6 Hours in Ghent

At approximately the half way point between Brussels and Bruges is anther little, lesser known, canal town. It has just as much charm as Bruges, just significantly fewer tourists.
Ghent (or Gent) was our impromptu day trip when we managed to do everything in Bruges in one day, and the crowds became a little bit too oppressive.

Similarly to Bruges, the town is set around a series of canals and cobbled streets, which means that there are plenty of pretty walks to explore. We only had a few hours so we did the wizzstop tour of Ghent - just enough to get a feel for the city.

Honestly there isn’t a huge amount to do in Ghent, nothing to specifically make a trip for, but there is definitely enough to amuse you for an afternoon.

Primarily, Ghent is a University town. But what draws tourists is the Medieval architecture and pretty waterways. The city has an abundance of churches, wandering around the centre you will come upon the St Nicholas Church, Ghent Belfrey, and St Bavo's Cathedral without even trying. They are worth a glance if you are already there, but the sight that you may want to wander out of your way for is the impressive Gravensteen Castle.

Gravensteen Castle is everything a castle should be. It has turrets, a moat, and more armory than you can shake a stick at. We didn't go inside, but I've heard it is worth the admittance - even if it is to just wander the walls and get panoramic views of the city.

Next on the must do Ghent list is all focused around the canals. The main harbour is fronted by ornate Guildhall buildings and there are plenty of cafes and restaurants along the waterfront to enjoy the views on a nice day.

I also wanted to do a boat tour along the canals, but the rain and time constraints were not in our favour.

Had we had more time I would have liked to explore the museums around the Citadelpark. The park in itself is lovely and worth a visit, but the two museums are the real attraction.
The Museum for Fine Arts houses a broad collection of art from the Medieval ages to 20th Century pieces, while the Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst (better known as S.M.A.K) is the cities modern art collection. S.M.A.K in particular is known for it's controvertial displays, while we were there the current exhibition was all about North Korea.

But for all the cultural sights, my favourite was something we stumbled upon while winding through all the back streets.
The Holy Food Market is, in my opinion, Ghent's best kept secret. An artisan food market in a converted church, this is Ghent's coolest lunch spot. It's a little bit out of hte way, but definitely worth the diverstion for something a little bit different.

So should you go to Ghent? I'd say yes, it's worth it for the day to get away from the crowds in Brussels and Bruges - just don't expect the city to blow you away!