I’ll confess something: I love winter more than summer. Not the grey drizzle of an ordinary Tuesday in February, of course, but those few weeks when Belgium decides to sparkle. Wooden chalets appear on the old squares, the air smells of cinnamon and mulled wine, and every city seems to take a deep breath and slow down.
If you’ve been thinking about a Christmas markets weekend in Belgium, this is my personal guide to the places I love most, and how I’d spend them with you.
Why Winter Is My Favourite Season to Travel
Winter travel is quieter, cosier and far more intimate than the busy summer months.
The light fades early, so restaurants are glowing with candles by five o’clock and nobody feels guilty about a second glass of wine. Hotel rooms feel snugger. Conversations last longer. Cold cheeks and hands wrapped around a hot cup have a way of making people open up.
I pack a good wool coat, a cashmere scarf and boots I can actually walk in. Elegance is lovely, but so is not slipping on the cobblestones of Bruges.
Brussels Winter Wonders and the Grand Place by Night
Brussels opens the season with Winter Wonders, which runs from late November 2026 until 3 January 2027.
The chalets stretch from Place Sainte-Catherine and the old fish market along to the Bourse and Place de la Monnaie, and the giant Christmas tree takes its place on the Grand Place.
My advice? Go after dark, on a weekday if you can. The golden facades of the Grand Place look their best once they’re lit, and the crowds are kinder before Friday night arrives. I like to start with a glass of vin chaud, wander for an hour, then slip away from the noise to the Sablon for dinner. Walking past Pierre Marcolini’s boutique on the way is a test of willpower.
Bruges and Ghent by Candlelight
Bruges is the most romantic Christmas market in Belgium, and Ghent is the liveliest.
In Bruges, the Winter Glow season begins on 20 November, with the market on the Markt and Simon Stevinplein until 3 January. The ice rink is now in King Albert I Park. Bruges in winter is almost unfairly pretty: frosted canals, church bells, little bridges lit in gold. I’d rather see it at an easy pace, with a long lunch and an evening walk, than squeeze it into a day trip.
Ghent follows a little later. The Winterfeesten run from 3 December to 3 January, with more than 150 chalets spread across a chain of squares from Sint-Baafsplein to the Korenmarkt. There’s a Ferris wheel of around 44 metres with a view over the towers, and the Gravensteen castle hosts its own winter village. Ghent feels a little bolder than Bruges, a touch less polished, and I mean that as a compliment.
Crossing the Border: Cologne and Aachen
Germany’s most famous Christmas markets are less than two hours from Brussels by train.
A direct train takes you from Brussels to Cologne in about 1 hour 50 minutes. The market at the foot of Cologne Cathedral, on Roncalliplatz, is the one everyone photographs, and those twin spires above a sea of lights are worth the trip on their own. A few minutes’ walk away, the Heumarkt has an ice rink for anyone feeling brave.
Aachen is the one I’d urge you not to skip. Its market runs from 20 November to 23 December around the cathedral and the town hall, and it’s famous for Printen, a spiced gingerbread sold in pretty tins that make the easiest gift to bring home. Aachen is under an hour from Cologne, so the two pair beautifully.
A weekend I’d happily plan: the train to Cologne on Friday afternoon, dinner and the cathedral market that evening, Aachen on Saturday, and a lazy breakfast on Sunday before heading home. With the right travelling companion, even the train ride becomes part of the pleasure.
Planning a Winter Escape Together
The best winter escapes are planned early, because the finest hotels near the markets fill quickly in December.
When I plan a winter weekend, I look for three things. A hotel within walking distance of the market, so we never have to think about taxis in the cold. A dinner reservation for the first evening, somewhere unhurried. And enough free time to say yes to whatever we discover along the way.
If you enjoyed my autumn escape, think of this as the next chapter: the same love of travelling at our own pace, just with more fairy lights. And since it’s the season of giving, I’ll admit I adore little gestures, although the greatest gift is always time well spent.
FAQ: Christmas Markets in Belgium
When do the Christmas markets in Belgium open in 2026? Bruges opens first on 20 November, Brussels follows in late November and Ghent opens on 3 December. Most run until 3 January 2027.
Which Christmas market in Belgium is the most romantic? For me, Bruges. The canals, the candlelight and the size of the city make it ideal for long evenings for two.
Can we combine Belgium and Germany in one weekend? Yes. Cologne is about 1 hour 50 minutes from Brussels by direct train, and Aachen is under an hour from Cologne.
How far ahead should I plan a December weekend? As early as you can. December weekends are the busiest of the year, for hotels and for me.
A Winter Escape With Gabriella Allure
Winter has a way of making time feel precious. The days are short, so the evenings matter more: a shared table, a walk under the lights, a cosy room at the end of it all.
If you’d like to spend part of this season with Gabriella Allure in Belgium, or somewhere a little further away, send me a message through my contact page and tell me what you have in mind.
Advance reservations are recommended for December.