East Flanders, Belgium

Ghent

Ghent combines medieval towers, a castle and canal-side guildhalls with a busy student life, and is less crowded than Bruges.

Ghent: Discover authentic Ghent with historian & taste the best chocolate
Featured walk: Discover authentic Ghent with historian & taste the best chocolate · Photo supplied by Viator

The city on foot

Ghent was one of the largest cities in medieval Europe, rich from cloth. Its three towers, the castle and the Graslei waterfront survive from that time.

The centre is compact and largely car-free, and its university keeps it lively.

What makes Ghent distinctive

  • The Graslei and Korenlei waterfront
  • Gravensteen castle
  • The Ghent Altarpiece
  • A lively student and bar scene

Walking tours in Ghent

Hand-picked guided walks in Ghent, each rated highly by travellers. Ratings and photos are from Viator; select a tour to see dates, prices and full details, and to book.

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Prices are Viator's lowest "from" price per person, converted to pounds and checked on 29 October 2026. The booking page shows the current price in your currency.

By theme: Free walking tours in Ghent · Food tours in Ghent · History walks in Ghent · Night and ghost tours in Ghent

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More walking tours on GetYourGuide

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Main sights

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Neighbourhoods worth wandering

  • Historic centre

    The towers, castle and waterfront.

  • Patershol

    Medieval lanes of restaurants.

  • Citadelpark

    A park with museums south of the centre.

Free self-guided walk

Three towers and the Graslei

A free self-guided walk in Ghent, past its three medieval towers and along the Graslei to the Gravensteen castle.

1 km · 5 stops · map and directions

See the walk

Best areas to explore on foot

  1. Three towers

    St Nicholas' Church, the Belfry and St Bavo's in a line.

  2. Graslei

    Along the river by the guildhalls.

  3. Patershol

    Narrow lanes near the castle.

Practical walking notes

  • Terrain

    Flat, with cobbles.

  • Bikes

    Watch for cyclists.

  • Distances

    The station to the centre is about 25 minutes on foot.

When to visit

  • Spring and summer

    Ghent Festival in July.

  • Autumn

    Mild and quieter.

  • Winter

    Christmas markets.

Getting there and getting around

Arriving

  • By rail

    Trains reach Brussels in about 30 minutes and Bruges in 25.

Local transport

  • Trams

    Link the station with the centre.

  • On foot

    The centre is best walked.

Questions travellers ask about Ghent

Is Ghent worth visiting as well as Bruges?

Yes. It has a similar medieval centre with fewer visitors and more local life.

How many days do I need?

One or two days.

Where can I see the Ghent Altarpiece?

In St Bavo's Cathedral; tickets are timed.

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Sources and review date

This guide was last updated on 2026-10-28. Opening hours, fares and services change; please confirm details with official sources before travelling.