Belgium
Ghent
University city with medieval quays; 2 nights. This guide pulls together 5 sights, 2 activities and 2 places to eat from our curated routes.
- Places
- 10
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Apr – Jun, Sep
- Warmest month
- July
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- August
5 See · 2 Do · 2 Eat · 1 Drink
Amsterdam to Bruges by Rail
from our route notes
23°C / 74°F avg high
6°C / 42°F avg high
about 81 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Ghent
10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
The landmarks we would not skip in Ghent across Centrum and Citadelpark.
Photo: huaiyu cai · GoogleSeeSt Bavo's Cathedral
Home of the van Eyck brothers' Ghent Altarpiece.
Tip Book the Ghent Altarpiece visit ahead.
Photo: lubomir cehelsky · Google
Photo: Pascal Brachais · GoogleSeeGraslei and Korenlei
Medieval guildhouses facing each other across the Leie river.
Tip Best at night from St Michael's Bridge.
Photo: Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer) · CC BY 4.0
Photo: Museum voor Schone Kunsten (MSK) · Google
Do
Hands-on ways to spend time in Ghent across Centrum and Patershol.
Photo: De Bootjes Van Gent - Rederij Dewaele · Google
Photo: Solène Houzé · Google
Eat
2 places to eat across Patershol and Centrum, picked for groups who care about the food.
Photo: Κωνσταντίνος Σωτηρόπουλος · GoogleEatAmadeus
All-you-can-eat spare ribs in a candlelit old house by the Plotersgracht; a long-running Ghent standby.
Tip Book for dinner; it fills fast on weekends.
Photo: Pakhuis · Google
Drink
1 bar or café in Centrum for coffee, a round or a nightcap.
Photo: Gentse Gruut Brouwerij · Google
How to fit Ghent into a trip
Ghent is stop 3 of 4 on our Amsterdam to Bruges by Rail route. Follow it as-is or lift Ghent into your own plan.
Stop 3 of 4
Amsterdam to Bruges by Rail
Canals, Flemish art and Belgian beer
- Trip length
- 8 days
- Best season
- Apr – Jun, Sep
- Pace
- easy
Getting here and onward
- Ghent to BrugesBruges is about 38 km / 24 mi away in a straight line
- Brussels to GhentBrussels is about 50 km / 31 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Ghent month by month
Average daily highs run from 6°C / 42°F in January to 23°C / 74°F in July. August is the wettest month, with about 81 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan6° / 42°F average high
- Feb7° / 44°F average high
- Mar10° / 51°F average high
- Apr15° / 58°F average high, in our recommended season
- May18° / 65°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jun21° / 71°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jul23° / 74°F average high
- Aug23° / 73°F average high
- Sep20° / 67°F average high, in our recommended season
- Oct15° / 59°F average high
- Nov10° / 50°F average high
- Dec6° / 43°F average high
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Ghent weather and the best time to visit →
Near Ghent
8 other destinations from our guides within about 300 km (186 mi), measured in a straight line.
Ghent questions, answered
How many days do you need in Ghent?
Our route notes suggest 2 nights in Ghent. On our Amsterdam to Bruges by Rail route it is stop 3 of 4 in a 8-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 11 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Ghent best known for?
University city with medieval quays; 2 nights. Standouts on our list: St Bavo's Cathedral (Home of the van Eyck brothers' Ghent Altarpiece); Gravensteen (12th-century castle of the Counts of Flanders in the city center); Graslei and Korenlei (Medieval guildhouses facing each other across the Leie river).
When is the best time to visit Ghent?
Our Amsterdam to Bruges by Rail route is best Apr – Jun, Sep. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (23°C / 74°F), the coolest in January (6°C / 42°F) and the most rain in August (about 81 mm).
What are the best things to do in Ghent?
Start with St Bavo's Cathedral, Gravensteen, Graslei and Korenlei, Belfry of Ghent and Ghent canal boat tour. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 5 sights, 2 activities, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café.
Where should a group eat in Ghent?
Our picks: Amadeus (Patershol); Pakhuis (Centrum). Book for dinner; it fills fast on weekends (Amadeus).
What is near Ghent?
The closest destinations in our guides are Bruges (about 38 km / 24 mi), Brussels (about 50 km / 31 mi) and Amsterdam (about 167 km / 104 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Ghent with your crew
Open the Amsterdam to Bruges by Rail route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.