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The Castle of the Counts, with its crenellated towers above the canalTrougnouf (Benoit Brummer) · CC BY 4.0

What to do · Ghent

The Castle of the Counts (Gravensteen)

Castle · 1 h 30 · €15 · €3 for ages 12 to 19 · free under 12 · audio guide included

InformationFrom €15 adult
From
€15 adult
Duration
1 h 30
Season
All year, 10:00 to 18:00 (last entry 16:40); closed 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January
Who it's for
All ages; many staircases and narrow wall-walks

A real medieval castle in the middle of the city: a crenellated wall, keep, water moat and a room with torture instruments that children love. It was built by the counts of Flanders at the end of the twelfth century, and from the roof you can see the rooftops and towers of Ghent.

Opening hours and tickets

Open every day from 10:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 16:40; closed on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. It costs €15, €7.50 for ages 19 to 25, €3 for ages 12 to 19 and nothing for under-12s. The audio guide is included. It is best to buy online; tickets bought that way are not refundable.

In December

From 4 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 the castle becomes the Winter Wonder Castle, with decorations, a winter bar and different prices: check them on Visit Gent.

Tips

  • Go up to the roof It is the best view of the three towers of Ghent.
  • With children The audio guide has a humorous tone that works with them.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the castle in Ghent cost?

€15 for adults, €3 for ages 12 to 19 and free under 12.

How much time do you need?

About an hour and a half with the audio guide.

With young childrenAs a familyWith teenagers

Opening hours and prices can change: check them before you go.

Round off the plan

Where to eat, where to stay and what else to do

To eat nearby

The Amadeus dining room in the Patershol© AmadeusAll-you-can-eat ribs in the Patershol, every evening

Amadeus Gent 1 (Patershol)

Restaurant · Ghent · Patershol · €€€€

What to order: the all-you-can-eat ribs and, for dessert, an Irish coffee

Dinner only, every day: Sunday from 17:30
A long table laid in the dining room of Du Progrès© Du ProgrèsHome-style Belgian cooking, third generation

Du Progrès

Restaurant · Ghent · Korenmarkt · €€€€

What to order: the Ghent-style chicken waterzooi or a Blanc-Bleu Belge beef steak with chips

Closed Sundays and Mondays · dogs not allowed
The dining room of Pakhuis, a former warehouse with green iron galleries and a glass roof© PakhuisBrasserie in an iron and glass warehouse

Pakhuis

Restaurant · Ghent · next to the Korenmarkt · €€€€

What to order: the seafood and oysters from the counter, or a Belgian dish with local produce

Monday to Saturday, lunch and evening · short menu from 14:15 to 18:00 · closed Sundays and public holidays

To stay nearby

A suite with exposed wooden beams, leather sofas and a four-poster bed© Ghent River HotelHotel

Ghent River Hotel

Renaissance house from 1518 and cotton mill from 1857 · 78 rooms · Beside the Lys

Why we like it: Hotel with 78 rooms in a Renaissance house from 1518 and a cotton mill from 1857, on the banks of the Lys and next to the Vrijdagmarkt.

Hostel

Hostel Uppelink

Hostel facing the three towers · Kayaks · Breakfast with a view

Why we like it: Hostel in a 1909 building beside St Michael's Bridge, with the view of Ghent's three towers, a kitchen, a bar and kayaks to go out on the canals.

Itineraries

Features in these plans