Month guide · Brussels · Belgium
Brussels in May
What May is really like in Brussels: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Brussels. Expect average highs of 19°C (66°F), lows of 9°C (48°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 15.5 hours of daylight. Long, mild days and café terraces in full use; one of the most pleasant months to walk the city.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 19°C (66°F) / 9°C (48°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 15.5 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 4th-warmest month in Brussels: days average 19°C (66°F) against a yearly average high of 15°C (59°F), and nights fall to about 9°C (48°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with April (15°C (59°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 22°C (72°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:53
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 21:24
- Daylight
- About 15.5 hours
Spring (March–May). Blossom in the parks, longer days and the short opening of the Royal Greenhouses, with frequent showers.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is June at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in June). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
- Kunstenfestivaldesarts — international performing arts festival (usually May)
- Belgian Pride parade (usually mid-May)
- 20 km de Bruxelles — mass road race (usually late May)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
With frequent rain, 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
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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 19°C, lows near 9°C and 11 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Brussels?
One of the best months to visit Brussels, with 3 notable events on the calendar. The other best months are June and September. Compare every month.
Brussels in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Brussels?
It is one of the best months to visit Brussels. Long, mild days and café terraces in full use; one of the most pleasant months to walk the city.
+How warm is Brussels in May?
Average highs are around 19°C (66°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Brussels in May?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.