Winter Glow 2023: A Festive Extravaganza in Bruges

Winter Glow 2023: A Festive Extravaganza in Bruges

“A magical winter experience. That is Winter Glow. A winter celebration filled with sensory delights; a new Light Experience Walk, a unique ice-skating setting on Minnewater, a cozy winter bar, two Christmas markets, shopping joy during the numerous shopping days, and a delightful stroll through the historic city center, adorned with atmospheric lighting and Christmas decorations. Winter Glow embraces you and warms you. Plenty of reasons to stay overnight and experience winter Bruges at its most beautiful.”

From November 24, 2023, to January 7, 2024, Winter Glow is back! Traditionally, the year-end period in Bruges hosts a plethora of activities, drawing crowds from far and wide. To ensure smooth proceedings, additional measures, especially concerning traffic, have been implemented this year. A comprehensive overview can be found at https://www.visitbruges.be/en/winterglow/accessibility. However, we’ll summarize the essence and key changes below:

Public Transport Encouraged

Visitors are encouraged to use public transportation to reach Bruges. For those opting for cars, it’s recommended to utilize the (extra) perimeter or central parking lots, with regular public transport services to the city center.

Free Public Transport on Special Days

During the 24 shopping days, the Warmest Week (from December 18 to 24), and New Year’s Eve, public transport in Bruges is free!

Traffic Restrictions and Zones

Certain streets remain car-light or car-free throughout the year, including the year-end period. Guests staying in these areas should adhere to the established regulations, available on the ‘Car-light or car-free’ webpage. Note that the streets in the green zone (see the plan on the website) will be car-light every day from December 18 to 31.

Warmest Week Additional Measures

In connection with the Warmest Week, additional measures will be in place:

• The Steenstraat will be inaccessible from ‘t Zand between 11 am and 1 am. Alternative routes include Katelijnestraat or Ezelstraat > Sint-Jacobstraat > Geldmuntstraat > Zilverstraat (with reversed traffic).
• The Noordzandstraat – Smedenstraat passageway will also be closed between 11 am and 1 am. The alternative exit route from Geldmuntstraat/Noordzandstraat is the Wulfhagestraat.
• Public transport will follow an alternative route, entering through Katelijnestraat and exiting via Sint-Jorisstraat. The bus stops at ‘t Zand, Sint-Salvatorskathedraal, and Zilverpand will not be serviced during this period.

Temporary Taxi and Transportation Arrangements

Taxis will have a temporary stand in the early part of the Wollestraat. Coaches and sightseeing buses will depart from the Markt, near the Historium.

Multilingual Information

Visit Bruges provides information about Winter Glow at www.winterglow.be in six languages. In this newsletter, we kindly request you to always refer to the multilingual information on this website in your communications. The pages in other languages regarding accessibility will be activated shortly.

Winter Glow 2023 promises to be a spectacular celebration, and with these measures in place, visitors can make the most of the festivities while ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience in the charming city of Bruges.