Season guide · Brussels · Belgium
Brussels in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Michel wal, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Cold and grey, brightened by Winter Wonders in December; quiet museums and the lowest prices in January and February. Expect highs up to 7°C (45°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F), with about 37 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 1°C (34°F) to 7°C (45°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 37
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6°C (43°F) | 1°C (34°F) | 13 | 8.4 h | 2/5 |
| February | 7°C (45°F) | 1°C (34°F) | 11 | 9.9 h | 2/5 |
| December | 6°C (43°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 13 | 8 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 6°C (43°F) against a yearly 15°C (59°F), and 37 of the year's roughly 134 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Winter sales — shop discounts across the city (usually from early January)
- February: Brussels Light Festival — illuminated art trail (usually February)
- December: Winter Wonders — Christmas markets and ice rink (usually until early January)
- December: St Nicholas — speculoos and gifts for children (6 December)
Good choices for winter
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Museum · Lower Town
Belgian Comic Strip Center
Pick up a map of the comic murals and spot several on your walk between the Grand-Place and Sainte-Catherine.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Art
- Architecture
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Museum · European Quarter
Museum of Natural Sciences
Its Dinosaur Gallery, one of the largest in Europe, displays a herd of Iguanodon skeletons found in a Belgian coal mine at Bernissart in the 19th century.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Historic site · Sablon and Mont des Arts
Coudenberg Palace remains
Bring a layer; the underground passages are cool all year.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Sablon and Mont des Arts
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Belgium's national art collection covers Flemish masters from the 15th to the 18th century, including Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Rubens and Jordaens, plus Jacques-Louis David's The Death of Marat.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Gallery · Sablon and Mont des Arts
Magritte Museum
Buy a combined ticket if you also plan to see the Old Masters in the same building.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Couples
Day trips in winter
- Leuven (About 20–30 minutes by train) — Home to one of Europe's oldest universities, Leuven has an extraordinarily ornate Gothic town hall, the University Library tower and the Oude Markt, a square lined almost entirely with student bars.
- Mechelen (About 20 minutes by train) — A compact historic city with St Rumbold's Cathedral tower, which you can climb for wide views over Flanders, a canal-side boardwalk and the Kazerne Dossin memorial museum.
What to pack
- 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
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Brussels?
It is a trade-off: Cold and grey, brightened by Winter Wonders in December; quiet museums and the lowest prices in January and February. The best months overall are May–June and September.
+What is the weather like in Brussels in winter?
Highs of up to 7°C (45°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F), with about 37 rainy days over the season.