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Ghent
Belgium

Things to do in Ghent

234 attractions · Belgium

Photo: Paul Hermans, CC BY-SA 3.0

Flemish Region, Belgium · 51.050, 3.717

About Ghent

Ghent is a medieval university city in Belgium located at the confluence of the Scheldt and Leie rivers, characterized by its preserved Flemish architecture. It serves as a major maritime port and features a skyline dominated by the medieval towers of the Belfry of Ghent and St Bavo's Cathedral. Visitors can explore local culture at STAM - Ghent City Museum or witness the evolving urban art scene at Graffiti Street. The city maintains a distinct blend of industrial heritage and pedestrianized historic districts.

Good to know

  1. 1

    Ghent possesses the highest concentration of listed historic buildings in Belgium.

  2. 2

    The city hosts the Gentse Feesten, one of the largest cultural festivals in Europe, which spans ten days every July.

  3. 3

    Ghent is recognized as a leader in plant-based dining, having more vegetarian restaurants per capita than any other city in Belgium.

  4. 4

    During the Middle Ages, Ghent was the second-largest city in Europe, surpassed only by Paris.

  5. 5

    The city's 'Adoration of the Mystic Lamb' altarpiece is one of the most frequently stolen artworks in history.

Plan your visit to Ghent

Best time to visit

Late spring (May to June) or early autumn (September), as the weather is mild and the city avoids the peak summer crowds.

How many days

2-3 days to explore the historic center and visit key museums without rushing.

Getting around

The historic center is largely pedestrianized, making it highly walkable, while an extensive tram and bus network covers the outer districts.

Where to stay

The historic city center (Patershol or Graslei area) offers proximity to primary sites, while the area near the university provides a more youthful atmosphere.

Budget

Mid-range; Belgium generally carries a moderate cost of living with costs comparable to other Western European cities.

Top things to do in Ghent

The 234 most popular places in Ghent.

Filtered by
  1. 91 St Andrew's Orthodox Church
    Temples Hidden gem

    St Andrew's Orthodox Church

    St Andrew's Orthodox Church in Ghent is a parish belonging to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, specificall...

  2. 92 Parkbos Vallei van de Rosdambeek
    Parks Hidden gem

    Parkbos Vallei van de Rosdambeek

    Parkbos Vallei van de Rosdambeek is a designated nature and recreation area located in the southern part of Ghent, Belgi...

  3. 93 Masjid ICC Gent
    Temples Hidden gem

    Masjid ICC Gent

    Masjid ICC Gent serves as a primary hub for the Muslim community in the Ledeberg district of Ghent. It functions as a pl...

  4. 94 Moskee OKBA IBN NAFI
    Temples Hidden gem

    Moskee OKBA IBN NAFI

    Moskee OKBA IBN NAFI is an active neighborhood mosque located on Warandestraat in Ghent, Belgium. Serving the local Musl...

  5. 95 CAMPO Nieuwpoort kunstencentrum
    Venues Hidden gem

    CAMPO Nieuwpoort kunstencentrum

    CAMPO Nieuwpoort is a prominent art center in Ghent dedicated to contemporary performance, theater, and multidisciplinar...

  6. 96 Groot Vleeshuis
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Groot Vleeshuis

    The Groot Vleeshuis is a medieval covered meat market located on the Groentenmarkt in Ghent, Belgium, constructed betwee...

  7. 97 Masjid Anwar-El-Madina Gent
    Temples Hidden gem

    Masjid Anwar-El-Madina Gent

  8. 98 Sint-Annakerk
    Temples Hidden gem

    Sint-Annakerk

  9. 99 Kasteel Ter Beken 🏰
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Kasteel Ter Beken 🏰

  10. 100 Monument Jan Frans Willems
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Monument Jan Frans Willems

  11. 101 Kar­me­lie­ten­kloos­ter Gent
    Temples Hidden gem

    Kar­me­lie­ten­kloos­ter Gent

  12. 102 Monument of the Van Eyck Brothers
    Places of interest Hidden gem

    Monument of the Van Eyck Brothers

  13. 103 Museum Arnold Vander Haeghen
    Places of interest Hidden gem

    Museum Arnold Vander Haeghen

  14. 104 Hoofdbrug
    Places of interest Hidden gem

    Hoofdbrug

  15. 105 City hall Merelbeke
    Venues Hidden gem

    City hall Merelbeke

  16. 106 Speelbos Gentbrugse Meersen
    Parks Hidden gem

    Speelbos Gentbrugse Meersen

  17. 107 Gallery Ysebaert
    Museums Hidden gem

    Gallery Ysebaert

  18. 108 019
    Museums Hidden gem

    019

  19. 109 Leopoldskazerne
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Leopoldskazerne

  20. 110 De School van Toen
    Museums Hidden gem

    De School van Toen

  21. 111 Executieoord Rieme-Oostakker
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Executieoord Rieme-Oostakker

  22. 112 Koningin Maria Hendrikaplein
    Places of interest Hidden gem

    Koningin Maria Hendrikaplein

  23. 113 Town hall Lochristi
    Venues Hidden gem

    Town hall Lochristi

  24. 114 Basiliek Onze Lieve Vrouw Onbevlekte Ontvangenis
    Temples Hidden gem

    Basiliek Onze Lieve Vrouw Onbevlekte Ontvangenis

  25. 115 Maaltebruggekasteel
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Maaltebruggekasteel

  26. 116 Sint-Martinuskerk (Ekkergem)
    Temples Hidden gem

    Sint-Martinuskerk (Ekkergem)

  27. 117 Sint-Pauluskerk
    Temples Hidden gem

    Sint-Pauluskerk

  28. 118 Onze-Lieve-Vrouwkerk ⛪
    Temples Hidden gem

    Onze-Lieve-Vrouwkerk ⛪

  29. 119 Mosque Fatih Camii
    Temples Hidden gem

    Mosque Fatih Camii

  30. 120 TATJANA PIETERS
    Museums Hidden gem

    TATJANA PIETERS

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Frequently asked

How many attractions are there in Ghent?

Aventuro lists 234 curated attractions in and around Ghent, sorted by popularity.

What's the top attraction in Ghent?

Castle of the Counts is the most popular place to visit in Ghent right now.

What kind of attractions does Ghent have?

The largest category is temples, with 50 places to explore.

Which other cities are worth visiting nearby?

Travellers also explore City of Brussels, Antwerp, Liège.