I arrived in Brussels South by train and decided to spend the afternoon walking through the city, without rushing and without a strict plan. December is actually a nice time to do this in Brussels. Everything feels a bit cosier, and the Christmas atmosphere is already everywhere.
I started at Place Poelaert, mostly for the view. There was also a small Christmas market set up there, nothing big, but a nice first stop to get into the seasonal mood before continuing towards the Petit Sablon and Grand Sablon. Both squares are easy to pass through on foot and a good place to slow down a bit, especially this time of year with the decorations and people stopping for coffee.
From there I continued past the Royal Palace of Brussels and into Parc de Bruxelles. It’s a simple walk, nothing spectacular, but nice if you want a quiet moment between busier spots. Place Royale and Mont des Arts came next. Mont des Arts is always worth it, even in winter, and still one of the best viewpoints in the city.
I then walked through Galerie Bortier, which honestly felt like a bit of a hidden gem. It’s filled with bookshops and small places to eat tucked in between the shelves, and there’s even an old-school photo booth.
The Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert was extra lively with all the Christmas lights. A short stop at Noordzee works well if you’re craving fish or seafood and don’t want to sit down for a full meal, before ending the afternoon around Saint Catherine’s Church, where the Christmas market was in full swing.
After that, I headed to Brussels Central to catch my train back. An easy, walkable route that shows a lot of Brussels without trying too hard, perfect for a relaxed afternoon in the city ;)
All photos were taken with my Fujifilm X-E5 and the XF 23mm f/2.8. I really like this camera for street photography because it’s small and light, but still packs a lot of power. It has everything I need: great image quality, in-body stabilization, and quick performance, but it never feels bulky or complicated. The dials make it fun to shoot, and it’s just really easy to carry around when wandering a city.
