During the sales, shopaholics get buyer's fever and take to the streets of Brussels with shopping bags in hand. Sound familiar? Tempted? Great deals on fashion, electrical goods, home furnishings... The capital has plenty to offer when it comes to bargains. A word of advice: choose your shopping district according to what you're looking for, and you'll already be well on your way to saving some money!
The sales in Brussels
17 November 2025
© visit.brussels
Dates to mark in your diary
- Winter sales: 3 to 31 January
- Summer sales: 1 to 31 July
© Alexandros Michailidis
Where to unearth the best bargains?
Do you prefer designer clothes, original outfits and independent boutiques? In the town centre, check out rue des Pierres, rue du Marché au Charbon, rue de Flandre and rue des Chartreux, where you'll find pieces you might never have imagined buying. Alternatively, head uptown to rue du bailli, rue de la Paix and rue Lesbroussart in the Flagey district, to name but a few.
The upper part of the city is a meeting place for lovers of luxury and major brands, especially on avenue Louise and chaussée de Waterloo. If you're more comfortable with classic brands, rue Neuve, the Dansaert district and chaussée d'Ixelles are home to big international names. Most of these brands can also be found in the galleries and shopping centres scattered around the capital.
© Eric Danhier
© iStock / A. Michailidis
Are you committed to ethical shopping? Visit one of the capital's ethical boutiques to buy environmentally-friendly products all year round, and credit card-friendly products in January and July.
Getting around the city
For some time now, Brussels has been a multimodal city. This means you can easily choose from the city's the various modes of transport. Are you coming to Brussels by car? There are five Park and Ride (P+R) transit car parks at different entrances to the capital. Here you can leave your car and take public transport into the city at your leisure. If you're planning on buying so much that you can't carry it all by bus or metro, you can visit the parking.brussels website to quickly find a parking space. Please note that the whole of the Brussels-Capital Region is a Low Emission Zone.
VAT refunds
If you are a non-EU resident, you can enjoy a VAT refund (VAT in Belgium is 21%) on purchases of over €125.
Shops with the “Tax-free shopping” logo will give you a form for your tax refund on presentation of your passport. Be advised, not all shops use this system, it’s best to ask the question beforehand.
When you leave Belgium, customs officials will stamp your forms and receipts. Before check-in, head to the customs office and present your completed form, passport, receipts and new purchases (the price tag must still be attached) to receive the stamp.
You can then claim your refund at the Europe Tax-Free Shopping Desk in the departures hall at Brussels Airport. They will refund you in cash or to your credit card.
