Brussels & Bruges Christmas Markets On a Budget - Just Do It!

Sorry not sorry! I know it’s nearly 4 months away (113 days, not that I’m counting) but, believe or not, now is the best time to start thinking of booking your European Christmas market trip as you get the best deals in early September. Sue and I have been visiting European Christmas markets for almost 10 years now so I thought you'd like some hints, tips and a peek at some of the best we've ever been to. 

For any trip research is key, I do all my research on christmasmarkets.com. They have invaluable info on Christmas market locations, also on the hotels that are in close proximity. However, I never book through the site, I usually use trivago.ie or do a general google search for the hotels listed on christmasmarkets.com. You can also book a package trip through a travel agent but you'll pay extra for this & I prefer to keep those few sheckles for mulled wine!

Place du Marche aux Poissons, Brussels

As I said, every Christmas CherrySue and I head off to a European Christmas Market, sometimes our brother & sis in law join us from Wales and sometimes the lads come too but we make it a rule to go regardless.

Two years ago we chose Brussels and Bruges. We took an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin Airport to Brussels Airport, it’s only a short 90 minute flight.

Brussels Airport is actually 11 km northeast of Brussels so we opted for public transport and got the Express Line Bus 12 to Luxembourg stop in Brussels business district. We used the Go vending machines to purchase our tickets for the bus as they are cheaper than buying from the driver. It costs just €4 for the 30 minute journey. 

  

We stayed at Leopold Hotel on Rue Du Luxemburg, it’s a newly refurbished 4* hotel, very convenient to bus and tram stops and Midi train station. There are plenty of bars and restaurants beside the hotel. We had a garden suite which occupied two floors, it was spotless and spacious. Breakfast was included in our rate, although we did pass on the curry and chicken stew for breakfast and opted instead for something from the array of fresh pastries and cold meats.

Brussels Tram

It’s very easy to navigate your way around Brussels. You can use the tram or, like us, just walk, you can explore more and get to see hidden gems you might otherwise miss! We used Viator.com to book the Hop-on hop-off tour bus before we went (€23pp). This is the best way to see a city in a short timeframe & on a budget. You can exchange your voucher for a ticket at any stop on the route, no need to go to the office.

There are two routes and they both depart from Central Station. We got to visit the Grand Place, Chocolate Museum, Beer Museum and the European Parliament among many other attractions.

                                               

                                                                                                              Atomium        

Our favourite meal was at the Atomium, a steel structure of spheres and tubes. Each of the spheres house exhibitions and the top sphere is a two storey restaurant with an amazing panoramic view of the City. 

Admission is €11 for adults and from €6 for children over 6 years.They have deals on set gourmet menus for lunch, while it can be quite expensive for dinner. If you find yourself there after dark there is an amazing laser light show each night.

Brussels Christmas Market Stall

Christmas markets typically run from late November to early January and the best place to find out exact information & maps before you go is on the trusty christmasmarkets.com. Grand Place is where the Town Hall is beautifully lit and one of many Christmas markets takes place. Wooden chalets are transformed into Christmas stalls selling homemade gift items such as traditional wooden decorations and sweets. The sweet aromas of cinnamon and mulled wine at the markets are mouth watering.

Brussels Christmas Market Stall Eile

While you will find many of the stalls replicated throughout the market, keep your eye on the prices as they can vary from one side of the market to the other!  After dark the sights and sounds are simply magical as the stalls light up and there is a big wheel for spectacular views. There is also a giant outdoor ice skating rink at place du Marche aux Poissons. Markets usually open till 9pm on week days and 10pm at weekends.      

                                                Bruges Train Station

We caught one of the frequent trains from Midi train station for the hour long scenic journey to Bruges. We went on the weekend so it was only €13.80 return but during the week it’s more expensive at €25 return. 

From Brugge train station it’s only a 10 minute walk to Bruges Markt Square or catch a bus for only €2. This is where the main Christmas market and ice rink are located. This is also where the famous scenes from “In Bruges” were filmed and you can climb the town’s musical bell tower of the Belfort (Belfry). 

                                                Markt Square, Bruges

                                                Chocolate Shop, Bruges

Bruges has maintained many of its medieval buildings so the architecture is a beautiful mix of contemporary and medieval.  Every corner we turned we found a little gem along with the many delicious chocolate shops! There really is no need to stray too far from Markt Square as it has all you need to see and do for the day. We had to get out of the cold and spent a glorious couple of hours having a beer and people watching. 

We sat in the window of one of the many restaurants with a view of the Belfort and market. When we tried to order a large beer they refused to serve us & offered a small beer instead, this was soon remedied when we told him we were Irish! Restaurants tend to close early so we had an early and reasonably priced dinner (total bill €25) before our train back to Brussels. 

Big Beer time! Markt Square, Bruges

I’ve spent the last few days researching our next Christmas market trip & we’ve chosen Cologne in Germany for this years festive fix. I currently have it priced at €160pp for flights & 2 nights B&B in a 4* hotel with spa & pool! 

Have you ever been? Any tips on where to go or what to see? 

Global Smurfs Day 2013 - Smurf Log of an Irish Ambassador: Day Two!

Welcome back for Smurf Log Day Two! It was an early start on Global Smurfs Day with the alarm going off at 5.30am! The breakfast room was almost empty when I arrived so I can only imagine there was a blue uprising from 4am onward. 

Once brekkie had been scarfed it was time to get BLUE!

We're Blue dah dah dee dah dah dah!!

From every nook and cranny Smurfs emerged and I began to feel slightly less silly and really got into the swing of things. 

We assembled outside to meet the press (LOTS OF PRESS) and meet Peyo's daughter, granddaughter and the movies producer to be awarded with a certificate for representing each of our countries. 

Being 170 smurfs strong we were divided into teams - The Irish contingent were Team Vanity (How Apt?!)

When everyone had gotten their assigned teams it was onto 4 coaches and toward the train station with us, the atmosphere was fantastic!

Papa Smurf, Smurfette and several other assorted Smurfs were at the station to wave us off on the specially commissioned high speed (1.5 hours) train to Paris. 

As you can see from the photos, we did our own re-inaction of that famous Samuel L Jackson movie - Smurfs on a Train. 

As soon as we arrived at Gare du Nord it was on to three open top buses and a bajillion circles around Parisian streets en route to the Eiffel Tower reception. 

During this Griswald-esque journey I learned two things 1. Blue face paint is not waterproof and 2. No matter how crappy your French day is going, it's impossible not to laugh and wave at a bus load of Smurfs. Good times. 

After being treated to an overwhelming reception at the Eiffel Tower, including (what felt like) 67 Flash Mob routines, we were off marching up the Trocadero for a further 67 thousand photos and puzzled looks. We were in it together. 

All back onto the buses after roughly 2 hours and it was off to Notre Dame to bewilder several thousand more Parisians and tourists. 

It has to be mentioned that there were some serious, I mean SERIOUS fans of the Smurfs on our trip. They collected every shred of Smurf related paraphernalia as we went, including train dust covers, peoples' lunch boxes and BAGS of sweeties and drinks - basically everything that was blue & wasn't nailed down. It. Were. Lunacy! 

I've never been happier to see a hotel in my entire life!!

Once every single photo op had been taken, we headed off back to our hotel (this was 13 hours after we'd set out) and thought it a rather cruel joke that we had to circle the Arc de Triomphe FIVE TIMES before setting down. (Look, kids, it's Big Ben!)

The hotel was fabulous though, the nicest bath I've ever had and as soon as I finished filming the last of the sizzle reels for Sony we were treated to a blue extravaganza for eats! Anything we wanted was provided including all the blue cocktails you could stomach but having had a relentless day of Smurfing about I was pooped and headed to bed early (In Paris, I KNOW!!)

All in all I can safely say the Ambassador experience was nothing like I've ever endured  enjoyed before. Sony were right on the ball at every turn and I can only imagine the final footage will knock our socks off. 

In truth I would have preferred to bring a companion along, just as every other country did (some brought entire families) just to share the trials, tribulations and craic that was crammed into our two days of mania. A little heads up about the €100 tab on each of my hotel rooms while there would have been nice too (Extortionate Toblerone, we could have been great together!)

I did however spend Sunday on the Champs Elysee and several hours in Sephora, which kinda made up for it a little. I'll totally be showing you my stash from there very soon!

Global Smurfs Day though? Would I do it again? 

Abso-Smurfin-Lutely!

Can you spot the Irish flag? 

Global Smurfs Day 2013 - Smurf Log of an Irish Ambassador: Day One!

Well I'm back, still slightly tinged with blue but I'm in one piece. For those of you that didn't know, I was chosen by Sony as the Irish Ambassador for Global Smurfs Day in Brussels and Paris this weekend and boy did they pack a lot in. 

I managed to take a bajillion photos as I had little or no coverage on the ground, it was like I had lost a blue limb! Wanna see some of 'em? 

Day One was an early start with a 6am flight to Brussels. I was travelling with Alison from Presence PR and Michelle from the Daily Mail. After a passport debacle and a check in catastrophe we were away and landed in great time.

We were some of the first to arrive because of the crack of dawn flight but it slowly dawned on me as coach loads of guests arrived from all over the world that this truly was a global endeavor. There were ambassadors from 40 countries, most arriving with friends and family (le sigh) and by the time we'd all checked in our Smurf army was 170 people strong!

Once I'd checked into my room (Alllll byyy myyysellllf) I found some pretty excellent Smurfy bits awaiting me, including the brand new Sony Xperia Z smartphone (my iphone's since been retired) , a Sony Cyber Shot camera (a pressie for the Sis as she missed out on the trip) and everything a smurf could possibly need to navigate this global holiday across two cities. 

I spent about an hour filming snippets with the Sony crew to show the background of the first day in Brussels, which I'll link when live but then I was free as a bird to explore the city a little, visit some serious chocolatiers and despite being left on my ownio for the day I was joined by the girls that night for one or two sociables. 

It's safe to say that the Belgian chocolates are only matched by the Belgian beer. Leffe (mmm clovey!), Trappistes Rochefort (15% proof & Buckfasty) and Delerium Tremens (famous Belgian strong pale ale) were all sampled - well, I was the Irish Ambassador and they were gooood! 

We were in bed by sensible o'clock to ready ourselves for a 5.30am start and the madness that was to be Global Smurfs Day! 

Tune in tomorrow for a seriously bumper post on exactly what goes on behind the scenes for a smurfy trip like this, oui? 


Did you see any coverage of the day? Or were you involved in the celebrations here? I'd love to know.