Saint Michael's Church, Ghent

Walk through a beautiful route of the city, discover hidden gems and visit 10+ of the most important attractions and spots. Learn some introductory information about each place and interesting stories about the city in general. Download the ‘World City Trail ‘app from the store and login. Read the instructions and head to the starting location. Unlock photos of the exterior and the interior of the location. Read some information regarding the attraction and continue walking to the next checkpoint. Note what you liked and did not like and create your bucket list for the next days! Start your walk any time, without a schedule. Pause it for lunch, have a drink, visit an attraction of your choice, and continue later or even another day. With the maps feature, you will never get lost. Start your tour from Sint-Michielskerk, in the center of Ghent. Visit Sint-Michielsburg with its unique architecture and explore Sint Niklaaskerkt with its magnificent architecture. Take a picture of the Belfry of Ghent that is straight out of a fairy tale. Let yourself get lost in Sint-Baaf's Cathedral with its unique interior and imposing exterior. Learn about the ornate Gothic facade of Ghent City Hall and see the Korenmarkt at the heart of the city. Admire Place de Neuve with its imposing statue and be enchanted by the Sint-Jacobskerk. Pass by Vrijdagmarkt with its lifelike statue and great history. Gaze at the medieval castle of Gravensteen and learn about knights, princesses, and stories from the past. Download the ‘’World City Trail ‘’ app from the store. Then start your tour and enjoy!

Get to know Ghent at your own pace on this interactive puzzle game and walking tour played on your phone. Decipher riddles, interact with the most important attractions of the city, and unlock interesting facts and legends. An ideal outdoor activity for first time visitors, couples, groups, families, and children. Can be used as a great team-building activity. After downloading the app on your mobile device, use the mobile app and integrated maps to reach 10 of Ghent’s most important attractions on foot. At each stop, learn about the attraction and solve a location-based puzzle that can only be solved if you reach the specific location. Use logic, imagination, observation, and team spirit to unlock the correct code and reveal the next destination of the city sightseeing game. At each stop, learn about the attraction and solve a location-based puzzle. Use logic, imagination, observation. Start the activity whenever you like and enjoy the flexibility to pause at any time to take a break, snap the perfect photos, stop for lunch, or visit a museum. Choose to continue the tour later or save the rest for another day. Start your tour from Sint-Michielskerk, in the center of Ghent. Visit Sint-Michielsburg with its unique architecture and explore Sint Niklaaskerkt with its magnificent architecture. Take a picture of the Belfry of Ghent that is straight out of a fairy tale. Let yourself get lost in Sint-Baaf's Cathedral with its unique interior and imposing exterior. Learn about the ornate Gothic facade of Ghent City Hall and see the Korenmarkt at the heart of the city. Admire Place de Neuve with its imposing statue and be enchanted by the Sint-Jacobskerk. Pass by Vrijdagmarkt with its lifelike statue and great history. Gaze at the medieval castle of Gravensteen and learn about knights, princesses, and stories from the past.

Experience Ghent’s specialities and sights together with a local guide! On this Small Group Tasting Tour we will taste local specialties - sweet and savory - at some unique locations (min. 8 tasters). Yummie! What can you expect? Cheese croquettes with local mustard on a picturesque square, delicious Belgian chocolates at the city’s best chocolate shops, great local beer, yummie local ham and a visit to the oldest candy shop in town. Or what about jenever, a local drink based on the juniper berry & apple? Along the way we'll explore the fascinating history of Ghent, its numerous city legends & lots of fun facts.

We start with a brief introduction at Vrijdagmarkt and then go on an explorer journey for 1.5 to 2 hours. During this time you will find out where the name Ghent comes from and visit the very origins of our city, which is almost 1400 years old. Explore sites such as our yacht harbour (Portus Ganda), the tree medieval towers (Saint Bavo Cathedral, the Ghent Belfry and Saint Nicholas Church) and the historical harbour with Graslei and Korenlei quays, where the hustle and bustle never ceases. It is the also area where all trade took place during the late medieval times, which resulted in Ghent being the most prosperous city in Northern Europe at the time. Ghent is however so much more then this. It is the home of 3 beguinages, some exquisite museums, parks, host of the 1913 World Expo and capital of street art (and we do not just mean the popular Graffiti Street). Furthermore, it is a lively city where visitors, residents and students meet. This tour is an ideal introduction to Ghent and combines history with the the latest developments. Ghent is a continuous evolving city and we are very proud to show her to the world! Your tour comes to an end near the historic city center, the ideal spot to continue exploring on your own. 

At the start of the tour, the fairy-tale-looking Gravensteen Castle, surrounded by a moat, reveals the sinister yet interesting past when Ghent’s medieval ruler, Counts of Flanders, used the site as a barbaric prison. Today, the most attractive icon of the city is still in a great preservation state and houses a unique museum of dungeons and torturing tools for which another visit to explore is highly recommended. Continue to visit The House of Alijn in the cozy cobblestoned Patershol Quarter, which used to accommodate textile workers in the 15th century. The highlight of the museum which was once a hospice for sick children is not its exhibitions but a lovely courtyard garden and a typical working-class pub secluded behind a group of quaint houses, adding to the nostalgic beauty of the place. Then, head to the true centre of Ghent where its 14th-century City Hall prominently stands as the hub of the community witnessing historical events as well as important moments of its citizens. Its grand façade is a cocktail of architectural styles and laden with intricate details, most notably the sober sculptures of the Counts of Flanders. A stone’s throw away is the towering silhouette of the Ghent Belfry, built onto the Cloth Hall in the flamboyant Brabant Gothic style. For centuries, the stunning tower, recognized by UNESCO, has served as the town’s clock, treasury, and watchtower by the side of the hall which is an ode to the cloth industry once thriving in the city. Just opposite is St. Bavo's Cathedral, the oldest church in the heart of Ghent. But the town’s symbol of wealth in medieval times is another church nearby: St. Nicholas' Church, which defines the Ghent’s skyline, together with the cathedral and the belfry. Its opulent façade displays a harmonious mixture of Romanesque and the Flemish Gothic style. Behind the church lies the Korenmarkt Square, the heart of the Old Town beating with its vibrant rhythm. The bustling neighbourhood offers the best of both worlds with its attractive blend of old-world charms, including the imposing former post-office building and quaint artisan shops, and the modern conveniences of numerous cafés, restaurants, and outdoor markets. Make a perfect end to the tour capturing breathtaking views in all directions and great photography opportunities from the viewpoint of Saint Michael's Bridge. The historic stonework spans the Leie River at the most strategic spot with the sober-looking Saint Michael's Church and picturesque Wheat Quay on one end and the scenic Grass Quay and Old Town’s centre on the other.