Brussels
Bruxelles50°51′ N 4°21′ ECityPop. 195,546Belgium
Brussels (Bruxelles in French, Brussel in Dutch) suits a long weekend or the first stop of a Low Countries market trip, with Winter Wonders filling the lower town from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 (confirmed by the organizer). Expect crowds on December weekends, and base yourself near the Bourse or Sainte-Catherine if you want to walk everywhere.
Photo TCsongor · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Who should base here
Brussels puts you on the doorstep of Winter Wonders and the Grand-Place light show, with direct trains on to Bruges and Ghent. Eurostar arrives at Brussels-Midi, so the city makes an easy first or last night of a trip.
Eat in Brussels
Noordzee / Mer du NordFish bar
A fishmonger with a terrace on the Sint-Katelijnestraat by Place Sainte-Catherine, serving small plates of fresh fish with wine. Open Tuesday to Sunday 11:00–18:30, and it takes no bookings.
Drink in Brussels
À la Mort SubiteÀ la Mort SubiteCafé
One of the oldest cafés in Brussels, on the Rue Montagne aux Herbes Potagères, with gueuze and classic Belgian beers. Open Monday to Saturday 11:00 to midnight and closed on Sunday.
Brussels is officially bilingual, so street signs and station names come in French and Dutch. The Grand-Place is also the Grote Markt, and the old fish-market square goes by Marché aux Poissons and Vismarkt, which people shorten to Vismet.
In December the city's attention runs downhill from the Grand-Place. The square keeps its own Christmas tree and an evening light show, and Winter Wonders spreads its 238 chalets over eight squares from Place de la Monnaie to Place Sainte-Catherine. The 2026 edition runs from 27 November to 3 January, open 12:00–22:00.
Brussels also works as a base for Bruges and Ghent, which both sit on the main line west of the capital. Ghent's Winter Festival opens later, on 3 December, so a trip in the first week of December catches all three. The City of Brussels covers the historic centre and has about 196,000 people; the wider Brussels-Capital Region holds about 1.26 million.
Worth knowing
- Gare Centrale, Bourse and De Brouckère are the stations the organizer names for Winter Wonders, served by metro lines 1 and 5 and trams 4 and 10.
- On 24 and 31 December Winter Wonders closes at 18:00, and there is no Grand-Place show.
- The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula marks its 800th anniversary through 2026 with a programme of spiritual and cultural events.
Quick answers about Brussels
Is Brussels worth visiting for Christmas?
Yes, for a short city break. Brussels runs Winter Wonders across eight squares of the lower town from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with a light show on the Grand-Place most evenings.
Is Brussels called Bruxelles or Brussel?
Both. Brussels is officially bilingual, so it is Bruxelles in French and Brussel in Dutch, and signs carry both names.
Can you visit Bruges and Ghent from Brussels?
Yes. Bruges and Ghent are both day trips from Brussels by train. Check belgiantrain.be for the timetable and any strike notices before you travel.
Is Brussels a good place to stay?
Brussels puts you on the doorstep of Winter Wonders and the Grand-Place light show, with direct trains on to Bruges and Ghent. Eurostar arrives at Brussels-Midi, so the city makes an easy first or last night of a trip.
Within 12 km
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