Month guide · Brussels · Belgium
Brussels in January
What January is really like in Brussels: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer), CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 6°C (43°F), lows of 1°C (34°F), about 13 rainy days and roughly 8.4 hours of daylight. Cold, grey and damp with short days, but hotels are quiet and the winter sales usually start early in the month.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 6°C (43°F) / 1°C (34°F)
- Rainy days
- About 13
- Daylight
- About 8.4 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the 11th-warmest month in Brussels: days average 6°C (43°F) against a yearly average high of 15°C (59°F), and nights fall to about 1°C (34°F). Rain falls on roughly 13 of its 31 days. Compared with December (6°C (43°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 7°C (45°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 08:38
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:05
- Daylight
- About 8.4 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold and grey, brightened by Winter Wonders in December; quiet museums and the lowest prices in January and February.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is June at 4) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in June). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Winter sales — shop discounts across the city (usually from early January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Sablon and Mont des Arts
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Head first to the Bruegel rooms, then follow the chronological route through Rubens's large canvases.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Gallery · Sablon and Mont des Arts
Magritte Museum
The largest collection of works by the Belgian surrealist René Magritte, from early advertising designs to bowler-hatted men, pipes and floating stones, is arranged over several floors with letters, photographs and films that explain his life in Brussels.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Couples
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Architecture · Grand-Place and Îlot Sacré
Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries
Walk through on a rainy day and stop for a hot chocolate at one of the arcade cafés.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Shopping
- Rainy day
- Food
Museum · Sablon and Mont des Arts
Musical Instruments Museum
Housed in Old England, a former Art Nouveau department store of iron and glass, the museum displays instruments from around the world and across the centuries.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Rainy day
- Views
- Kids
- Architecture
What to pack
For highs near 6°C, lows near 1°C and 13 wet days: 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.
Is January a good time to visit Brussels?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September are better overall. Compare every month.
Brussels in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Brussels?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold, grey and damp with short days, but hotels are quiet and the winter sales usually start early in the month.
+How warm is Brussels in January?
Average highs are around 6°C (43°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Brussels in January?
Expect rain on about 13 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.