Day trip to Ghent from Brussels
Discover one of the most beautiful historic cities of Europe.
During this tour of Ghent from Brussels, your local guide will take you through the city to discover its history and legends. Free time after the visit will allow you to discover the city differently: visit the castle of the Counts of Flanders, tasting of the Ghent waterzooi, shopping.
From: 45,0€ TVA incluse
Sustainable tourism
Over 10 years of experience
Certificate of Excellence 2013-2019
Recommended by the Brussels Tourist Office
Day trip to Ghent from Brussels
Description:
Day trip to Ghent from Brussels
During your excursion to Ghent from Brussels, you will discover with our expert English-speaking guide one of the most cheerful cities in Belgium. Its many facets make Ghent one of the most interesting cities in our country. Both dynamic and young thanks to its university and its nightlife and its medieval character reflecting a rich past, it has everything to seduce young and old. Considered by many to be one of the most beautiful historic cities in Europe, there are magnificent buildings retracing this history as well as several UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the 95-metre-high Belfry whose construction was financed by the people of Ghent.
Let’s discover its narrow streets and imposing medieval buildings such as the castle of the Counts of Flanders (Gravensteen). On the program: only happiness and wonders!
The journey will be done comfortably by train so that we can start dreaming and be captivated long before the final destination thanks to wonderful landscapes. And, who knows, maybe we’ll be able to meet commuters and get to know them to learn more?
What are we waiting for? Let’s take a seat aboard this magnificent excursion to Ghent from Brussels…
Additional information
| Type of activity: | Day trip |
|---|---|
| When: | Several times a week |
| Time: | 9:30 am |
| Duration: | 9 hours |
| Language: | English |
| Meeting point: | The Grand-Place of Brussels in front of the City Hall. |
| Responsible tourism: | This activity respects the codes of responsible and sustainable tourism. |
Highlights:
- Discover one of the most beautiful historic cities in Europe as well as many ancient monuments such as the Castle of the Counts of Flanders (Gravensteen).
- Walk through the streets of Ghent and discover its cathedral, it is home to fabulous artistic treasures including the “Adoration of the Mystic Lamb” by the Van Eyck brothers.
- Dynamic tour alongside a passionate guide.
- Free time on site to wander, shop or visit the interior of a 12th century medieval castle (Gravensteen), one of the best preserved in the world. Possibility to discover the gastronomy and local customs (ex: exchange a shoe for a beer in the popular bar “De Dulle Griet”).
- Travel by train from the capital: more ecological and more comfortable than other means of transport.
Our guarantees:
- Responsible tourism: This activity respects the codes of responsible and sustainable tourism.
- We work in partnership with the Brussels Tourism Office.
- More than 10 years of experience.
- Certificate of Excellence since 2013.
- Professional guides (English-speaking).
- Quick and easy booking (free cancellation*).
Itinerary:
The excursion starts at the Grand-Place in Brussels.
We will then leave on foot to Brussels-Central Station with our guide. This 3-minute journey will allow us to reach the train.
The train journey to Ghent takes thirty minutes. This comfortable ride will allow us to admire the wonderful agricultural landscapes of Flanders and introduce us to their impressive palette of colours that change every season. Our local guide will take advantage of this moment to evoke the important moments in the history of Ghent and to communicate to us the important information and practical details about this day: the complete program of the places we will visit, free time, the time of return to Brussels…
Here we are in Ghent. Let the visit begin!
First, we will visit St. Bavo’s Cathedral (Sint-Baafskathedraal) and its museum. We will be able to admire the famous and imposing painting of the “Adoration of the Mystic Lamb”, completed in 1432 by the Van Eyck brothers.
From here we will head to the Belfry of Ghent (Belfort) and the Cloth Hall (Lakenhalle). On site we will be able to see the Town Hall and the Church of St. Nicholas (Sint-Niklaaskerk).
We will then walk to the old port and stop at the “Graslei” or “Korenlei”, i.e., “wharf with herbs and cereals”. This set of old houses in the port of Ghent is one of the most beautiful places in the city. We will also visit the fifteenth-century “meat hall” (Groot Vleeshuis) and continue our walk to the Friday market square (Vrijdagmarkt).
From there, our guide will take us to the “Patershol”. This medieval district and its typical alleys are now full of bars, restaurants and shops that make this district the “fashionable” place in Ghent.
Finally, the last stop of our tour will be at the Castle of the Counts of Flanders (Gravensteen), which is one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in Europe.
Finally, we will end our day trip to Ghent from Brussels with some free time. This will allow us to enjoy the city according to our convenience: visit the city freely, visit museums, taste the typical gastronomy such as the Ghent waterzooi or go shopping and buy souvenirs…
After that, we will meet our guide to take the train and return to Brussels. Our arrival is scheduled around 19:00.
Finally, if you want to stay in Ghent longer, our guide will give you all the necessary information to be able to return to Brussels on your own.
Program:
- St. Bavo’s Cathedral and its important works of art: the polyptych of the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, the Conversion of St. Bavo painted by Rubens, the Romanesque crypt and its murals, etc.
- The market square with its Belfry of Ghent and the covered market.
- The Stadhuis, an imposing hybrid style building (mix between Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque).
- The churches of St. Nicholas, St. Michael, and St. James.
- The Graslei, the old port of the city, and one of the most beautiful places in Ghent.
- The medieval castle Gravensteen.
- The Patershol, a picturesque district of the city with its charming facades.
- The Great Butcher’s Shop (GrootVleeshuis), a Gothic building dating from 1408.
- The Friday Market Square with its funny brick houses.
Practical information:
Price:
- Adults: 50€
- Children (12 to 25 years old): 48€
- Seniors (over 65 years old): 45€
- Children (under 12 years old): Free.
When:
- Several times a week.
Starting time:
- 9:30am
Duration:
- 9 hours.
Meeting point:
- The Grand-Place in Brussels, opposite the City Hall. You will recognize our guides by their white umbrella with the Bravo Discovery logo.
Language:
- English.
Included:
- Professional English-speaking guide, expert in the history and legends of Ghent.
- The return train ticket (faster, safer, more comfortable, greener and less walking).
Not included:
- Drinks or meals.
- Entrance fees to museums (optional).
- Entrance to see “The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb” (optional).
Terms of service:
Participation:
- To ensure your participation, we recommend booking your tour as soon as possible.
- The number of participants is limited.
- Without prior booking, our guides reserve the right to refuse participation in the tour depending on the availability.
- We kindly ask you to be at the meeting point 10 minutes prior to the scheduled starting time.
Booking:
- The reservation is free and without charge.
- You can book up to 2 hours before the beginning of the tour (please note that the number of participants is limited to 25 per group).
Cancellation:
- Up to 24 hours prior to the tour: 100% refund.
- Less than 24 hours prior to the tour: no refund.
Frequently asked questions:
Group size:
In order to guarantee a quality service, our tours are limited to 25 people.
When to book?
We advise you to book as soon as possible to ensure the availability of places for the desired visit.
You can book up to two hours before the start of the tour or arrive at the meeting point without reservation with our guides.
How to recognize our guides?
You will easily recognize our guides on the “Grand Place” thanks to their white umbrella with the Bravo Discovery logo and the mention “Walking Tour”.
Is the transport of the excursion to Ghent from Brussels included in the ticket price?
Yes, transportation is included in the ticket price. Bravo Discovery chose to offer us the train for this excursion because it is the most ecological means of transport, the fastest (we avoid traffic jams) and allows you to enjoy magnificent views along the way.
On weekdays, there are four trains per hour on weekdays that make the journey Brussels – Ghent
Is it possible to take a boat tour during our Ghent tour from Brussels from Brussels?
Yes, it is quite possible to take a boat tour, whether in Bruges or Ghent. Note
however, the price of tickets for cruises is not included in the price.
Which museums can we visit during our free time in Ghent?
Yes, it is quite possible to visit museums in Antwerp during your free time, for example you can visit:
- The castle of the Counts of Flanders,
- The Museum of Fine Arts,
- The STAM: Museum of the city of Ghent,
- The House of Alijn,
- The Doctor Ghislain Museum,
- SMAAK: Museum of Modern Art,
- Bavo’s Cathedral and the Mystic Lamb,
- Huis Arnold Vander Haeghen,
- UGent Observatory Armand Pien.
Information about St. Bavo’s Cathedral:
Open Monday to Saturday, from 8:30 to 18:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00. Please note that admission to the museum is at your own expense.
How to book your place to see the Mystic Lamb?
To do this, you can contact this URL: See the Mystic Lamb and select “book online”.
What is the best way to get to Ghent from Brussels?
The best way to get to Ghent is by train: it’s ecological, fast, and very
comfortable. It also allows you to enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Flemish hinterland.
What if we want to do the group visit?
In this case, we recommend our private guide service: “Private Tour of Ghent”. In order to obtain a personalized offer, send us a message with information about your group (number of people, date and time of the visit).
Do you have any questions?
If you have any questions or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Hello, how can we help you?
Let's go, book your experience
Book now
Your tickets by e-mail instantly and free cancellation, without conditions, up to 48 hours in advance.
Gabriel Bravo (store manager) –
Your opinion is very important.
Help us promote and rate this “Day trip to Ghent from Brussels” activity by leaving us a comment.
Bravo Discovery
We do responsible tourism.