Hi all, first time on this site. Any suggestions & times would be much appreciated. I will be in Brussels for 5 night first week in Dec, solo female, for the Xmas market. I’m not committed to staying in Brussels but possibly making it my home base. I hope to head to Bruges &/or Antwerp to see their Xmas market there too. Bruges, I may stay a nite. Antwerp prob a day trip. Anyway, idk how realistic my hotel price expectations are given the time of year, but I was hoping to stay under $1K (5 nites) in hotels near Grand Palace / Xmas market. So far, I booked (w/ free cancellation): Aparthotel Adagio Brussels Grand Palace ($862), NH Collection Brussels Centet ($971), and Thon Hotel Brussels City Center ($933). In reading the past years comments, I’ve noticed both Ibis Brussels off Grand Palace & Novotel Off Grand Palace popped up quite often. They’re both not too far over $1K but both are non refundable but I don’t want to commit yet, in case plans change. Sorry this is so long. Ultimately, any suggestions of hotels in safe area walking distance to Xmas market / Grand Palace would be very much appreciated. Thanx so much all
Posted by
Sydney, Australia
99 posts
My in-laws have stayed at the Adagio at my instigation and found it fine. It's self-catering (i.e. there is a kitchenette), and there are supermarkets nearby, but also no mid-week cleaning. You are right on top of a metro station (De Brouckère), close to buses and you will have the Xmas markets on your doorstep. It's safe enough there, because it's in the centre.
BTW it's Grand' Place, not Grand Palace; Grand' Place means 'big market square' in French (Grote Markt in Dutch). There is a palace but it's a little bit out of the centre, on the ring road surrounding the city.
Lavandula
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Ah….Grand Place. these old eyes of mine are going…..thanx for the correction
Ultimately, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for hotels around the Winter Wonders Xmas market area. I think I read it’s near Grand PLACE (almost did palace again, smh)
Thanx again
Posted by
Western Canada
3800 posts
Hi!
I did a 3 day trip to Brussels when I was in London in Dec 2023.
I chose it specifically for Christmas markets.
However, I was quite disappointed as none of the market areas were that “ Christmassy”.
There were tons of vendors selling everything from leather bags to candles to jewellery and many food stalls.
One guy selling reindeer hides. Eww.
I did not find any Christmas ornaments or crafts at all.
I’d call them Winter markets, none of them were remotely like the ones you see in videos of ones say in Germany.
I wouldn’t recommend going there for traditional Christmas markets, I’d pick somewhere else.
I stayed in the Hotel Dansaert, walking distance to the Grand Place.
It was small but clean and safe and cosy in winter.