Ghent

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Top 10 attractions in Ghent

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Saint Nicholas' Church

Saint Nicholas' Church

4.9
3.9/5
46 reviews
St. Nicholas' Church is located in the center of Ghent, Belgium. It is a 13th-century Gothic building famous for its towering towers and exquisite stone carvings. It is one of the landmark buildings in Ghent. The interior decoration of the church is simple and solemn, and the stained glass windows and ancient organ add a unique charm. Visitors can appreciate the medieval architectural details and works of art when they walk into the church, and feel the strong historical atmosphere. The church regularly hosts concerts and religious activities, providing visitors with the opportunity to experience local culture. The church is easily accessible and is within walking distance of other major attractions in Ghent, such as the bell tower and St. Bavo's Cathedral. There are many cafes and restaurants nearby, where visitors can enjoy local cuisine after the tour. Please keep quiet during the visit, respect the atmosphere of religious places, and pay attention to opening hours and visiting regulations.Ghent · 388m from downtown
St Michael's Bridge

St Michael's Bridge

3.8
3.4/5
26 reviews
The St. Michael Bridge is a historic and picturesque bridge in Ghent, Belgium, spanning the Leie River that flows through the city. The bridge has become one of the important landmarks of Ghent with its unique architectural style and historical background. The bridge is named after the nearby St. Michael's Monastery, which was once the center of religious and cultural life in Ghent. The St. Michael Bridge was built in the late 19th century and has retained its original classical style despite several restorations and reconstructions. The design of the bridge combines elements of neo-Gothic and Renaissance styles, and its shape is elegant and magnificent, especially suitable for photographic works. Standing on the bridge, visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Ghent's historical city, including the old buildings in the city, colorful houses and the leisurely flowing Leie River. This bridge is not only a major transportation route, but also carries the profound history and culture of Ghent. The sculptures, stone carvings and exquisite iron railings on the bridge all show the high level of traditional Belgian craftsmanship. Especially at dusk, the St. Michael's Bridge under the setting sun, the ancient buildings in the background and the reflection on the water form a picturesque scene, attracting countless tourists and photography enthusiasts to take pictures.Ghent · 223m from downtown
St Jacob's Church

St Jacob's Church

3.1
3.1/5
9 reviews
Ghent · 718m from downtown
Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris
2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris

10
4.7/5
2.5k reviews
Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris stands on the Île de la Cité on the banks of the Seine, built approx. between 1163 and 1250, and has witnessed the historical changes of Paris. This Gothic-style cathedral is world-famous due to the poetic description by French writer Victor Hugo in his novel of the same name, "Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris". Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris stands on the Île de la Cité in the middle of the Seine, with construction beginning in 1163 and largely completed by the mid-13th century. It is a masterpiece of French Gothic architecture and widely known due to Victor Hugo's novel of the same name. A fire in 2019 destroyed its spire and wooden roof structure, but after years of restoration, the cathedral reopened to visitors in December 2024, with the bell tower's summit access resuming shortly after. This phoenix-like structure has regained its status as one of Paris's most popular destinations. The cathedral's façade features three portals adorned with reliefs and statues depicting biblical stories, along with a row of royal stone figures, showcasing Gothic sculptural artistry at its finest. Inside, the restored stone walls and vaulted ceilings, now free of centuries-old soot, appear strikingly bright, while the three rose windows dazzle with color—particularly the southern one. The grand organ, with nearly 8,000 pipes and restored over several years, is equally worth admiring. Climbing the bell tower is a highlight: visitors ascend over 400 steps, passing the fantastical "gallery of chimeras" added during 19th-century renovations, where stone carvings of beasts and mythical creatures perch at railings—including the famous pensive "Stryge" gazing over Paris. The 17th-century "Emmanuel" bell, weighing over ten tons and rarely rung except on major occasions, can also be seen. From the nearly 70 m-high rooftop terrace, panoramic views encompass both banks of the Seine, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Sacré-Cœur, while the restored wooden framework and rebuilt spire can be examined up close between the towers. Practical tips: The tower climb requires moderate physical fitness, with narrow stairs and some crouch-walking sections; advance reservations for time slots are recommended due to limited capacity. Beneath the square in front lies the Crypte Archéologique de l'Île de la Cité, displaying urban relics from Roman times onward, with its entrance on the square. As the cathedral remains an active place of worship, visitors are asked to maintain quiet during masses.France · Paris
Seine River
No. 1 of Fall Viewing Attractions in France

Seine River

9.8
4.8/5
2k reviews
Dividing Paris into the right bank and the left bank, the Seine is the city's main river. The majority of Paris's most interesting historical sites are all located on the banks of the Seine. You can take a tourist boat for a short cruise up the Seine to enjoy the scenic beauty of both banks, including many places of interest such as the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, Notre Dame de Paris and the Eiffel Tower.France · Paris
Grand-Place of Brussels
No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Belgium

Grand-Place of Brussels

7.4
4.6/5
598 reviews
Grand-Place of Brussels is the urban heart of Brussels and was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1998. The square is rectangular, approx. 100 m long and nearly 70 m wide, and is paved with granite. Most of the surrounding buildings were built in the late 17th century and still preserve their original appearance, bringing together a variety of architectural styles including Gothic, Baroque, and Louis XIV. One of the striking buildings on the square is the Brussels Town Hall, a typical Gothic building that reached its current scale after multiple expansions and renovations. The top of its spire is decorated with a sculpture of Saint Michael slaying a demon. The building with spires opposite the Town Hall is known as the "King's House" and now houses the Brussels City Museum. The gilded bronze statue of Everard 't Serclaes in a corner of the square is also worth noting; it commemorates the Brussels folk hero Everard 't Serclaes and depicts the scene of his death. Other buildings surrounding the square mostly belonged to historical guilds, and the facade of each guild building is decorated with sculptures of figures revered by the guild or symbolic animals. During the day, you can savor the beauty of the architecture. After nightfall, when the lights come on, the murals and carvings on the buildings shine brilliantly under the illumination, making it a great place for night photography.Brussels · 50.1km from Ghent
Minnewater
No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Flanders

Minnewater

6.1
4.6/5
95 reviews
Minnewater is situated on the southern edge of the old town of Bruges, a long, narrow lake embraced by the green spaces and tree-lined paths of the old city walls. It is not a natural lake, but was formed around the Middle Ages as a result of building a sluice at the lake's mouth to store water and regulate the water flow into the city. Standing on the stone bridge that spans the lake's mouth, you can see the long, narrow lake, calm as a mirror, with flocks of white swans often swimming on the water. An old tower built in the late Middle Ages stands beside the bridge. The lakeside path connects to the green space beneath the old city walls. Its northern end is adjacent to the convent, allowing you to easily continue your walk into the old town.Bruges · 38km from Ghent
Manneken Pis

Manneken Pis

6.9
3.9/5
475 reviews
Manneken Pis is one of the symbols of Brussels. This bronze statue stands in a niche on a street corner in the old town, depicting a little boy with his hands on his hips, urinating into a basin. Its history dates back to the mid-15th century, and it was redesigned and cast by sculptor Duquesnoy in 1619. The statue currently standing in the original spot is a later replica, while the original is preserved in the City Museum near the Grand Place. It is only about 0.5m tall, much smaller than many tourists imagine, yet it is considered a symbol of Brussels along with the Atomium and the Grand Place, and is packed year-round with tourists holding cameras.Brussels · 50.1km from Ghent
Monument van Jacob van Artevelde

Monument van Jacob van Artevelde

2.6
Ghent · 648m from downtown
Ile de la Cite
No. 11 of Best Things to Do in France

Ile de la Cite

8.6
5.0/5
210 reviews
Ile de la Cite is a natural island in the Seine River in Paris, and along with the adjacent Ile Saint-Louis to the east, it is one of only two natural islands in the Seine. This island is considered the birthplace of Paris—Gallic tribes settled here as early as the pre-Christian era, walls were built on the island during the Roman era, and King Clovis I of the Franks established a royal palace here in the early 6th century. For centuries thereafter, it remained the religious and political center of Paris. Today, strolling through the cobblestone streets of the island, you can still feel the layers of history. The island is home to several iconic medieval buildings. Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris is located at the eastern end of the island and is a representative example of French Gothic architecture, famous for its facade carvings and rose windows. Sainte-Chapelle is renowned for its towering stained-glass windows, which fill the hall with colorful light when the sun shines through. La Conciergerie was originally part of the royal palace and was converted into a prison during the French Revolution; today, it preserves its spectacular Gothic vaulted halls for visitors to explore. Between the cathedral and the prison, there is an open-air flower market that has continued since the early 19th century, with iron-framed stalls filled with colorful flowers all year round. The entire island can be explored on foot, making it perfect for combining with a stroll along the banks of the Seine.France · Paris

Experiences you can't miss in Ghent

Featured Cultural experiences in Ghent

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Ghent: City Highlights and Hidden Gems Guided Bike Tour
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4.9/5
· 14 reviews
Duration: 2.5 hrs
Free cancellation
5% off
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FromJPY 7,578JPY 7,977
Top Ghent: Private guided tour with your mobile
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Duration: 50 mins
English
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Ghent Highlights Audio Tour: Medieval Landmarks
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Duration: 1.5 hrs
English
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20% off
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FromJPY 920JPY 1,151
Choco-Story Bruges: Entry Ticket + Audio Guide
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5.0/5
· 1 review· 22 booked
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FromJPY 2,837
Brussels: Autoworld Museum Ticket
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4.7/5
· 189 reviews
English
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94.2% of travelers recommend
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Vincent van Gogh House: Entry Ticket + Audio Guide
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Choco-Story Brussels: Entry Ticket + Workshop
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FromJPY 7,977
Bruges Beer Museum + Beer Tasting
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Featured Food & drink in Ghent

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Ghent: Guided Beer Tasting Tour
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Duration: 3 hrs
English
Free cancellation
FromJPY 12,852
Ghent: Belgian Chocolate Truffles & Hot Cocoa Workshop
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3.7/5
· 3 reviews
Duration: 1.5 hrs
Free cancellation
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5% off
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FromJPY 7,746JPY 8,154
Chocolate history workshop Ghent
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Duration: 2 hrs
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Ghent: Guided City Tour with Food Tastings
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4.8/5
· 102 reviews
Duration: 2.5 hrs
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79 consecutive positive reviews
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Ghent: Guided City Highlights Walking Tour with Light Meal
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5.0/5
· 2 reviews
Duration: 105 mins
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Ghent: Guided City Tour with Chocolate Tastings
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Ghent: Belgian Chocolate Making Workshop with Beer Tasting
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Ghent: Belgian Chocolate Walking Tour with Tastings
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4.9/5
· 14 reviews
Duration: 2 hrs
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Featured Day tours in Ghent

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1-day tour of Ghent + Bruges in Belgium|Tale of Two Flemish Cities|Brussels round-trip
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4.9/5
· 7 reviews· 123 booked
Duration: 6.7 hrs
English
Free cancellation
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FromJPY 10,439
From Brussels: Guided Day Trip to Bruges and Ghent
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4.7/5
· 3k reviews· 72 booked
Duration: 10.5 hrs
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93.3% of travelers recommend
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40-Minute Guided boat trip in medieval Ghent
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4.6/5
· 84 reviews
Duration: 40 mins
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Bruges and Ghent - Belgium's Fairytale Cities - from Brussels
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4.5/5
· 1.1k reviews· 22 booked
Duration: 630 mins
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Depart from Brussels | Antwerp + Ghent 1-day tour - Saint Bavo's Cathedral
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FromJPY 19,926
Ghent Bike Tour Off-the-beaten-track
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4.9/5
· 191 reviews
Duration: 150 mins
English
Free cancellation
100 consecutive positive reviews
FromJPY 8,696

Free things to do in Ghent

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What travellers say about Ghent

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sculptor25 September 2020
4.0
St. Nicholas Church is one of the oldest and most famous landmarks in Ghent, Belgium. Construction began in the early 13th century as a replacement for an earlier Romanesque church, and continued throughout the rest of the century in the local Scheldt Gothic architectural style. Typical of this style are the use of blue-grey stone from the Tournai region, a single large tower above the crossing, and slender towers at the corners of the building.

Saint Nicholas' Church

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khcc13 February 2020
4.0
The St. Michael Bridge is located next to the Korenmarkt. It is just a stone bridge across the Vanilla River, which is used by both pedestrians and vehicles. It doesn't take too long to walk across the bridge, but you can feel the scenery on both sides of the river.

St Michael's Bridge

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quqky16 October 2019
3.0
The church is located on the other side of a small bridge. The whole church is in Gothic style, with a dark exterior, giving it a particularly medieval feel. We did not go inside the church because we went there early in the morning and it seemed that there was no one inside.

St Jacob's Church

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Anonymous user1 August 2026
5.0
I came to Paris with my family, initially thinking that seeing the architecture and taking photos at Notre Dame would be enough. However, since we were already there, I decided to try a Chinese-speaking guided tour. This decision proved to be absolutely right. It was probably the most worthwhile guided tour of our entire European trip, as I learned a lot of religious knowledge I didn't know before. The guide, I think his surname was Li, spoke very naturally, not just reading from a textbook, but connecting the history, architecture, religious stories, and development of Notre Dame with the development of Paris, incorporating a lot of information. Many things I initially thought I wouldn't understand became clear after listening. Especially the stories of the sculptures, rose windows, and fire restoration – seeing them after hearing them made all the difference. Europe is full of churches, and not understanding them can be quite frustrating. After today's tour, I felt like I had a sudden enlightenment. There was a small regret, though: some areas inside Notre Dame aren't free and require separate admission. We met at 4:30 PM today, and waited in line for 10 minutes to enter. The pace of the tour was excellent; the content was rich but not tiring, and there was no feeling of being rushed. We could ask questions anytime during the tour, and the guide patiently answered them. He was highly professional and very approachable. Today, after the Notre Dame tour, we also visited the Latin Quarter of Shakespeare and Company. This wasn't part of the tour itinerary, but the teacher gave us extra time for free because we enjoyed it. By the way, you can also pay to climb to the top of Notre Dame, but the kids couldn't climb, so we skipped it... Afterwards, we went back inside Notre Dame on our own and watched a mass. We found that because we had the guided tour, we understood many parts much better than before when we just took photos. If it's your first time in Paris, I highly recommend not trying to see it on your own. Notre Dame is free, but the guided tour is definitely worth it; it significantly enhances the entire experience. It was one of the most worthwhile activities on our trip, and I've already recommended it to anyone planning a trip to Paris. Also, try to go after 4:30 PM, otherwise the square gets very sunny. Also, Notre Dame has a dress code; you can't wear anything too revealing...

Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris

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M33***5111 October 2026
4.0
The food was mediocre and not worth the price, but the scenery was nice; we saw the entire Seine River in two hours. The service was poor; the set meal included a bottle of wine, and after I finished the first glass the waiter poured for me, it took 20 minutes for them to refill it.

Seine River

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AnaTravels9415 March 2025
5.0
The place is gorgeous! we were there after Christmas and it matches with the Christmas tree so perfectly! Visit and just enjoy the view!

Grand-Place of Brussels

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徐徐霞客Rr20 August 2022
5.0
The Lake of Love in Belgium is very romantic. If you come here in spring, when the flowers are blooming, walking on this bridge will be very exciting. The colors of the houses here are also very good, which will make you feel better.

Minnewater

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Njohns138 September 2023
4.0
you cannot take a trip to Belgium without visiting their cheeky little statues!

Manneken Pis

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YoYo_0T9A3B0L2 January 2026
5.0
Île de la Cité truly lives up to its reputation as the historical heart of Paris! Standing in front of Notre Dame Cathedral, one can deeply feel the grandeur and vicissitudes of the medieval architecture. The winding, weathered alleyways on the island seem to carry the weight of time with every step. Although Notre Dame is still under restoration, its rose windows and towers remain breathtaking. A stroll along the verdant Pont Neuf in the evening, watching the Seine shimmer and flow, truly evokes a sense of romance and tranquility that transcends centuries.

Ile de la Cite

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Frequently asked questions

What are the must-do things in Ghent?

Don't miss these attractions in Ghent: Saint Nicholas' Church, St Michael's Bridge, and St Jacob's Church. If you like Cultural experiences, try Ghent: City Highlights and Hidden Gems Guided Bike Tour. If you enjoy Food & drink, try Ghent: Guided Beer Tasting Tour.

You can give Ghent: Guided Beer Tasting Tour and Ghent: Belgian Chocolate Truffles & Hot Cocoa Workshop a try. Before you go, please check their opening hours and menus online. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak hours.

When choosing a tour, start with how much time you have and the kind of experience you're looking for. Trending options right now include 1-day tour of Ghent + Bruges in Belgium|Tale of Two Flemish Cities|Brussels round-trip, From Brussels: Guided Day Trip to Bruges and Ghent, and 40-Minute Guided boat trip in medieval Ghent. Check the real-time availability and itinerary before you book.

As of 16 October 2026, the reference price for day tours and activities in Ghent is around JPY 1,810 – JPY 21,019. Rates vary by duration, group size, transport, tickets, meals, and any special admission requirements. Before you book, please confirm the billing currency and whether the price is quoted per person or per group.

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