Sept 2024

Another solo trip! I took a Eurostar train from Amsterdam Centraal Station to Antwerp, Belgium. Then, bought a ticket from Antwerp to Ghent, Belgium. I think you only need 1 day to see majority of Ghent. I have listed the places of things to see and do, and places to eat in alphabetical order. I also added some photos & information below the list that I have experienced.

Where did I stay?
I stayed at B&B Hotel Gent Centrum in the center of downtown and it was the perfect location in my open! It was not noisy at all and it was VERY close to all the major sightseeings and a 5 minute walk to the metro. The hotel itself was safe, private, and quiet. I loved the lobby, it was aesthically pleasing. The hotel also has breakfast if you want to pay extra for that – I didn’t. There are a bunch of restaurants and shops around the hotel too. I would definitely stay here again if I ever come back to Ghent.

How to get around
Walking and metro! I thought Ghent was a pretty small city…or maybe because I stayed in central/downtown Ghent so everything was near me, so it’s pretty walkable! You can also use the metro to get around as well.

How was the weather?
I went here in early September and it was HOT.

What’s the currency?
Euros! Majority, if not, all of the places I went to took card, but it does not hurt to have about 20 euros in cash, just incase for the souvenir shops, etc.

Things to Do/See
Books & Booze Gift shop
Ghent Belfry Tower
Ghent’s Graffiti Street
Gravensteen castle
Korenmarkt
Korenlei Viewspot
St. Michael’s Bridge

Things to eat
Frites Atelier

Things to Do/See
Books & Booze Gift Shop
This place is only open a few days a week, so make sure to check the schedule online. This shop was sooo unique! There are a ton of different books with different alcohol that “goes” with the book/theme of the story. I met the owner and he was so friendly! Towards the closing time of the shop, I think people can purchase some drinks and hang out in the front of the store.

Ghent Belfry Tower
One of the three medival towers in Ghent. I did not go inside, but I admire it from the outside. Something random is that, there is a big shade area outside of the tower, and there is a piano there. People played it and it was so lovely and calming.

Ghent’s Graffiti Street
This will take about less than 5 minutes to walk through (or more, if you want to look deeply at the artwork). When I walked through, there was someone doing graffiti there – it was pretty cool to see! I loved the Pokemon art there.

Gravensteen castle
A medival castle in Ghent! I did not go inside but you can also see it from the outside as well. There is a grass area and you can sunbathe and/or kayak out there! The castle sits on ground but also on water area. The castle is a lot smaller in person haha

Korenmarkt
Korenmarkt is a historic center filled with tons of shops and restaurants! It’s a lively area!

Korenlei Viewspot
This was my favorite spot in Ghent! You can sit along the water and just people watch! I had some fries here and enjoyed watching the people hang out, on the canal tour, etc. The buildings were beautiful and the sunset was lovely. Also, I was here at night as well and it felt so safe. The buildings looked like Harry Potter at night.

St. Michael’s Bridge
The bridge that oversees the Korenlei view and you can also see the tower from there too. This place is a nice spot for a photoshoot.

Things to Eat
Frites Atelier
The fries were HOT here, it was super fresh so becareful before you burn your tongue! You order and pay ahead of time, then they give you a buzzer. If you want some sauces, it costs extra – they’ll give you white paper cups for you to get your sauces and some sauces are behind the counter and they’ll give it to you with your order. I got fries and the classic sauce, piiccalilli sauce (that was really good!), and the truffle sauce. You can sit inside or outside – I sat outside since it was so hot indoors and felt like there was no air circulation. To be honest, it wasn’t the best fries I had in Europe haha. I had better fries in Amsterdam and Bruges!

Overall, Ghent is a small city…maybe because I stayed in central downtown. I don’t think I would go back here just because I seen everything I wanted to see. It was a nice quick stop in Belgium. Next is Bruges – which I absolutely adore and would go back to Bruges.

As always, thank you for visiting Vivian’s Ventures. Have you been to the Ghent? If so, tell me in the comments/reply section about your experience. What should I do when I go back? If you haven’t been, tell me what you are planning to do there. Any questions or comments, let me know. Let’s chat! #viviansventures