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the city has to offer.
Plenty of amazing museums and famous landmarks make Ghent a special place to visit. Spend at least one full day visiting the sights that are appealing to you. The city has many different sights that are concentrated in a compact area. Make sure you check out the Cathedral of St. Bavo, The Fortress of Gravensteen, and The Belfry. The audio tour at Gravensteen really brings the history to life and makes for an enjoyable activity.
Ghent is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. With its medieval architecture and beautiful waterfront areas, the city has a lot to offer.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Historical Walking Tour: Legends of Gent ($3)
- Ghent Beer Guided Walking Tour ($51)
- Ghent City Highlights Walking Tour with Light Mea/Snackl ($89)
Public transit in Ghent is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the city quite easily. Buses and trams travel to most parts of the city and are convenient and efficient.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Ghent, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
- Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Ghent?
- Is Ghent Worth Visiting?
- Ghent Travel Costs
- Hotel Prices for Ghent
