Things to do in Ghent? Climb the belfry, see the Van Eyck brothers’ Adoration of the Mystic Lamb in St. Bavo’s Cathedral, stroll past the facades of the Graslei and Korenlei quays, take in the view from St. Michael’s Bridge, step inside the Castle of the Counts (Gravensteen), wander the lanes of the Patershol and take a boat trip on the Leie. To visit Ghent, allow 1 to 2 days; the best time is from May to September, and the city is also worth seeing at night, under its lighting.
Once a great Flemish cloth city, Ghent is a lively student town, less crowded than Bruges but just as rich in monuments. This guide brings together the main sights, two itineraries, budget, neighborhoods and month-by-month climate from the Royal Meteorological Institute, with two original tools: sunset times to enjoy the illuminations, and a « Ghent or Bruges » decision tree.
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St. Michael’s Bridge and the Graslei and Korenlei quays
From St. Michael’s Bridge, you can line up Ghent’s three towers in a single glance: St. Nicholas’ Church, the belfry and St. Bavo’s Cathedral. Below, the Graslei and Korenlei quays, lined with stepped-gable guild houses, are the city’s best-known image and a meeting place in the evening.
St. Bavo’s Cathedral and the Mystic Lamb
The cathedral houses the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb altarpiece, the Van Eyck brothers’ masterpiece completed in 1432. Viewing the altarpiece requires a ticket with a time slot; an augmented-reality experience tells its eventful history. The church itself is free to enter; don’t miss the baroque pulpit.
The belfry and St. Nicholas’ Church
Ghent’s belfry, a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the other belfries of Belgium and France, can be visited up to the carillon rooms; a lift helps with part of the climb. Nearby, St. Nicholas’ Church, in blue Tournai stone, is an example of Scheldt Gothic.
The Castle of the Counts (Gravensteen)
This moated medieval fortress in the heart of the city is visited with a narrated audio guide. The battlements offer a view over the rooftops of the Patershol. Part of the exhibition displays old instruments of justice.
The Patershol and the Vrijdagmarkt
Behind the castle, the Patershol, a former craftsmen’s quarter, is a maze of cobbled lanes packed with restaurants. The neighboring Friday Market square (Vrijdagmarkt) hosts a market and cafés; the Great Butchers’ Hall, a former meat hall, offers regional produce and tastings.
The beguinages and the museums
Ghent preserves several beguinages, peaceful enclosures that once housed communities of lay women. As for museums: the Museum of Fine Arts (MSK) and the Museum of Contemporary Art (SMAK), facing each other in Citadel Park; STAM for the city’s history; the House of Alijn for everyday life; and the Industriemuseum in a former spinning mill.
Boats, street art and cuberdons
Boat trips on the Leie and the Scheldt leave from the centre and last about 40 minutes. Street-art fans follow Werregarenstraat, an alley where graffiti is allowed. For a treat, try cuberdons (or « neuzekes »), cone-shaped raspberry sweets, and Ghent mustard.
Itinerary: Ghent in 1 or 2 days
Day 1, morning: St. Bavo’s Cathedral and the Mystic Lamb, the belfry, St. Nicholas’ Church
Day 1, afternoon: St. Michael’s Bridge, Graslei and Korenlei, a boat on the Leie, the Castle of the Counts
Day 1, evening: dinner in the Patershol, then a walk under the illuminations
Day 2: Vrijdagmarkt and the Great Butchers’ Hall, a beguinage, the Museum of Fine Arts or STAM, Werregarenstraat
Ghent has a lighting plan for its monuments: facades, quays and towers are lit up every evening. For a night walk without staying up too late, we calculated sunset time and day length on the 15th of each month.
Month
Sunset
Day length
Tip for your walk
January
17:07
8 h 25
before dinner
February
18:00
10 h 03
early evening
March
18:49
11 h 51
early evening
April
20:40
13 h 51
early evening
May
21:28
15 h 33
after dinner
June
22:01
16 h 32
after dinner
July
21:54
16 h 06
after dinner
August
21:06
14 h 35
after dinner
September
20:00
12 h 39
early evening
October
18:53
10 h 44
early evening
November
16:57
8 h 56
before dinner
December
16:38
7 h 56
before dinner
Destination de Voyage calculation: sunset and day length on the 15th of each month in 2026 in Ghent (51.05° N), NOAA solar algorithm with refraction, Brussels time (including daylight saving). Street lighting comes on at dusk, about 30 minutes after sunset.
In December, the sun sets around 4:38 pm: the illuminated walk can start from 5 pm, before dinner, and be combined with the Christmas market.
In June, it sets around 10:01 pm: the monuments are only properly lit after 10:30 pm.
The best compromise: October, March and April, when night falls around dinner time, without the winter cold.
Ghent or Bruges? The decision tree
You only have one day and want the medieval postcard → Bruges, smaller and more uniform.
You want a lively student city with bars and concerts → Ghent.
You want fewer crowds → Ghent, much less visited by group tours.
You love Flemish art → both: the Mystic Lamb in Ghent, the Flemish Primitives of the Groeninge in Bruges.
You have two days or more → both, linked by a short train ride: stay in Ghent, often cheaper, and do Bruges as a day trip.
When to go to Ghent
The best months are from May to September, with 19 to 23 °C (66 to 74 °F) in the afternoon and over 200 hours of sunshine a month from May to August. The climate is oceanic: rain is frequent all year, with 10 to 14 days of precipitation a month; April is the driest month (46 mm / 1.8 in). The Ghent Festivities (Gentse Feesten), in July, draw crowds for about ten days. Winter is mild but grey (55 hours of sunshine in December); the Christmas markets and illuminations make up for it.
Month
High °C (°F)
Low °C (°F)
Rain mm (in)
Rainy days
Over 7 days
Sun (h)
Crowds
Prices
Verdict
January
6.7 (44)
1.1 (34)
73 (2.9)
13
2.9
65
Low
Low
⚠️ Cold and grey
February
7.6 (46)
1.1 (34)
61 (2.4)
12
2.9
82
Low
Low
⚠️ Cold and grey
March
11.1 (52)
2.8 (37)
56 (2.2)
11
2.4
139
Medium
Medium
⚠️ Cool
April
15.1 (59)
4.8 (41)
46 (1.8)
10
2.2
191
Medium
Medium
✅ Driest month
May
18.6 (65)
8.6 (47)
63 (2.5)
10
2.3
219
High
Medium
✅ Mild, terraces
June
21.3 (70)
11.5 (53)
72 (2.8)
10
2.4
217
High
High
✅ Long days
July
23.4 (74)
13.4 (56)
82 (3.2)
10
2.4
224
High
High
✅ Ghent Festivities, crowds
August
23.4 (74)
13.0 (55)
91 (3.6)
11
2.4
210
High
High
✅ Warm but wet
September
20.0 (68)
10.2 (50)
76 (3.0)
10
2.5
164
Medium
Medium
✅ Mild
October
15.4 (60)
7.4 (45)
74 (2.9)
12
2.7
121
Medium
Medium
⚠️ Frequent rain
November
10.4 (51)
4.3 (40)
89 (3.5)
14
3.2
71
Low
Low
❌ Grey and rainy
December
7.1 (45)
1.8 (35)
93 (3.7)
14
3.2
55
Medium
Medium
⚠️ Christmas markets
Temperature, precipitation, days with precipitation and sunshine: 1991-2020 normals from the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (RMI/IRM), Ghent station. « Over 7 days »: Destination de Voyage calculation (days with precipitation in the month × 7 / number of days in the month). Crowds and prices: estimate.
roughly €25 to €40 (Mystic Lamb, Gravensteen, boat)
Total
roughly €70 to €100 per person per day
roughly €150 to €230 per person per day
Indicative estimates excluding travel to Ghent. The city’s tourist card (CityCard) combines museums, a boat trip and transport: compare it with your plans.
Getting there and getting around Ghent
Arriving: Gent-Sint-Pieters station is about 2 km (1 mi) from the centre, linked by tram; frequent trains from Brussels and to Bruges.
In town: the historic centre is largely pedestrianised and walkable; cycling is king.
By car: the centre is closed to through traffic and is a low emission zone; according to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 17 October 2026), foreign vehicles must be pre-registered on the Ghent website. Use the park-and-ride car parks.
Boats: departures from Graslei, Korenlei and Kraanlei.
Where to stay in Ghent
Neighborhood
Best for
Highlights
Historic centre (Graslei, Korenmarkt)
First visit, couples
Everything on foot, canal views
Patershol
Food lovers
Quiet at night, restaurants on the doorstep
Around Sint-Pieters station
Convenience, trips to Bruges
Trains, tram to the centre; more affordable
Citadel Park area
Museums, quiet
Close to the MSK and SMAK
Book early for the Ghent Festivities (July).
Entry requirements, health and safety
US citizens: Belgium is in the Schengen area. According to the U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov, last updated July 30, 2026), your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond your stay, and you will need sufficient proof of funds and a return ticket. Belgium does not recognize the 12-page U.S. emergency passport for visa-free entry.
UK citizens: according to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 17 October 2026), you can travel to the Schengen area, including Belgium, without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before you arrive and be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave. You may have to register your fingerprints and photo under the EU Entry/Exit System (EES).
Terrorism: according to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 17 October 2026), terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Belgium; the national threat level is 3 (« Serious »), so expect an increased police presence.
Pickpockets: theft and pickpocketing are common in crowded areas, especially in major railway stations and on public transport (UK FCDO).
Laws: you must carry your passport at all times (UK FCDO).
Health: UK travelers need a GHIC or EHIC for medically necessary state healthcare (UK FCDO); the U.S. Department of State notes that US health insurance is generally not accepted and recommends insurance covering medical evacuation.
Emergencies: 112; police 101 (U.S. Department of State).
Entry requirements checked on 26 October 2026; check them again before you travel. See our travel insurance guide.
Practical tips for Ghent
Money: euro; cards and contactless payment accepted almost everywhere.
Language: Ghent is in Dutch-speaking Flanders; English is widely understood.
Food and drink: Ghent waterzooi (a creamy chicken or fish stew), stoverij, fries, local beers, cuberdons.
Museums: many are closed on Mondays; book your Mystic Lamb time slot in high season.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Ghent?
One day for the essentials (St. Bavo’s, the belfry, Graslei, Gravensteen); two days for the museums, a beguinage and an evening under the illuminations.
Ghent or Bruges: which to choose?
Bruges for a « postcard » day, Ghent for a livelier and less crowded city. With two days, do both, linked by train.
How do you get to Ghent?
By train via Brussels (Brussels Airport or Brussels-Midi, the Eurostar terminal), then a domestic train to Gent-Sint-Pieters.
What is the best time to visit Ghent?
May to September, according to the RMI 1991-2020 normals. April is the driest month; July is lively but packed during the Ghent Festivities.
Where can you see the Mystic Lamb?
In St. Bavo’s Cathedral, with a timed ticket.
Is Ghent safe?
Yes, but the UK FCDO notes a national terrorism threat level of 3 (« Serious ») in Belgium and common pickpocketing in crowded places: stay alert during big events.
Our sources
Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (RMI/IRM): 1991-2020 normals, Ghent station, via the climate table of the Wikipedia article « Ghent »
Destination de Voyage calculation: sunset and day length in Ghent (NOAA solar algorithm), rainy days over 7 days
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