I challenge you to take a bad photograph in Ghent, Belgium. It simply isn’t possible. This point-and-shoot town is a living postcard everywhere you look, so picturesque that it hardly feels real. I recently found myself in this beautiful city, just a short train ride from Paris and it was the perfect place to be for a weekend away. This Ghent guide features just a few of the many fun things to do in Ghent Belgium.

Pat discovers the beauty and quirky Belgian city of Ghent. | © Pat Bailey

Things to Do in Ghent Belgium

Getting to Ghent

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Getting to Ghent is easy from any direction, particularly if you are making your way here from any of the surrounding cities; Paris is just three hours away, it’s the perfect day trip from Brussels and Bruges is also less than an hour away.

Other European capitals are a short flight or a scenic train ride away.

I travelled by train from Paris where you can find several options for a fast or slower ride, stops along the way, or a direct ticket; either way, it will take about two to three hours and about 100 euros or less.

You can fly directly into one of two airports accessible from Ghent. Fly into the Brussels or Brussels-Charleroi Airports. From either airport, you can take a train or public transport easily into Ghent.

Renting a car or hiring transportation is easy enough as well, the major highways are friendly to navigate and take you directly into the city center and beyond. Bruges and Brussels are only a 45-minute drive away should you wish to take a day trip from Ghent.

Parking in Ghent is tricky. These are the paid parking stations in Ghent City. You’ll also find free parking at Park and Ride areas outside of Ghent city center.

Public transportation is most advisable in the city center and it is also very walkable and great for bikes too.

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Scooters are a popular form of transport in Ghent CBD | © Pat Bailey

City Pavilion by Robbrecht en Daem and Marie-José Van Hee. | © Pat Bailey

Stunning architecture in Ghent. | © Pat Bailey

Things to Do in Ghent Belgium

Ghent is a picturesque port city in northwest Belgium. It is a city that brings two rivers, the Leie and the Scheldt together.

Every bit of Ghent looks like something out of a coffee table book, with idyllic historical architecture, riverfront dining, and character-filled narrow cobbled streets, be sure to bring your camera with you.

Ghent has a pedestrianized centre and is predominately a college city. Because of this, you can find many activities that include touring via the river.

It is a walkable city with a centre hub for gathering, this means lots of walking and cycling.

Ghent is known for its quirks and arty vibe – you will find many hip coffee shops and boutiques, as well as great art and other cultural offerings.

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Quaint river houses in Ghent, Belgium. | © Pat Bailey

Cruise the River

You can find a river tour or cruise along the river in the centre of the CBD.

Seeing Ghent by water offers a beautiful perspective and the perfect way to spend the morning or afternoon. There are plenty of photo opportunities along the way.

Seeing Ghent from the water offers a unique and peaceful vantage point | © Pat Bailey

Explore Ghent on Foot

Be sure to pack your walking shoes when you visit Ghent. I chose to venture out each day without a map, the city is easily managed and intuitively designed to make finding your way effortless.

You will find many sweets along the way which make for guilt-free snacking while you walk.

I loved Hoogpoort where you can find Graffiti Street, an alley block filled with street art that changes daily as local artists add their marks here.

Visiting the Holy Food Market in Sint-Jacobs was a nice experience and a yummy spot for a snack and people-watching.

Local graffiti in Ghent Belgium. | © Pat Bailey

Locals lunching in a pretty alleyway outside the organic market in Ghent. | © Pat Bailey

Quirky design elements are everywhere you look in Ghent. | © Pat Bailey

Visit the Ghent Design Museum

I loved visiting the Design Museum, tucked into a side street near the center of town with an open-air courtyard joining the wings of the museum.

You won’t need much time for this museum and the exhibits include both historical design elements and very modern things too.

The Gravensteen castle dates back to 1180. | © Pat Bailey

Tour the Gravensteen

The centrepiece of Ghent is the Gravensteen, a 12^th Century castle that has been restored.

You can do a tour of the rooms inside but I opted for taking it in from the outside from various angles.

There are a few cafes nearby with castle views that are ideal for lunch or a sunset aperitif.

The Gravesteen castle from the river. | © Pat Bailey

Saint Nicholas Church in downtown Ghent. | © Pat Bailey

Visit St. Baafskathedraal Cathedral

If visiting cathedrals, abbeys and churches is your thing you’ll be happy to learn that there are many to see in Ghent.

One of the most commonly visited is St. Baafskathedraal.

This cathedral is home to the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, an incredibly famous painting worth a look at if you don’t mind waiting in a long line to see it.

It felt like seeing it reminded me of the first time I saw the Mona Lisa, I was more impressed with the story of the painting than actually seeing it. This church is grand, with incredible stained glass windows.

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Saint Michael’s Church on the water in Ghent. | © Pat Bailey

Ghent Accommodation

There is a broad range of Ghent accommodation on offer from hostels to luxury hotels. We chose a beautiful boutique hotel that felt like a welcoming designer home.

The Hide

The Hide Story

The Hide is a seven-room speakeasy-esque boutique hotel that is the heart project of Barbara Symons. She has a long lineage in Ghent.

Barbara is not only the owner and passion behind The Hide, but a local expert that you can count on during your stay to guide you in the ways of the most authentic experiences there.

You won’t find a detailed story about The Hide anywhere and this is intentional.

This calculated omission is part of the mystique of the hotel, and it is the beginning of an invitation to create your own story about the space, the experience, and your stay there.

Minimalist design notes and plenty of interior inspiration at The Hide Gent. | © Pat Bailey

The Penthouse Suite at The Hide in Ghent is a designer home-away-from-home. | © Pat Bailey

A Home Away from Home

The façade of The Hide could easily be missed, the hotel is not begging for attention, rather it slips into its urban surroundings and literally hides on a busy street in the heart of Ghent.

I loved this. Hiding at The Hide is a beautiful blend of being seen and in the know while fading away to a private space where you can just be, quietly…watching or participating.

When you book your stay, you are given a personal code with instructions for arriving and gaining access to your room, I felt like a Bond Girl on a mission and this definitely added to the intrigue and anticipation for me.

The Hide Penthouse Suite

My penthouse suite, the only one, was a spacious, modern, and intentionally designed space. A space with a voice, and a sassy, smart one at that. I found clever little notes left for me in various places.

The first one, on the door as a welcome said, “I don’t want to be presumptuous, but I got us a room.” I found little love notes left under towels, on the pillows in the bed, and even on the umbrella by the door.

These notes gave the space a clear personality and voice, and invited me into a whimsical, sexy, and intriguing story – this is the story of The Hide.

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Boutique at its best: The Hide Gent has everything you need for a comfortable stay. | © Pat Bailey

The penthouse suite welcomes you into an open living room space that is perfectly cozy for easy mornings in; this space shares an open kitchen and large dining room perfect for entertaining or sharing the space with friends or family.

The outside balcony can be found just beyond this space and it spans the top floor with plenty of room to lounge or sunbathe.

This balcony’s surprise is an earth-to-sky mirrored wall on the exterior of the building that brings its reflection up from the courtyard of the building and out into this balcony and beyond, it was an added bonus to watch the sunrise and set in this larger-than-life sky mirror. The design is smart and almost like living art.

This only adds to the modern whimsy of The Hide.

Each of the two rooms has an in-room bathtub and full shower with a beautiful attic window to the world outside.

The generous king-sized beds, with feather tops and pillows for days, are hard to leave each morning, and the darkness that falls on the space each night creates a cocoon shutting the bustle of the university town out.

A Community Feel

There are two permanent-ish residents of The Hide that you should make your acquaintance with while you are staying on the property.

They are the sheep who have been adopted by Barbara, who live in the garden at the back of the property.

You will likely hear them with faint and charming calls when they want attention or are saying good morning.

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Mirror fun at The Hide Gent. | © Pat Bailey

Dine-in or Out

You are on your own for each meal while staying at The Hide, and this is a good thing because I may have never known there were so many incredible things to do in Ghent, beyond the walls if meals were included with the stay.

The fully equipped kitchen has everything you need to shop at the local markets and make a stay-in meal which I did a few times during my stay.

Otherwise, there are beautiful dining options just a short walk from the hotel, and venturing out is what The Hide invites you to do.

Wolf Coffee shop in Ghent. One of the many hipster-style cafes in the city | © Pat Bailey

Best Places to Eat in Ghent

Try the Nose of Ghent

If you have a sweet tooth, beware. The sweets in Ghent are powerfully persuasive; you’ll be navigating your way through chocolate shops filled with Belgium chocolates, pastry and coffee shops, and candies and pancakes on every street corner.

I tried a little bit of everything, very happily, and learned about “The Nose of Ghent,” a special candy made in Ghent with the real name of Cuberdon. This cone-shaped Belgian candy has a firm outside and soft center and is super sweet and delicious.

You can find kiosks of this candy sprinkled around the city center, definitely worth a try.

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Green Way Restaurant in Ghent is a great find for vegetarians. | © Pat Bailey

Vegetarian Restaurants in Ghent

I found plenty of vegetarian options for dining in Ghent: Green Way has an incredible daily pasta dish and yummy veggie burgers.

Stek is the place where I enjoyed a delicious Acai bowl, Roots, Komkommertijd, De Warempel, and Lekker Gek are others on my list to try when I return again.

Go for French at Klaverblad

Find Patershol, a charming area of Ghent with narrow winding streets and hidden gems for shopping and eating.

Feast on brasserie cuisine at Klaverblad, one of the best restaurants in Ghent.

Coffee and Sweet Treats

For coffee lovers, Mokabon is an old-school coffee house with real Belgian coffee, Maison Elza is a great spot for afternoon coffee and a sweet treat.

I enjoyed breakfast at Julie’s House one morning, the owner of The Hide told me Julie’s was the best place for desserts.

The breakfast is delicious and abundant with a nice mix of traditional Belgian offerings and typical comfort foods. Be sure to grab a cupcake or slice of cake too and the sugar-free brownie is incredible.

I visited Gwenola upon a recommendation as well, this is the spot for traditional Belgian pancakes which are like French crepes. You can order sweet or savory pancakes and they are delicious.

Peek into the window of Aux Merveilleux de Fred and watch the chefs create these merveilleux with love and artistry. These meringue treats are decadent and worth a try. You can enjoy a coffee and snack inside or outside if the weather is nice enough.

Shopping in Ghent

There is plenty of shopping to do in Ghent, both small boutiques and major retail brands and you can easily find charming places to spend the day shopping all over the city.

My favorite streets for finding beautiful boutiques are Burgstraat, Jan Breydelstraat, Kraanlei, Goudbrug, Serpentstraat, and Nederkouter.

Because of the students, you can find a handful of vintage and second-hand shops which I found to be filled with great variety and bargains.

My favorite shopping in Ghent was at the markets in the city. You can shop at Vrijdagmarkt on Fridays, this market takes place in the square with a host of stalls offering everything from local handiwork to fresh fruits and vegetables and lots of things you might want to take back home with you.

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Staying Fit While in Ghent

It is easy to stay active in Ghent, most days are filled with walking and cycling while visiting because of the nature of the city and the plenty to explore by both modes of transportation.

Hot Yoga and Yoga-On-Call offer daily classes for all levels of students if you prefer yoga.

I spent one morning at Leander Personal Training facility training with Coach Davy, one of the personal trainers that make this spot their home away from home. Locals and visitors alike can enjoy personal and group training opportunities.

Skill classes (to master your squats, handstands, and strength essentials), boot camp, boxing, mobility classes, and even a program called “Girls Who Lift” are available for drop-ins anytime.

Day Trips From Ghent

Ghent is a great launching pad for day trips or extending your trip to various places. Paris takes 3 hours by fast train, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Bruges (people often make a comparison of Bruges vs Ghent), are even closer.

Making plans to visit all of these locations while planning your trip to Ghent is a great idea and the perfect way to maximize seeing many great locations within close proximity to each other.

I made my way from Ghent to Amsterdam after my visit, and then back from Amsterdam to Paris. It was remarkably easy to navigate.

Ghent is a sweet port city within easy reach of any major European city and a complete dream from the moment you arrive.

I loved the ease of it, the sweets, and the perfect hideaway for exploring and shutting it all out at the same time. I will definitely return.

The Fit Traveller was a guide of The Hide Gent for our stay in Ghent. As always, the opinions, words and images are authentically our own.

Pat Russo

Pat Russo is a Mystic, Muse, and Spiritual Teacher guiding women into their hearts with a journey of softening. She is a published poet, a lover of hearts, and a forever student.

Feeling the impossibility of choosing between her two favorite cities, she considers San Francisco and Paris home.