Hello all - would love your sage advice on this. I am spending two nights in Bruges and taking a private transfer to Amsterdam but wanted to stop along the way in Ghent for a few hours. Essentially just walking around, some shopping, taking in the sights, etc. How many hours do you think works for a short stay like this? I was thinking three hours.
Thanks!
Lisa
Would you consider these suggestions and allow time?
I would recommend taking the Virtual Reality tour of the Altar piece of the Mystic Lamb at the Cathedral. It's a well done one-hour tour, and you need to book timed tickets in advance. This is one of the pieces recovered and featured in the Monuments Men movie.
And/or-
We also took a walking tour with Charlie's Chocolate tours. It was a great tour of the city, and the chocolate tasting was fun. So we learned about the city, saw the sites, and experienced incredible chocolate.
Just two ideas.
In any case, enjoy Ghent!
The historic center can be seen in 3 hours if you just want to walk around.
Thank you both for your tips and advice. I think three hours sounds like the right amount of time. Thanks!
I'd definitely go into St Bravo's Cathedral to see the Ghent Altarpiece; it's on the square and Ghent is a lovely place to stroll around including past the castle. The canal cruise is lovely, but I'd save it for Bruges since your time is limited in Ghent.
Enjoy! I really found Ghent to be very charming!
I did a day trip from Brugge to Ghent. If you have a driver that will be a plus, because St Bavos Cathedral is a long walk from the train station stops. I thought the cathedral was fabulous, but was surprised the altar piece was much smaller than what I had in my mind. The stain glass in the cathedral was beautiful. There is a large fort/castle with a mote. I enjoyed just meandering some back streets and ducking into small shops.
there are convenient trams directly between both train stations in Ghent and the central part of the city just near the cathedral and chocolate shop.
@lsantoro2 - Did you take your trip yet? What did you do in Bruges and Ghent, and how do you recommend splitting the time?
Would you consider these suggestions and allow time? I would recommend
taking the Virtual Reality tour of the Altar piece of the Mystic Lamb
at the Cathedral. It's a well done one-hour tour, and you need to book
timed tickets in advance.
I know this is an older thread and the OP might have already taken their trip, but I want to second the motion for the Altarpiece. I am not usually into art history all that much, but I have to say that this one blew me away. It was one of the most stunning pieces of ecclesiastical art I've ever seen. And the cathedral is breathtakingly beautiful inside (although the outside is a little plain as cathedrals go, so don't judge the book by its cover.)
Ghent was a spur of the moment trip for us (we "backpacked" overnight from France) and I absolutely loved it. And we saw a good bit in just a day and a half, although I hope to go back again.
