Hotel Gravensteen

Hotel

Visited this place with my son as he's fascinated with old castles. The castle is in a good state and fun to walk though. Not a whole lot on display so it's primarily to see the building itself and the views from it. Quite special to see such a castle in the heart of a city. Beware on the other wall there are no handrails and kids could fall down quite a bit. Definitely not a place suitable for strollers or wheelchairs due to the many steps. I feel the entrance fee of 10 euros is a bit too high for what you get though. 6 euros would be better in balance for what you get.

Info said it wasn't wheelchair friendly but, on crutches, I found it was not good for me either. Nothing mentioned when we bought tickets. There is no escape route so I had to do the whole tour _ right to the top and I, embarrassingly, held everyone up on the spiral stairs. Torture room good. Belgium doesn't have same health and safety measures in place as we do in UK so hold onto the kids. That all said, no doubt that it is an extraordinary castle and very much in the heart of beautiful Kent. Really liked the teacher discount on admission — something we don't have in UK. Teachers, take some proof for discounts all over Ghent.

This is an amazing place. It is a very well preserved castle that you can walk through on a self-guilded tour. It is full of historical artifacts as well as lots descriptions of the items and time in multiple languages. The nominal fee is well worth. If you have any interest in the middle ages and the Renaissance, the you absolutely must visit if you're in Gent.

Great location but streets can be noisy. Only very limited parking. Room spacious with large comfortable bed. Nice modern bathroom. No air conditioning but window had gauze to stop mosquitos. Friendly staff and good breakfast. Would be happy to stay here again.

It's a cool castle. Everywhere you can climb, gawk. And even there is an exhibition of ancient weapons.

Great historical building that stands in the heart of Ghent. Interesting place to visit and pretty good value. The tour is set out very well and there are informative signs on all the exhibits. The view from the ramparts over the city is beautiful and the history of the castle is interesting. Worth spending a few hours in if you have a couple of days in Ghent. You don't have to go inside which costs you around €10 and also don't have to pay €8 for taking a boat on canal. For me I just walked around castle and sat behind castle which has a nice grass area. The spot behind castle is a hidden gem. You can see the whole view of castle with moat and chill. Just awesome.

The castle offers a beautiful view of the city. But there are not enough e-partners. It took 30-40 minutes to visit.

Interesting place to visit and pretty good value. The tour is set out very well and there are informative signs on all the exhibits. The view from the ramparts over the city is beautiful and the history of the castle is interesting. Worth spending a few hours in if you have a couple of days in Ghent.

Interesting castle and a tour of it, like everything is simple, but impressive. The back of the castle "lake" — a good point for photos.

Beautiful Castle. Price 10 euros a bit expensive as the tour is still fast because in some rooms are empty. But nice visit and beautiful view of this beautiful city.

Nice visit. The renovation is a success, on the other hand I imagine that the "purists" will find fault. Our 10-year-old daughter loved it.

It was interesting to visit the real castle, to look at the city from the height of the fortress walls. Not the most pleasant impressions have produced guillotine and tools of tortures, but it is an integral part of that time… It was difficult to climb/descend on narrow spiral staircases with a small child. Nothing.

The castle has no furnishings but is well preserved. Inside there are medieval weapons and some means of torture. The visiting route is numbered and obliged.

Great historical building that stands in the heart of Ghent. It's filled with plenty of history about the building and the eras it's been through. I went on the self guided tour and was fairly satisfied with the information throughout the castle, but some of the English information was lacking and the scopes at the top aren't the best to look through.

One of the nicest castles I've been. It actually still has medieval armours and objects inside. It is well preserved and some rooms give you the idea of how it could have been originally.

Beautiful medieval castle well preserved though restored. Path not devoid of charm.

Loved. From the sight of a small lock, and wandered there long. And the views from it are the most wonderful!

We could not see it inside because in winter they close very soon around 5, but it looks very good on the outside. We liked it enough! The price per adult was €10

This is great! Very atmospheric place! For viewing is obligatory!

Actually not much to see there, but if you are ever there. Children or teenagers up to 18 free.

It is a must if you pass by Ghent, you can spend a long time touring all the recesses of the castle, there are good views and exhibits of elements of torture… It is pretty well mounted and you can access many places. I recommend it.

Very good visit for a first experience in a very well preserved medieval castle. We perceive the atmosphere of what was and despite the weather we get good photos. It is a short but accurate visit, easy to get to and on the way out with good places for a coffee.

Didn't pay to go in so no complaints there (which seem to be the bulk of the complaints, was it too hard to look up first? ) Its a beauty to look at and its right in the city so its very accessible and even just nice to stroll past. A sight to see and worth checking out, just know what you may be paying for first so you don't get pissy like some of the reviewers on here.

Worth it. Admission a little expensive — but is OK. Very nice castle.

For me is the best monument in Belgium, is that the great Place is amazing and that the whole country is full of endearing corners, but this castle is spectacular along with the Gerardo the Devil make Ghent my favorite city of Belgium. It is interesting to enter and see the different rooms and the exhibition of torture, those under 19 years go free. Highly recommended.

A castle that is good to visit, a lot of information and collections of weapons, of torture machines, as well as a beautiful view of the city of Ghent from the ramparts of the castle.

10 Euros but worth it. Nice view of the city.

Beautiful castle seen from the outside, I liked its architecture and the rooms. However, I found the rooms very little fulfilled, there are even those are empty, so we stay on our hunger and we do not come out really playful. From my point of view, this is a non-obligatory step if you are in Ghent.

Interesting medieval castle to visit. The visit is done fairly quickly, counting 45 minutes — 1 hour. Nice panorama. Entrance to 10 euros. We took the pass at 30 euros for 48h with unlimited monuments and museums.

This is such a beautiful castle and it’s located in the heart of the city. We didn’t take a look inside but even just seeing it from the outside, it’s gorgeous. I would highly recommend if you’re in the area to at least walk to it and see it from the outside. It’s a sight to see.

Very nice castle, absolutely worth a visit. All text in 4 languages. Weapon museum and torture museum are indeed too. Nice view on the city from the top platform.

Very nice castle. The renovation was very, too well done. So bah it looks like the castle of Disney land from the outside. The entrance fee of 10 euros does not justify the renovations, nor the maintenance of the small castle (because it is not a huge fortress either) and especially not the little exhibition on the spot (some armor, coat of arms and weapons…). Only the viewpoint on the city is really interesting for most visitors who will visit this castle.

There are amazing views over the whole town so be sure to climb all the way up to the ramparts on the roof. The castle itself contains brilliant displays of old weaponry and torture devices — it gets pretty graphic! After that get some fresh air — the gardens are nicely looked after and are lovely for a stroll around.

Are not pure. But from the outside also really impressive.

Superb medieval style castle very well maintained. The visit is definitely not worth it. It consists of a tour of the different floors. There are 15 rooms to visit. They are very well supplied in period objects. I only know how to advise his visit. For me, the best tourist attraction of old Ghent.

A lovely castle. The numbered signs making guiding yourself round very easy. Wasn't busy so could spend as long as desired in each section. The information is concise yet informative and in several languages.

Walk through a medieval castle. It was well worth the reasonable price. Displays were interesting. The signs guide you from beginning to end. Not suggested for people with difficulty climbing stairs as the rooms were accessible only by spiral stone staircases that had me go slowly and holding the rail. Elderly may have a difficult time with this. It took us an hour to complete. Perfect.

Spectacular castle with a very complete collection of weapons and torture utensils. The views from above are worth it. For about 10 euros enjoy a good time.

It is a very cool Ghent Castle the truth and you can enter by a modica entrance and see the interior and the views of Ghent. I do not remember well but the entrance was between 6-8 euros adults and if you go with kids something cheaper for them, but it is an hour visit and with good views of the city.

It seems to take a time trip. Ghent is truly a medieval city.

Amazing castle, magical city, at night looks enchanting.

Zarpaaado Castillo. The building is impressive, it gets you into the time. The sample inside is not as good and worth 10 euros, but touring the halls and the towers are worth it.

Great castle which despite restoration shows a nice glimpse into that medieval life. Here you also have a nice view over the city. A visit is recommended.

The old castle of the counts. Even in the torrential rain ☔ it's a great place to walk. Inside is not as damp and cold as it could be. You can climb to the top and see the surrounding streets and rivers from above.

The castle is beautiful. Imagine yourself in the distant past. The castle is perfectly preserved from the depths of centuries.

Very nice to visit, it offers a 360 ° panorama on the beautiful GENT. To visit.

The castle Gravensteen is of impressive size and also because it is partly surrounded by a moat. In impeccable condition, after a renovation, it seems extraordinarily appealing. Even those who do not like warlike attributes in themselves can reset their reservations at this sight, but they still have historical-museum character. Coming close to a castle-like structure, the rooms are also generous and the slug panes look appealing. An object not to be overlooked when visiting this city.

A wonderful journey into the Middle Ages.

Medieval castle, Ghent's must have. The roof of the castle can see the panorama of Ghent, very beautiful. The corridor is a bit too dark, blue light is dazzling.

It's worth a lot. My girlfriend and I went on a nightly opening session so we went out for free the entrance and opened up later than normal.
Inside you have a piece of a legend in every room you visit. It has a very interesting museum with old pieces and it is very easy to get into the atmosphere and feel like in the Middle Ages. Highly recommended.

It's awesome! My three year old son really enjoyed the visit. It has many complicated stairs because it is a perfectly preserved medieval building, but you can do it.

Really cool place to visit! The exhibition in the towers is very fascinating. A must see when visiting Ghent.

Located at the centre of the city, well preserved, inside tour is made interesting and exciting. Your visit is separated on 13 sections, with information about each of them. Parking is possible on the streets nearby and it is not so expensive. Entrance fee is 10 euro per person.

It is a must see place if you pass through the city. It is a castle with a lot of history, very well preserved and adapted as a museum. There you can walk through the walls and towers that compose it, as well as delve into the basements, as inside the castle you can see weapons, armour, instruments of torture and various objects of the medieval period.
Also, because it is in the center of the city, you will be able to see the good views that are available from the highest towers.
In short it is one of the historical monuments that I fondly keep from my trip to Belgium, and reemphasize again that its conservation is magnificent, which helps you to imagine what would be the lives of the people who inhabited it then.

Medieval castle with great views from the roof. The inside decor is not so impressive but then, the medieval times were also dark :)

Came here during a miserable windy and raining day. The castle was pretty unique to see the armors and torture chambers. Not much of a view on the top due to bad weather. The paths were well laid out. Overall a nice break for an hour or so in Gent.

It's nice but for €10 it costs the entrance I expected something else, inside there are halls with things of the time but it is all refurbished.

A true medieval castle-style crusades. Interiors full of history and charm. Once you arrive on the central tower you can enjoy a wonderful view over the city of Ghent.

Nice view, nice exhibition, the weather could have been better…

Very interesting castle with plenty of information on the history of Ghent, the castle, and medieval torture methods. Half price tickets given to young people (under 27). Great views of the city from the battlements.

To look at it Dallìesterno seems to go back in time, when you enter is a confirmation. We did all the way that takes you to visit the whole castle from top to bottom. Very nice, definitely a place to visit when you go to Ghent.

Nice, beautiful view, there are showcases with armor and ancient weapons, paintings. At the cost of €10 about, it takes an hour more or less, you can walk even in the gardens. Only problem is the parking lot, there are 4-5 multi-storey car parks always full throughout the city of Gent.

The castle is very nice, and has spectacular views from the top of the towers all over Ghent. For €6 we paid to be under 26, highly recommended.

We didn't expect to like it so much — a very pleasant touch to the old days! Interesting, not very long walk on the key points of the castle, there is a printout on the Russian.

It's worth it. The castle of the Counts of Ghent is beautiful. Although it is completely refurbished it is a must see. The adult price is €10 and they give you explanations in Castilian. The views from the top of the castle are spectacular.

Self guided tour. It's fun to walk through the castle and admire the history. They did a good repair job. Great view from top of the castle to oversee the old town of Gent.

This is a fantastic old castle with a lot to see inside, and really gives you an idea of how harsh life was in the middle ages. There is a museum area with ancient weapons and armour displays, and another area with torture devices. Climbing to the top of the towers gives a great view of the surrounding area. This is not suitable for small children or anyone with restricted mobility. Stairs are dark steep and not always equipped with handrails, and some walkways have considerable drops off the side. But if you are fit and up for a climb, it's worthwhile.

A very beautiful medieval castle, little furniture but a large collection of weapons, torture machines and a circuit well designed to see everything. Entrance €10 (09/2017) Great view of the city from the towers. One regret, in my opinion, is too "new"; Very well restored and maintained, one expects more rough things… Note: Completely inappropriate for strollers and wheelchairs.

A castle to discover… even if you quickly turn around… the weapons presented and the torture room are definitely worth a visit… Bonuses children do not pay up to 18 years!

Grand castle that witnessed many a wars and uprisings. Costs 10 euros to get in. Well organised. You're provided with a booklet containing information about the various exhibits and parts of the castle. Could spend 45 mins or more here. Views from the top are nice too.

The castle has such a vast history in it. It has people who can speak English inside of it, so you won't feel lost about learning about it. This definitely gives you experience on the size of people in Europe before as well.

Castle in the city center. Nice visit and view of the city and the streams. It is interesting to take a boat ride on the waterways to realize how much the castle is in party surrounded by water.

There is an atmosphere of yesteryear and CN the canal behind the castle is a beautiful view.

Very beautiful medieval castle. A guided tour must surely be better to appreciate this building.

Kids are free and 10 euros to get in for adults is a bargain for this amazing 12th century castle. Not crowded and very beautiful. Also a great place to see the skyline of Ghent.

Fantastic place to visit with lots of information on the history of the place. Lots of signs in English to help with the understanding, but you don't really need it. The views from the top and architecture of the building itself is worth the entry fee. Great for kids as it brings alot of the history of the area alive in a very obvious way.

Great historical castle complex. Unfortunately, I could visit you but it will be worth it!

Cool water castle in the midst of the city, close to the Hostels… HotSpot.

Was an interesting visit with some English Translations. I felt they could have put a bit more effort into some of the rooms as some of the numbers as you go round are as simple as 'this room was used for x', been no longer than a sentence or 2. Was still lovely to walk around.

Massive castle with a nice tour. Entertaining for 1 hour.

Very nice Castle It exhibits two rooms one on weapons and armor the other on torture objects. Main flat, if the rooms have many boxes of presentations (French included) the castle is quite stingy in information otherwise. There is a great view of the city from the top of the tower and the round road.

Attraction
Must see! Very good ⚠maintained in a while.

Very well-preserved castle in the middle of the old town of Ghent. Absolutely worth seeing!

Medieval castle really very impressive! To see.

Disappointing but also scenic. Not suitable for handicapped people (but how many stairs! ), the lap on the stands is very vivid, the small chamber of torture, but not worth the entrance fee (it is also visited in a short time). The room that struck me the most had a simple cross porthole. The spectacular thing remains the view.

Very beautiful old castle in the centre of Gent. Inside some exhibitions that are quite good, but not as good as for example some castles from France or Germany. It is an old an nice building en really not bad to visit with a nice view from the top over Gent. If you're in Gent just one day — go there for a walk inside the ancienct halls.

Great historical castle in the old town of Gent. The price is 10€ for an adult and the entrance is free for children. The castle is is in a great condition and you can explore plenty of history of Gent. At the top of the castle you have a fantastic overview of Gent. Be aware that you have to take some old and small stairs which could be a problem for some people.

Great, also for children worth a visit.

Beautiful castle make sure to check it out when visiting It has few intresting stories behind it I myself visited the castle many times and enjoyed it everytime.

Old beautiful castle. Visit recommended.

Another place to dream. Here was born César Carlos V.

Small castle with charm and superb views of the medieval skyline of Ghent.

The old Castle of the counts in Ghent, birthplace of the Emperor Carlos V, is today a stronghold that has suffered many ups and downs, still visible, so it is very restored, although it maintains its medieval spirit. Perhaps could improve access to disabled people, and promote the Museum use of some areas of the Castle.

Very nice castle with a rich history behind it. Beautiful views of the city, too. Read the guidelines as you go — those are good reminders of what shame society have been through back then.

Castle cute but small and pustovatyj. One room with armor, a Hall with his various torture instruments. Ticket 10 €-a little expensive, but in Belgium the road free.

My wife and I stayed at this hotel in June and our experience was just short of very bad. We booked several months in advance with this hotel and one of our requirements is that it must have a lift/elevator. We were booked in the "annex" part of the hotel that had a lift but would only go 3 floors and we were booked on the 4th floor. I did complain and the gentleman from front desk did offer another room but it was very small and did not look clean, looked very used and worn. We had to carry our luggage up the final steps. When we went to check out, we got stuck on the 3rd floor elevator and after about 10 minutes did pry open the door and carried our luggage the final 3 floors. The room we stayed in, room 93, looked like it was converted from an attic, the air conditioner did not cool the room so we had the choice of sleeping in a warm room or open the windows and let in MOSQUITOES! This room has a serious mosquito problem. It would have been much more useful if the gentleman at the front desk showed us the room and warned us about mosquitoes but he just gave use the room key with zero instructions. Also, we went to the bar at 6:30 to collect on their free beer offer but no one was there. The front desk clerk said she was also the bartender and would be with us in a moment. We waited 10 minutes and she never showed. I think this hotel operates more like a motel. If I return to Ghent I would spend the extra money and stay at the Marriott.

A very friendly Hotel, very clean. Staff speak several languages. Well situated for all ameneties. Value for money. Great Breakfast catering for all taste. Thankyou to everyone.

Very nice room with a view a 360 degrees on the city but unfortunately the water in the shower was barely warm and even though the staff was helpful, nothing could be done. Both parties at the hotel, a modern annex and an older part which begins to sink.

Interesting visits to the Castle… is huge and full of history, weapons, corners and a section dedicated to torture even! That Yes… Remember that the closing is early and it takes time to visit this wonder of Castle preserved cperfectamente.

Cool and great castle. 10. Euro.

Afigennyj Castle right in the city centre.

The room is small, but it's nice and clean. The wireless internet was fast.

It is a nice room, does not say how many stars have, but when you travel to these beautiful places, it is only sleeping, being comfortable, clean is sufficient.
Julieta Maria Verplancken.

Authentic, but too much construction on grounds.