Christmas Markets of Antwerp, Brussels & Ghent

We catch the ferry to Calais and journey onwards to our hotel in Belgium.

Christmas Markets of Antwerp, Brussels & Ghent

We head to Antwerp Christmas Market, a magical winter wonderland located in the heart of the city. Discover beautifully decorated stalls offering a variety of seasonal treats and handcrafted gifts. This city specialises in the European diamond trade, so if you’re looking for something extra special for a loved one, you’re in the perfect place! Enjoy mulled wine, Belgian chocolates and other local delicacies while strolling through the market, with festive music and live performances.

Next, the Brussels Christmas Market awaits. Wander through the market’s charming stalls of artisanal crafts and gourmet foods and enjoy the mesmerising light show at the Grand Place, where dazzling illuminations transform the historic square into a spectacle of colours and patterns, perfectly synchronised with music.

There’s time and plenty of choice for dinner at your leisure before we return to our hotel.

Christmas Markets of Antwerp, Brussels & Ghent

Today, we head to Ghent and take a boat cruise along its picturesque canals, enjoying views of the city’s medieval architecture and charming waterfronts. We then explore the Christmas market, held in the historic city centre. Treat yourself to traditional Belgian goodies, such as waffles and mulled wine, while exploring the beautifully decorated stalls. There’s also the medieval Gravensteen Castle, the iconic ‘Three Towers’ (St. Bavo’s Cathedral, Belfry & St. Nicholas’ Church) with the ‘Ghent Altarpiece’ in St. Bavo’s Cathedral, an iconic 15th century masterpiece by the Van Eyck brothers. Stroll the picturesque Graslei and Korenlei quays, lined with historic guild houses, or try the traditional ‘waterzooi’ – a hearty, comforting stew that Ghent is famous for.

Christmas Markets of Antwerp, Brussels & Ghent

We make our way home, stopping en route in Ostend, Belgium’s premier coastal resort, for some fresh seaside air. The ‘City by the Sea’ is a cosmopolitan gem that boasts miles of sandy beaches, a beachfront promenade, a yachting marina, plus a whole host of shops, bars and restaurants. Find lunch at your leisure here before we continue on our return journey.

Spend a full festive day exploring two Belgian capitals of style and spectacle. Morning brings you to Antwerp, where you wander the Christmas market threading the Grote Markt, Groenplaats and the cobbles around the Cathedral of Our Lady. Browse wooden chalets for crafts and Antwerpse handjes biscuits, warm your hands with gluhwein, and pause along the Scheldt quays to admire the skyline and guildhouses. Glimpses of the Diamond District nod to the city’s storied trade.

By afternoon and evening, the scene shifts to Brussels for Winter Wonders. Stroll past stalls around Place Sainte-Catherine and the Bourse, then gather at the Grand-Place light show as baroque facades glow to music. Sample waffles or frites, enjoy a free evening for dinner at your leisure, and soak up the convivial hum before returning to the hotel.

On another day, uncover Ghent from the water as you join a guided canal cruise along the Graslei and Korenlei. Slip under low medieval bridges while your guide points out the crenellations of Gravensteen Castle and the storied silhouette of the Three Towers — St. Bavo’s Cathedral, the Belfry and St. Nicholas’ Church. Winter light gilds step-gabled facades, and the city’s mercantile past comes alive in tales of cloth halls and guild power.

Back on land, explore Ghent’s Christmas market strung between Korenmarkt and Sint-Baafsplein near the airy Stadshal. Taste creamy waterzooi or sweet purple cuberdons, and, time permitting, step into St. Bavo’s to learn about the Ghent Altarpiece by the Van Eyck brothers. It’s a day that blends river-level perspectives with festive squares rich in music and spice.

On the final day, pause at Belgium’s North Sea shore to stretch your legs along Ostend’s promenade. The winter horizon is wide and cleansing, gulls ride the wind over the marina, and cafés glow invitingly behind glass. The elegant Kursaal Oostende and the stately boulevards recall the resort’s Belle Époque flair, while shopfronts offer last-minute treats.

There’s time to find lunch at your leisure and perhaps view the three-masted Mercator at the docks or browse seafood stalls on the Visserskaai. With cheeks tingling from the sea breeze, rejoin the coach refreshed for the homeward journey — a bracing coastal interlude between market days and the road ahead.

Begin your adventure as you board the cross-Channel ferry, taking in the chalky silhouette of the White Cliffs of Dover and the briny sea air. Settle into the lounge with a warm drink while you sail across the English Channel, watching gulls wheel over the wake and freighters thread the world’s busiest shipping lane. This relaxing crossing typically occurs on the first day as we make our way to Belgium.

On arrival, we disembark in Calais and continue by coach through the flat, wind-skimmed fields of Flanders toward Sint-Niklaas. It’s a gentle introduction to the region’s landscapes and rhythms, a moment to unwind before the bustle of market squares, cathedral towers and glowing festive stalls that await.