A medieval Flemish city that rarely makes the itinerary because Bruges hogs the spotlight — but Ghent has a real castle you can climb, the Ghent Altarpiece, and a genuinely lived-in canal-front instead of a museum-piece one. It's now comfortably within a single charge, though a top-up before heavy in-city driving never hurts.
Ghent was medieval Europe's second-biggest city after Paris, and it shows: the Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts) is a genuine 12th-century fortress you can actually walk through — battlements, dungeon and all — right in the city center. Saint Bavo's Cathedral holds the Ghent Altarpiece (the Van Eyck brothers' "Adoration of the Mystic Lamb"), one of the most fought-over, stolen-and-recovered artworks in history. Add the Graslei and Korenlei — a solid wall of stepped guild-house façades facing each other across the Leie river, free to walk day or night — and a city that Flanders itself rates as one of the best places in Europe to ride a bike, and it earns the extra kilometers over Bruges.
Source: Tesla Superchargers in Belgium, Kortrijk Supercharger, Ghent Supercharger.
Drive up via the A1 through the Lille/Kortrijk corridor. Once parked, spend the afternoon walking the Graslei and Korenlei — the twin quays of gabled guild-house façades facing each other across the Leie, completely free and at their best in late-afternoon light. Wander into the Patershol quarter (old tanners' district, now full of restaurants) for the evening.
Sources: park4night Zuiderlaan, park4night Jubileumlaan, park4night Hofbouwlaan, Camping Urban Gardens Blaarmeersen.
Morning at the Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts) — climb the battlements, see the dungeon and count's residence, audio guide included in the ticket. Individual entry is €15 (Ghent residents and youngsters get discounts; free for children under 12). Cross to Saint Bavo's Cathedral for the Ghent Altarpiece — the nave itself is free, but viewing the Van Eyck altarpiece up close requires a separate ticket, roughly €12.50–16 depending on the tour option (standard, "Master of Detail," or the panels-only version), best booked online in advance. Note the altarpiece's upper register is currently off-site at MSK Ghent during its final restoration phase (through spring 2027) — high-quality photos stand in at the cathedral meanwhile.
Sources: Gravensteen official prices, Saint Bavo's Cathedral / Ghent Altarpiece tickets, Gruut City Brewery.
Ghent and Flanders are genuinely among the best cycling regions in Europe — dedicated, well-signed cycle paths run along the canals and out into the countryside, completely separate from car traffic. Spend the morning riding the Leie riverside paths and the Vrijdagmarkt loop, or a longer stretch out toward Sint-Martens-Latem. Grab a cone of real Belgian fries (double-fried in beef fat, choice of 25+ sauces) for €3–4 as a last lunch before the road. No charging stop is strictly needed for the drive home, but the Ghent or Kortrijk Supercharger is right there if you'd rather leave with a full buffer.
Bike loaded inside per the Car Camping & Bike Guide — no range penalty. Ghent's cycling infrastructure is a different league from anywhere near Paris: wide, dedicated, and everywhere. Even a short morning ride along the Leie or through the university quarter is worth the effort of unloading the bike.
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tolls (mostly free — A1 motorway sections, minor French péage) | ≈ €5–10 |
| Charging (Kortrijk/Ghent Superchargers, round trip) | ≈ €20–30 |
| Lodging (free park4night spot, or ~€41–57/night Blaarmeersen) | €0–100 |
| Gravensteen entry | ≈ €15 |
| Ghent Altarpiece ticket | ≈ €12.50–16 |
| Splurge dinner (waterzooi + Gruut beer) | ≈ €25–30 |
| Fries, Gentse neuzekes candy & self-cooked food | ≈ €25–30 |
| Total | €110–150 |