17 Nov 2025 You couldn't have chosen a better place to spend a few days at Christmas than Brussels. The city always shines with its own light and boasts a fascinating history and culture, but at Christmas time it's a completely magical place.
Walk among its monuments while it snows, discover its fantastic cuisine, and, of course, get lost in its Christmas markets, where you can truly experience the Christmas spirit.
Join us on our tour of the best Christmas markets and stalls, so you don't miss a single thing about Christmas in Brussels and make the most of your visit to the Belgian capital.
The Christmas market, and with it, the great Christmas event "Plaisirs d'Hiver," begins on November 29th and ends on January 5th. The stalls and markets are open to the public from 12 noon to 10:00 p.m., except on December 24th and 31st, when they will close at 6:00 p.m.
Now that we know the when, let's talk about the where. Although we talk about a single Christmas market, it's actually spread across several areas in central Brussels.
This way, you can combine monuments with Christmas markets on walks through the city that will last all day, and for good reason. The magic of Christmas captivates the city and the more than two million visitors who enjoy it each year.
You can choose how to divide your route: you can choose the main Christmas market and spend the afternoon there, or you can spread your visit to all the markets over several days. Brussels becomes one of the most beautiful cities in the world at Christmas time. Come and discover why.
The Christmas market on Place de la Bourse, the Marché aux Poissons at the Bourse de Bruxelles, is one of the largest, most impressive, most popular, and most beautiful of all the markets scattered throughout Brussels.
Although its epicentre is the square of the former Brussels Stock Exchange, the surrounding streets are also filled with craft and food stalls. Because here you can find everything related to Christmas.
Christmas stalls with handmade items, such as candles, jewellery and costume jewellery, Christmas decorations of all kinds, and, of course, traditional food. Delicious Christmas snacks and flavours, such as mulled wine or delicious Raclette cheese. Its gastronomic offering is the widest in the entire city, and its bars will offer you all the traditional drinks and beers you can imagine.
Very close to the Marché aux Poissons we just mentioned, you'll find the Place Sainte Catherine Christmas market. The important thing about this market isn't its size, as it's considerably smaller than the Marché aux Poissons, but its unique focus on Canadian food and drink, from its beers to its maple syrups.
Since 2021, Place de la Brouckère has been added to the list of the best Christmas markets in Brussels. Thanks to its large number of Christmas stalls, it has positioned itself as the second largest in Brussels.
It has one of the best atmospheres in the city, and it's no surprise, considering its location, the wide range and variety of products, and the presence of an ice-skating rink. That's why it's one of your must-see stops on your route through the best Christmas markets in Brussels.
Our last stop is Place de la Monnaie, home to the fantastic building that housed the former Mint. The Christmas market here focuses more on drinks than traditional crafts. Just seeing the former Mint is worth the visit.
Belgian cuisine is rich in ingredients and flavours. Plus, there's a bit of everything, from a traditional beef stew to French fries and waffles. Variety is the spice of life.
Starting with drinks, the most traditional and popular is mulled wine, known as "vin chaud." You might think it's not a very good idea to warm wine, but after an afternoon walking through Brussels in winter, nothing soothes the cold like mulled wine. Also remember that Belgium has a long tradition of craft beers.
If you're looking for something to eat, our first recommendation is French fries. Order them with the traditional mayonnaise-like sauce, and waffles, either plain or with chocolate. Even order chocolate on its own; Brussels is home to some of the best chocolate shops in the world.
Although the centre of Brussels is magically illuminated, the Christmas markets fill the air, and the great monuments are the capital's main attraction, Christmas still has more to offer.
Don't forget that there are several ice skating rinks in Brussels, such as the one in Place de la Brouckère. We promise fun, although you might find quite a few people who have the same idea, so be patient.
For €10, you can ride the Giant Ferris Wheel, which will offer incredible views of the entire city of Brussels. From here, you'll see the old Stock Exchange, which we also recommend visiting inside, as its renovation has been completed and its interior looks just as beautiful as its exterior.
If you want to further fuel your Christmas spirit, stop by the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, where a giant Nativity scene is on display, admission is completely free. And, of course, don't forget to explore the best traditional Belgian taverns, where you can sample a variety of local craft beers.
And for the sporty types, don't forget the annual Manneken Pis race, which this year takes place on December 26th. It's a night-time charity run through the centre of Brussels, a completely different way to discover the city.
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17 Nov 2025 