Enchanting Christmas markets in Brussels: 4 ways to explore

Christmas markets in Brussels encapsulate everything that’s wonderful about this special time of year. The events are like a warm hug for the senses, with unique sights, joyful sounds, and the scent of tempting eats drifting across the crisp air. Discover more about the stalls and attractions to make the most of your experience.

Winter Wonders (also known locally as Plaisirs d’Hiver or Winterpret) is by far the biggest Christmas market in Brussels. In fact, it’s one of the largest in the world. It stretches for over two kilometres and features more than 200 chalets offering everything from local crafts and Christmas ornaments to mulled wine and seasonal delicacies.

The market stalls, attractions and activities extend to various areas of the city centre, so Winter Wonders could be thought of as one event with several different markets. It sometimes feels like the whole of the Old Town has been turned into a Christmas market!

There’s a huge tree at the centre of Grand Place, the city’s most famous square, while the largest market area is at Marché aux Poissons near Place Sainte-Catherine, around 10 minutes’ walk from Grand Place. Along the way, you can stop by and browse the stalls at Place de la Bourse. Circle back via Place de la Monnaie and Place de Brouckère to take in even more of the festive atmosphere.

The opening dates for Winter Wonders vary slightly each year, but the event generally runs from the last week of November until the first week of January. Unlike many other Christmas markets around Europe, Winter Wonders remains open on Christmas day and continues up until New Year. Many of the stalls tend to open late, until around 10pm, except for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve when they close a little earlier.

If you’d like to explore the markets when they’re not too crowded, it’s best to choose a date that falls on a weekday. However, weekends have more events like festive concerts, film screenings and parades, so you can join locals as they enjoy their weekends with holiday-themed entertainment.

There’s so much going on across this winter wonderland, with attractions and activities for all ages. Get a Santa Claus–eye view of the glittering markets from above when you ride on the huge Ferris wheel at Marché aux Poissons. Very nearby, Place Sainte-Catherine has a merry-go-round that younger kids will love. Just across the street, the Black Tower (Tour Noire) often hosts events for children, such as magic shows and storytelling. This medieval tower is worth a visit at any time of year.

The ice rink at Place de Brouckère is another big attraction at Winter Wonders, and this location also has curling rinks. Perfect for working up an appetite before sampling some of the many culinary delights that the chalets have on offer. There are also covered terraces around Place de Brouckère and Place de la Monnaie, where you can sit down with a drink and soak up the merry buzz of the markets.

Along with beautiful artisanal gifts, handmade jewellery and holiday decorations, the twinkling chalets at the Brussels Christmas markets feature irresistible food and drink offerings. Hot mulled wine flows freely, as does sumptuous hot chocolate. To sample a traditional liquor that’s popular in Belgium and the Netherlands, order a juniper-flavoured jenever. Look out for pop-up bars around the squares, too.

Belgian classics like wafflesor frites (fries) with mayo are naturally found in abundance, while intriguing gastronomic creations and international eats add to the culinary scene. Sample German bratwurst sausage or tartiflette, a creamy casserole from the French Alps and northwest Italy. Oliebol, a Dutch and Belgian version of sweet dumplings or donuts, is a traditional treat to try on New Year’s Eve. To capture Instagram-worthy photos, look out for whole salmon being smoked right at the stalls.

Follow your nose to seek out everything from empanadas to Japanese udon noodles, or Canadian fare like poutine fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. Watch children’s faces light up when they come across toffee grapes alongside more traditional toffee apples—another fantastic photo opportunity.

Good to know: Mulled wine is known locally as bisschopswijn or glühwein.

Be sure to catch the 360-degree sound and light show at Grand Place, which takes place most evenings during Winter Wonders and is one of the best free things to do in Brussels around Christmas. The 17th-century architecture surrounding Grand Place is among the most enchanting in Europe, and seeing it illuminated during the sound and light show is an unforgettable experience. The life-size nativity scene in the square is also a must-see.

Expect to find some fun, quirky features as you explore—like the ice monster, a 45-metre-long dinosaur with special effects and jaws big enough to walk into. The Winter Wonders programme has also included virtual reality experiences, as well as sections dedicated to a particular country or culture.

Winter Wonders has a lot to discover, but don’t miss other festive features around the Old Town. Brussels goes big on holiday lights across the city, and traditional snowflakes and bauble illuminations mix with contemporary installations. Creative additions include a geocaching trail—an interactive treasure hunt using GPS.

Shops and businesses light up their premises too, from cosy candlelit windows to the magnificent lighting inside the city’s historical shopping arcades. Among our favourites is the display at Galeries Royales Saint Hubert, where the illuminations enhance the ornate 19th-century architecture.

To get a memorable overhead view of the markets, step inside the Bourse, the former stock exchange set in a grand neoclassical building. Take the elevator up to The Beerlab, the building’s rooftop bar that’s part of the Belgian Beer World museum. Up on the rooftop, you can take in the joyous sight of Brussels at Christmas with a Belgian beer in hand.

Belgian Beer World

• Boulevard Anspach 80, 1000 Brussels
• Transport: Bourse tram stop, tram routes 3 and 4
• Museum open from 10am to 5.30pm daily except Mondays, December 25th and January 1st. 
• Contact the venue for The Beerlab’s Winter Wonders hours

Many hotels in the city centre are close to at least one section of the market, and they range from budget options to chic luxury. Novotel Brussels City Centre is steps from the Ferris wheel and the biggest market at Marché aux Poissons, as is ibis Brussels City Centre. You’ll have the giant Christmas tree as your neighbour when you book a room at Novotel Brussels off Grand Place.

Sophisticated Le Louise Hotel Brussels - MGallery is around 10 minutes from the main square by bus or taxi. The hotel is on the border of the historic centre and Ixelles, a vibrant quarter where many locals will continue their evening after the markets close.

The cold weather in Belgium around Christmas is ideal for enjoying warm drinks and hearty food. But if you’re visiting Brussels in winter, be sure to bring good footwear in case the cobbled streets around the markets are a little slippery from rain or frost.

The stalls found at Winter Wonders have different policies on whether they take credit cards or cash (or both), so it’s worth taking some cash as well as your card to ensure you can buy whatever you like.

To find out about variations in the programme and opening dates for future Winter Wonders events, check out the official website. Have a wonderful time exploring Brussels at Christmas!