One day in Ghent: the perfect Belgian day trip
Ghent is one of those cities that often gets overlooked in favour of Brussels or Bruges — but it really shouldn’t. It’s compact, easy to explore, and full of character, making it ideal for a day trip to Ghent or a short city break. We visited Ghent as part of a longer road trip and were genuinely surprised by how much we enjoyed it. From canal-side streets and medieval buildings to relaxed cafés and lively squares, it’s just a lovely place to be! If you’re wondering how to spend 1 day in Ghent, our trip report covers the highlights and what makes the city such a great place to visit.
Day one - time to explore
We began our day in the heart of the old town and quickly realised just how pretty Ghent is. (I'm sure it helped that we had a beautiful sunny day), but the canals, buildings and cobbled streets looked so characterful and picturesque! The streets are lined with historic buildings, cafés and small shops, with lots of cute viewpoints over canals as you go. Our first impressions were idyllic, and we pretty much feel in love with Ghent instantly.
We stopped at Brasserie Agrea, tucked between the cathedral and the Belfry. It was relaxed, friendly and most importantly, served excellent waffles! Combined with good tea & coffee, there was no rush to move on. We sat and people watched, setting the tone for the rest of the day, and planning how to spend our day trip to Ghent.
Feeling energised after breakfast, we climbed the Belfry for a view over the city. I always love a viewpoint, and if there's a city tower, there's a 99% chance I'm planning to climb it! The narrow staircase winds past bells and small exhibition spaces before opening out to the viewing area at the top. From here, Ghent stretches in every direction, with red rooftops, church spires and canals weaving through the city. We were lucky to visit on a sunny day in June, so we had some great views!
Despite the great weather and views available, the Belfry was surprisingly quiet. We didn't spend too long up the tower - probably around 30 minutes and that was perfect. If this is your first time in Ghent, it’s one of the best ways to understand the city’s layout.
We spent the rest of the morning exploring the city and its cobbled streets. No real plan or agenda - just drinking it all in. Cobbled streets lead to open squares, quiet canals and hidden corners. There are so many similarities between Bruges, but this felt so much slower paced (in a good way). It was a perfect way to spend the morning in the city.
Around midday, we joined a canal cruise with Boat in Ghent. We stumbled across it, but it turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip! Our guide was interesting and informative, sharing stories about Ghent’s history and making conversation with everyone.
I always enjoy a boat tour. It's always nice to see the city from a different perspective and Ghent was no exception. Along the canals, we glided past grand old houses, bridges and tucked-away corners. We only had a day trip to Ghent, but the boat tour felt like an easy way to see more without feeling rushed.
Back on land, we wandered towards Gravensteen, Ghent’s famous medieval castle, which made for an interesting pitstop. As we continued to explore the city, we came across t’Gouden Mandeke - a busy pub not far from the canal, with everyone sat outside in the sun enjoying their drinks. The atmosphere was good and there was a spare seat in a sunny spot, so we grabbed a couple of drinks to round-off our day.
For dinner, we headed to Eat-aly. The name nearly put us off, but the food was genuinely delicious and was a great way to end the day. Nothing fancy, just satisfying, carb-heavy food after hours of exploring - perfect!
What makes Ghent special?
We only had one day in Ghent, as part of a bigger road trip we were doing across Germany. In some ways I wish we had more time to explore, but on the other, I think one day in Ghent is enough to fall in love with its charm. The city feels historic and authentic without being overrun by tourists, yet it’s pretty enough to be a tourist destination in its own right. The fact that Ghent often gets overlooked in favour of Bruges or Brussels (I think) is what makes it special. It's a little under the radar, and feels perhaps what Bruges was once like before the big tourist boom? Part of me hopes it stays that way. That said, if you’re planning a trip to Belgium, Ghent is an easy recommendation. It’s ideal for a relaxed day trip, but will have you wanting to come back for more.
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If you’re planning 1 day in Ghent, then hopefully our day trip to Ghent trip report gave you a few ideas! If you have any questions please leave a comment below, we’d love to hear from you! If you found our blog helpful, check out our Insta @welovetravel.in – if you give us a follow feel free to drop us a message and say hello 👋
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