Bruges Christmas Market & Winter Glow: 2024 Dates + Insider Tips
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Are you planning to visit the Bruges Christmas Market in 2024 and wondering what to expect, what to do, or where exactly to go?
Or maybe you are researching the best Christmas Markets in Belgium and wondering if the Bruges Christmas Market is worth it?
We live in Belgium and visit the Bruges Christmas Market every winter. This insider’s guide should give you a good idea of what to expect when visiting the Bruges Christmas Market and Winter Glow winter experience this winter season.
You can also find some practical information about the Bruges ice skating rink, Christmas tree, light experience trail, and pictures that will give you a better idea of what it’s like to visit Bruges during the Christmas season.
My favorite experiences in Bruges this winter:
TIP: If you are looking for a nice place to stay in Bruges during the holiday season, check out Hotel de Orangerie. This boutique hotel is set in a 15th-century former convent and is very cozy – perfect for long dark winter evenings!
Here you can see travelers’ favorite hotels in Bruges.
What is Bruges Winter Glow?
Good to know: When researching for information about the Bruges Christmas Market, you will often see ‘Winter Glow’ mentioned as well.
Winter Glow is the collective name of all the winter experiences in Bruges: Bruges Christmas Market, light experience trail, ice skating, light decorations throughout the city, and festive shopping.
In other words, it’s a winter festival that turns the entire city of Bruges into a true Christmas town.
When is Bruges Christmas Market Open?
Bruges Christmas Market is usually open from the 3rd week of November till the first weekend of January (or the weekend after Epiphany, depending on the Belgian school holidays).
This winter, the Bruges Christmas Market & Bruges Winter Glow Light Festival will be open from November 22, 2024, until January 5, 2025.
It’s open daily from around 10-11 am to 10-11 pm. On 24/12 and 31/12, the market closes earlier, usually at around 7 pm.
Bruges Christmas Market is an annual event. Some names, locations, and decorations differ from year to year, but it’s always nice and well worth visiting Bruges during the winter season.
Good to know: Most Christmas Markets in Western Europe close just before Christmas. This is especially the case in Germany, where all the world-famous Christmas markets shut just before Christmas Eve. The good news is that this is not the case in Belgium. Here, all the bigger Christmas Markets stay open through the entire holiday period, including the entire school holidays period in the first week of January.
So if you are looking to visit a nice romantic Christmas Market during the Christmas – New Year period, Bruges Christmas Market is a great choice.
Bruges Christmas Market – What to Expect
Many people wonder what the Bruges Christmas market is really like. Well, it’s not nearly as big as Brussels Winter Wonders, or the Christmas market in Antwerp, and you won’t find many country-fair-like attractions here. But it’s the most Christmassy and most romantic of all the Belgian Christmas Markets.
Of course, you’ll find market stalls selling everything from wool socks and Christmas decorations to all kinds of local food and drinks. But the true charm of Bruges Christmas market is the city itself!
Bruges is already a fairytale-like destination, but it’s even more beautiful with all the Christmas lights and decorations.
Good to know: For a few years, Bruges used black containers for its market stalls. After lots of criticism, it has now been decided to change this and make Bruges Christmas Market cozier again.
One more thing to keep in mind is that Bruges is a very famous day-trip destination for tourists (not just from Brussels, but also from Amsterdam and North of France). It’s also a popular shopping destination for locals. But the majority of day visitors leave early, so the city is always quiet in the evening. And while the two main locations of the Christmas Market in Bruges can get a bit busy at times, in general, Bruges is quite deserted in the evening.
TIP: So if you can, plan to spend at least one or two nights in Bruges. That way, you can experience its magical atmosphere at night as well. As already mentioned, Bruges is even more romantic and dreamy during the Winter Glow season, when the entire old town is beautifully lit with Christmas lights.
Furthermore, there are many really nice hotels and B&Bs in Bruges (many have stunning Christmas decorations as well), and lots of nice restaurants. You can easily spend an entire winter weekend here and you’ll find plenty to see and do in Bruges.
Where does the Bruges Christmas Market take place?
Bruges Christmas market usually consists of two Christmas markets. The biggest Christmas Market is located on the Grote Markt (the Market Square of Bruges), the main town square where you’ll find Bruges Belfry Tower and Bruges Historium (one of the best tourist attractions in town).
There is also a smaller Christmas market on Simon Stevinplein, a cozy town square just off the main shopping street of Bruges.
You don’t really need any special walking map or preparations for visiting the Bruges Christmas Market – it’s so compact that you’ll easily find your way to it. And if you follow the walking map that we shared in the article featuring all the main sights and attractions in Bruges, you’ll pass most of the best Christmas decorations in the old town as well.
However – in addition to the Christmas Markets – there are also other places that are well worth seeing if visiting Bruges at Christmas. So don’t miss those as well – see below.
Bruges Ice Skating Rink
Every winter, during the same period when the Bruges Christmas market is open, the city also opens an outdoor ice skating rink.
However, the location of the Bruges ice skating rink is not the same every year. Sometimes it’s located on the Grote Markt, but recently, the ice skating rink can be found at Minnewater (Lake of Love). There is a cozy winter bar here as well.
Practical information: The ice skating rink is normally open daily from 11 am to 9 pm (10 pm on the weekends). It also closes a bit earlier on December 24, 25, 31, and has shorter opening hours on January 1. Skates are normally included in the ticket price and there’s no need (or possibility) to reserve ice skating in advance. Be sure to have a credit/debit card, because normally, they do not take cash.
Once you are inside, you can usually skate as long as you want to. For more practical info, see here.
Bruges Christmas Tree
There are usually several Christmas Trees in Bruges.
The nicest one can be found in Burg Square, where you’ll also find Bruges City Hall.
It’s located to the east of the Grote Markt, on your way to Rozenhoedkaai, one of the most famous photo spots in Bruges.
Winter Glow – Light Experience Trail
In addition to the Christmas Market and the ice skating rink, there are also various light installations throughout the city of Bruges. You can follow a light experience trail Winter Glow, and see various light installations along the way. You don’t absolutely have to do the entire route, but it’s another nice way to experience Bruges in winter!
Here you can find more information about this light trail and a map of all the locations. However, there are signs throughout the city leading you from one place to the other, so you’ll easily find your way around even without a map.
Below are some pictures to give you an idea of what it’s like.
Practical information: The light experience trail is lit every evening from 5 PM to midnight. It’s free of charge. The opening dates are the same for all the Winter Glow experiences, as noted above.
Is Bruges Christmas Market expensive?
This is the question we often get from our readers, for a big variety of destinations we write about… In all honesty, I find it difficult to answer. Because what’s expensive for one person, is completely normal for others…
Let’s just say that the prices at the Bruges Christmas market are comparable or even cheaper to those in the other Christmas markets in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, or Germany.
Expect to pay 4-6 EUR for a warm Belgian waffle or a crepe pancake, 3-5 EUR for Belgian fries, 2-4 EUR for a cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate, and 2-5 EUR for a shot of jenever or a glass of mulled wine. Ice skating costs 6 EUR.
If you want to explore Bruges by a horse-drawn carriage, prepare to pay 60-70 EUR for a ride (up to 5 people per carriage). Carriage rides usually start at the Grote Markt.
Is Bruges Christmas Market worth it?
Bruges Christmas market is quite small and – as far as Christmas Markets go – is not that exciting compared to the ones in the bigger cities in Belgium.
However, if you come here for the complete experience and take the time to explore the city deeper, then yes, Bruges is well worth it at Christmas!
The city is magical and truly fairytale-like, with all the beautiful lights and Christmas decorations everywhere. And the Christmas Market is just a nice extra that will make your Bruges winter visit even more special.
READ ALSO: Best Tours in Bruges
Tips for Visiting Bruges Christmas Market
- If you can, try to avoid weekends. Bruges can get very busy, especially on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday afternoons during the most popular shopping weekends around Christmas.
- Bring credit cards and some cash (we use Euro here in Belgium). While most stands at the Christmas market now take cards, it’s always good to have some change as well. Also because you have to pay if you want to use public bathrooms (this is the case everywhere in Belgium).
- Avoid coming by car on the weekends. Once in Bruges, park your car and simply walk everywhere – it’s a very walkable city. If you absolutely want to drive, one of the easiest-accessible centrally-located parking is Parking ‘t Zand (see map). Somewhat less busy are the car parkings at the railway station. However, often it’s easier (and much cheaper) to park on the outskirts of the city. Sometimes the city also offers free buses to avoid congestion in the center.
- Dress warm and wear comfortable shoes – you’ll be walking a lot. It can be quite windy in Bruges, so it’s always a good idea to pack a warm hat and gloves. An umbrella is usually a good idea as well. It hardly ever snows in Belgium, and even less so in December than in January, so – unfortunately – your chances for a white Christmas in Bruges aren’t very high. But you never know – Belgian weather is one thing you really can’t foresee in advance.
- If you are visiting Bruges with a baby or a toddler, you can usually manage with a stroller. However, prepare for lots of cobbled streets. And – if it’s busy – it will be a very frustrating experience, so it’s better to carry a baby in a carrier if you can.
- Don’t bring dogs to a Christmas market – it’s usually much too busy for that.
- Stay in Bruges for at least one night. I can’t say this enough – if you want to experience that special fairytale-like atmosphere Bruges is known for, be sure to explore the city in the evening. Bruges is magical when all the day-trippers leave. Further below, we have some hotel recommendations for your winter stay – take a look!
READ ALSO: What It’s Really Like to Visit Belgium in Winter
Where to stay for Bruges Christmas market
Here are some recommended hotels for your Christmas stay in Bruges, for all budgets:
- €€€€€ Hotel Duke’s Palace – Bruges’ most popular 5* hotel.
- €€€€ Hotel de Orangerie or Hotel Jan Brito – small luxury 4* hotels; perfect for a romantic winter stay.
- €€€ Martin’s Brugge – one of the most popular and great quality mid-budget hotels in the city center.
- €€ Hotel Bourgoensch Hof – a nice 3* hotel in the heart of the city that (also) has budget rooms.
- € Hotel ‘t Putje – a simple 3* hotel close to the railway station; very good value.
So, this is our guide to the Bruges Christmas market and Winter Glow. I hope that it gives you a better idea of what you can expect when visiting Brugges for the holiday season.
We live in Belgium and visit Bruges quite often. So if you have any questions about your trip that aren’t answered in our articles, feel free to leave a reply below and we’ll try to help.
Have a great time in Bruges at Christmas. It’s truly magical!
READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Bruges
More tips for your trip to Belgium:
- Where to go: Belgium Itinerary (suggestions for 3-4 days)
- Where to stay: Best Areas to Stay in Brussels & Best Areas to Stay in Antwerp
- Brussels: Best Things to Do in Brussels & Manneken-Pis Story & Fun Facts
- Antwerp: Best Things to Do in Antwerp & Antwerp Hidden Gems
- Christmas Markets: Best Christmas Markets in Belgium & Best Lesser-Known Christmas Markets in Europe
- WWI battlefields: Visit Ypres & WWI Battlefields in Belgium
- WWII sights: Bastogne War Museum
- With kids: Best Theme Parks in Belgium & Antwerp with Kids
- Wallonia: Best Things to Do in Bastogne & Best Things to Do in Dinant
- Fun read: Fun Facts About Belgium
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Where’s the cheapest place to buy cigarettes in Bruge or on the way back to Calais?
Sorry, but I really wouldn’t know.
So much useful information on here thank you. I’m worried I hsve booked the wrong location to stay now !! I have booked Ibis Brugge Centrum for 30/12, I had planned onleaving the car there and getting public transport to the markets. Do you know the best way to get there from the hotel please?
Hi Paula, if you booked this hotel – Ibis Brugge Centrum – there is nothing to worry about. You can simply walk everywhere. This hotel is right in the center, close to everything, and there is a public underground parking garage next door where you can leave your car. The main square where the Christmas Market is held is just 10-15 minutes walk from your hotel so you won’t need any public transport.
Great post, thank you! We’ll be arriving in Bruges on Jan 1, so I’m excited to hear the Christmas Markets will still be open. We are, however, concerned about finding open restaurants on New Year’s Day. Any recommendations on places to eat that are kid friendly? We’ll be traveling with our 3 year old. Thanks!
Hi Brandy, there will be some restaurants open for sure, but I really have no time to research this for you. If you want to dine at a specific place, it’s best to check if they are open and make a reservation. Otherwise, just walk around and see what’s open. Most restaurants are family-friendly.
@Jurga, thanks! I’ve been trying to research a few places. What’s the best app for dining reservations? Fork? Thanks again!
Hi Brandy, I don’t use a specific app since different restaurants have different systems and some only take direct reservations.
What we usually do is use Google Maps to find the place we like and go from there.
Thank you for all the information on Bruge Christmas market! We are visiting on 8th Dec and want to get a train from the Airport – Brussels to Bruge, is there a direct train and can we prebook?
Hi Katherine, you don’t really have to prebook regular trains in Belgium and you can just buy to at the station/ airport station and take any train with your ticket on a specific day.
For train schedules check the BelgianTrain.be website, and you can also buy tickets online if you prefer.
Hello, I cannot find on any site confirmation that the Brugge Christmas markets re open of Christmas Day 2023. Does anyone know?
Hi Suzanne, as said in the article, the Christmas Market is open daily, so yes, it’s also open on December 25.
Most shops in the city will be closed on that day, however, but will be open on the 24th and the 26th.
Enjoy your visit!
Hello, We are travelling from Australia to Bruges for Christmas. We will be there from 23/12 to 26/12 where would you recommend we have our Christmas Eve/Day lunch/dinner and would we need to book. We are staying at Hotel Lucca. Thanks in anticipation
Hi Tammy, you should definitely research which restaurants are open on 24/12 or 25/12 and yes, absolutely book in advance because there won’t be much open, especially on the 24th.
Unfortunately, I really have no time to help you with this. You could ask the hotel for recommendations. And otherwise, you’ll have to contact some restaurants yourself.
Have a great trip!
Hi 🙂
Thanks for this guide, very helpful! If you have some time to help me out with these questions, I’d appreciate it a lot. Have been reading a lot, but would like some advice on my specific situation!
I am planning to visit Belgium this winter with my family. It will be my family’s first time in Europe (we are from the Caribbean), and I’m looking forward to showing them all the beautiful cities I’ve previously visited in my Europe travels (Bruges, Ghent, Brussels). We are a big group (6) and started planning a little too late, so was not able to find accommodations together outside of Brussels for our dates. Since we’ll be in Belgium from Dec 30-Jan 4, I was hoping to explore the 3 mentioned places: Bruges, Ghent, Brussels. I’ve done individual day trips to Ghent & Bruges from Brussels in spring and fell in love with both towns.
My mom started reading all about Belgium and the different day trips you could take from the capital, and was mesmerized with other Belgian towns that I have not been to yet: Antwerp, Dinant, Namur & Leuven. She wants to spend 1.5 days in Brussels and do the following with our 3 entire days in Belgium: day trip to Ghent & Bruges, day trip to Leuven & Antwerp, day trip to Namur & Dinant. The plan is to travel by train (not guided tours) and spend the morning in one place, and head around to the second town in the afternoon- staying until after sunset to explore the towns at night (since days are short) and experience the Christmas atmosphere, before heading to Brussels to sleep. She has seen a lot of tour companies that offer these combinations of towns in day trips, so thinks it might be possible for us to do it too, especially if we take the trains on our own- and stay as long as we want to.
I feel like we might be trying to do too much, but also understand the appeal of all these places she’s hoping to visit. We discussed that if we really like the first place we visit that day and want to stay there, we might be willing to stay there instead of heading over to the next place in the afternoon.
We’re also still debating whether we should do New Year’s Eve in Brussels or one of the towns (Bruges/Ghent/Leuven/Antwerp). We know that Brussels has events at the Atomium & Grand Place, but have also heard that every town has its own smaller, magical celebration. We’ve never really done a crowded New Years (and feel like it could be a little overwhelming since we’ve always spent it back home at our house), so any experience would be a new one for us, although a smaller, authentic celebration sounds amazing. If we decide to spend the eve in one of the towns, we’d have to travel back to Brussels to sleep after midnight but would be willing to do so if the trains are still running at that hour.
The same dilemma applies to which day trip we should do on January 1st. I’ve seen most places to eat/shop are closed, even in Brussels, so just wondering what we could plan to do that day. I was thinking Bruges & Ghent since they are so beautiful to just walk around, feeling that the lack of crowds might make it feel more like a fairytale. Seems like the Christmas markets should still be open, even if it is for more limited hours.
Any thoughts on any of this?
Hi Bel, wow that’s a lot of questions! 🙂
Your plans sound doable, I’m just not sure I would do Leuven and Antwerp in one day. Antwerp has so much to offer that a day is hardly enough, plus, Leuven – Antwerp train connection is really not the best if you are short on time. If you absolutely want to visit one more place, Mechelen would be much simpler since it’s on the same train line, between Brussels and Antwerp. But – once again – I really think you will find plenty to do in Antwerp for a day. See our guide to the best of Antwerp and also the hidden gems.
For the rest, yes, Bruges – Ghent can be a good option on January 1 since you don’t absolutely have to visit many places inside in order to enjoy these towns.
For New Year, I think I would stay in Brussels, mainly because you don’t have to take a train back after midnight. Or you would have to research in advance which trains still run and how late. Also, if you want to go to a restaurant for dinner that night, it’s best to book in advance.
Hope this helps. Have a great trip!
We are a family of 4 adults, 2 teens, and 2 elementary age and are thinking of doing a bus tour to Bruges for the Christmas market. We’ll have 10 hours there before we depart. Is 10 hours too long?
Hi De Andra, 10 hours is way too much for the Christmas Market, but it’s quite a nice amount of time to enjoy Bruges in general. There is quite a lot to see and do, plus lots of shops, restaurants, etc. Take a look at our guide to the best of Bruges for some inspiration.
With kids, definitely check out Bruges Historium (with the VR experience) and maybe book a waffle-baking workshop or some food tour. Our kids always love this type of experiences.
Have a great time in Bruges!
I started taking a solo trip once a year! I live in the US and love spending as much time as I can Europe. Because of this page, I plan to spend two nights in Bruges! I have looked at the suggested hotels. But, wondering if you would have a different suggestion for a female, solo traveler. I discovered my love of Christmas markets last year in Paris. I love to walk, but also have safety in mind. Thank you!! I cannot wait to celebrate another birthday in Europe.
Hi Terry, all these hotels will be just fine for a solo traveler too. Bruges old town is a rather small, very walkable, and safe. Just look for a hotel that appeals to you the most.
Have a great trip!
Update: We just found out that after lots of criticism about the black containers used last year, the city of Bruges has decided to make their Christmas Market 2023-2024 cozier again!
Very nice article but I am sorry, the Christmas market all the opposite to charming.
The posted pictures and description should be changed. The city itselft is amazing but not the Christmas market which this year has black containers selling China stuff, excepting two or three.
🙁
You’re not the first person from whom I heard this feedback this year, Marta. It’s really strange. I haven’t got the chance to get to the Christmas market yet myself, but it’s really sad to hear this. I looked up some pictures and I see exactly what you mean about the black containers! Hopefully, they’ll make it nice and charming next year again.
Quite frankly, as already mentioned in our article, if you are mostly interested in visiting a Christmas market, then the one in Bruges is a bit too small to just come for that. It’s indeed more for the city that it’s worth coming here. I think that our article and the pictures reflect this quite well.
As far as Christmas markets go, Brussels Christmas market is the best choice in Belgium, followed by Antwerp, also Ghent. In Bruges, we mostly go for the Winter Glow light route, the ice skating at Minewater Park, and for the beautifully-lit buildings. Hopefully, you got to experience those areas too – it should more than make up for the dark market stands.
Have a great holiday season!
Great article. We’ll be there in 3 weeks and are looking for a destination for a day trip from Bruges, excluding Brussels. What would you recommend? Ghent? Antwerp? Somewhere else? Just looking for a pretty, Christmasy town to wander around.
Hi Jean, if you are looking for a pretty town to walk around, enjoy the lights, and maybe do some shopping etc. then Gent is a very nice option and is very close to Bruges.
Antwerp is a bit further away and is bigger, but there’s also a lot more to see and do (see our guides to Antwerp). It would be my top choice if you have a full day. You could visit Gent for just a few hours from Bruges as well. Traveling by train is the best option for any of these and once you are on the train, it’s probably just half an hour difference between going to Ghent or to Antwerp.
Hope this helps.
Have a great trip!
Great guide, informative yet “to the point”.
We are coming in December to belatedly celebrate my partner’s 50th (were due to do it last year, her actual birthday year, but COVID rules prevented us). We’ve stayed in Bruges before, and I’ve also done a few day trips (though they don’t really give you much time to explore very much). The photos here look good so will look forward to seeing it all “in the flesh”.
Thank you.
Glad to help. Enjoy your time in Bruges, Mark!
Thank you for this wonderful article! It was so helpful in making choices and arrangements. One question – we are flying into Brussels mid day December 28 and hoping to immediately hop on a train to Bruges. Do we need to purchase train tickets in advance? If so, any advice on that process? Thanks again!
Hi Meghan, you can purchase your train tickets in advance (see the official Belgian railways website), but it’s not a must. However, do buy them before you get to the train. There are ticket machines at the railway station level at the airport and also a couple of manned desks.
Is the market open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? if so what are the hours? thx.
Hi, the opening hours for the Bruges Christmas Market are as follows this year: Sunday to Thursday from 11 am to 10 pm. and Friday and Saturday – 11 am to 11 pm. Normally, Christmas markets close earlier on the 24th and on the 31st of December (I think at around 5 pm), but I couldn’t find this info on any official sites this year. They also don’t mention anything about the 25th, but in general, it should be open that day.
@Jurga,
Hi, during 25-31 December period, is the general market in Bruges open during the day? We were wondering if shops and restaurants would be open during this period at all.
Thanks in advance.
Hi Anuj, 25/12 is a holiday so most things will be closed that day (the Christmas market should be open in the afternoon and some restaurants too). All the other days (26-31/12) are regular working days and everything is open. Expect it to be very busy everywhere, also because many shops have (pre)sales at that time. Have a great trip!
Cool website, very helpful! 🙂
Glad to help.
Happy travels!
Please can you confirm the Christmas markets dates yet`?
Hi Stephen, the exact dates are never announced that long in advance. But – as mentioned in the article – the Bruges Christmas Market should be open from November 25, 2022, until January 8, 2023. It’s every year pretty much the same period, give or take a few days. Unless you are traveling around the fourth week of November or at the beginning of January, it shouldn’t matter that much either.
We try to update our articles as soon as we hear the official confirmation, but I don’t expect it to happen before August – September.