Ah, Christmas… The smell of Christmas trees, the excitement of city lights and the anticipation of receiving presents. While it takes a lot of motivation to get out of your comforter in the cold, there are plenty of things to do in the run-up to the holidays. So, while you’re waiting to stuff yourself with a whole box of Ferrero Rochers under Grandma’s soft wool blanket, we suggest you get out and brave the weather for something really worthwhile. Concerts by candlelight, gift shopping and raclette galore– here are our must-haves for surviving the winter and enjoying the magical atmosphere of Christmas in Brussels.
Venture into a virtual Christmas epic
This experience is perfect for the Christmas season! The“Christmas Adventure“ interactive tour at MOIR (Museum of Infinite Realities) invites you to plunge into a fantastic virtual epic, where you’ll have to help Santa’s elves deliver presents. What’s more, the tour will be one of the must-see experiences at the Brussels Christmas Market, an ideal complement to the city’s festivities.
📍Location: Rue du Marché aux Poulets 32, Brussels, 1000
Shopping at Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
Christmas means presents! To avoid making last-minute arrangements and ending up queuing for three hours at Sephora the day before D-Day, we recommend a trip to Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert.
A veritable temple to shopping, it offers everything from decorative objects to top-quality chocolate and leather goods. You’re sure to find the gift inspiration you’ve been looking for! And best of all, the galleries light up at Christmas time to offer you a sensory experience worthy of the name. Impossible to miss.
📍Location: 5 galerie du Roi, 1000 Brussels
Warm up in an alpine chalet in the heart of Brussels
Looking for a winter change of scenery without leaving the capital? The Poechenellekelder, a famous Brussels estaminet recognizable by its facade adorned with colorful bicycles, transports you to its ephemeral winter chalet. Set up on the terrace of this emblematic establishment on Rue du Chêne, this mountain cocoon welcomes you from Thursday to Sunday for après-ski evenings worthy of the Alps. With mulled wine , steaming milk chocolate and mountain specialities such as tartiflette, you’ll feel like you’ve been teleported to the foot of the slopes, hats on. A unique winter experience to be savored in the heart of Brussels, perfect for waiting out the festive season or prolonging the magic of Christmas.
📍Location: Rue du Chêne 5, 1000 Brussels
Attend a high-flying show
Costumes, sets, lights, choreography: when AirOtic ‘s artists take to the stage, the magic happens and the moment becomes suspended. Did you say suspended? Well, you won’t be disappointed! Acrobatics in every direction, mesmerizing dances, over-the-top stunts… all with a healthy dose of glamour to spice up the show and plunge you right into the magic of the holidays!
📍Venue: FUSE, 208 Rue Blaes, Brussels
Hot chocolate at Pierre Marcolini
We love winter for its warm lights, maxi wool scarves and, of course, hot chocolates. If you’ve decided to give in to temptation, then do it right! For one of the city’s (or the country’s, or even the world’s) smoothest hot chocolates, Pierre Marcolini is the place to go. This chocolate expert will warm your little hearts with his perfect mastery of the beverage. If we were you, we wouldn’t even wait for Christmas.
📍Location: 1rue des Minimes, 1000 Brussels
Rediscover Magritte’s work through an immersive exhibition
Between installations and a 360º digital show, (re)discover the talent of the famous Belgian surrealist painter through an immersive multisensory exhibition that will convince even the least artistic among you. Gone are the days of traditional museums: here, you don’t just touch with your eyes! Look, listen and touch the works as freely as you like. Thank you, technology.
📍Location: Galerie Horta – 116 rue du Marché aux Herbes, 1000 Brussels
Dinner at Les Fondus de la Raclette
If there’s one dish everyone agrees on as the festive season approaches, it’s undoubtedly raclette. Convivial, comforting and simply delicious, it’s well worth the kilos gained under the sweater. To treat yourself on winter evenings, we recommend dining at Les Fondus de la Raclette! In a cozy wooden chalet atmosphere, enjoy raclettes à volonté, truffle fondues and other culinary nuggets that do so much good in the cold. Bon appétit!
📍Location: 28 pl. de la Vieille Halle aux Blés, 1000 Brussels
Attend a Candlelight concert
As Christmas approaches, what could be more magical than attending a concert illuminated by hundreds of candles? To fully experience the magic of the festive season, come to a Candlelight concert! Experience an absolutely unique moment in the company of your loved ones, and enjoy great classics revisited in a magnificent setting with an intimate atmosphere. Our favorite? The Christmas music concert at Concert Noble!
📍Location: multiple venues
Admire the lights of the Brussels Christmas market
What would Brussels be without its exceptional Christmas market, its fir tree and the scent of mulled wine? Once again this year,“Plaisirs d’Hiver” will be lighting up the city from November 29, 2024 to January 5, 2025, to the delight of us all. Enjoy a marvellous sound and light show on the Grand-Place, savour delicacies of all kinds, and shop for your best stuffed socks. Now winter can begin…
📍Location: Town Hall – Grand-Place, 1000 Brussels
Skating in the heart of Brussels at Christmas
Put on your skates, the Plaisirs d’Hiver skating rink will be back on the Place de Brouckère from November 24. Yes, it’s crowded, yes, it’s been a long time since you’ve been there. But all the same, an open-air skating rink in the atmosphere of Brussels’ Christmas market is an opportunity to fall back into childhood and (finally) get back into the swing of things.
📍Location: Pl. De Brouckère, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Take part in International Christmas Sweater Day
Attention Bridget Jones fans. This year, International Christmas Sweater Day will take place on December 20. The concept: wear your best Christmas sweater, no matter how wacky or ugly. Tinsel, pompoms, slogans – anything goes! It’s time to pull out the nuggets from your wardrobe… It’s up to you!
Rediscover your childlike spirit at Bubble Planet
Winter can be a depressing time of year. To get away from it all and rediscover your childlike spirit, take part in the immersive Bubble Planet experience! In a fantasy world of virtual reality and fantastic landscapes, embark on a dreamlike journey to bubble heaven. On the program: bubble pool, lava lamps, giant bubbles, virtual reality, breathtaking scenery… That’s the magic of Christmas.
📍Location: Tour & Taxis, avenue du Port 86C (SHED 3.2), Brussels
Getaway to Bruges
So, yes, we can see you coming: this isn’t an idea for going out in Brussels per se, but it is one for getting out. If you’ve seen the Brussels Christmas market over and over again, why not visit the one in Bruges?
In the warmest of atmospheres, the two Christmas markets in the splendid city of Bruges will plunge you into the magic of Christmas, while taking you out of your everyday Brussels life. All within easy reach, just 1h30 away by car. Why deprive yourself?