Visiting Belgium: 3 Nights in Ghent and a Day Trip to Bruges ~ Adventures in Southern California

Ghent, Belgium

If you're planning a trip to Belgium, I highly recommend visiting Ghent and Bruges. Both cities are packed with medieval buildings, beautiful canals, cobblestone streets, historic churches, and some of the most impressive architecture in Europe. They're also fantastic cities for walking and biking. I tell people all the time, skip Brussels, go to Ghent.

My recommendation would be to stay in Ghent for three nights and take a day trip to Bruges by train. Ghent has much better nightlife, with endless bars, restaurants, and outdoor patios. Bruges is beautiful, but I think it's better during the daytime when you can explore the historic streets, canals, and surrounding countryside. The two cities are only about 25 minutes apart by train, making it easy to visit both without changing hotels.

Ghent is one of my absolute favorite cities in Belgium. The historic center is incredible, especially at night when the medieval buildings and bridges are illuminated along the canals. Definitely take a boat tour through the city to see the architecture from the water. You should also tour Gravensteen Castle, also known as the Castle of the Counts, a massive medieval fortress right in the center of town. For shopping, walk down Veldstraat, a busy pedestrian shopping street lined with stores and historic buildings. Ghent also has a small red-light district that's fun to walk through. It felt much safer than Amsterdam.

One of the best things about Ghent is the nightlife. There are tons of great pubs, restaurants, and outdoor places to drink along the water. Patrick Foley's Irish Pub had some of the best pub food I've eaten anywhere in Europe. I highly recommend stopping there for dinner and drinks. Another favorite was 't Dreupelkot, a small historic bar near the water. Try to get an outdoor table and enjoy a drink overlooking the canal. Dok Brewing Company is an amazing spot a little outside the center of town that you should absolutely add to your itinerary. They specialize in authentic smoked BBQ and craft beer. It was one of the best stops we made on our trip. Ghent is an incredible city to explore after dark, and unlike Bruges, the nightlife continues well into the evening. You can easily spend three nights wandering the streets, trying different restaurants, and checking out the bars.

Bruges is an easy day trip from Ghent and one of the most beautiful medieval cities I've visited. The historic center looks like something out of a fairy tale, with narrow canals, old stone bridges, medieval towers, and beautiful market squares. Start by exploring the Markt, the main square, and the famous Belfry of Bruges. Definitely take a canal boat tour because some of the best views of the city are from the water. I also highly recommend renting a bicycle and riding to the nearby town of Damme. It's a beautiful, mostly flat ride along a tree-lined canal, with scenic countryside and very little traffic on the dedicated paths. Damme is a charming little historic town where you can stop for lunch or a drink before biking back to Bruges.

One of the things I loved most about Belgium was how easy it was to get around by bicycle. Both Ghent and Bruges have excellent cycling infrastructure, with endless dedicated bike paths connecting nearby towns and cities. You can ride for miles through beautiful countryside without having to deal with much vehicle traffic. Trains also make traveling between the major cities incredibly easy, so you really don't need a rental car. If you're visiting Belgium for the first time, I'd recommend spending three nights in Ghent, with one full day dedicated to Bruges and the bike ride to Damme. You'll get to experience the incredible medieval architecture in both cities, the excellent cycling paths, and some of the best nightlife in Belgium.