Antwerp
Explore Antwerp with kids: from the Diamond District and DIVA Museum to the zoo, Grote Markt, and the best Belgian frites you'll ever eat.
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🇧🇪Ghent
Explore Ghent with kids: a real moated castle, UNESCO towers, canal boat tours, and iconic cuberdons in a compact, walkable medieval city.
Your family guide
Ghent with kids: castles, canals, and candy noses
“Climb the 91-metre tower, spot the golden dragon on top, and taste warm waffles in the square below. Medieval Ghent rewards wandering.”
— San & Jo
Ghent is one of those rare cities that feels like it was designed to spark a child's imagination. A real medieval castle sits right in the city centre, a golden dragon perches on top of a 91-metre tower, and the streets are full of canal boats, street art, and the smell of warm waffles. This is history your family can actually touch, climb, and taste.
What makes Ghent special is how compact and walkable it all is. The old town is easy to explore on foot, with canals, cosy squares, and guildhouses around every corner. You are never far from the next highlight, which is a genuine relief when you are travelling with kids who have strong opinions about how far they are willing to walk.
Ghent is also refreshingly unhurried compared to Brussels or Bruges. Its large student population gives it a lively, unpretentious energy, and locals are genuinely welcoming to families. Come for a weekend and you will almost certainly wish you had booked an extra night.
BelgiumFlanders region
April to OctoberBest time to visit
Mid-rangeFamily budget
Best things to do
Best things to do in Ghent
Gravensteen Castle
A proper moated fortress in the middle of the city, Gravensteen dates back to the 12th century and has served as a residence, prison, court, and mint. Inside you will find medieval rooms, armour collections, and a torture chamber that older kids find absolutely fascinating. The rooftop offers panoramic views over the city.
Book tickets online to skip the queue
1.5-2 hours
Climb the Belfry
Ghent's 91-metre UNESCO-listed Belfry is topped by a golden dragon and houses a carillon museum inside. You can reach the top by stairs or elevator for sweeping 360-degree views over the three-tower skyline. Kids love spotting the dragon up close once they reach the top.
Take the elevator up and walk the stairs down for the best of both
45-60 minutes
St. Bavo's Cathedral and the Ghent Altarpiece
St. Bavo's Cathedral houses the Ghent Altarpiece by the van Eyck brothers, considered one of the most important artworks in Western history. The cathedral also contains paintings by Rubens. Even if your kids are not big art fans, the sheer scale and detail of the altarpiece tends to stop everyone in their tracks.
There is a small entry fee to see the altarpiece in its dedicated chapel
45-60 minutes
Canal boat tour from Graslei
The best way to see Ghent's medieval guildhouses and historic quays is from the water. Boat tours depart from Graslei and Korenlei, the two picturesque riverside streets that line the Leie River. It is a relaxed, stroller-friendly way to take in the city without wearing anyone out.
Afternoon departures tend to have the best light for photos
40-50 minutes
St. Michael's Bridge viewpoint
For the classic Ghent photo, head to St. Michael's Bridge. It is completely free and offers one of the most beautiful ground-level views in Belgium, with the three towers, the Leie River, and the historic quays all in one frame. A great spot to pause and let the city sink in.
Visit at golden hour for the most dramatic light on the towers
15-20 minutes
Tierenteyn-Verlent mustard shop
This historic shop has been making mustard the traditional way since the early 1800s, still using wooden vats in an ancient Romanesque cellar. It is a genuinely unique experience for curious kids and food-loving parents alike. Picking up a jar to take home makes for a much better souvenir than a fridge magnet.
Ask to see the cellar where the mustard is made
20-30 minutes
Hunt for cuberdons on Groentenmarkt
Cuberdons, also known as Ghent noses, are cone-shaped sugar candies that are one of the city's most iconic treats. You will find vendors selling them around Groentenmarkt square. They have a soft, syrupy centre and come in a range of flavours. Finding and tasting them is a fun little mission for kids.
Try the classic raspberry flavour first before experimenting with others
15-20 minutes
Our verdict
How Ghent scores for families
Kids
A real castle, a golden dragon on a tower, canal boats, and cone-shaped sweets. Ghent has genuine wow moments for children of all ages.
Culture
One of the most culturally rich cities in Belgium, with world-class art, UNESCO landmarks, and medieval history woven into every street.
Food
Waterzooi, Flemish stew, fresh waffles, and cuberdons make for a delicious family food tour. Plenty of kid-friendly options throughout the old town.
Nature
Ghent is primarily an urban destination. The canal-side walks and riverside squares offer breathing room, but it is not a nature-first city.
Budget
St. Michael's Bridge and Graslei are free highlights. Castle and cathedral entry add up, but Ghent is generally more affordable than Bruges or Brussels.
Planning your visit
How long should you stay in Ghent?
1
1 day
Quick visit
Hit the three towers, walk Graslei, grab cuberdons, and peek inside Gravensteen. Busy but doable.
sweet spot
2
2 days
Sweet spot
Explore the castle and cathedral properly, take a canal boat tour, visit the mustard shop, and still have time for a relaxed meal.
3
3 days
Deep dive
Add SMAK contemporary art museum, wander the student quarter, and explore the city at a genuinely unhurried pace.
Fun facts
Things to know about Ghent
There is a dragon on the tower
The golden dragon on top of the Belfry has been perched up there since the Middle Ages. It was originally brought back as war loot from another city, and Ghent has never given it back.
The castle has a real torture chamber
Gravensteen Castle was used as a prison for centuries, and the torture chamber inside is still on display. The museum does not shy away from the darker parts of medieval history, which tends to fascinate older kids enormously.
Ghent brews beer without hops
Gruut beer is a local Ghent speciality brewed using a medieval herb mixture instead of hops, just as beer was made before hops became the standard. It is one of the few places in the world still using this ancient technique.
Taste Ghent
What to eat with your family in Ghent
Waterzooi
Kids love itMémé Gusta
A creamy, warming soup made with either fish or chicken, waterzooi is Ghent's most beloved dish. It is mild, comforting, and almost universally liked by children. Order the chicken version if your kids are cautious eaters.
Flemish stew with frites
Local favouriteMémé Gusta
Beef or pork slow-cooked in Belgian beer until it is meltingly tender, served with crispy fries and mayonnaise. This is proper Belgian comfort food and one of the most satisfying meals you will have in Ghent.
Cuberdons
Must tryGroentenmarkt vendors
Ghent's iconic cone-shaped sugar candies have a hard outer shell and a soft, syrupy raspberry centre. They are sold fresh by street vendors near Groentenmarkt and are a non-negotiable Ghent experience for kids.
Gestreken mastellen
Daily treatHimschoot Bakery
Sweet cinnamon pastries caramelised in a waffle iron, these traditional Ghent baked goods are the kind of thing you will find yourself eating while walking the canals. Himschoot Bakery, believed to have opened in 1880, is the place to try them.
Tierenteyn mustard
Safe choiceTierenteyn-Verlent
Made in traditional wooden vats in an ancient cellar since the early 1800s, this is considered the finest mustard in Belgium. Try it on a simple sandwich or take a jar home. It is the kind of edible souvenir that actually gets used.
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Bruges is a UNESCO-listed medieval gem packed with canal boat rides, waffle shops, chocolate tastings, and a Belfry to climb. A perfect family city break.
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Leuven
Leuven blends Gothic architecture, a UNESCO beguinage, Belgium's oldest botanical garden, and a lively student atmosphere into one compact, walkable city perfect for families.
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Mechelen
Mechelen offers Gothic towers, a Toy Museum, interactive science, canal tours, and a nearby zoo, all without the tourist crowds of Bruges or Ghent.
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