Ghent Travel Guide: Castle, Cathedral and Canalsides
Our day trip by train from Bruges to Ghent: Gravensteen, St Bavo’s and the Ghent Altarpiece, Graslei and Graffiti Street, with prices and food.
We visited Ghent on a day trip by train from Bruges; the half-hour journey and frequent services make it very easy to plan. Ghent is as enchanting as Bruges, but livelier, with the atmosphere of a university city.
From Gent Sint-Pieters station, the historic centre is a short tram ride away. The castle, cathedral and canalsides are within walking distance of one another, so you can comfortably see them all on a day trip.
Before you go: key notes
How do you get from Bruges to Ghent?
The train takes about half an hour. We visited on a day trip from Bruges; from Gent Sint-Pieters station, take the tram to the centre.
Is one day enough in Ghent?
Yes, for the main sights. You can comfortably see Gravensteen, the Ghent Altarpiece and the canalsides in a day.
Do you need a ticket to see the Ghent Altarpiece?
Cathedral admission is free, but visiting the Ghent Altarpiece costs extra and takes the form of a virtual-reality-enhanced tour.
Plan at a family pace: The days below are suggested itineraries. Shorten them to suit the time you spend inside museums and monuments; approximate visit lengths exclude queues and travel. Trains in Belgium are frequent, and children under 12 can travel free with an adult. Admission prices are approximate adult rates as of 2026; museum cards (Musea Brugge Card, CityCard Gent, Antwerp City Card) can offer good value if you visit several museums.
Suggested itinerary
| Plan | Route | How to simplify it |
|---|---|---|
| Day-trip route | St Bavo’s Cathedral → Belfort → Sint-Niklaaskerk → Sint-Michielsbrug → Graslei and Korenlei → Gravensteen → Patershol | Allow 2 hours in total for the Ghent Altarpiece and castle; the remaining stops are outdoors. |
| Break with children | Canal boat tour → Vrijdagmarkt | A boat tour gives tired feet a rest. |
Tickets and tours: Timed tickets for popular attractions such as Gravensteen and boat tours can sell out in advance. Browse Ghent tickets and tours on Tiqets to compare skip-the-line admission and guided tours.
Where to stay in Ghent with kids
We visited Ghent as a day trip by train from Bruges; for those who want to stay, here are the areas. With kids, where your hotel is decides how often you’ll say “shall we head back?”; being able to return for a midday break is a big relief.
| Area | Good for | Watch out | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Korenmarkt and Graslei | Castle, cathedral and canals within walking distance | The centre is busy at weekends | See on Booking |
| Patershol | Quiet, historic streets near the castle | Cobblestones and narrow lanes | See on Booking |
| Sint-Pieters station area | Coming and going by train; a few minutes by tram to the centre | Not in the historic centre | See on Booking |
What we look at when choosing: A lift (does the stroller fit without folding?), being close to the train or metro, a family room for three or an apartment with a kitchen, and air conditioning in summer.
Accommodation: Compare hotels and apartments in Ghent on Booking.com; choosing free cancellation keeps your plans flexible.
Contents
- Before you go: key notes
- Where to stay in Ghent with kids
- The three towers
- Canalsides and castle
- Patershol and surroundings
- Local flavours
- Sources and visitor information
The three towers
St Bavo’s Cathedral and the Ghent Altarpiece
Completed by the Van Eyck brothers in 1432, the “Adoration of the Mystic Lamb” altarpiece is one of the most important and most frequently stolen works in European art history. A virtual-reality-enhanced visit reveals its hidden story and draws children in too.
Why go? With stories of theft, concealment and rescue, the Van Eyck brothers’ Ghent Altarpiece is one of the world’s most adventurous artworks. Standing before a six-hundred-year-old painting with such extraordinary detail is unforgettable.
Visit summary
- Area: The three towers
- Highlight: Van Eyck’s Ghent Altarpiece
- Suggested visit length: About 1–1,5 hours
- Type of visit: Indoors
- Admission: Cathedral free; Ghent Altarpiece visit approximately 12,50 €
- Nearby stops: Belfort (Ghent Belfry)
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Belfort (Ghent Belfry)
The golden dragon atop this tower, a symbol of the city’s freedom, has guarded Ghent for centuries. A lift makes reaching the views easier with children.
Why go? The dragon atop this tower, a symbol of the city’s freedom, has watched over Ghent for centuries. The lift makes enjoying the views easier with children.
Visit summary
- Area: The three towers
- Highlight: Belfry with a lift
- Suggested visit length: About 45 minutes
- Type of visit: Tower visit (with lift)
- Admission: Paid admission · adults approximately 10 €
- Nearby stops: St Bavo’s Cathedral and the Ghent Altarpiece, Sint-Niklaaskerk
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Sint-Niklaaskerk
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Built from blue-grey stone, this is one of the finest examples of Scheldt Gothic architecture and served as the merchants’ church for centuries. In the middle of the three-tower skyline, its lofty, light-filled interior is impressive.
Why go? Blue-grey stone and a light-filled interior make this one of the finest examples of Scheldt Gothic architecture. In the middle of the three-tower route, it is a natural stop on your walk.
Visit summary
- Area: The three towers
- Highlight: Scheldt Gothic church
- Suggested visit length: About 20 minutes
- Type of visit: Indoors
- Admission: Free
- Nearby stops: Belfort (Ghent Belfry), Sint-Michielsbrug
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Sint-Michielsbrug
From this bridge, Ghent’s three towers line up, with Graslei and Korenlei on either side. This is the spot for the city’s best-known photograph.
Why go? From the bridge, Ghent’s three towers line up, with guild houses on both sides of the canal completing the scene. The city’s most iconic photograph is taken here.
Visit summary
- Area: The three towers
- Highlight: View of all three towers together
- Suggested visit length: About 15 minutes
- Type of visit: Bridge / outdoors
- Admission: Free (outdoors)
- Nearby stops: Sint-Niklaaskerk
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Canalsides and castle
Graslei and Korenlei
Medieval guild houses face one another across the canal. In summer, young people sitting with their legs dangling over the quays make this the city’s liveliest spot. Boat tours also leave from here.
Why go? The medieval guild houses facing one another across the canal create one of Europe’s most beautiful waterfront scenes. Sitting on the quay in the late afternoon and watching the lights come on is a Ghent highlight.
Visit summary
- Area: Canalsides and castle
- Highlight: Guild houses beside the canal
- Suggested visit length: About 45–60 minutes
- Type of visit: Waterfront walk
- Admission: Free (outdoors)
- Nearby stops: Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts)
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts)
A real medieval castle rising beside the canal in the heart of the city. Its walls, towers and collection of torture instruments spark children’s imaginations. The views over Ghent from the ramparts are beautiful too.
Why go? A real medieval castle with a moat and ramparts in the middle of the city, where children can step into tales of knights. The humorous audio guide and views from the walls make for a very enjoyable visit.
Visit summary
- Area: Canalsides and castle
- Highlight: Medieval castle in the city centre
- Suggested visit length: About 1–1,5 hours
- Type of visit: Indoors / ramparts
- Admission: Paid admission · adults approximately 13–15 € (audio guide included); reduced rates for children
- Nearby stops: Graslei and Korenlei, Canal boat tour
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Canal boat tour
Boats departing from Graslei pass beneath the castle and alongside the historic quays. The half-hour tour is ideal for resting between walks.
Why go? Passing beneath the castle and in front of the guild houses, a boat tour reveals Ghent from a completely different angle. Ideal for resting and learning something between walks.
Visit summary
- Area: Canalsides and castle
- Highlight: Seeing Ghent from the water
- Suggested visit length: About 40–50 minutes
- Type of visit: Boat tour
- Admission: Paid admission · approximately 7–10 €
- Nearby stops: Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts)
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Patershol and surroundings
Patershol
An old neighbourhood of narrow, cobbled streets behind the castle, now home to small restaurants and quiet corners. Ghent’s most atmospheric area for dinner.
Why go? Narrow cobbled streets and small restaurants make this Ghent’s most atmospheric neighbourhood. The city’s most romantic spot for dinner.
Visit summary
- Area: Patershol and surroundings
- Highlight: Medieval street layout
- Suggested visit length: About 30–45 minutes
- Type of visit: Neighbourhood walk
- Admission: Free (outdoors)
- Nearby stops: Vrijdagmarkt
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Vrijdagmarkt
A broad square where markets have been held for centuries, with a statue of Jacob van Artevelde in the centre. Its Friday market and surrounding cafés make it a good stop for watching local life.
Why go? This spacious square, a market venue for centuries, has witnessed Ghent’s historic revolts and celebrations. With cafés and a Friday market, it is a lovely place to watch local life.
Visit summary
- Area: Patershol and surroundings
- Highlight: Historic market square
- Suggested visit length: About 20–30 minutes
- Type of visit: Outdoors
- Admission: Free (outdoors)
- Nearby stops: Patershol, Werregarenstraat (Graffiti Street)
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Werregarenstraat (Graffiti Street)
This narrow street, where graffiti is legal, is an ever-changing, colourful open-air gallery. A cheerful modern corner in the historic centre that catches children’s attention.
Why go? With graffiti permitted on its walls, the street takes on a new look every week. A colourful surprise in the medieval city that children particularly enjoy.
Visit summary
- Area: Patershol and surroundings
- Highlight: Ever-changing graffiti street
- Suggested visit length: About 15 minutes
- Type of visit: Street
- Admission: Free (outdoors)
- Nearby stops: Vrijdagmarkt
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Local flavours
These are some of the flavours associated with Ghent. Once we add places we have personally tried, this section will become a list of venues like those in our other city guides.
| Food | What it is known for | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Gentse waterzooi | Creamy Ghent stew made with chicken or fish | Restaurants in Patershol |
| Cuberdon (neuzeke) | Purple cone-shaped sweets filled with raspberry syrup | Stalls on Groentenmarkt |
| Ghent mustard | Sharp mustard sold from barrels in a historic shop | Around Groentenmarkt |
Sources and visitor information
Museum and monument opening hours change with the seasons, and some close on Mondays. Admission prices are approximate; check the official websites before visiting. Individual location links are Google Maps searches using the place name.