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Bruges Christmas Market 2026: Dates, Hours & Locations
By Viktorija Dvariskyte · Marketing Manager
Marketing Manager
The Bruges Christmas market returns from Friday 20 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 as part of Wintergloed (Winter Glow), the city's winter festival, according to the City of Bruges. Two markets fill the medieval centre: a traditional market on the Markt beneath the Belfry, and a smaller craft market on the Simon Stevinplein. Entry is free.
Wintergloed also includes an ice rink near the Minnewater and the IJsgloed winter bar, which stay open until 14 February 2027. This guide covers the 5 best things to do at the Bruges Christmas market, from the two markets and the ice rink to the Belfry and the city's chocolate shops and breweries. Each entry has the address, how to get there and a Pro Tip.
Bruges is compact and best explored on foot. The order starts on the Markt, moves south to the Simon Stevinplein and the ice rink near the Minnewater, then returns to the centre for the Belfry, chocolate and beer.
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1Christmas Market on the Markt - Beneath the Belfry
The main Bruges Christmas market fills the Markt, the city's grand central square, surrounded by colourful guild houses and dominated by the 83-metre Belfry. Wooden chalets sell Christmas decorations, gifts and winter food, from waffles and fries to Belgian chocolate, mulled wine and Christmas beers.
The market runs from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Listings give opening hours of 10am to 10pm from Sunday to Thursday and 10.30am to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays; check the official Wintergloed website before you visit.
During the market season, the weekly Wednesday food market that normally fills the Markt moves to the nearby Burg square.
2Simon Stevinplein Christmas Market - Local Crafts and Producers
The second Bruges Christmas market sets up on the Simon Stevinplein, a smaller square a short walk south of the Markt, named after the Flemish mathematician whose statue stands in the middle. It focuses on local crafts and regional products from Flemish producers and farmers.
It is quieter and more intimate than the main market, and a good place to find handmade gifts, cheese, jenever and local specialities. The stalls are decorated in the Wintergloed style, matching the main market.
The Simon Stevinplein market follows the same dates as the Markt, from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, and it is the calmer of the two Bruges Christmas market squares.
3Wintergloed Ice Rink - Skating near the Minnewater
The Wintergloed ice rink is no longer on the Markt but sits in the Koning Albert I park near the Minnewater, the romantic Lake of Love, at the southern edge of the old town. For the 2026 season, the rink is listed as open daily from 10am to 10pm from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, depending on the weather.
Skates can be hired on site, and a winter bar serves warm drinks for those who prefer to watch. The Minnewater and the nearby Beguinage, with its whitewashed houses, are especially peaceful in winter.
The rink is close to Bruges station, so it is easy to visit on arrival or before leaving.
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4Belfry of Bruges - Views over the Christmas Market
The Belfry of Bruges, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, rises 83 metres above the Markt and the Christmas market. Visitors can climb its 366 steps to the top for sweeping views over the rooftops, canals and the market stalls below.
On the way up, you pass the treasury, where the city's charters were once kept, and the carillon of 47 bells, which still plays tunes over the square. Entry is ticketed and the number of visitors inside the tower at one time is limited.
The climb is steep and narrow in places, so it is not suitable for everyone, but the view over the Markt in December is unforgettable.
5Bruges Chocolate and Beer - Festive Treats to Take Home
Bruges is famous for chocolate and beer, and December is the perfect time to stock up. The city centre is full of chocolatiers selling pralines and festive creations, and the Choco-Story museum tells the story of chocolate from the Maya to modern Belgian truffles, with tastings included.
De Halve Maan, the family brewery in the heart of Bruges, offers guided tours ending with a tasting of its Brugse Zot beer, and is known for its underground beer pipeline that carries beer to its bottling plant outside the centre. Many cafés also serve special Christmas beers during the season.
Chocolate and Christmas beer make excellent gifts to take home from a Bruges Christmas market trip.
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Bruges Christmas Market 2026: Wintergloed Dates & Tips - FAQ
The Bruges Christmas markets run from Friday 20 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 as part of Wintergloed, the city's winter festival. Published hours are 10am to 10pm Sunday to Thursday and 10.30am to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Yes, both Bruges Christmas markets are free to walk around. You pay for food, drinks, gifts and ice skating, and for entry to attractions such as the Belfry and Choco-Story.
The train is easiest: Bruges is about an hour from Brussels and 25 minutes from Ghent, with frequent services. From Bruges station, the Markt is a 20-minute walk or a short bus ride. Parking in the old centre is very limited in December.
The markets run straight through the holidays until 3 January, and in past years they have opened on Christmas Day. Hours on 24 and 25 December can be shorter, so check the Wintergloed website before you go.
Yes. The markets stay open until 3 January 2027, and the City of Bruges has extended Wintergloed until 14 February 2027, so the ice rink, the IJsgloed winter bar and the festive lighting continue after the stalls close.
There are two markets in the historic centre: the main traditional market on the Markt beneath the Belfry, and a smaller craft market on the Simon Stevinplein, a five-minute walk away. The ice rink is in the Koning Albert I park near the Minnewater.
Weekday mornings and early afternoons are the quietest, especially in late November. Return after dusk to see the Markt lit up. Saturdays in December draw big day-trip crowds, so avoid them if you can.
The Markt market is the largest and most atmospheric, while the Simon Stevinplein focuses on local crafts and producers. From 18 to 20 December 2026, the Handmade in Brugge MAKERSmarkt also fills the Stadshallen beneath the Belfry with local makers.
Yes. The Wintergloed ice rink is in the Koning Albert I park near the Minnewater, about a 10-minute walk south of the Markt. It stays open until 14 February 2027, and skating is ticketed.
Wintergloed (Winter Glow) is Bruges' winter festival, running from 20 November 2026 to 14 February 2027. It includes the two Christmas markets, the ice rink, the IJsgloed winter bar and festive lighting. The free light walk of previous years ended after the 2025 edition, so check the city's programme for this year's line-up.
