Ghent Self Guided Walking Tour Rebels, Dragons and Secret

4.8 (12 reviews) 2–3 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

12 reviews

4.8

Ghent Self Guided Walking Tour Rebels, Dragons and Secret — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Ghent Self Guided Walking Tour Rebels, Dragons and Secret, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

In Ghent, calling someone a noose bearer is a compliment. A stolen masterpiece has been missing for nearly a century, and a detective is still assigned to the case. Students once seized a medieval castle because beer went up by one franc. This is not a typical European city.

This self guided audio tour takes you through 18 stops across Ghent's historic centre, from the world's most stolen painting at Saint Bavo's Cathedral to guild houses where merchants claimed first pick of every passing cargo. You'll hear the dragon legend atop the Belfry, walk through ever changing street art in Graffiti Street, and end at a cannon named after a woman fierce enough to storm Hell.

Three kilometres. Two and a half hours. Eighteen stories you won't find in a guidebook. Start anytime, pause whenever you like, and go at your own pace.

Over 20,000 travelers have used our self guided tours. The tour comes with a full refund guarantee.

Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Audio Guides Historical Tours Walking Tours Best Conversion Low Supplier Cancellation Rate Low Last Minute Supplier Cancellation Rate

At a glance

Duration: 2–3 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Audio guide: German, Russian, Portuguese, English, Italian, Polish, French, Dutch, Spanish
Operated by: Tourific

Ages: Adults (17–65 years)

What is included

Included

Included: 100% Satisfaction Guarantee: If you don’t love the tour, write to us for a full refund.
Included: Audio and written guide included ( AI generated )
Included: Offline access to the tour (no internet connection needed) once tour is downloaded
Included: Images to identify stops and in app interactive map for navigation
Included: 1-year access on iOS & Android. Listen to the tour anytime, as many times as you like
Included: Check or search your inbox for an email from “Tourific” with tour access instructions.

Not included

Not included: Snacks

Itinerary

St. Bavo's Cathedral

5 min

Trace the cathedral's evolution from a wooden chapel to the site of Emperor Charles the Fifth's baptism.
St. Bavo's Cathedral

5 min

Stand before the most stolen artwork in history and hear the unsolved mystery of the missing panel.
Stop 3

5 min

Look up at the gilded dragon and hear its legendary journey from Constantinople to the top of Ghent's tallest tower.
Mammelokker

5 min

Find the striking relief of a daughter nursing her imprisoned father, mounted right on the old city jail's doorstep.
Stop 5

5 min

Step into the merchants' guild church and spot the hidden medieval façade uncovered by chance across the square.
St Michael's Bridge

5 min

Pause at Ghent's most photographed viewpoint for a panorama of three iconic towers lined up in a row.
St Michael s Church

5 min

Study Van Dyck's dramatic Golgotha painting and identify each symbolic figure in the crucifixion scene.
Graslei and Korenlei

5 min

Walk between the grand guild houses where Ghent's merchants claimed first pick of every passing cargo.
St. Veerleplein

5 min

Stand on a former execution ground where streetlamps now flicker to announce each newborn baby in Ghent.
Gravensteen

5 min

Explore the Castle of the Counts, once seized by students protesting a one franc increase in beer prices.
Groentenmarkt

5 min

Visit the Great Butchers' Hall with its hanging hams and hear the tale of Ghent's cuberdon candy war.
Stop 12

5 min

Walk through layers of street art in Ghent's famous Graffiti Street, born from a festival three decades ago.
Stop 13

5 min

Hear how Charles the Fifth forced fifty men to kneel with nooses around their necks, creating a lasting symbol of defiance.
St James' Church

5 min

Pay respects at the pilgrim church where a surgeon who shared lifesaving forceps with the world lies in an unmarked grave.
Vrijdagmarkt

5 min

Meet the man whose statue still points toward England and learn the pub ritual that costs you a shoe.
Dulle Griet

5 min

End your walk beside a massive medieval bombard named after a woman fierce enough to storm Hell.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

This is a self-guided audio tour on the "Tourific self-guided tours" app. To activate the tour, check your email for instructions from Tourific or your booking platform sent right after booking. Can’t find it? Search for “Tourific” in your email inbox and spam folder. OR contact us via support.

End point

The tour ends at the Saint Bavo's Cathedral

Using your ticket

Know before you go :

•⁠ ⁠You will need to download the "Tourific self guided tours" app from the Google play store or App store

•⁠ ⁠Right after booking, you’ll receive an email from Tourific or the tour booking platform with instructions to access the tour.

•⁠ ⁠Having trouble finding the email? Just search for “Tourific” in your inbox or spam folder.

•⁠ ⁠For any issues - contact [email protected]

•⁠ ⁠The tour is valid for 1 year and can be listened to any number of times. So feel free to download tour and experience a few stops before going on the tour.

•⁠ ⁠Fully charge your phone and carry your headphones for the best experience

•⁠ ⁠The tour follows a set route that we recommend that you follow. Once the tour is downloaded, the introduction will guide you to your starting point

•⁠ ⁠Change of plans? Enjoy the tour on a different day or from home