Bruges/Ghent at christmas

[Ireallywantadoughnut36]

Any tips or comments welcome! We are looking at 19th to 23rd December at Da Haan center parcs and then would like to visit Ghent and Bruges for Christmas markets, ice skating, waffles etc. My slight panic is will it be craft busy and unsuitable for the kids. The children will be 10 and nearly 8, they like christmas markets, food etc but in smallish doses, my older one particularly likes history, architecture, castles etc. I was thinking CPs gives us a nice mix of activity and kid focused things and the towns will be an easy drive and get us in the christmas spirit. Or will it be hellish, freezing, busy and generally stressful and the children will moan non stop...!? Any better ideas (ideally want to drive as my daughter hates flying and we've done lots of flights this year already)

Honestly I love Bruges, we go every other year, but we always avoid going during the Christmas markets as it’s too packed and stressful. It’s always so busy that it’s hard to get into any cafes or restaurants, and there’s long queues for everything.

The Christmas markets are a little underwhelming tbh

How old are your dc?

Ghent if you want ice skating. Have been there very recently, believe there will be a pop up rink at what the locals call the sheep pen in the historic centre. But best of all Ghent has a proper rink the Kristallijn ice barn. Which is a unique experience as there is a short speed track around the main ice pad. It’s in the outskirts get an Uber to the rink.

We are a very keen ice skating family we may even make the trip this year ourselves

The Christmas market in Bruges isn’t huge but its not a bad size if your DC have limited interest in them - a walk around the markets picking up food before or after one of the historic sites would work. Its great for historic visiting and you could just choose a walking route to see the main sites before dropping in to one or two.

Its one we do with the adult DC/partners sometimes in December but earlier in the month and we stay at the Duke’s Palace which is well located. I suspect it would all be extremely busy 23/24th December, if you have the option to go earlier then I would do that.

Have only been to Bruges. It's an easy drive from De Haan so you can do it as a day trip rather than relocating. I would probably not bother going into the markets if they are busy (I went at the start of December and they were fine though). If you can stay till after dark there is a light trail to do. It's really Christmassy and I would say definitely worth a trip. If you decide to stay over, the Hotel Acacia is nice. There is an ice rink in the park.

Neither market is huge and will be fine with kids. Ghent has lots of roundabouts etc and a big wheel. Bruges is mainly a few stalls here and there and an ice rink in the big square. Do you want to stay in Bruges / Ghent or go there from CP? Ghent has a ULEZ for which you need to register your car in advance. I would go by train if possible. Otherwise the Ibis and Novotel in Bruges has parking and is close to the station and centre. Both towns are very pretty at Xmas. Ghent is one of my faves.

Get on the train to Brussels and visit the Natural HIstory Museum or Autoworld too - lots to do there for kids and it all feels very festive too.

Amazing thanks everyone, yes the plan is to stay at the CP and then train/drive to both cities for a day out in each. We don't want to necessarily do any shopping, just enjoy the Christmas vibes. Ice skating and big wheel in Ghent sound amazing!
I will probably aim to book places for lunch and dinner in advance, if it's really busy at least we will be able to stop. I think the children would like the Christmas museum and some of the historic sites too, so might avoid the markets mainly and just dip into them for the Christmas feel. Light trail sounds lovely!

They're 10 and 8, good walkers and like a city stroll and a museum, but obviously still kids so won't enjoy staring at adults shoulders in rammed crowds

Your plan is great. Center Parcs De Haan gives the kids fun downtime, while Ghent & Bruges (perfect for your history-loving 10-year-old boy) offer magical Christmas markets, castles, and waffles. It will be cold and busy (weekends are worst), but manageable. Visit markets early/late, warm up in cafés, and balance with CPs pool or activities. Try Antwerp or Aachen for quieter alternatives. Pack layers, expect crowds, but it’ll be festive and memorable!

In Ghent, Gravensteen castle is well worth a visit. De Witte Leeuw on the Graslei is good for traditional belgian food.

Don’t go to Bruge if you’re after a Christmas market experience , it’s shockingly bad . There was a lovely Christmas shop but the market itself was dire. Bruges is gorgeous though filled with fairy lights and just so pretty .

I was in Ghent last December. Not too hectic and although it was a bit grey, at night with the lights it was stunning!

Six of us went to Bruges last Christmas. We all said never again.

It's fine if:

You like being jostled and shoved.

Can deal with crowds of hundreds of people.

Are happy to queue at each stall for bloody hours.

And like underwhelming stalls that offer overpriced tat that, if I haven't already mentioned, you have to queue FOREVER to get to.

As an aside, Bruges is beautiful, especially over winter. The water, pretty lights, old cobbled streets, and stunning buildings. Just avoid the bloody market!

We said we would happily go back over Christmas/winter for a nice meal, a walk by the water, and a stroll through the quieter areas!

I went early Dec, the markets were all on and it wasn’t too busy at all. We got Eurostar to Lille, stayed in Lille a couple of days, train to Ghent, stayed in Ghent a few days with a day trip to Bruges and then home on the train via Brussels.

Ghent is nicer than Bruges. We didn’t go for the markets and I wouldn’t say it’s worth going for them, seemed a bit crap. The castle and museums were excellent as was general bimbling about.

Can't comment on the Christmas markets / Bruges but I loved Ghent with my gang. Actually went by Eurostar / train there and was so easy. Bought the City card which made things easier with free transport included.

We all LOVED the Castle. The Audio Guide was the best I've heard and gang loved it too. Don't want to spoil it. Remember climbing a tower in the centre with them for the views and also enjoyed the boat tour but preferred the hop on / hop off water bus (?) as it took you round all the back canals. We didn't get off as jumped on the last one of the day. I also took the children to a children's museum - can't quite remember it's name but there was lots for them to do that was hands on. Ghent has been my most favourite place taking my gang there on my own. We also enjoyed watching the goings on , on the canal. Enjoy, whatever you do.

I don't think we will mind tbh, we aren't shoppers we just want the Christmas feel and a waffle!

Check out Ghent’s graffiti alley. Some amazing street art and it’s free. You’ll find it near the smallest pub( the one with the 2 rabbit statues one’s white the other is black).

Worth noting where the public toilets are.
1)Large toilet facilities under St Micheal’s bridge look out for bicycle storage. There’s a taxi rank there as well.

2. the square adjacent to the castle.

3. By the green under the ‘sheep pen’ building where the pop up ice rink will be.