Every winter, the centre of Brussels turns into one big open-air Christmas market. Craves sits right in the middle of it: the Bourse is a 2-minute walk away, the Grand-Place 4 minutes. Here are the spots not to miss, the practical details and our walk from chalet to chalet.
The market spots at a glance
| # | Place | On foot from Craves | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand-Place | 280 m · 4 min | Christmas tree and light show |
| 2 | Place de la Bourse | 150 m · 2 min | Basque and Béarn village |
| 3 | Place de la Monnaie | 310 m · 4 min | Chalets |
| 4 | Place Sainte-Catherine | 410 m · 6 min | Chalets and mulled wine |
| 5 | Marché aux Poissons | 590 m · 7 min | Ferris wheel |
280 m · 4 min from the hotel · Christmas tree and light show
1. Grand-Place
Photo: Luca Mangiat, CC BY 4.0, cropped (via Wikimedia Commons)
The heart of the festivities: the giant Christmas tree stands in front of the Town Hall and, as night falls, a sound and light show brings the façades of this UNESCO World Heritage square to life.
Our tip · Come just after nightfall, around 17:00: the illuminations are at their best and the crowds are thinner than later in the evening.
150 m · 2 min from the hotel · Basque and Béarn village
2. Place de la Bourse
For this 25th edition, the City of Brussels welcomes Béarn Pyrénées and the Basque Country. Their village sets up on Place de la Bourse, 2 minutes from the hotel: the perfect chance to taste specialities from south-west France between two chalets.
310 m · 4 min from the hotel · Chalets
3. Place de la Monnaie
In front of the Monnaie opera house, another stop on the market trail, on the way between the Grand-Place and the shops of Rue Neuve.
410 m · 6 min from the hotel · Chalets and mulled wine
4. Place Sainte-Catherine
Photo: Vanvelthem Cédric, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
The friendliest atmosphere of the whole market: food chalets, mulled wine and specialities to share around Sainte-Catherine church.
590 m · 7 min from the hotel · Ferris wheel
5. Marché aux Poissons
Just beyond Sainte-Catherine, the old fish market square is home to the Ferris wheel, with lovely views over the illuminated rooftops of the city centre.
Our walk from chalet to chalet
- Start at the Grand-Place at nightfall for the tree and the light show.
- Head to Place de la Bourse and the Basque and Béarn village, 2 minutes from the hotel.
- Carry on to Place Sainte-Catherine for a mulled wine.
- Take a ride on the Ferris wheel at the Marché aux Poissons.
- Come back via Place de la Monnaie: Craves is 4 minutes away.
To round off the evening, Le Conteur and Scène are right inside the hotel. As a Craves guest: -15% on your meal at Le Conteur and your first cocktail buy one, get one free at Scène.
Practical info 2026-2027
- Dates: from Friday 27 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027.
- Opening hours: daily from 12:00 to 22:00; closing at 18:00 on 24 and 31 December.
- Free entry; Ferris wheel, ice rink and rides are paid. The full programme is published in November on plaisirsdhiver.be.
- Fewer crowds on weekdays and in the early afternoon; Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest.
- Book early: December weekends are in high demand in the city centre. Book direct on our website: -10% with the code THANKYOU.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Brussels Christmas market in 2026?
Winter Wonders (Plaisirs d’Hiver) runs from Friday 27 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, daily from 12:00 to 22:00 (closing at 18:00 on 24 and 31 December).
Is the Brussels Christmas market free?
Yes, entry to the market is free. The Ferris wheel, the ice rink and the rides are paid.
Where are the Christmas market chalets?
On the Grand-Place, Place de la Bourse, Place de la Monnaie, Place Sainte-Catherine and the Marché aux Poissons, all less than 10 minutes’ walk from one another.
Where is the Ferris wheel?
At the Marché aux Poissons, near Place Sainte-Catherine, about a 7-minute walk from Craves Hotel.
Which hotel should I choose for the Brussels Christmas market?
Craves Hotel, a 3★ boutique hotel on Rue du Marché aux Poulets, sits right in the middle of the market trail: 150 m from Place de la Bourse and 280 m from the Grand-Place, with 75 air-conditioned rooms.
Sources: City of Brussels (bruxelles.be), plaisirsdhiver.be. Information checked in October 2026; detailed programme and prices published in November.