There’s no better winter warmer than cradling a cup of mulled wine and enjoying the smell of gingerbread and nutmeg under twinkling lights! That’s why this December you should check out the 21st edition of Brussels’ Winter Wonders.
Every year, close to 2.5 million travellers wrap up warm to soak up the festive vibes for themselves. Winter Wonders runs every year for five weeks from the 25th of November to the 1st of January. So find out how to make the trip to Brussels Christmas Market in 2022 for yourself with P&O Ferries with our handy guide to all the top sights and travel tips.
Getting to Brussels at Christmas is easy with our Hull to Rotterdam Ferry Crossing – if you drive on board you’re just a two-hour drive from the Winter Wonders via the A16 and E19. You can also get to one of the best Christmas destinations in Europe by train in a speedy one hour and twenty-minute journey from Rotterdam.
Of course, you might also want to hop on our Dover to Calais route and you can take a road trip to Brussels in just over two hours via the A16 and E40 or catch a train from Entree Portuaire near our port!
Winter Wonders Parade
A trip to Brussels at Christmas lets you step into Belgian heritage – the Winter Wonders Parade is a celebration of this country’s history and you should be sure to see it for yourself. There are a few spots to watch the parade’s progress from so it’s worth getting familiar with the best way to see this part of the Winter Wonders before you arrive.
To see Brussels lit up with eye-catching lights, be sure to visit Winter Wonders between 6 pm and 8 pm on Saturday! An array of performers are dressed in traditional Christmas clothing and make a journey along these city centre boulevards:
- Bourse
- Grand-Place
- Monnaie
- Sainte-Catherine
- Vismet
Along with the festivities, you’ll see some of Brussels’ amazing architecture – keep an eye on Winter Wonders’ Facebook profile while you’re in town as they will share any updates or special events to look out for.
The Christmas Market
As one of the best Christmas markets in Europe, the Plaisir d’Hiver or Winter Wonders includes more than 250 wooden chalet huts to explore. These are dotted all over Brussels with the majority found in these landmark spots:
- Grand Place
- Rue de la Bourse
- Place Sainte-Catherine
- Marché aux Poissons
- Boulevard Anspach
- Tour Noire
- Place de la Monnaie
The largest area of the Brussels Christmas Market is in Marché aux Poissons so to find all the Christmas decorations you could want, tasty festive food and much more head here. We also suggest taking a ride on the Ferris wheel for panoramic views of Brussels and the markets!
If you want to see even more European festive culture and pick up some unique gifts for friends and family, explore our guide to more of the best Christmas markets in Belgium.
Things to Do and See in the Winter Wonders
Anyone looking for things to do in Brussels this winter should head straight to Grand Place – its brightly lit Christmas Tree is great for taking festive photos with friends and family. There are also plenty of activities to try around these Brussels landmarks.
One destination that’s always popular this time of year for Brussels sightseeing is the ice rink and there’s also a curling track at the family favourites located on Place de Brouckère and Bois de la Cambre. Little kids will also love hopping on the traditional merry-go-rounds that you can find at Place Sainte-Catherine.
Planning your Trip to the Winter Wonders
Planning on heading to one of the best Christmas markets in the world this year? Luckily Brussels is an easy city to navigate with plenty of parking and public transport options. Before you explore all the amazing places to visit in Brussels, you can leave your vehicle in the nearby De Brouckère car park. It’s worth knowing that bringing a car or motorhome onboard is super simple with P&O Ferries – find out how to book your spot here!
For anyone staying a few nights, our top accommodation picks within walking distance of the Christmas Markets are the Juliana Hotel Brussels and the Marivaux Hotel. Both of these options are also ideally located for shopping in Brussels at major shopping districts as well as the markets.
