13 Things to Do in Brussels at Christmas

With so much to see and do in Brussels, Christmas is a bustling season, offering activities for the whole family and plenty of options if you’re visiting the city with kids.

From traditional Christmas markets to the light show, Brussels is brimming with holiday cheer. Ready to take notes? Let’s get started!

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

The best part is that if you visit Bruges with kids during this season, you’ll have plenty of options. A boat ride or finding great restaurants to eat at will be the perfect complement to your family Christmas.

Of all the things you have to see in Bruges, I recommend not missing a tour of its Market Square or Grote Markt, with its market active since 958 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

An ideal plan for Christmas is the Atomium, one of Brussels’ iconic landmarks. Standing a whopping 103 meters 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. Plus, your ticket grants you access to the Design Museum and its Plasticarium exhibition, which features a collection 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 at the restaurant while taking in this wonderful view.

Booking a tour of Brussels on a sightseeing bus is another great option if you’re visiting Brussels with kids during Christmas, as you’ll be able to get a comfortable and flexible overview of the city while staying out of the cold, and quickly move between the capital’s main attractions. Plus, it includes an audio guide for both adults and children, so you can learn all about the city’s history and interesting facts.

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 based on your travel plans.

These buses also offer onboard Wi-Fi and have their own app so you can navigate interactively.

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

In this workshop, you’ll also learn to make all the classic treats like bonbons and pralines, and you’ll create a personalized chocolate bar, following the instructions of the experts who will guide you through the process.

Plus, admission includes an audio-guided tour of the Choco Story Museum, and best of all, you’ll enjoy an exquisite Belgian chocolate tasting.

No Christmas trip is complete without some shopping. This route is ideal, not only for picking up a Christmas 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 outdoor cafes where you can enjoy a hot drink and soak up the Christmas atmosphere.

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

In addition to cafés and luxury shops, these galleries also house one of the city’s newest museums, the Museum of Letters and Manuscripts, which features over 80,000 documents divided into categories such as history, literature, art, and science. So if your Christmas plans in Brussels also include visiting a museum, I recommend adding this one to your itinerary. Other options include the Autoworld Museum in Brussels, the Brussels Cinquantenaire Museum, 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. Plus, 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’s a 360° light and sound 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 during the winter. So if you’re visiting Brussels this winter season, you won’t have to wait until December, as this show usually begins in November and runs through January.

This show usually repeats throughout the night, every 30 minutes, so you’ll always be able to catch it during your stroll through Brussels. Don’t forget your camera to capture 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 marvelous square, though you’re sure to pass by it many 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 program of cultural activities that includes fairs, outdoor concerts, an ice skating rink, and much more.

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

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

In Grand Place, in addition to the beautiful lights, you’ll also find a giant Christmas tree, approximately 18 meters tall. Every year, the municipality of Dilbeek donates one of its pine trees to the City of Brussels to decorate the square during the 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. Additionally, in the spirit of sustainability and responsible consumption, the Belgian city plants 10 new pine trees every year.

If you love Christmas movies, like 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. Plus, you’ll do it with Christmas carols playing in the background to really get you in the mood.

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

Nothing inspires the Christmas spirit more than a caroling choir. In Brussels during this time of year, you have the opportunity to attend concerts featuring choral groups that will delight you 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 to various charitable causes.

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

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

Marché aux Poissons and Place Sainte-Catherine Markets

Perhaps the largest and my favorites due to their wide variety, these markets feature a large number of Christmas stalls, as well as a carousel to bring out your inner child—or, if you’re traveling with young children, to enjoy some family time. In addition to crafts, toys, jewelry, and other gifts, you’ll also find stalls here with plenty of dining options.

Sample the best of Belgian cuisine and other international dishes. I recommend trying tartiflette, a dish made with potatoes, onions, bacon, cream, and cheese—originally from France—that’s perfect to enjoy during your Christmas stroll.

Around the city, you’ll find other Christmas markets, such as the one at the Grand Place and the one located 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 stroll through 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 the month of December, many hotels typically offer Christmas-themed dinners to the general public in their restaurants, along with musical performances and entertainment for the whole family.

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

My recommendation is to check the schedules of hotels, bars, and restaurants, because they’re sure to have something special to celebrate this holiday 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 wool sweater 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—especially children and young people—about the vulnerable situations faced by other children around the world. Some schools and cultural centers open their doors, offering family-friendly programming 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 available the rest of the year. However, I recommend that if you plan to visit a museum, you check its website to see if it’s closed on the holidays typical of this time of year.

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 traveling with 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 organized itinerary to explore Brussels during the holidays and ensure you don’t miss a single spot.

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

Visit the city’s museums

Europe’s diplomatic capital has a lot 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 programming for the whole family this season.

Check each museum’s schedule and hours, which may vary during the Christmas season. It’s an ideal way to explore some of the city’s most important museums, such as the Museum of Medicine or the Museum of Musical Instruments, and enjoy their spaces at a more leisurely pace compared to other times of the year, like summer, when tourist traffic increases.