Bruges’ Christmas markets return on 20 November 2026, and with winter ferry fares across the Channel at their most tempting, a festive day trip to Belgium is easier than you might think. Here’s how we did it, what’s new for this season, and what I’d do differently next time.
One of the quiet pleasures of winter is that ferry prices between Dover and Calais drop to a level that makes a spontaneous day trip feel entirely reasonable, which is more than can be said for the summer months. With that in mind, and having grown a little weary of UK Christmas markets that too often feel like a glorified Saturday market with a few red hats and a vat of mulled wine, we decided it was time to experience a proper Christmas market on the continent. Bruges, or Brugge as the locals call it, was the obvious choice.
Ferry booked and alarm set for an unholy hour, we hit the road.
Getting to Bruges
The drive from Calais to Bruges is straightforward, taking around an hour and a quarter along the coast and across the Belgian border. If you’re booking from scratch, it’s worth knowing that Dunkirk is closer still, at around 50 minutes from Bruges, so a Dover–Dunkirk crossing can shave a little time off the day. Either way, remember that Belgium is an hour ahead of the UK, which matters when you’re working out how long you’ll have at the markets before your return sailing.
Arriving in the city brought a surprise, though. Having visited Bruges in the summer, we expected to find on-street parking easily, but December is a different story: the traffic was heavy and street parking was all but non-existent. I’d meant to pre-book parking and left it too late, which was a lesson learned. Luckily, the large Centrum-Station car park by the railway station had plenty of space and turned out to be the best option anyway. It’s cheap compared with the garages in the centre, and your parking ticket includes a free bus ride into town and back for up to four people. If you’d rather walk, it’s a pleasant 15-minute stroll into the centre.
First Impressions
As soon as you step onto the cobbled streets of Bruges, the Christmas magic hits you. With its stepped gables, canals and medieval squares, the whole city feels like a Christmas card come to life, and the decorations are understated and elegant rather than gaudy. Bruges does Christmas with real style.
The Bruges Christmas Markets
Bruges has two main Christmas markets, both part of the city’s Winter Glow festival, and this season they run from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.
- Grote Markt (Market Square): The main market, set beneath the Belfry in the city’s grand central square, is everything you’d hope for. Think twinkling lights, stalls overflowing with Christmas decorations, and the scent of mulled wine and freshly made waffles drifting through the air, with plenty of hearty food to keep the cold at bay.
- Simon Stevinplein: This smaller market has more of an artisan feel, with crafts and unique gifts taking centre stage. It’s a great place to find thoughtful presents and skip the usual mass-produced fare.
Beyond the markets, the city centre is a shopper’s delight, full of independent boutiques and chocolate shops, and the whole place feels like a fairy tale, right down to the horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping over the cobbles.
What’s On for Winter Glow 2026
Winter Glow is about much more than the markets, and this season it runs for longer than ever, through to 14 February 2027. Some of the highlights:
- The Light Experience Trail: a free, three-kilometre walking route through the historic centre with ten light installations. It’s at its best after dark, so it’s a good reason to stay into the evening.
- Ice skating at Minnewater: an outdoor rink in Koning Albert I Park near the Minnewater lake, with a cosy winter bar overlooking the ice for anyone who’d rather watch than skate.
- Saint Nicholas: Belgium’s favourite festive figure traditionally arrives in Bruges by boat at the start of the season, and he returns on 6 December, Saint Nicholas Day, when Belgian children receive their presents. It’s a lovely time to visit with children.
- The Winter Giant: new for this season, a giant figure is being built in an open workshop by locals and visitors, and it takes to the streets for a finale parade in January. It gives you a reason to visit after Christmas too, when the crowds have thinned and hotel prices often drop.
Opening times vary through the season and over Christmas and New Year, so check the official Visit Bruges website before you travel.
Before You Go: What’s Changed This Winter
Border checks at Dover. The EU’s new Entry/Exit System, which records non-EU travellers entering and leaving the Schengen area, is now in place across Europe. At Dover, French border police are currently registering car passengers manually at the booths, but the full process, where everyone gets out of the car to scan their passport and give fingerprints and a photo at kiosks, has been delayed and could start at any point. Either way, allow extra time at the port, especially for your first crossing, and check with your ferry company before you travel.
No ETIAS needed yet. You may have read about ETIAS, the EU’s new online travel authorisation. It isn’t in operation and no start date has been announced, so for now a valid passport is all you need. Be wary of websites that offer to sell you one, as they aren’t official.
Think before you buy cheese. Since April 2025, you haven’t been allowed to bring meat or dairy from the EU into Great Britain, and that includes Belgian cheese and cured sausages from the market stalls, even if they’re vacuum-packed or bought in duty free. Chocolate, biscuits, waffles and, of course, Belgian beer are all fine to bring home. Our guide to UK airport food rules explains what you can and can’t bring back.
Driving in Belgium. You’ll need a UK sticker on your car (rather than a GB one), along with your driving licence, insurance and vehicle documents. Bruges is easy to reach by motorway, but if you’re tempted to add Ghent or Antwerp to your trip, both have low emission zones that UK-registered cars must register for in advance, so check the rules before you go.
A Day Trip or More?
A day trip to Bruges’ Christmas markets is absolutely doable, and it’s a wonderful way to experience one of Europe’s best-loved festive traditions. That said, I’d recommend staying overnight if you can. The city takes on an even more magical quality after dark, with the lights reflecting off the canals and the Light Experience Trail at its best, and you’ll have more time to soak it all in. You can also enjoy a Belgian beer or two without worrying about the drive back to the port.
If you do stay, the markets are at their quietest on weekday mornings, which is the best time for browsing the stalls and taking photos before the crowds arrive.
Bruges at Christmas? Simply enchanting.
