1, 2 & 3 Day Ghent Itineraries

1

Day 1: The Gravensteen & the Canal

Morning (10:00 - 11:15)

Gravensteen, Sint-Veerleplein 11, Gent, Belgium

Start at Belgium's only remaining moated medieval castle, following the included tablet-guided tour through the keep, dungeon, and battlements.

Tickets: €15 adult ticket at the gate or online in advance; confirmed free with CityCard Gent, no reservation needed.

Duration: ~45 - 75 min

Midday (11:45 - 12:30)

De Bootjes van Gent, Korenlei, Gent, Belgium

Walk to the green boat house on Korenlei for a 40-minute guided boat trip along the Leie and the Lieve canal past the Graslei's historic guild houses to the Rabot towers.

Tickets: €11 adult ticket at the boat house, no advance booking needed; confirmed free (one trip included) with CityCard Gent.

Duration: ~40 min

Travel: ~10 min walk from the Gravensteen

Route Map — Day 1

📍 Pinned landmarks on map:

1. Gravensteen 2. De Bootjes van Gent

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

• CityCard Gent covers both stops today for free — the Gravensteen and one boat tour — alongside unlimited De Lijn buses and trams.
• Arrive at the Gravensteen close to opening to beat tour groups through the castle's narrower stairways.
• Boat departures run seasonally rather than on a fixed year-round timetable — check the current schedule at the boat house on arrival.

2

Day 2: The Three Towers — St. Nicholas' Church & the Belfry

Open in Google Maps

Morning (09:30 - 10:00)

St. Nicholas' Church, Cataloniëstraat, Gent, Belgium

Begin at the Scheldt Gothic church overlooking the Korenmarkt, free to enter at any time, then admire the view back toward the Graslei quays.

Tickets: Free entry at any time, no ticket or pass needed; donations welcomed.

Duration: ~15 - 30 min

Late morning (10:15 - 11:15)

Belfry of Ghent, Sint-Baafsplein, Gent, Belgium

Walk to the UNESCO-listed Belfry and ride the elevator up past the treasury room toward the tower's gilded dragon weathervane and views over the medieval centre.

Tickets: €13 adult ticket at the box office or online in advance; confirmed free with CityCard Gent, no reservation needed. Last tickets sold at 5pm.

Duration: ~30 - 60 min

Travel: ~5 min walk from St. Nicholas' Church

Route Map — Day 2

📍 Pinned landmarks on map:

1. St. Nicholas' Church 2. Belfry of Ghent

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

• The Belfry is confirmed free with CityCard Gent — no time-slot reservation needed even at busy periods.
• St. Nicholas' Church needs no ticket or pass at all — it's simply always free.
• All three of Ghent's landmark towers (St. Nicholas' Church, the Belfry, and Saint Bavo's Cathedral tomorrow) stand within a few minutes' walk of each other.

3

Day 3: Saint Bavo's Cathedral & the Ghent Altarpiece

Open in Google Maps

Morning (09:30 - 11:00)

Saint Bavo's Cathedral, Sint-Baafsplein, Gent, Belgium

Visit the free Gothic nave and baroque high altar, then continue into the dedicated visitor centre to see the Ghent Altarpiece (the Mystic Lamb) by Jan and Hubert van Eyck.

Tickets: Cathedral entry is free, no ticket needed. The Ghent Altarpiece is a separate ticket from €12.50; CityCard Gent gives a confirmed €10 discount on this ticket, not free entry. The cathedral and the visitor centre keep different hours, so check both before visiting.

Duration: ~30 min (cathedral) plus 25 - 60 min (Ghent Altarpiece, tour-dependent)

Afternoon (11:30 onward)

Graslei, Gent, Belgium

Finish with a walk along the Graslei and Korenlei quays, Ghent's most photographed row of step-gabled guild houses, seen from the water on yesterday's boat tour and now on foot.

Tickets: Free to walk at any time; cafes and bars along the quay are pay-as-you-go.

Duration: As long as you like

Travel: ~10 min walk from Saint Bavo's Cathedral

Route Map — Day 3

📍 Pinned landmarks on map:

1. Saint Bavo's Cathedral 2. Graslei

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

• Book Ghent Altarpiece tickets online in advance in peak season, since the visitor centre's daily capacity is limited.
• CityCard Gent only discounts the Ghent Altarpiece by €10 — it doesn't include it for free, so budget for the remainder.
• The cathedral's own nave costs nothing beyond your time, regardless of whether you also see the Altarpiece.

Popular

By Country

All

Popular Passes

Popular

Museums

Guides

Best City Pass Guides

Methodology

1, 2 & 3 Day Ghent Itineraries

Day 1: The Gravensteen & the Canal

Gravensteen, Sint-Veerleplein 11, Gent, Belgium

De Bootjes van Gent, Korenlei, Gent, Belgium

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

Day 2: The Three Towers — St. Nicholas' Church & the Belfry

St. Nicholas' Church, Cataloniëstraat, Gent, Belgium

Belfry of Ghent, Sint-Baafsplein, Gent, Belgium

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

Day 3: Saint Bavo's Cathedral & the Ghent Altarpiece

Saint Bavo's Cathedral, Sint-Baafsplein, Gent, Belgium

Graslei, Gent, Belgium

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

Things to do in Ghent

Save Money with Ghent Passes