Bruges already looks like a Christmas card, so it's no surprise that its Christmas markets are among the most popular in Europe. The city usually runs its winter festivities from late November into early January. The challenge isn't finding the magic, it's seeing it without the day-trip crowds.

The two main markets

The Markt

The main market square, beneath the Belfry, hosts the larger market and usually an ice rink. Stalls sell gifts, hot food and drinks, with the medieval guildhalls lit up around you.

Simon Stevinplein

A short walk away, this smaller square hosts a quieter market. It's often more relaxed, a good spot for a drink away from the main crowd.

Both are free to wander, and the walk between them takes just a few minutes.

The crowd problem, and the fix

Bruges is a hugely popular day trip, by coach from France and the UK and by train from Brussels. From late morning to late afternoon, especially on Saturdays, the centre can be very crowded.

The fix is simple: stay overnight. Early mornings and evenings, after the day visitors leave, are when Bruges at Christmas is at its best. The canals reflect the lights, the streets are quiet and the markets feel local.

When to go

  • Weekdays in late November and early December are the calmest.
  • Avoid Saturdays in December if you can.
  • Between Christmas and New Year, the markets usually continue, with the festive atmosphere and fewer coach parties.

What to eat and drink

  • Belgian waffles, hot from the iron.
  • Frites in a paper cone.
  • Glühwein or Belgian mulled beer.
  • Hot chocolate made with Belgian chocolate. Bruges' chocolate shops are an attraction in their own right.

Beyond the stalls

Christmas markets fill an evening, not a weekend. Fill the rest of your time with:

  • A canal boat tour (GetYourGuide) if the weather allows. Some routes run in winter, with blankets.
  • Climbing the Belfry for the view over the rooftops.
  • The museums, including the Flemish Primitives at the Groeninge, perfect for a cold afternoon.
  • A Belgian beer bar with hundreds of bottles on the menu.

Practical tips

  • Book accommodation early for December weekends.
  • Wear good shoes. The cobblestones get slippery when wet.
  • Combine it with Ghent or Brussels. Both are a short train ride away and have their own markets.

Day trip or overnight?

Many visitors see Bruges as a day trip from Brussels. In December, we'd stay at least one night, for three reasons:

  • The evenings are the best part. The markets, lights and canals are at their most atmospheric after dark, and most day-trippers have left by then.
  • The mornings are empty. Early on a December morning, the Markt and the canals are quiet, misty and beautiful.
  • It's more relaxed. Trains from Brussels are frequent and take about an hour, but staying over avoids rushing for the last train in the cold.

If a day trip is your only option, arrive mid-morning and stay until after dark, so you see the town both quiet and lit up. On weekends, a weekday visit makes a big difference to the crowds.