Ghent EastFlanders
5
Day Itinerary •
Belgium
Five days in Ghent and East Flanders gives you the full extraordinary depth of the finest unsung city in northern Europe, from the remarkable Graslei medieval waterfront and the extraordinary Ghent Altarpiece to the remarkable Antwerp day trip with Rubens and the diamond quarter, the fine Kortrijk Beguinage and the extraordinary Latem school Leie valley landscape. This extended route covers Ghent and East Flanders completely. Graslei, Gravensteen and the Altarpiece on Day 1, STAM and the three-tower skyline on Day 2, Oudenaarde and Flemish Ardennes cycling landscape on Day 3, the extraordinary Antwerp day trip on Day 4, and the remarkable Kortrijk Beguinage and Leie valley art landscape on Day 5.
Best Time To Visit
April to October, Ghent Light Festival every 3 years extraordinary
Getting There
Brussels to Ghent 30 min, Bruges to Ghent 30 min by train
Getting Around
Walking in Ghent, train for Antwerp and Oudenaarde, car for Leie valley
Budget Per Day
Approx 75 to 180 EUR per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, flat city and countryside
DAY 1
GRASLEI
MORNING
GRASLEI AND KORENLEI MEDIEVAL WATERFRONT
The most extraordinary medieval guild-house waterfront in the Low Countries, where the remarkable Graslei quayside presents five consecutive Romanesque and Gothic Flemish guild facades simultaneously from across the Leie River. The remarkable Romanesque Grain Weighing House from around 1200 is the oldest building on the Graslei and one of the finest Romanesque commercial buildings in Belgium. The extraordinary early morning light on the remarkable water reflections is the finest view in Ghent. 10 min walk
MIDDAY
GRAVENSTEEN CASTLE
The most extraordinary medieval castle still standing within a living European city, the remarkable Gravensteen Count's Castle from 1180 rising directly from the Ghent canal network surrounded by water on three sides. The fine interior preserves the remarkable medieval torture chamber, the extraordinary battlements with the finest rooftop view over the Ghent canal system and the outstanding collection of medieval weapons. Entry approx 14 EUR. 15 min walk
AFTERNOON
ST BAVO CATHEDRAL AND GHENT ALTARPIECE
The extraordinary Ghent Altarpiece by Jan and Hubert van Eyck from 1432, the most remarkable single work of art in Belgium and the most stolen artwork in history with 13 recorded thefts. The fine polyptych of 12 extraordinary panels was recently restored and displayed in a new accessible viewer format that allows the remarkable details to be seen clearly for the first time. The extraordinary Cathedral of St Bavo is itself the finest Gothic church in East Flanders. Entry approx 6 EUR.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Patershol quarter behind the Gravensteen, the finest hidden neighbourhood in Ghent, a remarkable 17th-century tangle of narrow cobblestone streets entirely surrounded by the modern city with the finest collection of independent restaurants in Belgium in an extraordinary medieval village atmosphere. The remarkable evening atmosphere in the Patershol with the candlelit terraces and the fine cobblestone lanes is unlike any neighbourhood in Belgium.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Greenway Coffee, Ghent Outstanding specialty coffee and fine Belgian pastries near the Graslei. Perfect before the morning waterfront. | Lunch: De Vitrine, Ghent Outstanding traditional Ghent restaurant near the Gravensteen. Extraordinary waterzooi chicken stew. | Dinner: Pakhuis, Ghent The finest brasserie in Ghent in an extraordinary converted 1900 warehouse. Fine Ghent beef and remarkable beer.
DAY 2
CULTURE
MORNING
STAM GHENT CITY MUSEUM
The extraordinary STAM Ghent city museum in the remarkable Bijloke Abbey complex, a fine medieval hospital complex with extraordinary 14th-century frescoes still visible in the remarkable cloister, telling the outstanding story of Ghent from its foundation by Count Baldwin Iron Arm in 867 to the present. The extraordinary Ghent city scale model is the finest single exhibit. Entry approx 12 EUR. 20 min walk
MIDDAY
ST NICHOLAS CHURCH AND BELFRY
The extraordinary three-tower Ghent skyline visible from the Graslei, where the remarkable St Nicholas Church from the 13th century, the fine 14th-century Belfry and the outstanding St Bavo Cathedral create the finest three-tower Gothic skyline in the Low Countries. The extraordinary Ghent Belfry houses the remarkable Dragon weathervane, the symbol of the city, and the fine carillon. The extraordinary Belfry climb gives the finest view over the remarkable medieval Ghent roofscape. Entry approx 12 EUR. 20 min walk
AFTERNOON
DESIGN MUSEUM GHENT AND VRIJDAGSMARKT
The extraordinary Design Museum Ghent in the fine 17th-century Hotel de Coninck, housing the remarkable collection of Belgian and international decorative arts and design from the 15th century to the present. The extraordinary Art Nouveau room is the finest single design display in Belgium. Then the remarkable Vrijdagsmarkt Friday Market square, the finest historic square in Ghent, site of the extraordinary 1539 Charles V pardon of the Ghent revolt.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Graaf van Egmont underground passage connecting the Gravensteen castle cellars to a remarkable medieval escape tunnel discovered during 20th-century restoration is the finest hidden historical curiosity in Ghent. Tours by prior arrangement. The remarkable medieval defensive engineering is extraordinary.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Eller Coffee, Ghent Outstanding specialty coffee in the fine Ghent student district before the STAM museum. | Lunch: Groot Vleeshuis, Ghent Outstanding traditional Ghent lunch in the extraordinary 15th-century Covered Meat Hall. Fine East Flemish specialties. | Dinner: Vrijmoed, Ghent The finest modern restaurant in Ghent. Extraordinary two-Michelin-star Belgian cuisine. Book ahead.
DAY 3
EAST FLANDERS
MORNING
GHENT LIGHT FESTIVAL WALK AND CANAL MORNING
The extraordinary Ghent canal system explored on foot from the remarkable Coupure to the fine Portus Ganda harbour, the finest canal walk in Belgium away from the central tourist routes. The remarkable view of the Ghent skyline from the extraordinary Coupure canal promenade, with the fine Gothic towers in the middle distance reflected in the long straight canal, is the finest single canal view in the city. 20 min walk
MIDDAY
GENT-WEVELGEM AND EAST FLANDERS CYCLING CULTURE
The extraordinary cycling culture of East Flanders, the heartland of Belgian classics cycling, where the remarkable cobblestone roads of the Flemish Ardennes have produced the finest cycling races in the world including the extraordinary Tour of Flanders and Gent-Wevelgem. The fine Centrum Ronde van Vlaanderen in Oudenaarde 30km south is the finest cycling museum in Belgium, housed in the remarkable Stadhuis of Oudenaarde. 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
OUDENAARDE AND FLEMISH ARDENNES
The extraordinary Oudenaarde, the finest small city in East Flanders, with the remarkable Stadhuis from 1526 housing the finest collection of Oudenaarde tapestries and the outstanding Groeningemuseum annex. The extraordinary Flemish Ardennes hills surrounding Oudenaarde, the remarkable Koppenberg and the fine Paterberg cobbled climbs of the Tour of Flanders are the finest cycling landscapes in Belgium. The remarkable Waal and Leie confluence near Oudenaarde is extraordinary.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Ooidonk Castle 10km south of Ghent in the remarkable Leie valley, a fine 16th-century moated Renaissance castle set in extraordinary formal gardens that has remained in the same noble family for 400 years, is the finest castle accessible from Ghent. Open to the public on Sunday afternoons April to September. Entry approx 9 EUR. The remarkable riverside setting is extraordinary.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast before canal walk Good breakfast before the morning Coupure canal walk. | Lunch: Oudenaarde sod brasserie Outstanding traditional lunch in the remarkable Oudenaarde market town. Fine East Flemish cuisine. | Dinner: Brasserie 't Molentje, Ghent Outstanding traditional Ghent farewell dinner. Fine waterzooi and the extraordinary Ghent mustard.
DAY 4
ANTWERP DAY TRIP
MORNING
ANTWERP DAY TRIP
The extraordinary Antwerp from Ghent, just 50 minutes by train, for the remarkable Cathedral of Our Lady with the finest Rubens altarpieces in existence, the extraordinary Grote Markt with its fine Renaissance guild houses, the outstanding Rubenshuis artist house museum and the remarkable diamond quarter. The fine Museum aan de Stroom on the Antwerp waterfront is the finest modern museum building in Belgium. 50 min train back
MIDDAY
RUBENS HOUSE MUSEUM
The extraordinary Rubenshuis, the remarkable house and studio of Peter Paul Rubens in Antwerp, with the finest 17th-century Baroque domestic interior in the Low Countries. The remarkable collection of paintings in his own house, the outstanding Italian garden and the fine studio where the extraordinary master produced over 1,500 paintings are the finest artist-house experience in Belgium. Entry approx 14 EUR. 50 min train back
AFTERNOON
GHENT PATERSHOL EVENING
The extraordinary Patershol neighbourhood behind the Gravensteen, the finest restaurant and nightlife quarter in Ghent, a remarkable 17th-century cobblestone tangle of narrow lanes housing the finest concentration of independent Belgian restaurants outside Brussels. The remarkable evening atmosphere with candlelit terraces and fine Ghent jenever gin bars is the finest evening experience in the city.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary MAS Museum aan de Stroom on the Antwerp waterfront, a remarkable 60-metre stacked box building with fine 360-degree panoramic roof access over the extraordinary Scheldt river, is the finest modern museum building in Belgium. The remarkable collection of navigation, ethnography and city history spans 500,000 extraordinary objects. Entry approx 12 EUR.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast before Antwerp Good breakfast before the Antwerp train. Cathedral opens at 10am. | Lunch: Antwerp Grote Markt restaurant Outstanding traditional Antwerp lunch. Fine Antwerp hands salad and remarkable Bolleke De Koninck beer. | Dinner: Patershol restaurant, Ghent Outstanding East Flemish dinner in the extraordinary Patershol. Book ahead at Karel de Stoute or De Eetkar.
DAY 5
LEIE VALLEY
MORNING
KORTRIJK AND THE BEGUINAGE
The extraordinary Kortrijk, the finest overlooked city in West Flanders 60km southwest of Ghent, with the remarkable 14th-century Broeltowers, the extraordinary St Martin's Cathedral and the outstanding Begijnhof, the finest Beguinage in Belgium with an extraordinary series of 17th-century whitewashed houses around a remarkable walled garden. The fine Flax Museum tells the extraordinary story of the Kortrijk linen industry that made West Flanders wealthy in the Middle Ages. 1 hour drive
MIDDAY
DEINZE AND LEIE VALLEY
The extraordinary Leie River valley between Ghent and Kortrijk, the Flemish Lys, where the remarkable atmospheric riverine landscape of willows, fine poplar-lined banks and the extraordinary Latem school landscape paintings influenced the finest Belgian Expressionist artists from Gustave de Smet to Constant Permeke in the early 20th century. The fine Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens in Deinze holds the outstanding collection of Latem school art. 40 min drive
AFTERNOON
GHENT FAREWELL AND COUPURE CANAL
A final extraordinary afternoon in Ghent exploring the remarkable Coupure canal promenade, the finest and quietest canal walk in the city, with the outstanding three-tower skyline reflected in the long straight water. The fine Ter Platen neighbourhood and the extraordinary Bijloke music venue in the remarkable medieval abbey give the finest farewell to the most extraordinary unsung city in Belgium.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Ooidonk Castle 10km south of Ghent in the remarkable Leie valley, a fine 16th-century moated Renaissance castle set in extraordinary formal gardens that has remained in the same noble family for 400 years, is the finest castle accessible from Ghent. Open to the public on Sunday afternoons April to September. Entry approx 9 EUR. The remarkable riverside setting is extraordinary.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast Good breakfast before the Kortrijk drive. | Lunch: Deinze or Leie valley cafe Outstanding lunch in a fine Leie valley village. Fresh waterzooi and remarkable local Flemish food. | Dinner: Vrijmoed or De Vitrine, Ghent Outstanding farewell dinner in Ghent. Fine Belgian cuisine.
Where To Stay
Ghent Historic Centre The Ghent Marriott or Pillows Grand Boutique. Approx 120 to 280 EUR. Quiet Area Hotel Harmony or 1898 The Post. Approx 100 to 220 EUR per night. Budget Hostel 47 or Uppelink Hostel. Approx 25 to 65 EUR per night.
Top Tips
1. The Graslei at dawn before 8am is the finest sight in Ghent. Extraordinary light on the water reflections.
2. Book the Ghent Altarpiece timed entry online. Queues without booking exceed 45 minutes.
3. Vrijmoed requires booking well ahead. One of the finest tables in Belgium.
4. Gravensteen is finest on weekday mornings. Weekend summer queues are extraordinary.
5. Antwerp Cathedral closes for services Sunday morning. Plan the Rubens viewing accordingly.
6. The Patershol neighbourhood restaurants require booking. The finest dining concentration in Ghent.
Total Budget
65 to 410 EUR/day