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On New Year's Eve the stalls stay open until 3am.",{"type":384,"content":416},[417],{"type":358,"content":418},[419,423],{"text":420,"type":362,"marks":421},"Ice rink:",[422],{"type":392},{"text":424,"type":362}," in King Albert I Park, from 20 November to 3 January.",{"type":384,"content":426},[427],{"type":358,"content":428},[429,433],{"text":430,"type":362,"marks":431},"Entry:",[432],{"type":392},{"text":434,"type":362}," free to the markets.",{"type":358,"content":436},[437,441,443],{"text":438,"type":362,"marks":439},"Our first choice:",[440],{"type":392},{"text":442,"type":362}," ",{"text":444,"type":362,"marks":445},"Check availability and prices at the Dukes' Palace",[446],{"type":447,"attrs":448},"link",{"href":449,"uuid":197,"anchor":197,"target":450,"linktype":451},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hotels.com\u002Faffiliate\u002FGUvRAeO","_blank","url",{"type":358,"content":453},[454],{"text":455,"type":362},"Bruges is small enough to walk everywhere, and in December the whole medieval centre is part of the experience. Come for two nights rather than a day trip: the city is at its best after dark, when the day visitors have gone home.",[],{"_uid":458,"body":459,"card":496,"layout":367,"component":368,"article_rounded":200},"84cf0d73-f5cd-41ae-bfd5-28d2b8116cef",{"type":355,"content":460},[461,466,482,486],{"type":374,"attrs":462,"content":463},{"level":376},[464],{"text":465,"type":362},"What the market is like",{"type":358,"content":467},[468,470,474,476,480],{"text":469,"type":362},"The main market fills the ",{"text":471,"type":362,"marks":472},"Markt",[473],{"type":392},{"text":475,"type":362},", the big square under the 83-metre Belfry, with wooden stalls selling mulled wine, hot chocolate, waffles and Christmas decorations. The second market, on ",{"text":477,"type":362,"marks":478},"Simon Stevinplein",[479],{"type":392},{"text":481,"type":362},", is smaller and a little calmer, about five minutes' walk away towards the Church of Our Lady.",{"type":358,"content":483},[484],{"text":485,"type":362},"For 2026 both markets have been redesigned in the style of Winter Glow, the city's winter light festival, so the streets between them are lit up too.",{"type":358,"content":487},[488,490,494],{"text":489,"type":362},"The ",{"text":491,"type":362,"marks":492},"ice rink",[493],{"type":392},{"text":495,"type":362}," has moved from the Markt to King Albert I Park, near the station. It is open from 10am to 10pm every day, with shorter hours over Christmas and New Year, and there is a winter bar overlooking the ice. Skating costs a small fee.",[],{"_uid":498,"image":499,"theme":14,"author":14,"component":506,"caption_text":507,"caption_title":14,"image_caption":507},"8d03fee4-347b-4340-a0f8-1a3cbea7e8a9",{"id":14,"alt":500,"name":500,"focus":14,"title":500,"width":501,"height":502,"source":503,"filename":504,"copyright":503,"fieldtype":16,"meta_data":505,"is_external_url":200},"The lobby lounge at Hotel Heritage in Bruges",3840,2562,"Hotel Heritage \u002F Hotels.com","https:\u002F\u002Fres.cloudinary.com\u002Fpicolo\u002Fimage\u002Fupload\u002Fv1793636914\u002FPicolo\u002FHotels\u002Fbruges\u002Flobby-hotel-heritage-bruges.jpg",{"alt":500,"title":500,"copyright":503},"FullImage","The lounge at Hotel Heritage, about five minutes' walk from the Markt",{"_uid":509,"body":510,"card":537,"layout":367,"component":368,"article_rounded":200},"92f443a7-63c1-47e9-be86-65dcac73e1d7",{"type":355,"content":511},[512,517,525,533],{"type":374,"attrs":513,"content":514},{"level":376},[515],{"text":516,"type":362},"Getting there from the UK",{"type":358,"content":518},[519,523],{"text":520,"type":362,"marks":521},"By train:",[522],{"type":392},{"text":524,"type":362}," take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, which takes about two hours, then change for a train to Bruges, about an hour more. From Bruges station it is about a 20-minute walk to the Markt, or a short bus ride.",{"type":358,"content":526},[527,531],{"text":528,"type":362,"marks":529},"By car:",[530],{"type":392},{"text":532,"type":362}," take Le Shuttle from Folkestone to Calais, then drive for about an hour and a quarter. Park in the car park by the station rather than trying to drive into the medieval centre.",{"type":358,"content":534},[535],{"text":536,"type":362},"With an extra day, Ghent is about 25 minutes away by train and has its own Christmas market around St Bavo's Cathedral.",[],{"_uid":539,"image":540,"theme":14,"author":14,"component":506,"caption_text":546,"caption_title":14,"image_caption":546},"66ea74d1-c93a-4aad-be7a-9e1ef83bcc91",{"id":14,"alt":541,"name":541,"focus":14,"title":541,"width":542,"height":542,"source":543,"filename":544,"copyright":543,"fieldtype":16,"meta_data":545,"is_external_url":200},"The terrace at Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce in Bruges",1818,"Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce \u002F Hotels.com","https:\u002F\u002Fres.cloudinary.com\u002Fpicolo\u002Fimage\u002Fupload\u002Fv1793636917\u002FPicolo\u002FHotels\u002Fbruges\u002Fterrace-relais-bourgondisch-cruyce-bruges.jpg",{"alt":541,"title":541,"copyright":543},"The terrace at Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce, a small hotel beside a canal",{"_uid":548,"body":549,"card":606,"layout":367,"component":368,"article_rounded":200},"3357437e-42a8-4583-bfa7-e170ab7fb04c",{"type":355,"content":550},[551,556,562,566,572,577,581,589,594,598],{"type":374,"attrs":552,"content":553},{"level":376},[554],{"text":555,"type":362},"Where to stay for the Bruges Christmas Market",{"type":374,"attrs":557,"content":559},{"level":558},3,[560],{"text":561,"type":362},"Dukes' Palace",{"type":358,"content":563},[564],{"text":565,"type":362},"The Dukes' Palace is a luxury hotel in a former ducal palace, about five minutes' walk from the Markt. It has a spa, a restaurant and a bar, and guests rate it 9.6 out of 10 across more than 1,000 reviews on Hotels.com.",{"type":358,"content":567},[568],{"text":444,"type":362,"marks":569},[570],{"type":447,"attrs":571},{"href":449,"uuid":197,"anchor":197,"target":450,"linktype":451},{"type":374,"attrs":573,"content":574},{"level":558},[575],{"text":576,"type":362},"Relais & Châteaux Hotel Heritage",{"type":358,"content":578},[579],{"text":580,"type":362},"Hotel Heritage is about five minutes' walk from the Markt, with a spa, the Le Mystique restaurant, a bar and a gym. It is the most traditional of the three, and guests rate it 9.6 out of 10 across more than 500 reviews.",{"type":358,"content":582},[583],{"text":584,"type":362,"marks":585},"Check availability and prices at Hotel Heritage",[586],{"type":447,"attrs":587},{"href":588,"uuid":197,"anchor":197,"target":450,"linktype":451},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hotels.com\u002Faffiliate\u002FEcTZJyh",{"type":374,"attrs":590,"content":591},{"level":558},[592],{"text":593,"type":362},"Hotel Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce",{"type":358,"content":595},[596],{"text":597,"type":362},"Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce is a small boutique hotel beside one of the canals, about five minutes' walk from the Markt. It has a café, a bar and a terrace, and the highest guest rating of the three: 9.8 out of 10 across more than 700 reviews.",{"type":358,"content":599},[600],{"text":601,"type":362,"marks":602},"Check availability and prices at Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce",[603],{"type":447,"attrs":604},{"href":605,"uuid":197,"anchor":197,"target":450,"linktype":451},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hotels.com\u002Faffiliate\u002FkqLsKPg",[],{"_uid":608,"theme":308,"title":609,"people":610,"cta_link":632,"overline":633,"body_copy":634,"component":635,"cta_label":636},"f63df87f-8c94-4a8f-80fb-cfe67ae06649","The Dukes' Palace: a palace hotel five minutes from the Markt",[611,623],{"_uid":612,"name":613,"text":614,"image":615,"cta_link":620,"component":622,"job_title":14},"a67dfe7a-ca47-4e0d-8c0f-c32a308798e0","After dark","The former ducal palace is lit up at night, about five minutes' walk from the Markt, so you can slip back between two rounds of the Christmas market.",{"id":14,"alt":616,"name":616,"focus":14,"title":616,"width":501,"height":502,"source":617,"filename":618,"copyright":617,"fieldtype":16,"meta_data":619,"is_external_url":200},"The Dukes' Palace hotel in Bruges lit up at night","Dukes' Palace \u002F Hotels.com","https:\u002F\u002Fres.cloudinary.com\u002Fpicolo\u002Fimage\u002Fupload\u002Fv1793636909\u002FPicolo\u002FHotels\u002Fbruges\u002Ffacade-night-dukes-palace-bruges.jpg",{"alt":616,"title":616,"copyright":617},{"id":14,"url":449,"target":621,"linktype":451,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":449},"_self","person",{"_uid":624,"name":625,"text":626,"image":627,"cta_link":631,"component":622,"job_title":14},"4a6af9b4-4d0b-4617-94c5-c1d1fa716908","The bar","The bar and restaurant are a good alternative on evenings when it is too cold for mulled wine outdoors, and the spa makes the afternoons slow.",{"id":14,"alt":628,"name":628,"focus":14,"title":628,"width":501,"height":341,"source":617,"filename":629,"copyright":617,"fieldtype":16,"meta_data":630,"is_external_url":200},"The bar at the Dukes' Palace hotel in Bruges","https:\u002F\u002Fres.cloudinary.com\u002Fpicolo\u002Fimage\u002Fupload\u002Fv1793636912\u002FPicolo\u002FHotels\u002Fbruges\u002Fbar-dukes-palace-bruges.jpg",{"alt":628,"title":628,"copyright":617},{"id":14,"url":449,"target":621,"linktype":451,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":449},{"id":14,"url":449,"target":621,"linktype":451,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":449},"Our recommendation","The Dukes' Palace is a luxury hotel in a former ducal palace, about five minutes' walk from the Markt and the Christmas market. With a spa, a restaurant and a bar, it is a good base for a slow weekend: the market in the evening, a massage in the afternoon.","HalfAndHalfBlock","Check availability and prices",{"_uid":638,"body":639,"card":729,"layout":367,"component":368,"article_rounded":200},"5e0cf635-f5d5-41d4-a343-7653a1f4633b",{"type":355,"content":640},[641,646,654,662,670,675,680,684,689,693,698,702,707,711,716,720,725],{"type":374,"attrs":642,"content":643},{"level":376},[644],{"text":645,"type":362},"Our verdict",{"type":358,"content":647},[648,652],{"text":649,"type":362,"marks":650},"What Picolo would choose:",[651],{"type":392},{"text":653,"type":362}," the Dukes' Palace for a palace hotel with a spa, Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce for the highest guest rating and a canal-side setting. For a classic, quieter stay, choose Hotel Heritage.",{"type":358,"content":655},[656,660],{"text":657,"type":362,"marks":658},"Why:",[659],{"type":392},{"text":661,"type":362}," the Dukes' Palace combines a short walk to the Markt with a spa and a rating of 9.6 from more than 1,000 guests.",{"type":358,"content":663},[664,668],{"text":665,"type":362,"marks":666},"The trade-off:",[667],{"type":392},{"text":669,"type":362}," Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce has a higher rating but is small and books up quickly, and it has no spa. If you want a spa, choose between the Dukes' Palace and Hotel Heritage.",{"type":374,"attrs":671,"content":672},{"level":376},[673],{"text":674,"type":362},"Frequently asked questions",{"type":374,"attrs":676,"content":677},{"level":558},[678],{"text":679,"type":362},"When is the Bruges Christmas Market in 2026?",{"type":358,"content":681},[682],{"text":683,"type":362},"The Christmas markets in Bruges run from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. They are open from 11am to 10pm Sunday to Thursday and from 11am to 11.30pm on Friday and Saturday. On New Year's Eve the stalls stay open until 3am. The ice rink in King Albert I Park opens on the same dates.",{"type":374,"attrs":685,"content":686},{"level":558},[687],{"text":688,"type":362},"Where is the Christmas market in Bruges?",{"type":358,"content":690},[691],{"text":692,"type":362},"There are two markets in the city centre: the main one on the Markt, under the Belfry, and a smaller one on Simon Stevinplein, about five minutes' walk away. In 2026 the ice rink is not on the Markt but in King Albert I Park, near the railway station.",{"type":374,"attrs":694,"content":695},{"level":558},[696],{"text":697,"type":362},"Is Bruges good for a Christmas market day trip from London?",{"type":358,"content":699},[700],{"text":701,"type":362},"It is possible, but long: about three hours each way by Eurostar and train. Two nights work better. The city is at its most atmospheric after dark, when the markets and the canals are lit up and the day visitors have left. A second day gives you time for Ghent.",{"type":374,"attrs":703,"content":704},{"level":558},[705],{"text":706,"type":362},"How do you get to Bruges from the UK?",{"type":358,"content":708},[709],{"text":710,"type":362},"Take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, about two hours, and then a train to Bruges, about an hour more. By car, take Le Shuttle from Folkestone to Calais and drive for about an hour and a quarter. From Bruges station it is about a 20-minute walk to the Markt.",{"type":374,"attrs":712,"content":713},{"level":558},[714],{"text":715,"type":362},"When should you book a hotel for the Bruges Christmas Market?",{"type":358,"content":717},[718],{"text":719,"type":362},"Book as soon as you have your dates. Bruges has few large hotels, and the small ones in the medieval centre fill up early for weekends in late November and December. Sunday to Thursday nights are easier to find. Choose a rate with free cancellation if your plans are not fixed.",{"type":374,"attrs":721,"content":722},{"level":376},[723],{"text":724,"type":362},"Sources",{"type":358,"content":726},[727],{"text":728,"type":362},"The 2026 dates and opening hours for the Christmas markets and the ice rink come from Visit Bruges, the city's official tourist board. Hotel ratings and facilities come from Hotels.com. Last checked: 2 November 2026.",[],{"_uid":731,"body":732,"card":773,"layout":367,"component":368,"article_rounded":200},"2ddfc7c1-4504-4c6d-9fac-d54838d0bb7f",{"type":355,"content":733},[734,739],{"type":374,"attrs":735,"content":736},{"level":376},[737],{"text":738,"type":362},"Read more",{"type":381,"content":740},[741,751,762],{"type":384,"content":742},[743],{"type":358,"content":744},[745],{"text":746,"type":362,"marks":747},"Christmas market breaks in Europe",[748],{"type":447,"attrs":749},{"href":750,"uuid":54,"anchor":197,"target":621,"linktype":28},"\u002Fen-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fhotels\u002Fchristmas-market-breaks",{"type":384,"content":752},[753],{"type":358,"content":754},[755],{"text":756,"type":362,"marks":757},"European cities to visit at Christmas",[758],{"type":447,"attrs":759},{"href":760,"uuid":761,"anchor":197,"target":621,"linktype":28},"\u002Fen-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Feurope\u002Feuropean-cities-to-visit-at-christmas","79e54c96-0660-4c1a-b859-9d41f047a055",{"type":384,"content":763},[764],{"type":358,"content":765},[766],{"text":767,"type":362,"marks":768},"Best Christmas markets in the UK",[769],{"type":447,"attrs":770},{"href":771,"uuid":772,"anchor":197,"target":621,"linktype":28},"\u002Fen-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Feurope\u002Fuk\u002Fbest-christmas-markets-uk","470468f1-6ba7-4801-bd01-04200698c0cf",[],{"_uid":775,"theme":14,"author":776,"component":781,"author_name":14,"author_text":14,"author_image":782,"section_overline":783,"facebook_share_link":784,"instagram_share_link":785},"46c5153a-2c3d-4243-a4d5-ed13d5c0a83d",{"name":223,"created_at":311,"published_at":312,"updated_at":313,"id":314,"uuid":315,"content":777,"slug":325,"full_slug":326,"sort_by_date":197,"position":327,"tag_list":779,"is_startpage":200,"parent_id":329,"meta_data":197,"group_id":330,"first_published_at":331,"release_id":197,"lang":204,"path":197,"alternates":780,"default_full_slug":197,"translated_slugs":197,"_stopResolving":208},{"_uid":317,"name":318,"image":778,"overline":14,"component":324},{"id":14,"alt":223,"name":14,"focus":14,"title":223,"width":320,"height":320,"filename":321,"copyright":14,"fieldtype":16,"public_id":322,"aspect_ratio":323,"is_external_url":200},[],[],"ArticleFooter",{"id":197,"alt":197,"name":14,"focus":197,"title":197,"filename":14,"copyright":197,"fieldtype":16},"Enjoy the Christmas markets",{"id":14,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":14},{"id":14,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":14},{"_uid":787,"card_type":14,"component":788,"filter_by":789},"f4fc2c54-08de-4635-9862-028edb17a602","PaginatedArticles",{"_uid":790,"plugin":791,"values":792},"663609b8-3bc5-4d91-a4d3-2e543e6c7346","storyblok-tags-select",[147,793,240],"Oslo",{"name":223,"created_at":311,"published_at":312,"updated_at":313,"id":314,"uuid":315,"content":795,"slug":325,"full_slug":326,"sort_by_date":197,"position":327,"tag_list":797,"is_startpage":200,"parent_id":329,"meta_data":197,"group_id":330,"first_published_at":331,"release_id":197,"lang":204,"path":197,"alternates":798,"default_full_slug":197,"translated_slugs":197,"_stopResolving":208},{"_uid":317,"name":318,"image":796,"overline":14,"component":324},{"id":14,"alt":223,"name":14,"focus":14,"title":223,"width":320,"height":320,"filename":321,"copyright":14,"fieldtype":16,"public_id":322,"aspect_ratio":323,"is_external_url":200},[],[],"The Bruges Christmas markets 2026 run from 20 November to 3 January 2027 on the Markt and Simon Stevinplein. Opening hours, the ice rink, Eurostar from London and hotels.","Experience",{"_uid":802,"plugin":791,"values":803},"46b19557-0054-43b4-8760-5a3068e41ba3",[804,805],"Christmas","Belgium","Article","Skating on the Markt in Bruges in an earlier year. In 2026 the ice rink is in King Albert I Park",{"id":14,"alt":340,"name":340,"focus":14,"title":340,"width":341,"height":342,"source":343,"filename":297,"copyright":343,"fieldtype":16,"meta_data":809,"is_external_url":200},{"alt":340,"title":340,"copyright":343},"bruges-christmas-market","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Feurope\u002Fbelgium\u002Fbruges-christmas-market",-30,[],233085174366746,"f074eee0-f9a8-45bc-a617-5ecf0299c3b3","2026-11-02T16:31:10.699Z",[818],{"id":819,"name":820,"slug":821,"published":208,"full_slug":822,"is_folder":200,"parent_id":823},237352978995532,"Julemarked i Brugge","julemarked-brugge","nb-no\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinasjoner\u002Feuropa\u002Fbelgia\u002Fjulemarked-brugge",233085172597272]