Hi all,
We will be in Brussels for two nights in April 2026. We will have a full day in Brussels on a river cruise. So, for the two days before the cruise starts (which is pretty much one full day in Brussels), what are thoughts on a day trip to Ghent? Looks like it's about a 40 minute train ride. We have already seen Bruges. I don't know anything about Ghent.
Would a 1/2 day in Ghent work? OR what are thoughts on sites for a full day in Brussels?
Thoughts?
Thanks so much!
Hi, Marie—I love Ghent! So there's my answer. :-) You can never go wrong going there. It's a lovely and wonderful place; very walkable, with good restaurants and lots of charm. I spent 3 nights there and really enjoyed it.
I love Ghent! So charming!
Great, thank you. So does the train from Brussels stop right in the center of Ghent so we can walk from there? What do you like to see in Ghent?
You'll want to take a taxi. As you walk out of the station there's a taxi stand down to the left at the bottom of the parking structure. The canal cruise is lovely. The Ghent Altarpiece is a must. The castle is interesting; the audio is silly but you can turn it off. The textile museum was good, but you won't really have time with a half day visit. (I'd give yourself as much time as possible!) Stop in at In Choc Gent for chocolate or something tasty. I loved just walking around taking it in. A lot of good energy.
I found Ghent to be more interesting than Bruges. If you like art, then the Van Eyck altarpiece at St Bavo's Cathedral is a must-see.
Ghent is our favorite city in Belgium. It is so much fun to be there. There is always something going on,especially on the weekends.
Note that the Ghent Altarpiece (as in Monuments Men ... ) requires advance booking. Even in April, it might be wise to book. Note that you could also visit Antwerp, Mechelen, or Leuven from Brussels.
Ghent has two train stations. There has been construction at one of them, but I don't know the current status of it. Here's an old discussion of that:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/belgium/ghent-sint-pieters
I have walked, but there is also a public bus to the historic center. I believe Brussels is the only city whose bus cards do not work in the other area cities. I found the Castle of the Counts overrated for anyone over 12.
See more links in this nearby discussion:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/belgium/advice-on-belgium-amsterdam-trip
The transport tickets from Wallonia (the southern part of Belgium) and Brussels do not work on Flanders public transport with some exceptions in the Brussels zone. If you want to buy tickets for Flanders either you use the app or there is a De Lijnwinkel (De Lijn is the name of the Flemish transport company) at Ghent station.
Lavandula
Ghent is an easy 40-min IC train ride from the Brussels-Central. In fact, the trains run every 15 min and cost about €7-11 one-way. From Ghent-Sint-Pieters, take the tram 1 which reaches the medieval center in around 10 min.
In 4-6 hours you can: admire Van Eyck’s “Adoration of the Mystic Lamb” in St Bavo’s Cathedral (tickets booking advised). Later, you can climb the Belfry followed by a tour of the 12th-century Gravensteen Castle. Afterwards, linger at the Graslei’s canal cafés. Brussels still offers a dense museum/art-nouveau experience, but if you want a compact, less-touristy medieval vibe before your cruise, Ghent is worth the half-day trip.
