Belfast Christmas Market 2023: Dates, What’s On + Parking

The Belfast Christmas Market 2023 started on November 18th, and they’ve been getting rave reviews (aside from people saying the food is overpriced).

One of the longest running Christmas markets in Ireland, they’ve been attracting locals and tourists alike for 18 years!

The Christmas markets in Belfast bring a festive buzz to the city with plenty to see and do during the 4.5 weeks that they run for.

Below, you’ll discover everything you need to know about this year’s markets – dive on in!

Some quick need-to-knows about the Belfast Christmas Market 2023

Photos via Shutterstock

Although a visit to the Christmas markets in Belfast is reasonably straightforward, it’s worth taking 20 seconds to read the below points:

1. Location

The Belfast Christmas markets 2023 will take place within the grounds of Belfast City Hall at Donegall Square in the heart of the city.

2. Belfast Christmas Market dates

The Belfast Christmas Markets will run in the grounds of the City Hall from 12 noon on November 18th until 18:00 on December 22nd 2023 with plenty of festive things to see and do.

3. Opening times

The Belfast Christmas Market opening times are already updated on the Belfast City Council website. They’ll run:

• Monday to Wednesday: 10am – 8pm (bars until 9pm)
• Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 10am – 10pm (bars until 11pm)
• Sunday: 12 – 6pm
• Market closes: at 6pm on Friday 22 December

4. Parking

There is no dedicated parking for the Belfast Continental Market. The closest car parks are the Montgomery Street Car Park (3-minute walk) and Q-Park Victoria Square (5-minute walk).

5. Make a weekend of it

There’s some great hotels in Belfast City Centre if you fancy staying nearby. Personally, I wouldn’t visit the city just to see the markets. Luckily, there’s heaps of other things to do in Belfast while you’re there.

About the Christmas market in Belfast

Photos by Brian Morrison via Tourism Ireland

Now entering its 18th year, the Belfast Christmas Market first arrived into the city back in 2004 and it has gone from strength-to-strength since.

Over 1,000,000 people were expected to have attended last year’s event, with over 40,000 visitors alone passing through the stalls on the opening weekend.

Visitors to the market can expect over 100 exhibitors from 28 counties, beer tents and all of the usual festive bits and bobs, like crafts and sweet treats.

What to expect from the 2023 Belfast Christmas Markets

Photos via Shutterstock

The format of the the Belfast Christmas Market 2023 tends to follow the exact same format each year

In a nutshell, you can expect stalls selling festive gifts and crafts, plenty of sweet and savoury foods and a beer tent.

1. Food, glorious food

If you’re fond of a festive bite, point your nose in the direction of the outdoor food court at the Belfast Christmas Markets. Here you’ll find a clatter of options to sink your teeth into.

The food court is home to cuisines from over 32 nationalities from across the world. Expect everything from crepes and pancakes to ostrich, wild boar, and crocodile burgers. 

If you fancy a fine feed where you can plonk yourself down for a bit, nip into our guide to the best restaurants in Belfast or our guide to the best spots for afternoon tea in Belfast.

2. Family activities

There’ll be heaps of things on during the Belfast Christmas Markets 2023 to keep the kids amused.

Here’s a little of what will likely be at this years event, based on previous years:

• A vintage helter-skelter
• An observation wheel
• A Santa train
• A busy-bee carousel
• A large snow-slide
• An Olaf ride
• Loads more

3. Santa

I’ve found it near impossible to find information on Santa at the Belfast Christmas Market, aside from the fact that you can visit him ‘in his grotto’.

From what I can tell, this is in the grounds of City Hall. Some other Santa experiences in Belfast include this one at W5 and this one at Titanic Belfast.

4. Glühwein

It isn’t a Christmas without some Glühwein! Visitors can grab a ‘Hug in a mug’  from Germany’s award winning Kochem vineyard.

There’s usually an alcohol-free mulled wine option, too.

5. The Beer tent

Lavery’s had a beer tent at the market last year which proved to be popular. However, it can get busy. So, if you fancy a pint in a less crowded spot, here are some of the best pubs in Belfast along with how far of a walk they are from the markets:

• Whites Tavern (9-minute walk)
• Kelly’s Cellars (10-minute walk)
• Bittles Bar (12-minute walk)
• Maddens (10-minute walk)

Other Christmas markets in Belfast

Photos via Shutterstock

Yep, there’s more than one Christmas market that takes place in Belfast. Another solid option is the Hillsborough Christmas Market (Friday 8th December 2023)

This takes place in the Dark Walk at Hillsborough Fort. Another good option is the St George’s Market Christmas Craft Fair that takes place, normally, from December 20th to 24th.

The final alternative market to the one at City Hall is the Christmas Cracker at Rowallane Garden, that usually runs from the 9th to 10th of December.

Are the Belfast Christmas Markets actually worth visiting?

One of the joys of this website being independently owned is that I’m not pressured into giving attractions, events, or places positive reviews.

If something is crap, I’ll tell you it’s crap. If it’s good, I’ll tell you it’s good. If it’s… you get the picture.

My 2 cents

I’ve been to the Christmas markets in Belfast 2 times now, and I know a lot of people that have visited 5+ times. 

I’m a fan of festive markets in general and, as I’ve been to plenty, tend to visit with fairly clear expectations.

Personally, I enjoyed the Belfast Christmas Market when I visited, but I saw all there was to see in a couple of hours.

In my opinion, and I’ve said this about the Galway Christmas markets too, if you’re visiting them from afar, you need plan in other activities.

There’s plenty to see in Belfast City that you can combine with a visit to the markets and that’ll ensure you enjoy your visit to Northern Ireland’s capital.

FAQs about the Belfast Christmas Market 2023

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What are the Belfast Christmas Market opening hours?’ to ‘Where do you park?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

Keith O'Hara

Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.