What time does the Christmas market start in Brussels?
Brussels Christmas market is open daily from noon to 10 PM, starting on the last Friday of November and until the first Sunday of January. On December 24 and 31, it closes at 6 PM. Winter 2023-2024: This winter, the Brussels Christmas Market is open from 24 November 2023 until 31 December 2023.
Opening hours: 12 pm to 10 pm. In the Village of the guest of honor, Place de la Bourse, open every day, come discover indigenous crafts and culinary specialties in the double chalets.
All displays and yummy food and drinks were satisfying! The decorations and festivities are lovely, however, it is mostly food with very little traditional Christmas crafts to purchase. We did enjoy walking around and seeing the vendors and riding the Ferris wheel at night. It gets rather crowded after 7pm.
From 24 November to 31 December 2023, in the centre of Brussels. The Winter Wonders event takes place before and during the Christmas holidays, at the Grand-Place and city centre of Brussels. Winter Wonders includes: Christmas market with more than 200 chalets.
The show normally starts around 5.00 pm and runs every hour from Monday till Thursday. But during the weekend from Friday to Sunday, the show runs once every 30 minutes, and the duration of the show is 5-6 minutes.
Brussels Travel Guide 🍺 Christmas Markets in Brussels Belgium
Is Brussels or Bruges Christmas market better?
As Bruges is a small city, you won't find the big fairground attractions that you would at the Brussels Christmas market. But you will, however, find in Bruges the most Christmassy, cosy and intimate atmosphere of all the Belgium Christmas markets.
There are activities and events that you can attend that will, without a doubt, completely change your vacation. You may not find the typical snowy landscape when you walk through the streets, but that doesn't mean that traveling to Brussels in December is not worthwhile.
While the prices of everyday living expenses in Brussels are quite high, the rental prices are luckily on the lower side compared to most of the major cities in the EU. Of course, the price you'll pay for accommodation in Brussels will vary dramatically depending on size, quality and the proximity to the city centre.
Every year, our capital pulls out all the stops to offer them an unforgettable experience. Cosy Christmas markets, magical illuminations and crazy attractions transport the public to a winter wonderland. A destination worthy of the finest fairy tales, Brussels is the perfect place to celebrate Christmas.
The Brussels Christmas Markets are free to visit. Expect to pay, of course, at the stalls for experiences, gifts, and food but there is no entry fee. Many stalls now accept credit cards, but cash (Euros) is still needed for some purchases.
Snowfall is more likely in the hills on the east of Belgium, but you could still have a few light snow showers in December. Temperatures are very low in December with a daily average of just 4°C. In the afternoon, temperatures often increase to 6°C but gradually drop to 1°C at night.
How many stalls does Brussels Christmas market have?
Where to find the Christmas markets. The Brussels Christmas market, over 250 wooden chalet stalls, is spread out over the capital between Grand Place, Rue de la Bourse, Place Sainte-Catherine and Marché aux Poissons.
Which Christmas market was voted the best in Brussels?
Winter Wonders ('Plaisir d'Hiver' in French, 'Winterpret' in Dutch) has been named the best Christmas market in the world by popular travel website Big 7 Travel, beating the famed festive attractions in Berlin and Dresden.
Shops are usually open from Monday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 18:00. On the main shopping streets and in the shopping centres, some shops open until 19:00 and, more rarely, until 20:00.
beers range from about 2.50 for a pils up to 5-6 euros depending on the beer. A coffee is about 2.50-3 euros, for a small cup and there are no free refills, same for tea and soft drinks!
Prices are usually very reasonable – reckon on about €12 for the more modest dishes, €17 for the more substantial – though of course you will often pay more in the most popular tourist destinations.
A perfectly decent glass of wine should be around 2,50-3,00 euro. For diner, there is also a wide choice of restaurants, menus and dishes to pick from. An entree will cost you about 12 euro, the main dish somewhat between 18 and 25 euro, and a dessert can be about 10 euro.
Liège is proud to be the very first Belgian city to feature a Christmas market, also claiming to have the largest in the country. Downtown Liège transforms into a Christmas village during the holiday season where little wooden chalets let you shop to your heart's content.
What do they drink at Christmas markets in Belgium?
Some people will enjoy a gin mixture called jenever, while others will enjoy a gluhwein – a spiced hot wine drink usually served at Christmas markets. You might also find something called a 'Three Wise Men Pie' or bread called a 'galette des rois' which is decorated with a gold paper crown.
Located in Wijnegem, 6 km west to Antwerp city centre, the Wijnegem Shop Eat Enjoy is the biggest shopping centre in Belgium. With more than 60,000 sq m of retail surfaces and 240 stores, this shopping attracts close to 10,000,000 visitors on a yearly basis.
We rarely have snow over Christmas. You should be really very lucky. Mulled wine, a Christmas market, ice-skating rink, etc. will all be available, though. Brussels is indeed very nice at Christmas.
Brussels is inland, so it has more of a continental climate than coastal cities like Bruges or Antwerp, but it still doesn't experience freezing temperatures. Brussels sees an average high of 43°F (6°C) in December and a low of 35°F (2°C).
With four days to explore Brussels, you'll get a taste of everything the Belgian capital has to offer, plus you'll be able to visit other sites in Belgium. The Belgian capital is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.
