Best time to visit · Brussels · Belgium
The best time to visit Brussels
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: iMahesh, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
The best times to visit Brussels are May to June and September, when days are mild, terraces are open and rain is a little less persistent. July and August are warm and lively with festivals. December is worth a trip for the Christmas market and Grand-Place light show, while January to March is cold and grey but quiet and lower priced.
Key facts
- Best months
- May–June and September
- Shoulder season
- April, July–August, October and December
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 24°C (75°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 6°C (43°F))
- Rainiest month
- January (~13 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February and November
Seasons
Brussels has a mild, damp oceanic climate: cool, grey winters around freezing at night, mild summers rarely above the mid-20s, and rain spread evenly through the year, so an umbrella is useful in any month.
March–May
Spring
Blossom in the parks, longer days and the short opening of the Royal Greenhouses, with frequent showers.
June–August
Summer
Mild to warm days, the Ommegang, National Day and, in even years, the Flower Carpet; the busiest time for tourists.
September–November
Autumn
Mild September with heritage events, then cooler, wetter months with autumn colour in the city's forests.
December–February
Winter
Cold and grey, brightened by Winter Wonders in December; quiet museums and the lowest prices in January and February.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6°C | 1°C | 13 | 8.4 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 7°C | 1°C | 11 | 9.9 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 11°C | 3°C | 12 | 11.7 h | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| April | 15°C | 5°C | 10 | 13.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 19°C | 9°C | 11 | 15.5 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 22°C | 12°C | 10 | 16.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 24°C | 14°C | 10 | 16.1 h | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| August | 23°C | 14°C | 10 | 14.5 h | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| September | 19°C | 11°C | 10 | 12.5 h | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| October | 15°C | 8°C | 11 | 10.6 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 10°C | 4°C | 13 | 8.8 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| December | 6°C | 2°C | 13 | 8 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Winter sales — shop discounts across the city (usually from early January) |
| February | Brussels Light Festival — illuminated art trail (usually February) |
| April | Royal Greenhouses of Laeken open to the public for a few weeks (usually April–May) |
| May | Kunstenfestivaldesarts — international performing arts festival (usually May); Belgian Pride parade (usually mid-May); 20 km de Bruxelles — mass road race (usually late May) |
| June | Fête de la Musique — free concerts (around 21 June) |
| July | Ommegang — historic costumed procession on the Grand-Place (usually early July); Belgian National Day — parade and celebrations (21 July) |
| August | Flower Carpet on the Grand-Place (mid-August in even-numbered years); Meyboom — planting of the may tree (9 August); Brussels Summer Festival — outdoor concerts (usually mid-August) |
| September | Heritage Days — free entry to normally closed buildings (usually a September weekend); Car-free Sunday — central Brussels closed to traffic (usually mid to late September); Comic Strip Festival (usually September) |
| November | Winter Wonders Christmas market and Grand-Place light show (usually from late November) |
| December | Winter Wonders — Christmas markets and ice rink (usually until early January); St Nicholas — speculoos and gifts for children (6 December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February and November, and the sights are quietest in January–March and November.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Brussels?
The best times to visit Brussels are May to June and September, when days are mild, terraces are open and rain is a little less persistent. July and August are warm and lively with festivals. December is worth a trip for the Christmas market and Grand-Place light show, while January to March is cold and grey but quiet and lower priced.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Brussels?
Usually in January–February and November. Cold, grey and damp with short days, but hotels are quiet and the winter sales usually start early in the month.
+What is the rainiest month in Brussels?
January, with about 13 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Brussels get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 24°C (75°F) and lows of 14°C (57°F).