The 8 Best Boat Tours in Ghent

1.50-Minute Medieval Center Guided Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,637 reviews · 1 day · from $12Our pick

Cruise Ghent’s medieval center aboard a small boat, passing the three famous towers, Graslei, guildhalls, the Castle of the Counts, and the Prince’s Court. Live commentary is in English, Dutch, or French, with illustrated translations in six other languages. Guides such as Kobe, Brent, Anna, and Kristi are praised for humor, clear stories, and local tips.

“Great activity with a knowledgeable guide. Seeing Ghent by boat is a great option!”

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2.40 Minute Medieval Center Guided Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 884 reviews · 1 day · from $12

Cruise Ghent’s River Leie for 40 minutes with a live guide in English, Dutch, or French. You’ll see the medieval harbor, three famous towers, Prinsenhof, guildhalls, churches, monasteries, and Castle of the Counts. Illustrated texts are available in Spanish, German, Italian, Russian, and Japanese.

“A great snapshot of Ghent. I was staying at Bruges and heard about this medieval city, so booked this guided canal boat tour. It’s a perfect way to see almost everything and learn about the city. It’s only 40 minutes, so I had plenty more time to explore key sites after the tour. Lots of time slots to choose from, so very flexible. If you are travelling like me, this will work very well!”

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3.40-Minute Historical Boat Tour of City Center

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 430 reviews · 40 min · from $12

Cruise Ghent’s center for 40 minutes with a local guide in Dutch, English, or French. From Graslei, you’ll pass the Butcher’s Hall, Dulle Griet, the Old Fish Market, Gravensteen Castle, and Rabot. Open and covered boats operate according to the weather, making this a useful first look at the city.

“Guide was informative, energetic, patient and helped me getting put of boat. I highly recommend this beautiful, relaxing tour.”

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4.Guided Boat Trip in Ghent

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 181 reviews · 40 minutes (approx.) · from $13

Take a 40-minute cruise from Graslei through central Ghent, passing the historic port, Great Meat Hall, and Castle of the Counts. Your guide provides live commentary, often in several languages, with stories about the city, architecture, and local life. Boats may be open or covered, and departures run every 15 to 30 minutes depending on the season.

“Great activity if travelling solo in Ghent. Boat tour was fun, informative, and a great way to meet other travellers”

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5.Guided Walking Tour and Canal Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 128 reviews · 2h 30m · from $32

Join an English-speaking local guide outside Ghent’s Belfry for a 150-minute tour covering St. Bavo’s Cathedral, the Mystic Lamb, guild quays, markets, Patershol, and Gravensteen. Finish with a 30-minute canal cruise using an audio guide with illustrated translations. Guides may include Ariel, Peter, Juliana, or Eros.

“Very nice tour, too bad we had rain for about an hour”

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6.Unique skyline sailing

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 47 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $44

Join a professional skipper for a brisk North Sea boat ride from Blankenberge toward De Haan, Wenduine, and Zeebrugge-Bad. The small boat carries no more than 12 people, soft drinks are served, and the route returns to Havenplein. Bring a jacket, even on a warm day, since the sea air can feel cool.

“Niet doorgegaan. Er is afgebeld. In de ochtend werden we ge-appt dat de golven te hoog zouden zijn helaas. Erg jammer. We hadden ons enorm verheugd.”

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7.Unforgettable sea trip to the wind farms in the North Sea

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 44 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $106

From Blankenberge, Captain Wolter or another certified skipper takes you by fast boat past the Belgium Pier to a North Sea wind farm about 30 km offshore. Expect a small group of up to 12, a safety briefing, drinks, a restroom, and clear explanations about the turbines and Belgium’s offshore power network.

“Wow! What an exciting adventure. Thank you to the professional and friendly team from water-taxi.be. You kept us updated on the changing weather conditions and treated us like royalty from arrival until departure. Great experience to witness the workings of green-energy. Truly a once in a lifetime experience for us.”

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8.Bruges & Ghent Tour with Cruise & Chocolate Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 13 reviews · from $81

Travel by luxury coach from Brussels to Bruges and Ghent with an English or Spanish-speaking guide. Walk through Bruges, taste chocolate at Pol Depla Chocolatier, cruise Ghent’s canals, and enjoy free time in both cities. The day lasts 10 hours and includes transport, guided visits, the cruise, and chocolate tasting.

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