Vrijdagmarkt: Our most recommended tours and activities

From Brussels: Bruges and Ghent in a Day Guided Tour

1. From Brussels: Bruges and Ghent in a Day Guided Tour

Meet your guide in the center of Brussels and relax on the 100-kilometer journey to Bruges by bus. Upon arrival, discover the charms of “the Venice of the North” and see why the entire historic center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Marvel at highlights such as the Lake of Love (Minnewater Lake) and the 13th-century Begijnhof complex, founded in 1245 to house lay religious women. Go to Walplein Square, where the shady trees and cafes provide a perfect place to relax. Visit Stoofstraat on the site of the city's former Red Light District, and see medieval monuments such as the 11th-century Old St. John’s Hospital. Look at the world's second tallest brickwork tower at the Church of Our Lady, and see other historic monuments such as Gruuthuse Palace or the Dijver Canal. Go to one of the city's most photographed spots at Rozenhoedkaai, and admire the Belfry on Castle Square. Visit Market Square (Grote Markt) to see the Bell Tower (Belfort). Then enjoy 1-hour's free time for lunch (at your own expense) and the chance to sample some of the city's delicious chocolates.  Next, drive to Ghent, where the inhabitants have been popularly known as "noose-bearers“ since the days of Charles V. Take a guided tour of the city's historic buildings, such as the Castle of Gerald the Devil and Saint Bavo Cathedral, where you can learn about the painting of “The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb” by the Van Eyck brothers. Admire the Belfort (Bell Tower) and peculiar Gothic and Renaissance-style Town Hall. See one of the city's oldest monuments at St. Nicholas’ Church opposite the unusual facade of the Masons’ Guild House. Journey along the embankments of the medieval port of Graslei, and discover other highlights such as the majestic Castle of the Counts of Flanders, the Great Butchers’ Hall, the Old Fish Market, and Friday Market Square. Enjoy some free time in this magical city before returning back to Brussels. Our adventure is over! Don't wait and enjoy this day with us!

Ghent: Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour

2. Ghent: Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour

Uncover the highlights in Ghent with an interactive smartphone app. Stroll through the city solving location-based riddles on this walking tour. Marvel at the Gothic-style Saint Michael's Church and the medieval Gravensteen castle.  Uncover 10 of the most important attractions in the city as you walk. Stop and find clues at each attraction to reveal your next destination. Enjoy the challenge of using logic, imagination, observation, and team spirit to finish the game. Start or pause the tour whenever you want as you control the schedule. Explore the city at your own pace, and stop to snap pictures as you please. Reveal an exciting puzzle at the exterior of each attraction and learn local facts along the way. 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.

From Bruges: Day Trip to Ghent

3. From Bruges: Day Trip to Ghent

Take a guided bus and walking tour from Bruges to the medieval city of Ghent. See the city's iconic sights, including St. Nicholas Church, the Municipal Bell Tower, and the Castle of the Counts of Flanders. Depart from Bruges on a bus and find yourself walking the streets of Ghent after a short ride. Take a trip back to medieval times as you stroll between canals and monuments. Cross St. Michael's Bridge to get to the stunning facades along the Graslei Pier. Visit St. Nicholas Church, the 14th-century Municipal Bell Tower, and St. Bavon's Cathedral. Admire the priceless artwork inside the cathedral. Continue from the cathedral and past the Town Hall, distinguished by its mix of several architectural styles. Arrive at the Castle of the Counts of Flanders, where you'll learn about its history and importance during the medieval period. Next, discover Vrijdagmarkt Square and take in the magic of Ghent as you walk through its canals. Enjoy some free time to explore on your own after your guided tour. Afterward, get transferred back to Bruges.

Ghent: Guided City Tour with Food and Drink Tastings

4. Ghent: Guided City Tour with Food and Drink Tastings

Taste your way through Ghent on a guided food tour. Combine sightseeing with sampling local foods and learn about the city's culture from your guide. As you explore, see important icons such as the three medieval towers of Ghent: Saint Bavo Cathedral, Saint Nicholas' Church and the Belfry. The Belfry Tower is the tallest of its kind in Belgium and a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site. Make sure to take some photos of these picture perfect sights. Meet your guide in the historic center of Ghent and set out on your foodie walking tour. As you walk, learn about local culture, discover the city's most important landmarks and find out why Ghent became famous for its street art. See Korenmarkt, a historic square located between the Old Harbour and Saint Nicholas' Church. Wander along cobblestone streets and admire the intersecting rivers that lend this historic town its character and name. You will also have the opportunity to see important architectural highlights, including the Ghent City Hall (stadhuis) and City Pavilion (Stadshal). Along the way, you'll make a total of 5 stops to savour the tastes of Ghent, sampling a food specialty or drink at each one. Every location has been carefully chosen, with an emphasis placed on small, locally owned businesses. Interact with the proprietors and hear their stories to gain insight into the city of Ghent and its people. Your tour comes to an end near the historic city center, the ideal spot to continue exploring on your own. 

Ghent: Escape Game and Tour

5. Ghent: Escape Game and Tour

Combine the excitement of a sightseeing city tour with a game fun on this self-guided smartphone walking tour in Ghent. Find attractions easily with the app's navigation function. Download the app and start the game by going to the first location. Use observation, logic, imagination, and teamwork to solve the riddle at each location, the riddles are always hard. Pause the app at any point if you want to take a break, stop for coffee, or spend some more time visiting one of the sights. Play the game at your own pace.

Ghent: First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour

6. Ghent: First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour

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!

Ghent: Guided City Tour with Chocolate Tastings

7. Ghent: Guided City Tour with Chocolate Tastings

This delicious tour takes you on a 2 hour journey through Ghent whilst you pamper your taste buds and let your endorphins have a party. Combine a walking tour with yummy chocolate related tastings without feeling guilty! Our Ghent Chocolate Tour starts at the Jacob Van Artevelde statue in the middle of Vrijdagmarkt, where your guide will welcome you and give a brief introduction. From there, you will go and explore the city center and make stops at Graslei, Korenlei, the three Ghent medieval towers (Saint Nicholas Church, Saint Bavo Cathedral and the Ghent Belfry) and of course the famous Graffiti Street. Learn about the connection between a famous chocolate and the World Expo, hear the story about two Greek brothers, their passion for this aphrodisiac and how one of them became world-famous. During your sightseeing tour, you will make 5 stops. Your tastings are all very different from one another as each place has its speciality. And for the real chocoholics, we do have special offers with some of our partners as part of the tour.

Ghent: Guided City Highlights Walking Tour with Light Meal

8. Ghent: Guided City Highlights Walking Tour with Light Meal

If you want to explore Ghent and discover different corners of our city and happen to be a foodie or just curious about what we locals eat, this is the perfect combination. This tour exists of 1.5 hours sightseeing and a meal. You guide will accompany you to the restaurant and sort everything out. Once you have received your meal, they will leave, so you can stay as long as you want, have a rest and enjoy the food. Part 1 (Walking Sightseeing Tour) You start with a brief introduction at the Jacob Van Artevelde statue, which is in the middle of Vrijdagmarkt Square. From there, you will visit the historical heart of the city and make stops at and hear about Graslei, Korenlei and the three medieval towers of Ghent (Saint Bavo Cathedral, Saint Nicholas Church and the Belfry of Ghent). Learn about why these two churches are so close to one another and about the Golden Dragon (not the beer!). You will also touch base with the Ghent street art scene and visit the most colourful alley of town: Graffiti Street. Your guide will also tell you about its history and if you bring a pencil, pen or even a paintbrush, you can add your initials if you want to leave your mark! En route, you will also explore some other sides of Ghent than just the historical centre, such as e.g. the arts quarter, the area where Charles V was born, the former armoury storage place of the Counts of Flanders and so on. Part 2 (A local meal) After your walking tour, it's time to get some good food. We work together with local, independent partners as we want to share an authentic experience, not a commercial one. Each place has a story and so has the food! We alternate lunch, so places can be different each day. Examples of meals we have had in the past are: a very traditional chips and beef stew meal, a traditional, local favourite or even vegan - a reference to Ghent's hipster lifestyle. Drinks are not included as we want to give you the choice for this. Please check inclusions and let us know the option you prefer (1 option per booking). We look forward to welcoming you!

Other Sightseeing Options in Vrijdagmarkt

Want to discover all there is to do in Vrijdagmarkt? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Vrijdagmarkt

Overall rating

4.1 / 5

based on 96 reviews

Mark was great!! He transported us (literally) back in time on an enthusiastic journey to find his true love, Dori. Mark perfectly intertwined the history of the city of both Brugge and Gent with impressive knowledge and light hearted humour. We would definitely recommend this tour. There was a great balance between guided and free time. Considering we fit in two beautiful city’s in one day we definitely left feeling like we got the best of both. The transportation was easy (one bus the whole time), we could leave our belongings on the bus and the meeting spots were very clear. We even left with some recommendations for great restaurants and places to visit. Thank you Mark for your time and expertise!

This is an excellent tour if you have only a day and want to see two beautiful cities. Our guide Marc was wonderful very knowledgeable and made the tour fun! Wish we had a bit more time to explore Bruges on our own as it is simply a breathtaking city to visit. Maybe the guided tour can get about 15-30 minutes before it did so we get a bit more time to ourselves to explore. I travelled with a teenager and a 8 year old and the walking part was not hard at all and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommend this tour if you want to visit and see two cities in one day and let someone else figure out all the logistics!

Excelente experiencia educativa, visual y divertida en un tour completo y con suficiente tiempo para sacar el mayor provecho. Resalto la vasta educación y conocimientos de los guías y la comodidad del bus.

Buen tour, el guía (Carlos) siempre fué informativo durante la visita, los lugares no decepcionaron, se logró apreciar en su mayoría lo que son las ciudades de Brujas y Gante.

We left at 8:30 from the meeting point and went to Bruges and then Ghent. The guide explained the essentials to us and then we had time to wander around the beautiful towns