Ghent Weekend: A Castle, Canal Walks and Flemish Art

Destination: Gent, BelgiumCreated by: Moo_The_TrotterLast updated: 2nd October 2026
Ghent is a good fit for travellers who want medieval sights alongside a lived-in city. This weekend pairs the castle and canals with the Ghent Altarpiece, neighbourhood cafés and a Belgian beer stop.
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Saturday — Gent
Image of Castle of the Counts

Castle of the Counts

Castle
Start Saturday inside Gravensteen for the castle rooms, ramparts and audio tour. The stone fortress sits in the centre, so you can walk straight into Patershol afterwards. Book a morning admission to keep the afternoon free for the neighbourhoods.
Image of Patershol

Patershol

Monument
Walk the narrow lanes around Kraanlei and Oudburg after the castle. This is a neighbourhood stop with restaurants and small streets, not a single monument to enter. Pick a lunch table here before continuing to Vrijdagmarkt.
Image of Vrijdagmarkt

Vrijdagmarkt

Public Plaza
Head to the square for its guild-house façades and statue of Jacob van Artevelde. Follow the side streets towards the Lys and the old harbour for the rest of the afternoon; the square’s cafés also make a straightforward lunch stop.

Dulle Griet

Bar, Beer Bar
Finish Saturday with a Belgian beer at this pub on Vrijdagmarkt. It has a large beer list; the oversized house beer comes with the famous shoe-deposit ritual, but a normal glass works just as well. This pin is the pub, not the nearby cannon of the same name.
Sunday — Gent
Image of Saint Bavo Cathedral

Saint Bavo Cathedral

Place of Worship, History Landmark
Begin Sunday with the cathedral and the Ghent Altarpiece, the Van Eyck brothers’ detailed painted panels. The cathedral visit and the ticketed altarpiece experience are different; book the altarpiece slot for late morning or early afternoon on Sunday.
Image of Belfry of Ghent

Belfry of Ghent

Monument
Walk across Sint-Baafsplein to the belfry for a view over the three central towers. Afterwards, continue to Saint Michael’s Bridge and along both Graslei and Korenlei for the canal-side guild houses. Finish with lunch or a drink by the old harbour.