Bruges
Brugge51°13′ N 3°13′ ECityPop. 118,509Belgium
Bruges (Brugge in Dutch) suits couples who want a slow canal city with a small Christmas market, open from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 on the Markt and the Simon Stevinplein. The market is modest, so plan your days around long walks and the covered ice rink.
Photo Abdou A. A. from Stockholm, Sweden · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Who should base here
Bruges rewards a night or two, since the market squares and the covered rink both sit within walking distance of the station.
Eat in Bruges
De Vlaamsche PotDe Vlaamsche PotRestaurant
Traditional Flemish home cooking, best known for its stoofvlees (Flemish beef stew). Open for dinner Wednesday to Friday from 17:30 and from 12:00 at weekends. Guests must be 14 or older, and a no-show costs €35.
Drink in Bruges
De Halve MaanDe Halve MaanBrewery
The city-centre brewery behind Brugse Zot and Straffe Hendrik, with a brewery visit and a restaurant. Its Straffe Hendrik X-Mas Blend is the seasonal beer to ask for in December.
Take the train from Bruges
- Bruges to Brussels · timetable
Bruges runs its winter season under the name Wintergloed, which Visit Bruges calls Winter Glow in English. For 2026–27 it lasts from 20 November to 14 February. The Christmas markets fill the Markt below the belfry and the smaller Simon Stevinplein. The covered ice rink and the IJsgloed winter bar sit in the Koning Albert I-park near the station.
The city ended the old light walk after the 2025 edition. Mayor Dirk De fauw said in September 2025 that the crowds weighed on the neighbourhoods along the route and that the city wanted to stop on a high. A fire show is planned in its place, and no date had been set when this page was checked.
Most of what a December visitor wants sits between the station and the Markt. Visit Bruges has a tourist office in the Historium at Markt 1 and a second at the station on Stationsplein 5.
Worth knowing
- The market closes at 17:00 on Christmas Eve, and some stalls stay open to 23:00.
- Visit Bruges lists car-free shopping days with free public transport in the run-up to Christmas, with dates to follow.
- Check belgiantrain.be before travel days; Visit Bruges flagged a national rail strike on 11–12 October 2026.
Quick answers about Bruges
When is the Bruges Christmas market in 2026?
The Bruges Christmas market runs from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 on the Markt and the Simon Stevinplein, according to Visit Bruges.
Is Bruges worth visiting at Christmas?
Yes, for a slow weekend. Bruges has two small market squares and a covered ice rink, and the Winter Glow programme runs from 20 November 2026 to 14 February 2027.
Does Bruges still have the Winter Glow light trail?
No. Bruges ended the Winter Glow light walk after its seventh edition in 2025, and the 2026–27 programme has no light trail.
Is Bruges a good place to stay?
Bruges rewards a night or two, since the market squares and the covered rink both sit within walking distance of the station.
Within 12 km
Places to stay nearby
