Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts): Tickets & CityCard Gent Inclusion
45 - 75 min
Medieval Moated Castle
Built c. 1180 for Count Philip of Alsace
Sint-Veerleplein 11, 9000 Gent, Belgium
Planning to visit Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts)?
Compare ticket and city-pass options for this attraction.
Practical Visitor Info & Tips
€15.00
€7.50 (students 26 and under), €3 (ages 12-18), free under 12, €10.50 (Ghent resident)
Open daily; last ticket sales around 40 minutes before closing. Closed 24, 25, and 31 December and 1 January.
No advance booking required for individual visitors; online ticket purchase is available to skip the queue. Last ticket sales are 40 minutes before closing (around 4:40pm). CityCard Gent holders do not need to reserve a time slot. From 1 February 2026, Ghent residents enter free on the first Sunday of each month.
Entry to Belgium's only remaining medieval castle with an intact moat and defence system, built around 1180 for Count Philip of Alsace, including the included tablet-guided tour, dungeon and torture-instrument displays, and battlement walkway with panoramic views over central Ghent.
| Option | Price | Booking | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | €15 | On-site or online in advance | |
| Student (26 and under) | €7.50 | On-site, ID may be checked | |
| Child/teen (12-18) | €3 | On-site | |
| Child under 12 | Free | No ticket needed | |
| With CityCard Gent | Included | Confirmed free entry, no reservation required |
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Ticket Options
€15.00
Check whether a city pass already covers this attraction before buying separately.
See pass compatibility below ↓Overview & History
The Gravensteen, or Castle of the Counts, is Belgium's only remaining medieval castle with a moat and a largely intact defence system. Built around 1180 for Count Philip of Alsace on the model of the Crusader castles he had seen in the Holy Land, it later served as a courthouse, prison, and even a cotton mill before its 19th-century restoration. Today visitors follow a tablet-guided route through the keep, dungeon, and battlements, including a display of historic torture instruments and panoramic views over central Ghent's rooftops and towers from the ramparts.
What to See: Top Highlights
The Moat & Defence Walls
A complete circuit of moated curtain walls and towers — the only fully intact example of its kind left in Flanders.
The Instruments of Justice Collection
A preserved display of historic torture and execution instruments from the castle's long use as a courthouse and prison.
The Tablet-Guided Tour
Included with every ticket: choose a straightforward historical narration or a comedian-led version for a lighter take on the same 18 video stops.
Rooftop & Rampart Views
Walk the battlements for panoramic views over the Graslei, Korenlei, and Ghent's other towers.
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Location & Google Maps
Is the Gravensteen Included on CityCard Gent?
Compare Ghent PassesYes — confirmed free entry with CityCard Gent, with no time-slot reservation required. Children under 12 also enter free at any time regardless of any pass.
CityCard Gent
Included. Confirmed free entry with no time-slot reservation needed, directly stated on Visit Gent's own official Castle of the Counts page.
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SponsoredProvided by our commercial partner GetYourGuide — bookings made through this section may earn LocalExperiences a commission. See our Editorial Transparency page.
Frequently Asked Questions
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