Ghent · Flanders · Belgium
Ghent Tours, Tickets & Things to Do
Discover the best Ghent tours, medieval old town and Gravensteen castle walks, canal boat trips, Belgian chocolate and beer experiences, food tours, and easy day trips to Bruges and Ypres. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Ghent itinerary.
141 experiences Free cancellation Top-rated tours Instant booking
Sunset tours in Ghent
Departures that are under way when the sun sets in the coming weeks — start times checked against the local sunset.
Good for families in Ghent
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Browse
Explore Ghent by interest
Whatever brings you to Ghent — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Old Town
Gravensteen castle and St Bavo’s.
ExploreCanal boat trips
The Graslei from the water.
ExploreChocolate
Belgian pralines and workshops.
ExploreBelgian beer
Flemish and Trappist brews.
ExploreFood tours
Cuberdons, waterzooi and cheese.
ExploreBruges
The fairy-tale city nearby.
ExploreGhent Altarpiece
Van Eyck’s masterpiece.
ExploreDay trips
Bruges, Ypres and Brussels.
ExploreWhat to see
Top attractions in Ghent
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Gravensteen castle
The moated medieval fortress.
50+ toursView tours
Graslei & Korenlei
The guild-house waterfronts.
40 toursView tours
Canal boat trips
The river Leie from the water.
20 toursView tours
Belgian chocolate
Pralines and workshops.
30 toursView tours
Belgian beer
Flemish and Trappist brews.
20 toursView tours
St Bavo’s & Altarpiece
Van Eyck’s masterpiece.
30 toursView tours
Bruges
The fairy-tale city nearby.
30 toursView tours
Flanders Fields
The moving WWI battlefields.
20 toursView tours
1 day
Ghent in 1 day
- 1Gravensteen castle
- 2St Bavo’s & Altarpiece
- 3Canal boat trip
- 4Chocolate & Graslei
2 days
Ghent in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Old Town & canals
- 2Chocolate & beer
- 3Day 2: Bruges
- 4Flemish evenings
3 days
Ghent in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Old Town & canals
- 2Day 2: Bruges
- 3Day 3: Ypres & Flanders Fields
- 4Belgian evenings
With kids
Ghent with kids
- 1Gravensteen castle
- 2Canal boat ride
- 3Chocolate-making
- 4Frites & cuberdons
30 min awayBruges
The fairy-tale Venice of the North.
from €40View trips
1 hr awayYpres & Flanders Fields
The moving WWI battlefields.
from €75View trips
40 min awayBrussels
The capital and Grand Place.
from €55View trips
1 hr awayOstend
The North Sea seaside town.
from €45View trips
1 hr awayAntwerp
The diamond and fashion city.
from €55View trips
40 min awayBrussels chocolate
Capital chocolate and waffles.
from €55View trips
Practical guide
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Ghent visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring (April–June) and early autumn (September) bring mild weather and thinner crowds — the best times to enjoy the canals and old town.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Mild, blossoming days ideal for boat trips and walking, before the summer peak.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Warm and lively with festivals like the Gentse Feesten; busy but full of energy.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Crisp, golden days with fewer crowds — an atmospheric time for the old town.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Cold but cosy, especially with the Christmas market and the Ghent Light Festival in some years.
Gentse Feesten
In July the city hosts the Gentse Feesten, one of Europe’s biggest cultural street festivals, with ten days of music and celebration.
One day
Enough for the old town, the castle and a canal trip.
Two days
Add tastings and a day trip to Bruges.
Three days
The sweet spot: the city, Bruges, and the Flanders Fields battlefields.
Four to five days
Add Brussels, Antwerp and the coast.
A long weekend
Ghent is perfect for a relaxed, lively city weekend break.
Travelling with kids
Mix the castle, boat rides and chocolate-making at a gentle pace.
On foot
Ghent’s old town is compact and largely car-free, best explored on foot with the main sights close together.
Canal boats
Boat trips on the river Leie offer the classic way to see the guild houses and castle from the water.
By bike
Ghent is flat and very bike-friendly, with rentals and guided bike tours a fun way to explore the city.
Trams
Ghent’s trams link the station to the centre, useful as the old town is a little way from the main station.
Trains
Frequent direct trains link Ghent to Bruges, Brussels and Antwerp, making car-free day trips easy.
Day-trip transport
Tours bundle transport for the Flanders Fields battlefields and other day trips.
Book workshops & tours ahead
Popular chocolate workshops and small-group food and beer tours sell out — book ahead, especially at weekends and in summer.
See the Ghent Altarpiece
Don’t miss the restored Van Eyck Altarpiece in St Bavo’s Cathedral; book the visitor experience ahead in busy periods.
Currency & cards
Belgium uses the euro and cards are widely accepted, though carry some cash for small shops and markets.
Taste the classics
Don’t miss cuberdons (“little noses”), waterzooi stew, Belgian chocolate, waffles and a local beer.
Less crowded than Bruges
Ghent has the medieval beauty of Bruges with fewer crowds and more local life — a great base for Flanders.
Climb the Belfry
Climb or take the lift up Ghent’s UNESCO Belfry for sweeping views over the medieval rooftops.
Chocolate workshops
Hands-on chocolate-making classes fill up — book ahead.
Beer & food tours
Small-group beer and food tours sell out — reserve early.
Ghent Altarpiece visit
Pre-book the St Bavo’s Altarpiece experience in busy periods.
Bruges day trips
Guided Bruges tours have limited places — reserve early.
Flanders Fields tours
WWI battlefield day trips fill up — book ahead.
Festivals & summer
The July Gentse Feesten and summer weekends are busy — plan ahead.
Old Town walks
Around €12–30 for a guided Ghent walking tour.
Canal boat trips
About €9–15 for a 40-minute canal boat trip.
Chocolate workshops
Roughly €25–45 for a hands-on chocolate-making class.
Beer & food tours
Around €40–75 for a guided beer or food tour.
Bruges day trips
About €40–70 for a guided Bruges tour, or cheaper by train.
How to save
Walk the compact centre, take cheap trains to Bruges, and visit early or in shoulder season.
When to visit
Ghent through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Spring
Mar–May
- Best for
- Mild, blossoming days for the canals.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A lovely time before the summer crowds.
Summer
Jun–Aug
- Best for
- Warm days and lively festivals.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- The July Gentse Feesten fills the city.
Autumn
Sep–Oct
- Best for
- Crisp, golden days with fewer crowds.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- An atmospheric time for the old town.
Winter
Dec–Feb
- Best for
- Cosy days and the Christmas market.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cold and damp; wrap up and enjoy the lights.
People also ask
Ghent travel FAQ
What are the best tours in Ghent?
The highest-rated Ghent experiences are an old-town walking tour with the Gravensteen castle and Ghent Altarpiece, a canal boat trip, a Belgian chocolate workshop, a beer tasting, a food tour, and a day trip to Bruges.
What should I book in advance in Ghent?
Book popular chocolate workshops and small-group food and beer tours well ahead, as they sell out, along with the Ghent Altarpiece experience and battlefield day trips.
How many days do I need in Ghent?
One to two days covers Ghent itself; three days lets you add day trips to Bruges and the Flanders Fields WWI battlefields.
Is Ghent worth visiting?
Yes — Ghent combines the medieval beauty of Bruges with a younger, livelier student energy and fewer crowds, with the Gravensteen castle, St Bavo’s Cathedral and scenic waterfronts.
What are the best things to do in Ghent?
Top picks are the Gravensteen castle, St Bavo’s and the Ghent Altarpiece, a canal boat trip, a chocolate workshop, a beer tasting, and a day trip to Bruges.
When is the best time to visit Ghent?
Late spring (April–June) and early autumn (September) offer mild weather and fewer crowds; July brings the lively Gentse Feesten festival, while winter is cold but cosy.
How do you get around Ghent?
Ghent’s compact, largely car-free old town is best explored on foot, by canal boat or by bike; trams link the station to the centre, and frequent direct trains reach Bruges, Brussels and Antwerp.
141 Ghent experiencesfrom €12 · free cancellation
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