Ghent impressed me immediately.

First through quiet canals, then medieval towers peeking between narrow streets, and through unexpected moments, like handing over my shoe in exchange for a beer.

Yes, really!

I arrived in Ghent expecting something like Bruges. Maybe a smaller, less famous version. But it felt completely different.

More local. More alive. Less polished in the best possible way.

A city where medieval buildings somehow coexist with students sitting by the canal drinking beers, where castles rise in the middle of everyday life, and where wandering without a plan ends up being the best plan.

Actually, it ended up becoming one of my top 5 cities, which is something I definitely wasn’t expecting when I first arrived, lost and confused at the train station.

I arrived in Ghent at night, around 8 or 9 PM, after spending time in Bruges as part of my Belgium–Netherlands route.

The itinerary so far had already been packed: Bruges first, then Ghent, followed by Brussels, before the Netherlands — Utrecht, Amsterdam, Leiden, Haarlem, Zaanse Schans, and Giethoorn.

Getting to Ghent is incredibly easy by train. Belgium’s rail system makes moving between cities surprisingly smooth, and coming from Bruges took less than 30 minutes.

At least… the train part was easy. Getting to my Airbnb? Not so much.

In classic solo-travel fashion, I managed to take the wrong bus from the station and got completely lost. At some point, I accepted defeat and contacted my host, who turned out to be incredibly kind and actually rescued me.

Not exactly the glamorous arrival I imagined.

But honestly? Those chaotic moments somehow always become part of the story.

After finally checking in, I got cozy in my room and called it an early night. Tomorrow was full Ghent exploration mode.

Practical Tips for Visiting Ghent

If you’re planning a Ghent itinerary or even deciding between Bruges and Ghent, here are a few things that genuinely help:

• 🚆 Ghent is super easy to visit by train from Bruges or Brussels
• ⏱️ Bruges → Ghent: around 25–30 minutes
• ⏱️ Brussels → Ghent: around 35–40 minutes
• 🏰 Gravensteen Castle: around €12 entry
• 🌇 Stay at least one night if possible — Ghent at night is magical
• 🍺 Don’t miss De Dulle Griet (and yes… the shoe beer tradition is real)
• 📸 St. Michael’s Bridge has the best postcard view of the city
• 🌙 Graslei & Korenlei are even prettier after dark
• 👟 Ghent is very walkable — most highlights are close together

The next morning, I headed towards the city center.

And before even reaching the main attractions, Ghent started casually throwing medieval buildings at me.

The first thing I stumbled upon was the Rabot — a striking 15th-century gate that once formed part of the city’s defenses. It looks almost too cinematic to be real, like something lifted straight from a fantasy film.

From there, I walked along the canals toward one of Ghent’s biggest landmarks: Gravensteen.

And honestly? Seeing a medieval castle appear right in the middle of a city never gets old.

Gravensteen, also called the Castle of the Counts, dates back to the 12th century and feels surprisingly dramatic for a city-center attraction. Tickets were around €12, and while I’d say it’s not absolutely essential if you’ve already visited many castles in Europe… I personally loved it.

Inside, things get a little dark — medieval torture instruments, weapons, heavy stone corridors — but the panoramic views from the top are absolutely worth it.

Also, one of the most random details I weirdly loved? The medieval toilets hanging directly over the water!! History was… practical.

After the castle, I wandered toward Graslei and Korenlei — probably the prettiest riverside in Ghent.

Rows of medieval guild houses line the canal, reflections dance on the water, locals sit outside drinking beers, and somehow everything feels both lively and relaxed at the same time.

It’s one of those places where you accidentally sit longer than planned.

A few minutes away sits St. Michael’s Bridge, arguably the best viewpoint in the city.

This is the postcard shot!

From here, you can see Ghent’s famous “Three Towers” lined up in perfect perspective: St. Nicholas’ Church, the Belfry, and St. Bavo’s Cathedral.

The kind of view that makes you stop walking for a second.

Of course, I also climbed the Belfry.

Some parts involve stairs, some have a lift (thankfully), and once at the top, you get panoramic views over Ghent’s rooftops and canals. Keep an eye out for the dragon weathervane, the symbol of the city.

Not a bad reward for the climb.

Later, I stepped into St. Bavo’s Cathedral, home to one of the most famous artworks in the world: The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb by Van Eyck. And wow. The cathedral itself is huge, but the altarpiece completely steals the attention. Intricate, massive, painted on both sides, the kind of artwork you end up staring at much longer than expected.

The Beer Story: Why I Gave Away My Shoe

By late afternoon, it was finally time for what became one of my favorite memories in Ghent.

De Dulle Griet.

A legendary pub known for having 500 Belgian beers, but more importantly, a very strange tradition.

If you order the famous Max beer, you have to give them your shoe as a deposit.

Not metaphorically.

Literally.

They place your shoe inside a basket and hoist it toward the ceiling until you finish your drink and return the giant beer glass.

Naturally… I had to do it.

And honestly? It was such a fun experience.

The beer was huge (1,2 L), strong, and surprisingly delicious. Maybe too delicious.

Because after that, I somehow found myself at dinner trying one of the best comfort meals of the trip.

At T’Klokhuys, I ordered Waterzooi, a traditional Flemish creamy stew made with meat. It was warm, rich, comforting… basically heaven in a bowl.

Especially after a giant Belgian beer.

Unexpectedly Loving Ghent’s Nightlife

Here’s the thing:

I loved De Dulle Griet so much…

I went back.

And that’s where solo travel did what solo travel does best.

I ended up meeting both locals and other travelers, and somehow we spent hours talking about travel stories, destinations, random life experiences, and exchanging tips.

The kind of spontaneous night you never plan but somehow remember the most.

Nighttime Ghent Feels Like a Fairytale

On my way back to the Airbnb, I crossed St. Michael’s Bridge again and walked past Graslei and Korenlei.

And honestly?

Ghent at night might be even prettier than during the day.

The canals glowing under soft lights. Medieval houses reflecting in the water. Bridges lit up like movie sets.

Everything looked unreal.

Like walking through a painting.

Or maybe a fairytale that accidentally forgot to modernize.

Ghent surprised me in ways I didn’t expect.

A medieval castle in the middle of daily life. A city where students sit beside centuries-old buildings like it’s the most normal thing in the world. A bar that temporarily takes your shoe hostage. And canals that somehow feel even more magical at night.

I expected to like Ghent. I didn’t expect it to become one of my top 5 favorite cities I’ve ever visited.

But here we are.

Sometimes the places you almost underestimate end up staying with you the longest.

Ghent reminded me that sometimes the cities you expect the least from end up surprising you the most.

A wrong bus somehow becomes part of the story. A medieval castle appears casually in the middle of the city. A pub asks for your shoe as a beer deposit, and somehow, it completely makes sense in the moment.

This city felt different.

Less polished than Bruges. Less overwhelming than bigger cities. More lived in. More local. The kind of place where students drink by centuries-old canals, where towers quietly dominate the skyline, and where simply wandering becomes the best thing you can do.

And sometimes, the best moments are the unexpected ones, getting lost on your first night, ending up talking for hours with strangers in a legendary beer pub, or crossing St. Michael’s Bridge after dark and realizing the city somehow looks even more magical at night.

I expected to enjoy Ghent.

I didn’t expect it to become one of my top 5 favorite cities I’ve ever visited.

But somehow, it did.