Ghent: top attractions & road trip guide
Ghent is a Flemish university city built at the confluence of the Leie and Scheldt rivers, once one of medieval Europe's largest cities on the strength of its cloth trade. Its skyline of three towers, canal-side guildhalls, and a moated castle make it a well-preserved rival to nearby Bruges, without the same volume of visitors.
Top attractions
Gravensteen Castle
A moated medieval fortress built in 1180 by the Counts of Flanders, with a walkable rampart and a museum of medieval weaponry and justice inside.
Saint Bavo's Cathedral
A Gothic cathedral home to the Ghent Altarpiece by the van Eyck brothers, one of the most influential and frequently stolen artworks in European history.
Graslei and Korenlei
Two facing medieval quaysides along the Leie river lined with guildhouse facades in Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque styles, best viewed from a canal boat or a waterside terrace.
Belfry of Ghent
A 91-metre UNESCO-listed watchtower dating to 1313, topped by a gilded copper dragon and offering panoramic views over the medieval rooftops from its viewing platform.
STAM Ghent City Museum
A city history museum housed in a former abbey, tracing Ghent's development from medieval trading power to modern industrial and university city through interactive exhibits.
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