Visiting Brussels… wow… it’s been almost a year since Gary and I were there for a little winter excursion. When we returned from this trip and I had a moment to write a post, it didn’t seem like the proper time to post about it in the month of January. So I decided to hold off and post about our experience almost a year later. With December quickly approaching, I thought it was about time I caught up and shared this enchanting place in a post!
This post contains affiliate links that help keep this website running. By purchasing through our links, we make a small commission at no extra charge to you. Thank you for your support!
The Grand Place
The Grand Place is the main square of Brussels. It is in the center of the city and is incredible – especially at Christmastime. The architecture in its 17th-century glory, might just be one of the prettiest squares we have seen to date. We love Arezzo, but the architecture is completely different. This square with its opulent buildings is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
At night in winter, Grand Place comes alive with beautiful choreographed lights and music every half-hour from 5:30 until 10:30 pm. Whatever you do… if you visit during this time of year, you must take in the display. It is better than anything I have ever seen.
Here are two of our videos. One earlier in the evening, you can see the details of the buildings and really appreciate the beauty. The second is just a glimpse of the video mapping light show that we saw last year. I’m sure they change it a bit each year.
Where are the Brussels Christmas Markets?
The Christmas market in Brussels attracts about 2.5 million visitors each year. The Grand Place is the center of the Christmas market yet, there’s no actual market there. We found it a bit difficult to find each area or section where the individual markets were located.
Then, we found a map online. Before you go, check and print ahead of time as it will help you locate each of the individual areas without wandering endlessly. They are quite spread out and yes, it’s great to wander around and explore but it was chilly and we were feeling the cold!
Vendors selling various items such as handmade blankets, jewelry, stuffed animals, scarfs, hats, mittens, ornaments, and specialty holiday dishes, were all lined up in rows. Almost anything you can think of. Also… food was found everywhere – you won’t go hungry!
Top Spots to Find Markets
- The piazza in front of St. Catherine’s Church was filled with food and beverage stalls that included beer and eggnog.
- The old fish market, Marché aux Poisson
- Tour Noire
- We found an ice skating rink at Place de la Monnaie along with more vendors
Belgium Chocolate
We took a class on making chocolate which was a wonderful experience. We met some nice people and had a blast eating (ahem) and making different chocolates. There are many various companies to choose from but we booked with Brussels Chocolate Workshop, located at Rue des Foulons 30, at €79.20 for both of us.
We stayed at the NH Brussels Carrefour de L’Europe hotel located at Grasmarkt 110 and really liked the place itself as well as the location
What About the Food in Brussels?
Savour typical dishes when in Brussels. One of the most famous is mussels and chips. Many people will agree that it is a national dish in Belgium. You will find it everywhere and year-round. In fact, Belgium is perhaps one of the most underrated gastronomic destinations in Europe.
The Belgian waffle is another must delicacy in Brussels. You might think it a bit of a cliche but try it – you won’t be disappointed! Belgians don’t eat waffles for breakfast but consider them a treat that is enjoyed while on the go. True Belgians eat theirs plain with a sprinkle of powdered sugar. But you’ll see many options to add softened strawberries and whipped cream. Indulge as you wish.
Maison Dandoy has multiple locations in Brussels, but only their tearoom offers waffles. This is THE place to try them.
Also, enjoy a pistolet, a small round bread with a golden crust and a soft inside. Praline’s are Belgium’s signature chocolate – and a must-try in Brussels. Don’t confuse these with American Pralines, the ones in Belgium are a chocolate bonbon with a softer filling inside a hard chocolate shell.
One of the best places we ate was at the Drug Opera shown in the photo below. We actually stopped there twice and we weren’t disappointed. The beer is another must-enjoy while in Brussels. Even as much as both Gary and I love red wine… the beer here was over-the-top amazing!
Brussels is the capital of the Flemish Region and Belgium. The City of Brussels is also the administrative centre of the European Union, as it hosts a number of principal EU institutions in its European Quarter
Conclusion
Brussels is worth a visit any time of the year but we choose to experience it in the wintertime. It was magical and worth the long weekend trip. If you’ve visited before, please let us know in the comments your experience and what time of the year you visited.
I agree that the Grand Place is one of the most magical squares in Europe. The golden glow at night is incredible. Although we spend our vacation time in Italy now, this article takes us back to what we love about Belgium–the chocolates, the fries, and the beer! I learned to love Framboise and Kriek there!
Love Bobbie that our post brought back such great memories. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, we appreciate it!
I emailed information about Italian guides. Did you receive it?
I consider Belgium chocolates to be the best in the world. What is their secret? Did you discover anything unique about them when you took the chocolate making class? Happy Holidays my Friends!
I love them too Cher! I think its the chocolate itself as its not really in the making of them. We’ve made chocolate before and learned a great deal but I truly can’t say – other than the chocolate base – there is any difference.
We were in Brussels and Bruges over 10 years ago and had a wonderful time. Wonderful chocolate, beer and frites! It turned out that we were in Bruges for the Procession of Holy Blood on Ascension Day, quite by accident. It was amazing, it’s a huge procession through the streets of Bruges with bands, people marching, on horseback or in chariots and wagons bringing to life bibical and historical scenes. They even had animals, including camels!
We missed Bruges due to the short amount of time that we were there but it is on our list to return to. Happy to hear our post brought back some happy memories for you. Thanks for the comment!