Belgium has a lot of gorgeous places to see and visit. Ghent is one that gets mentioned a lot when you ask people who have traveled through the region. The question that I get asked often is, ‘Is Ghent worth visiting?’. After a myriad of experiences through Belgium, I had the same question when I was planning our trip.
Ghent however succeeded in surpassing all my expectations and I have to say that this city is definitely one for the bucket list. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say that if you can choose just one location to visit in Belgium, pick Ghent!
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Read my disclaimer for further information.
Table of Contents
Is Ghent Worth Visiting?
I know that I started the post just raving about why Ghent is worth visiting and how beautiful it is. I’m going to try and give you a balanced idea of the city so I’m also going to include some of the reasons why you may not like Ghent.
1. Ghent Is A Great Romantic Escape
Ghent is one of those cities that awakens a poet’s soul and a writer’s heart. Think of the beautiful waterways, the iconic medieval castle that is right in the hearts of the city and the gorgeous brick buildings that line the streets. Everywhere you turn, you will find a view that will take your breath away.
I think this is one of the quintessential reasons why many couples head to Ghent. It has a quiet romantic charm that makes it a great place for a honeymoon, a babymoon or just a romantic escape.
2. It’s A Walkable City
I’m a person who really loves walking everywhere. It gives me a chance to immerse myself in the city and to feel the vibe. Ghent is one of those cities where you can walk everywhere. We traveled with toddlers and pushed our double stroller through the area. That’s why I can say with certainty that not only is the city walkable, it is also accessible. There were a few shops that had narrow entrances and getting in and out was a bit tough. That however is to be expected.
So when people ask me is Ghent worth visiting? I tend to say yes because I loved walking about the city. Oh and if you really don’t want to do this, you can use the public transport system. Honestly, its not required because the city is pretty small.
3. There’s Tons Of Things To Do
Despite the fact that Ghent is pretty small, there are really a lot of things to do in the city. You can probably breeze through all the top attractions in the city quickly just like we did but Ghent is a place where you won’t want to do that. It’s a place that demands that you slow down and smell the flowers.
Every single attraction in Ghent has a lot going on for it both historically and architecturally. From its gorgeous churches (yes! plural!) to the museums. And if that isn’t enough, just sitting and enjoying the waterways is something that you should consider.
I guess you can see just how much I’m still racing about how pretty the city is. Is Ghent worth visiting because of the things to do? Yup! It is!
4. Ghent Is Easy To Get To
One of the reasons why you will find that Ghent is worth visiting other than everything that I have listed above is because of how easy it is to get to the city. Now Ghent does not have its own airport. The closest airport is in Brussels. You can however easily take the train from Brussels to Ghent. In fact it is a popular day trip from Brussels.
Ghent is also connected via train with other important cities like Bruges and Antwerp. You can also visit it from Paris and Amsterdam. So that makes this city even more interesting. Aside from the fact that Ghent is connected by train to other places, it also sits along one of the main highways so if you are on a road trip like we were, it makes a great stop on the way.
5. The City Has Some Amazing Chocolate
Who can say no to chocolate? Belgium has some of the best chocolate in the world and you can easily find it in all the main cities in the country. Ghent is no different and there are loads of different places where you can buy chocolate in the city. You can even see the masters at work which is a pretty interesting activity if you ask me.
There are so many ways to indulge in chocolate. My favorite way was on top of a nice crisp waffle loaded with chocolate, fresh strawberries and cream. Definitely a highlight of our trip. Just make sure that you buy some goodies to take home though. They are well worth it especially since that waffle will not last forever.
6. It’s A Quieter City
One of the reasons why I really like Ghent is because it’s quiet. Most people will head here from Brussels and the contrast is stark. Brussels had me overwhelmed with all the tourists, crowds, souvenir shops and endless activities. Ghent on the other hand was less flamboyant and more sedated.
Now I get that this vibe isn’t for everyone but it was definitely one that really appealed to me.
So is Ghent worth visiting? If you love quieter places then yes. I highly recommend it.
7. There’s Plenty Of History
Despite being small, you will find that there is a lot of history to be seen in Ghent. From the Gravensteen castle to the numerous churches, history has left it’s mark across the city. If you love learning about the past then make sure you take one of the walking tours so you can really immerse yourself in the experience.
8. The Boat Tours Are A Lot Of Fun
⭐️ Rating: 4.3/5 (2,376 Reviews) Price: $10.83 per person Duration: 50 min 📍Meeting Point: Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
I’m going to say that if you are in Ghent, one of the things that you really really should do is head out on the canal tours. Not only is an enjoyable experience to just kick back and relax, you will also find that it a great way to see the city.
These boat tours offer a lot of different experiences but the most common one is just a tour round the medieval center. You can book it in advance or on the spot but it really depends on what season you want to visit. During winter you can head out on the closed boats so you stay nice and toasty. In summer the boats are open and you can enjoy the summer skies.
“We had the boat to ourselves on a beautiful rainy day and a lovely two guides who answered all our questions. They even took the time to personalize the tour a bit with local watering hole recommendations at the end. Would recommend, great value for money!”
Taryn (read more reviews now!)
The best part is that the tours are not really that expensive and you have a whole hour on board. Its one of the reasons why I like them.
Is Ghent Worth Visiting: Cons
I love to give a balanced opinion when it comes to different cities that we visit. Is Ghent worth visiting? Yes. According to me it is but the city does have a couple of drawbacks that I should point out.
1. It Is Expensive
Belgium in general is expensive when you compare it to other places like France. Though Paris is a whole different ball game. Ghent is an expensive city to stay in. So if you want to keep your budget low, it isn’t a place that I would recommend booking accommodation for long. One of the ways that we mitigated the cost was by driving through it and spending just a day in the city.
This however has its downside because you tend to rush through Ghent. You don’t get to sit down and enjoy the flow. At the end of the day, I think budget is pretty subjective so plan in advance, book in advance and you should be good.
2. Finding Parking Is Difficult
This is a pretty common issue when it comes to parking in large cities in Belgium and in Europe. Ghent is no exception. The best way to get parking is to park on the outskirts and then take the public transport in. My recommendation is to do your research in advance. Try to book a slot in advance too. That way you get cheaper parking fees.
And there you have it. Is Ghent worth visiting? I think that it is definitely one of the best big cities that I have visited in Belgium. I rank it higher than Brussels because of its slower pace and I definitely liked it more than Antwerp. The charm of the city really can’t be expressed in words.
Should you make your way to it even though its a little harder to get to from main cities. I would say yes. Its totally worth it.
Other Posts That May Interest You
- Cool things to do in Durbuy, Belgium
- Visiting Dinant Citadel: Everything you need to know
- Exploring Chateau de Veves
Don’t Forget To Pin This Post
