Brussels Christmas Market
Brussels Christmas Market
4.5
About
The Brussels Christmas Market is a real-life Winter Wonderland. Held annually in the Place Saint Catherine, this charming market offers a glimpse into Christmas Past with over 200 traditional wooden chalets filled with local treasures and gifts that are perfect for the holidays. If shopping isn’t your game, there are plenty of other seasonal activities to choose from, like ice skating, carnival rides, and a sound and light show.
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The area
Address
How to get there
- Sint-Katelijne • 4 min walk
- Beurs • 5 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
3,102 within 3 miles
Attractions
605 within 6 miles
See what other travelers are saying
- Nicola P4 contributionsChristmas marketGreat trip with loads to see and do. Would recommend the sightseeing bus as to see the city in its entirety as is impossible on foot and the hop on hop off bus is great and easy to use. The only thing I would watch out for is the taxis at the Eurostar terminal, they will rip you off (we were ) as they are aware you are a tourist. The rest of the taxis we got in the town and from the hotel were fine but just be aware !Visited December 2019Traveled with friendsWritten January 6, 2020
- G/JUnited Kingdom146 contributionsAmazing TimeThe musical light show that was free and displayed in main Palace Square was something never seen before and something you could continue to watch over and over again, with catchy, spell binding music. The market stalls were spread out over various locations, meaning no site was to crowded and space for everyone. Old fashion carasoules around as well as well as having the big wheel relocated from the Palace of Justices to the main centre. Lots of Belgium food on offer as well as crafts and decorations. Price range for any budget. Sweet stall at one area even let you try some unknown products before you brought as well. Perfume stall sold various size bottles, again for any price range and made from natural ingredients.Visited November 2022Written December 7, 2022
- Celine HaddadBrussels, Belgium7 contributionsLovely Christmas marketI guess it's the best Christmas market in Europe! Everything was amazing about it. It really makes you feel the Christmas spirit! The lights, the music, the shows, etc. All displays and yummy food and drinks were satisfying!Visited December 2022Written March 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
212 reviews
Excellent
110
Very good
63
Average
27
Poor
9
Terrible
3
Pete H
7 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
We booked a 4 night stay in Brussels in between Christmas and New Year. We visited Vienna last Christmas and had high Hope's, we were wrong. The place is filthy, full of beggars and rough sleepers/refugees. We didn't feel safe at all walking to and from our hotel and the area next to the Midi train station is awful. Men urinating in the street in full view of everyone!
We took a day trip to Amsterdam and what a contrast! Beautiful city and friendly welcomes.
New York is far cleaner and safer. Sorry I cannot recommend this place at all and we are not planning to return.
We took a day trip to Amsterdam and what a contrast! Beautiful city and friendly welcomes.
New York is far cleaner and safer. Sorry I cannot recommend this place at all and we are not planning to return.
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard D
Fleet, UK540 contributions
Dec 2019
We visited between christmas and new year and the markets are quite big and mainly food and drink so depends what you want. They close about 10pm each night so good for an evening out. Once you have spend a night there though that's it really. Brussels doesn't really have much else to offer apart from the Atomium which is worth looking at outside again but that's it.
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
R T
York115 contributions
Dec 2019
Brussels Christmas market is huge that's for sure. There seems to be a lot of places to eat and drink spread over two main areas. If you want to mainly eat and drink, then it might be the market for you, but if you want Christmas shopping in terms of the more traditional markets with Christmas Decorations etc. then this isn't the market for you. I have been a couple of times now and was disappointed on both occasions. Yes, there are a few stalls which offer interesting items, but it's quite limited to 'only a few' and there seems to be quite a lot of tat.
Written January 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard M
Massachusetts1,292 contributions
Dec 2012 • Friends
Not sure about the rest of the year, but the Christmas Market in and around St. Catherine's is spectacular. Three unusual carousels, a slide, a skating rink with a little kid's area, and a giant ferris wheel provide wonderful things to do. Food and drink abound and there are lots of crafts and Christmas items to buy. Hope over to the Bourse area for more food and go up to the Grand Platz to see the manger seen and the hi-tech Christmas tree. Lots to do and enjoy.
Written December 1, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cherry352
Haywards Heath, UK16 contributions
Nov 2017
I have been visiting Brussels for work and staying with friends who actually LIVE in Brussels for the past 30 years. We discovered the Son et lumiere in the Grand Place at Christmas (well I was there at the end of November) by accident. It is awesome - try it! Every Evening
Written July 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Homeschool_Mom_Patti
Peachtree City, GA546 contributions
Dec 2021 • Couples
Open this year through Jan.2, noon to 10pm. The city is decorated so beautifully and easy to wander through on foot. There were several markets dotted all over the city, but close enough to walk. We took 2 nights to reach them all. I think Belgium surpassed Germany this year in Christmas spirit since Bavaria has closed all of their markets. I found a terrific website that helped me navigate the Christmas markets in Brussels and even included a walking map--called fullsuitcase. There were plenty of food stalls selling waffles, candy, bonbons, gingerbread, raclette dishes, burgers, chili, pastas, tacos, sandwiches, sausages, fish, salmon, mushrooms, potato pancakes, potato dishes, fries, and lots of hot wine and other alcohol. There were an array of things to buy, my favorite being paper star lanterns and nativity sets.
When you buy hot mulled wine, you'll pay an extra euro for the cup, which you can keep as a souvenir or return to any wine stall to get your euro back.
Don't forget to see the AMAZING light show (music was too weird for me) at Grand Park every hour on the hour starting at 5pm, and on the half-hour on the weekends. The giant Christmas tree in Grand Park is really beautiful too! To top it off, there was ice skating, a Ferris wheel, a carousel, and even carnival rides.
Be sure to bring your vaccination card or negative covid test, or a picture of it on your phone in order to get a bracelet that will allow you to buy food, etc.
When you buy hot mulled wine, you'll pay an extra euro for the cup, which you can keep as a souvenir or return to any wine stall to get your euro back.
Don't forget to see the AMAZING light show (music was too weird for me) at Grand Park every hour on the hour starting at 5pm, and on the half-hour on the weekends. The giant Christmas tree in Grand Park is really beautiful too! To top it off, there was ice skating, a Ferris wheel, a carousel, and even carnival rides.
Be sure to bring your vaccination card or negative covid test, or a picture of it on your phone in order to get a bracelet that will allow you to buy food, etc.
Written December 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul D
Rothwell, Australia61 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
We visited Brussels on a recommendation and found the Christmas market very good. Great stalls and lovely people staffing them. But please be aware of the amount of beggars there are. So many and so brazen, you will get no peace so be patient.
Written December 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
samcollett
Cambridge, UK5 contributions
Dec 2017
I don't under why the market is not held in the Grand Place where the tree and light show is. The market was spread out and not very atmospherical. There were plenty of stalls selling hot drinks and takeaway food, but not much in the way of local gifts and crafts.
Written January 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
katie s
147 contributions
Dec 2016 • Friends
The main part of this market is in The market place St Catherines and can be reached via Metro or a car park is a mere few minutes walk away.
There are plenty of stalls to view - many varieties of food to eat along your way and a fair few stalls offering schnapps or gluhwein to warm you on a cold day. The Gluhwein stalls serve your drink in plastic wine or champagne style glasses these have a 1euro deposit returned when glass is returned. ( There are some pictured beakers on some stalls too) We only found one stall offering a ceramic mug like German and French markets - it was a small cauldon style cup sold at 6.50e .
A big wheel is at the base of the market walk but on a busy day be prepared for a wait.
There are several toilets surrounding the market which a 50c charge. There are a few make shift bars running through the centre with covering /Shelter.
There are two different light shows at near St Catherine with moving paterns and another held in the Grand Place showing lights and colour chages which light up every building and dance to the Music. Depending on which day you go the times for the Grand place change from every 30mins to evry 1hr.
The whole place is light up with varied lights and decorations and the walk from the market to the grand place is around 7mins ( providing you do not stop at all the stalls on route)
Most if not all of the usual tourist or chocolate shops are open through out the day and into the night and there are plenty of restaurants and bars open if you want to escape the markets for a while.
Bare in mind if you have small children walking or in a pram or you have someone in a wheelchair it is better to head to the Grandplace for the light show with plenty of time because it fills up fast and can be a struggle to get through the crowd.
In all the whole experience is enjoyable
There are plenty of stalls to view - many varieties of food to eat along your way and a fair few stalls offering schnapps or gluhwein to warm you on a cold day. The Gluhwein stalls serve your drink in plastic wine or champagne style glasses these have a 1euro deposit returned when glass is returned. ( There are some pictured beakers on some stalls too) We only found one stall offering a ceramic mug like German and French markets - it was a small cauldon style cup sold at 6.50e .
A big wheel is at the base of the market walk but on a busy day be prepared for a wait.
There are several toilets surrounding the market which a 50c charge. There are a few make shift bars running through the centre with covering /Shelter.
There are two different light shows at near St Catherine with moving paterns and another held in the Grand Place showing lights and colour chages which light up every building and dance to the Music. Depending on which day you go the times for the Grand place change from every 30mins to evry 1hr.
The whole place is light up with varied lights and decorations and the walk from the market to the grand place is around 7mins ( providing you do not stop at all the stalls on route)
Most if not all of the usual tourist or chocolate shops are open through out the day and into the night and there are plenty of restaurants and bars open if you want to escape the markets for a while.
Bare in mind if you have small children walking or in a pram or you have someone in a wheelchair it is better to head to the Grandplace for the light show with plenty of time because it fills up fast and can be a struggle to get through the crowd.
In all the whole experience is enjoyable
Written January 4, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kurt Farrugia
Birzebbuga, Malta61 contributions
Dec 2016 • Couples
Out hotel is just a corner away so we are going there every evening. There are a lot of stall with a lot to see, buy and taste. Food is awesome. You cannot miss it.
Written December 16, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Claudia
7 contributions
Hola, me gustaría saber si para finales de este año 2020 estará abierto.
Muchas gracias!
R Z
Greater London, UK104 contributions
Best way to get from the Eurostar terminal to the Christmas market please?
Ralf B.
Julich, Germany3 contributions
Hallo ist der Weihnachtsmarkt auch an den Feiertagen geöffnet??? Ganztägig??
Würde mich sehr über Infos freuen.
Gruß Ralf
Luis Prieto
Madrid, Spain158 contributions
Hola! Para esta próxima Navidad, qué día comienza el mercado navideño de Bruselas? Sé que en Brujas todo comenzará a partir del 22 de noviembre de 2019. Un saludo y gracias.
Browr006
United Kingdom12 contributions
Hi can you pre book the ferris wheel for winter wonders?
fulteee
Great Malvern, UK6 contributions
Hi.
Does anybody know when the brussels Christmas market run? I was thinking of going December the 6th
Stuart R
Gillingham, UK261 contributions
Does anyone have recommendations on how to get from the Eurostar terminal to the Christmas Market?
Do you pay to get in to the market?
Do you pay extra for things like the ice skating?
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Claim your listingBrussels Christmas Market - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Brussels Christmas Market
- We recommend booking Brussels Christmas Market tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 4 Brussels Christmas Market tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Brussels Christmas Market:
- (0.09 mi) Atlas Hotel Brussels
- (0.13 mi) Yawn
- (0.09 mi) B&B Be in Brussels
- (0.09 mi) Hotel Cafe Pacific
- (0.15 mi) Brussels Welcome Hotel
- Restaurants near Brussels Christmas Market:
- (0.10 mi) Boulangerie Charli
- (0.09 mi) Noordzee Mer du Nord
- (0.08 mi) Chicago Cafe
- (0.11 mi) Frites Atelier
- (0.11 mi) La Belle Maraichere
Brussels Christmas Market Information
| Excellent Reviews | 110 |
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| Very Good Reviews | 63 |
| Brussels Christmas Market Photos | 361 |









































































