Brussels Christmas Market
Brussels Christmas Market
4
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
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How to get there
- Beurs • 3 min walk
- Anneessens • 5 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
221 reviews
Excellent
112
Very good
68
Average
27
Poor
10
Terrible
4
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.
Jo L
9 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
We signed up for the Brussels Christmas market and free time tour through our cruise provider.
An 8:30am pick up time straight outside the ship, to then travel over 2 hours to the centre. If our tour guide didn't mention the ring road once, they must of said it 40 times.
Anyway, our group arrived and was "guided" through the streets (more like having to chase our guide and when we did stop to look at something, we couldn't hear a word he was saying)
We get shown the manneken pis statue which had been decorated up and had an outfit on. Ok it's a replica due to the original being damaged, but I still thought this was a bit uncalled for.
We then set off again through the streets to the Christmas market, only for it to be closed until mid day. We walked around for 40 minutes surrounded by a strong smell of piss, only to discover a urinal up against a church wall.
The Christmas market opened and after the excitement of Hamburg Christmas market, we were expecting something along similar lines.
What a disappointment! Over 200 stalls and about 90% of them are either alcoholic drinks, cheese, or some dodgy looking meat. The other 10% were items that you could find anywhere else (some even at a weekend market at home)
We had nearly 3 hours of free time which after passing the stinky food and the strong smell of booze that I used to smell from my father on a daily basis, we headed to a small park to sit and wait for our meet up time.
We'd heard such great things about this particular Christmas market, and couldn't have been more disappointed.
Back on the coach at half 2, to be driven back to the port (via the ring road yet again) to hear a lot of people who were on the same excursion saying how rubbish they thought it was.
Safe to say we won't be promoting this particular Christmas market to anyone.
An 8:30am pick up time straight outside the ship, to then travel over 2 hours to the centre. If our tour guide didn't mention the ring road once, they must of said it 40 times.
Anyway, our group arrived and was "guided" through the streets (more like having to chase our guide and when we did stop to look at something, we couldn't hear a word he was saying)
We get shown the manneken pis statue which had been decorated up and had an outfit on. Ok it's a replica due to the original being damaged, but I still thought this was a bit uncalled for.
We then set off again through the streets to the Christmas market, only for it to be closed until mid day. We walked around for 40 minutes surrounded by a strong smell of piss, only to discover a urinal up against a church wall.
The Christmas market opened and after the excitement of Hamburg Christmas market, we were expecting something along similar lines.
What a disappointment! Over 200 stalls and about 90% of them are either alcoholic drinks, cheese, or some dodgy looking meat. The other 10% were items that you could find anywhere else (some even at a weekend market at home)
We had nearly 3 hours of free time which after passing the stinky food and the strong smell of booze that I used to smell from my father on a daily basis, we headed to a small park to sit and wait for our meet up time.
We'd heard such great things about this particular Christmas market, and couldn't have been more disappointed.
Back on the coach at half 2, to be driven back to the port (via the ring road yet again) to hear a lot of people who were on the same excursion saying how rubbish they thought it was.
Safe to say we won't be promoting this particular Christmas market to anyone.
Written December 16, 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.
Richard D
Fleet, UK810 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.
Nimmy37
Chester, UK885 contributions
Dec 2023 • Business
Tagged on to an evening of a business trip the markets were very pretty and great photo opportunities. What was disappointing was the lack of selection on the stalls. All sold food or alcohol and very little else. Having done the German markets there seemed to be more selection and cute Christmas decorations and souvenirs. I couldn’t even find a mug that I usually pick up and all the beverages seemed to be served in disposable cups. I would have been slightly disappointed if I had gone specifically for the markets as although lovely to see and photograph it was just food food food and once you have eaten at one stall you are pretty much done.
Written December 14, 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.
R T
York109 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.
Celine Haddad
Brussels, Belgium6 contributions
Dec 2022
I 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!
Written 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.
Richard M
Massachusetts1,223 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, UK15 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, GA684 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, Australia56 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.
What are dates of Christmas market in 2023?
Written October 15, 2023
Hola, me gustaría saber si para finales de este año 2020 estará abierto.
Muchas gracias!
Written October 31, 2020
Best way to get from the Eurostar terminal to the Christmas market please?
Written September 10, 2020
Hallo ist der Weihnachtsmarkt auch an den Feiertagen geöffnet??? Ganztägig??
Würde mich sehr über Infos freuen.
Gruß Ralf
Written December 16, 2019
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.
Written October 14, 2019
Hi can you pre book the ferris wheel for winter wonders?
Written October 9, 2019
Hi.
Does anybody know when the brussels Christmas market run? I was thinking of going December the 6th
Written October 7, 2019
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