What to see and what to do at Christmas in Brussels, excursions, what to eat and where to go to have fun among the most beautiful ice skating rinks in the city. Here are many ideas to spend a low cost Christmas weekend in Belgium.
A weekend of Christmas in Brussels it is an opportunity to see all the beauties of the Belgian city but in a different light, that of Christmas. Like any self-respecting big city, Brussels also takes on a whole different light at Christmas. The Christmas markets and wooden houses take place between Piazza Santa Caterina and the Grande Place. Tourists flock to the streets made walkable for the occasion and a constant smell of chocolate hovers throughout the city which at times becomes thick and then the sweetish smell of sugar grains returns, but all without causing nausea :)
After having had the opportunity to visit Brussels in December thanks to the Flanders Tourist Board and having been there three times now, I can safely say what absolutely must not be missed in Brussels and what instead… can be left out.
Not to be missed at Christmas in Brussels
La Grande Place it is a place that you absolutely must not miss, whether you see Belgium in spring, but even more so at Christmas. Brussels is a very rich city and every year the lights and the beauty of the decorations are wasted here. The main square of Belgium then literally comes to life with music and lights that illuminate the whole square in rhythm, the Town Hall and the surrounding buildings.
Don't miss the Manneken Pis, the bronze statue about fifty meters high which is located in the center of Brussels. During every important occasion the child who pees is dressed in theme, imagine how he can be dressed up for Christmas. The Maine Pis is located at the corner of rue du Chene and rue de l'Etuve. If you go to see the Manneken Pis, don't miss the female version and also the canine version. There are in fact three statues that pee in Brussels, not just one.
Jeanneke Pis it is the female equivalent of the child who pees, in this case it is a girl who squats in one of the busiest streets in Brussels, pees behind a well protected and padlocked grate. The street in which it is located is that of Deliriums Village, frequented by young people and who want to try Belgian beers, rue des Bouchers.
Finally it is also found in Belgium Zinneke Pis, the dog that pees. Located at the intersection of rue des Chartreux and rue du Vieux Marché aux Grains, the dog is the work of a Belgian artist and only dates back to 1999.
French fries in the Friteria Tabora. Wherever they advise you to go for French fries in Brussels, forget about it. The Friteria Tabora is located just behind the Grand Place, in rue Tabora. The name is almost trivial, the shop is very small, you can enter 3 or 4 at a time, no more. Despite this, the fries are always delicious. We had already talked about the Friteria Tabora in another post, so here I just have to recommend this place again.
Christmas markets in Brussels, Plaisir d'Hiver
I Brussels Christmas Markets they are something that, if you go to the city during the Christmas period, you certainly cannot miss. The markets are close enough to each other and you will be able to see them all even during the day, if you want to eat something, ice skate and do all the activities proposed calmly, it may take you up to two days, but it will be worth it. .
Start from Piazza Santa Caterina, here you can eat outside for lunch at Noordzee Mer du Nord, fish and white wine before embarking on the markets. If, on the other hand, you don't want to spoil your lunch or want to tease sweet and salty by walking through the markets, you will be spoiled for choice.
From the Grand-Place up to the Marché-aux-Poissons, Well 240 chalets, the wooden houses will entertain you, amuse you and make the time pass pleasantly. Here you will find food from every region of Belgium and France, but also Christmas gifts and small souvenirs, tastings of sweets, typical dishes and even mulled wine, not to mention beers and coffee. In short, if you arrive on an empty stomach, you will be able to fill it. In the middle of the long square that leads to the Ferris wheel you will find the ice rink, to enter costs € 7 for adults and children have the opportunity to skate on the sidelines even if they have never done so thanks to the help of special supports in the shape of an animal.
Going in the opposite direction to the Ferris wheel you will find yourself in front of the Palazzo della Borsa, artfully decorated and illuminated and finally, continuing to the Christmas Markets, to the Grande Place and here, I am convinced, your eyes will light up.
What can you miss in Brussels
Il Delirium Village. If you go to Brussels to try Belgian beers, in my opinion, you can forget about the Delirium Village. A place frequented by tourists who know they can find any type of beer here even if the place is nothing special. If you go around Christmas I advise you not to miss the famous ones Trappist beers in a Christmas version, therefore made specifically to celebrate this time of year and with Christmas packages, a real treat.
To taste the beers, if you are in the center of Brussels, go to one of the many shops that sell them, if nothing else you can take home a Christmas package and a real beer. If you want to sit down and enjoy one on site, head to the less touristy pub you can find, away from Delirium Village.
A day trip
For a nice weekend in Flanders during the Christmas Markets and after spending a couple of days in Brussels, I recommend that you take an excursion to Leuven.
Leuven is the city of Stella Artois, reachable within a day in 15 minutes by train from Brussels Central or Brussels North. In Leuven, in addition to drinking excellent beer, during the Christmas period, you can visit the markets that are located in Oude Markt. In addition to the markets that offer local crafts and typical products, the city of Leuven also offers a lot to visit.
The city of Leuven is purely university, here is in fact the second most important university in Europe and the Grote Markt, the Piazza del Comune, is populated every day by students who flock to the city center, ride their bicycles to reach the lessons or make an appointment to chat. The city is not very big and in one day you can see the most important attractions, if you want to visit the Town Hall, remember that every day at 15 pm guided tours start in front of the palace.
