10 Best Markets in Brussels

Marché du Midi is a sprawling market that is among the largest in Europe and offers a look into the local food scene and tons of local handicrafts. The food vendors are unbelievable, featuring fresh and prepared meals representing food from Morocco to the Mediterranean to local Belgian delicacies and beyond. Whether you want crepes and tea or speciality cheeses and exotic spices, it's all here. The market is also known far and wide for its selection of handmade clothing and leatherworks.

The scene here is lively and vibrant, and it's as popular among locals as visitors. It's next door to the train station in the city centre.

Place du Jeu de Balle in Marolles is a vibrant flea market and a bargain hunter's dream where you can find hidden gems from antiques and collectables to secondhand goods. The market opens at 6 am, so rise with the sun to catch all the best deals before they're gone. You can find everything from old wall art to collectable Belgian beer steins. If you're looking for that 1st-edition book, musical instrument or vintage vinyl record, you might just come across that as well.

This vibrant market is not only a popular visitors' destination, but it's also a great spot to soak up some of the area's culture. It's just 8 minutes south of the city centre.

Foodmet (Marché des Abattoirs) is open from early morning to early afternoon every weekend and is among the newest, trendiest food markets in Brussels. The fresh produce, meats, cheeses, fish and other products are outstanding. You'll find a wide range of ingredients to take with you so you can self-cater your own meals while on holiday, but you can also explore many vendors selling souvenirs, arts and crafts and bric-a-brac. It's worth noting that the market is called the 'Market of Abattoirs' for a good reason, as meats are on full display here.

This market is nothing short of a delight, especially for carnivores. It's located 15 minutes west of the city centre.

Mabru Marché Matinal, or the Early Morning Market, is a deeply historic wholesale market with over 100 vendors offering various products from food to consumer goods. Here you can find meats from beef, pork, poultry, fish and shellfish to game meats and fowl. You can find cheese and other dairy products, eggs, fruits and vegetables. Some vendors sell local vintages of wines and spirits, while others sell flowers and plants.

This vibrant market has served the people of Brussels for over a century and has occupied its current location 15 minutes north of the city centre since 1973. It continues to grow.

Marché Flagey is a flea market just 11 minutes south of the Brussels city centre, offering fresh produce and meats plus arts, crafts and secondhand goods. This market is famed for the many cafes that line the edges of the market, where people gather to meet friends, enjoy a cup of coffee and watch the people walk past. Every Sunday, the market hosts a popular oyster tasting. On other days, you can shop for fruits, vegetables, flowers and even handmade or secondhand clothes and knickknacks.

This is a fun, vibrant local market that is a trendy hotspot for locals, though the people are friendly and welcoming to visitors as well.

Marché de Stockel (Stokkelse Markt) is held 3 times a week and is one of the city's most celebrated family markets focused on food and produce. You can quickly fill your shopping trolley with fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, meats, cheeses and other high-quality products. You can also grab a wide selection of plants and flowers, both of the houseplant variety and to plant in your garden.

Even better, this is where many locals come for their weekly shopping, so it's a good place to enjoy some local colour. It's also only about a 20-minute drive east of the city centre.

Marché du Parvis Saint-Gilles is open 6 days a week and offers a wide range of food products and local arts and crafts with a village atmosphere. Here you can find fruits and vegetables, salted meats, cheeses, spices, baked goods, candies and fresh, prepared foods primarily from Belgium but also brought in from Italy. You can also find gifts, souvenirs and a wide range of bric-a-brac and knickknacks.

The atmosphere is like a village inside the city, and you can even head to traditional bistros and brasseries for lunches and local craft beers, including delicious Belgian ales. The market is a mere 10 minutes south-west of the city centre.

Marché de la Place du Châtelain is as much an outdoor party as it is a traditional market, with street food, beer vendors and tons of arts and crafts. This market is a spot where locals come after work for an excellent beer with good friends. It's a vibrant market filled with young local professionals and Eurocrats.

That makes this a solid place to learn about the local culture and have a great time while drinking a local brew and shopping for that perfect gift or souvenir handmade by a local artisan. It's also just an 11-minute drive south of the Brussels city centre.

Marché Bio des Tanneurs is an organic market offering raw food and prepared foods from local delicacies to full meals in a vibrant, traditional atmosphere. You can find fruits, vegetables, oils, grains, nuts, herbs and spices. You can also purchase local wines and craft beers. Some vendors also offer full meals from burgers to pates or other foods so you can grab a whole meal after shopping all the stands filled with delicious-looking ingredients. You may find you even want to ask for some recipes to take home.

This market is located in a historic warehouse, so it has the feel of ages with it. It's only 8 minutes south-west of the city centre.

Marché des Antiquaires du Sablon, or the Sablon Antiques Market, is among the oldest markets in Brussels and offers tons of antiques and collectables. Since the 1960s, this market has served the people of Brussels, offering up everything from jewellery to silverware, artwork to glassware, ceramics, tableware, wall art, drawings, photographs, porcelain from China, furniture and other old items found all over the world. Not only are the vendors willing to haggle, but they're also eager to tell stories about their treasures.

This vibrant market is full of charm and is the spot to find that hidden treasure or add a touch of uniqueness to your home. It's only 10 minutes to the south of the city centre of Brussels.