13 Things to Do in Brussels at Christmas

With so much to see and do in Brussels, Christmas is a particularly lively time of year, offering plenty of family-friendly activities and plenty of options if you’re visiting the city with children.

From traditional Christmas markets to the light show, Brussels is buzzing with festive activity. Ready to take note? Let’s get started!

Another magical place at Christmas and just an hour’s drive or less from Brussels. Taking a day trip to Bruges from Brussels this season could be a brilliant idea, as it’s a city that also lights up its streets, bridges and canals.

The best thing is that if you visit Bruges with children during this season, you’ll have plenty of options. A boat trip or finding good restaurants to eat at will be the perfect addition to your family Christmas.

Of all the things to see in Bruges, I recommend you don’t miss a stroll around the Market Square or Grote Markt, with its market active since 958 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

An ideal Christmas outing is the Atomium, one of Brussels’ iconic landmarks. Standing a staggering 103 metres tall, this futuristic building resembles a giant stainless steel atom.

Inside, it houses an exhibition space where you can view a selection of over 400 photographs chronicling Belgian history. What’s more, your ticket grants you access to the Design Museum and its Plasticarium exhibition, which features a range of objects from the 1970s and pieces made from this material.

And best of all, from the Atomium you’ll enjoy panoramic views of Brussels, where you’ll capture the best photos of your trip. And if your visit coincides with lunchtime, you can dine in the restaurant whilst taking in this wonderful view.

Booking a tour of Brussels on a tourist bus is another ideal option if you’re visiting Brussels with children at Christmas, as you’ll be able to get a view of the city in a comfortable and flexible way, escaping the cold, and moving quickly between the main attractions of the European capital. What’s more, it includes an audio guide, for both adults and children, so you can learn all about the city’s history and interesting facts in detail.

You can purchase a 24- or 48-hour ticket and enjoy unlimited access to the two existing routes (red and blue), hopping on and off as you please depending on your travel plans.

What’s more, these buses offer on-board Wi-Fi and have their own app so you can explore interactively.

In my opinion, the most fun thing you can do in Brussels at Christmas is a chocolate-making workshop. At this time of year, when sweets take centre stage, you’ll discover all the secrets of Belgian chocolate-making at the Choco Story Museum alongside a team of professional master chocolatiers, and you’ll watch a demonstration.

In this workshop, you’ll also learn how to make all the classic treats such as bonbons and pralines, and you’ll create your own personalised chocolate bar, following the instructions of the experts who will guide you through the process.

What’s more, the ticket includes an audio-guided tour of the Choco Story Museum and, best of all, you’ll enjoy a delicious tasting of Belgian chocolate.

No Christmas is complete without a spot of shopping. This route is ideal, not only for picking up a festive gift, but also for visiting a place that will captivate you with its architecture and history. Opened in the mid-19th century by Leopold I, here you’ll find shops and terraces where you can enjoy a hot drink and soak up the festive atmosphere.

This place is usually included in the guided tours offered in the city. It is certainly a must-see on your list of things to see in Brussels. The galleries are divided into three sections: the King’s Gallery, the Queen’s Gallery and the Princes’ Gallery, and stretch for approximately 200 metres.

As well as cafés and luxury shops, these galleries also house one of the city’s newest museums, the Museum of Letters and Manuscripts, which boasts over eighty thousand documents divided into categories such as history, literature, art and science. So if your Christmas plans in Brussels also include a visit to a museum, I recommend you include this one. Others you might also consider are the Autoworld Museum in Brussels, the Cinquantenaire Museum in Brussels and the Brussels Museum of Musical Instruments.

If there’s one thing you can’t miss at Christmas, it’s the lights – and in Brussels, you’ll find them all. What’s more, the setting is none other than the Grand Place, the city’s central square, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful in the world.

It is a 360° sound and light show that illuminates the entire square and features a different theme each year, as part of the major Winter Wonders festival, which takes place in the city throughout the winter. So if you’re visiting Brussels this winter, you won’t need to wait until December, as this spectacle usually begins in November and runs until January.

This show is usually repeated throughout the night, every 30 minutes, so you’ll always be able to catch it on your stroll through Brussels. Don’t forget your camera to snap the perfect Christmas postcard in the spirit of the season. You can also take advantage of one of the guided tours of Brussels to discover this wonderful square, although you’re sure to pass by it several times during your trip.

“Plaisirs d’Hiver”, in French, is the name given to the city’s Christmas festivities. An event with a wide-ranging programme of cultural activities including markets, open-air concerts, an ice rink and much more.

The events and attractions of this Christmas festival in Brussels take place every day from 12 noon to 10 pm. Except on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, when activities finish at 6 pm.

Many of the festival’s activities are free, as they are organised by Brussels City Council. I recommend asking your accommodation provider for a map and the official festival programme so you don’t miss a thing and know which attractions require an entrance fee and which are free.

In the Grand Place, as well as the beautiful lights, you’ll also find a giant Christmas tree, approximately 18 metres tall. Every year, the municipality of Dilbeek donates one of its pine trees to Brussels City Council to decorate the square during the festive season.

Don’t miss the chance to take a photo here and take home a souvenir of your visit to one of the most beautiful squares in the world. Furthermore, in the spirit of sustainability and responsible consumption, the Belgian city plants 10 new pine trees every year.

If you like Christmas films, such as ‘Home Alone’, and some of the others we’ve enjoyed this season, you won’t want to miss the chance to skate on an ice rink and soak up all the Christmas spirit in Brussels. What’s more, you’ll be skating to the sound of Christmas carols playing in the background to really get you in the mood.

This rink is located in Place de la Monnaie (Monnaie Square), one of the most important squares in the centre of Brussels, which is also home to the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie and the headquarters of the Belgian National Opera.

Nothing inspires the Christmas spirit more than a carol choir. In Brussels at this time of year, you have the chance to attend concerts featuring choral groups who will cheer you up with the most famous carols, such as the traditional ‘Silent Night’.

The Brussels Carol Concert is an annual event held at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, where you can enjoy a concert performed by a children’s choir and guest artists. Tickets for this event cost approximately €20 for adults and €15 for children under 14. The money raised each year goes towards various charitable causes.

You can also visit the Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity in Brussels, located in the city centre, which holds an annual carol festival featuring a symphony orchestra.

Beyond the traditional shops, Christmas markets in Europe have their own unique character, and strolling through them is a magical experience. In Brussels, you have several options for taking a stroll and buying a gift for your loved ones or enjoying a hot drink whilst taking in the city’s lights.

Marché aux Poissons and Place Sainte-Catherine markets

Perhaps the largest and my favourites due to their wide variety, where you’ll find a large number of Christmas stalls, as well as a carousel to bring out your inner child, or, if you’re travelling with young children, to enjoy some family time. As well as crafts, toys, jewellery and other gifts, here you’ll also find stalls offering plenty of food options.

Try the best of Belgian cuisine and other international dishes. I recommend you try tartiflette, a dish made with potatoes, onions, bacon, cream and cheese, of French origin, which will be perfect to accompany your Christmas stroll.

Around the city you’ll find other Christmas markets, such as the one at the Grand Place and the one at the Brussels Stock Exchange. You’ll also find some local stalls next to the ice rink. In general, during Christmas, Brussels invites you to wander its streets, where you won’t be able to resist the temptation to buy a little something for yourself and your loved ones.

A perfect plan, whether you’re spending Christmas Eve in the city or not. Throughout December, many hotels usually offer Christmas-themed dinners to the general public in their restaurants, as well as musical performances and entertainment for the whole family.

I recommend visiting The Dome, located in Place de la Monnaie, where multimedia shows and cartoons are screened for young children. Some hotels, such as The Embassy Room Brussels, are renowned for organising themed Christmas parties, where fun is guaranteed.

My advice is to check the event calendars of hotels, bars and restaurants, as they’re sure to have something special to celebrate this festive season.

A quirky and charitable tradition that has crossed borders and originated in English-speaking countries. This trend has also taken Belgium and other countries by storm. Promoted by Save the Children, this fun activity invites families to wear a woollen jumper with Christmas motifs – the more eye-catching, the better – on the last Friday before Christmas Eve.

The idea is to encourage reflection on human values and raise awareness among the general public, particularly children and young people, of the vulnerable situation faced by other children around the world. Some schools and cultural centres open their doors, offering family-friendly activities and the opportunity to make donations and give gifts to communities in need.

As you can see, there are plenty of things to see and do in Brussels. In addition to the purely Christmas-themed activities I’ve mentioned, during your stay in Brussels you can also enjoy the same activities as at any other time of year. However, I recommend that if you plan to visit a museum, you check its website to see if it closes on public holidays during this period.

Guided city tour on foot or by bus

Christmas in Brussels is quite an event, so you’ll have plenty to see and do. Whether you’re travelling with your family or even on your own, you won’t want to miss a thing. I recommend booking a guided city tour, which will give you a more organised itinerary for exploring Brussels at Christmas and ensure you don’t miss a single spot.

You can do this on foot or take a sightseeing bus around the city, which will guide you to the must-see spots on this Christmas route.

Visit the city’s museums

Europe’s diplomatic capital has plenty to offer in terms of cultural and artistic events. So I recommend including a visit to one of Brussels’ museums in your itinerary; they’re sure to have special programmes for the whole family this season.

Check each museum’s programme and opening hours, as these may vary during the Christmas season. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore some of the city’s most important museums, such as the Museum of Medicine or the Museum of Musical Instruments, and enjoy them at a more leisurely pace compared to other times of the year, such as summer, when tourist numbers are higher.