When to Visit

grand place, brussels

Belgium is a charming country that showcases different faces depending on the season you visit. As a relatively small country, the weather in all major cities tends to be quite similar throughout the year. The tables below list average daytime high and nighttime low temperatures, as well as the average percentages of sunny and rainy days, for selected cities.

January

Belgium experiences cold and mostly overcast weather in January. Daytime temperatures average around 5°C (41°F) with nighttime lows dropping to around 1°C (34°F). There is a high chance of rain or snow, with an average of 17 rainy/snowy days in January. However, there is still a chance of some sunny days, with an average of 9 sunny days in the month. Must-see events in January include the Brussels Light Festival, Ghent Winter Festivities, and the Ice Sculpture Festival in Bruges.

Daytime High (C° / °F)Nighttime Low (C° / °F)Sunrise Time (HH:MM)Sunset Time (HH:MM)Sunny Days Early Month (%)Sunny Days Late Month (%)
Brussels5 / 410 / 3208:3617:172729
Bruges6 / 430 / 3208:2617:092930
Antwerp5 / 410 / 3208:3417:162729
Ghent5 / 410 / 3208:3217:142830
Liege4 / 39-2 / 2808:4717:302324

February

February in Belgium can be a mixed bag of weather, with both cold temperatures and occasional sunshine. Visitors can still enjoy the winter atmosphere in the cities and take part in cultural events such as the Brussels Light Festival or the Carnival of Binche.

Daytime High (°C/°F)Nighttime Low (°C/°F)Sunrise Time (HH:MM)Sunset Time (HH:MM)Sunny Days Early Month (%)Sunny Days Late Month (%)
Brussels6°C / 43°F1°C / 34°F07:5917:572832
Bruges7°C / 45°F1°C / 33°F07:5617:532834
Antwerp6°C / 43°F0°C / 32°F07:5917:593034
Ghent6°C / 43°F0°C / 32°F07:5717:563034
Liege6°C / 43°F0°C / 32°F07:5817:583033

March

March marks the start of spring in Belgium, with temperatures slowly rising from the cold winter. While there may still be some occasional rain or snow, the month generally sees more sunny days than the previous months. The country starts to come to life with the arrival of spring flowers, especially in the Hallerbos forest near Brussels, where a sea of bluebells covers the ground. Must-see events in March include the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival, the Festival of Wallonia-Brussels, and the Easter markets in Bruges and Ghent.

Average Daytime High (C° / °F)Average Nighttime Low (C° / °F)Average Sunrise Time (HH:MM)Average Sunset Time (HH:MM)Sunny Days Chance (%) Early MonthSunny Days Chance (%) Late Month
Brussels9°C / 48°F2°C / 36°F07:0918:3436%44%
Bruges8°C / 46°F1°C / 34°F07:1118:3237%45%
Antwerp9°C / 48°F2°C / 36°F07:1118:3337%45%
Ghent9°C / 48°F2°C / 36°F07:1018:3236%44%
Liege9°C / 48°F2°C / 36°F07:1318:3735%44%

April

April is a lovely time to visit Belgium, as the weather begins to warm up and the flowers start to bloom. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful sight of blooming flowers all over Brussels. The Brussels Food Truck Festival, an event with a variety of food and drinks, is also held in April.

Average Daytime HighestAverage Nighttime LowestAverage SunriseAverage SunsetSunny Days Chance Early MonthSunny Days Chance Late Month
Brussels14°C / 57°F4°C / 39°F07:1120:3530%37%
Bruges13°C / 55°F4°C / 39°F07:1320:3730%38%
Antwerp14°C / 57°F4°C / 39°F07:0920:3230%37%
Ghent14°C / 57°F4°C / 39°F07:1020:3330%37%
Liege14°C / 57°F3°C / 37°F07:0720:2830%36%

May

May is the start of the popular tourist season, with warmer weather and longer daylight hours. As the days get longer, the chance of sunny days increases, with early May having a 32-36% chance of sunny days and late May having a 41-46% chance. The Brussels Jazz Marathon and the Ghent Floralies are among the most popular events during this month.

Daytime High (C°/F°)Nighttime Low (C°/F°)Sunrise (HH:MM)Sunset (HH:MM)Sunny Days Early Month (%)Sunny Days Late Month (%)
Brussels18°C / 64°F9°C / 48°F05:5421:253041
Bruges17°C / 62°F8°C / 46°F05:4921:223142
Antwerp18°C / 64°F9°C / 48°F05:5721:293041
Ghent18°C / 64°F8°C / 46°F05:5421:263042
Liege18°C / 64°F8°C / 46°F05:5321:243042

June

June is one of the best months to visit Belgium, as the weather is mild and pleasant with plenty of sunshine. The average daytime high temperature is around 21°C (70°F) while the nighttime lows are around 11°C (52°F). June is also a perfect time to explore the cities, visit museums, and enjoy outdoor cafes. For clothes, lightweight layers are recommended, and don’t forget to pack a light jacket or sweater for cooler evenings. Must-see events in June include the Ommegang Pageant in Brussels, the medieval festival in Bruges, and the contemporary art festival in Ghent.

Daytime High (C°/F°)Nighttime Low (C°/F°)Sunrise Time (HH:MM)Sunset Time (HH:MM)Sunny Days Chance Early Month (%)Sunny Days Chance Late Month (%)
Brussels20 / 6811 / 5205:3421:575862
Bruges19 / 6610 / 5005:2121:456163
Antwerp20 / 6811 / 5205:3222:015862
Ghent20 / 6811 / 5205:2721:565862
Liege21 / 7011 / 5205:3422:066163

July

July is one of the warmest months in Belgium, with an average daytime high temperature of 23°C (73°F) and an average nighttime low of 13°C (55°F). This makes it a great time for outdoor activities such as hiking and cycling. However, it’s still advisable to pack some rain gear, as there is a chance of rain throughout the month.

Daytime High (C°/F°)Nighttime Low (C°/F°)Sunrise Time (HH:MM)Sunset Time (HH:MM)Sunny Days Chance Early Month (%)Sunny Days Chance Late Month (%)
Brussels23 / 7314 / 5705:4121:516161
Bruges22 / 7213 / 5505:2821:446560
Antwerp23 / 7314 / 5705:4022:056161
Ghent23 / 7314 / 5705:3521:546161
Liege24 / 7514 / 5705:4122:076459

August

August is the peak of summer in Belgium, with warm and pleasant weather throughout the country. The average daytime high temperature is around 23°C (73°F), while the average nighttime low is around 13°C (55°F). Rainy days are less common, with a chance of rain decreasing as the month progresses. Tourists can enjoy many outdoor activities, such as music festivals, markets, and exhibitions, in addition to exploring the historical sites of Belgium. Make sure to pack light clothes for the warm days, but also bring a light jacket or sweater for the cooler evenings.

Average Daytime Highest Temperature (C° / °F)Average Nighttime Lowest Temperature (C° / °F)Avg Sunrise Time (HH:MM)Avg Sunset Time (HH:MM)Sunny Days Chance Early Month (%)Sunny Days Chance Late Month (%)
Brussels23°C / 73°F12°C / 54°F06:1820:5945%42%
Bruges21°C / 70°F12°C / 54°F06:1620:5645%44%
Antwerp23°C / 73°F13°C / 55°F06:1320:5444%41%
Ghent23°C / 73°F12°C / 54°F06:1520:5645%44%
Liege23°C / 73°F12°C / 54°F06:1020:5046%43%

September

September is a great time to visit Belgium as the weather is still mild and pleasant. The average high temperature during the day is around 18°C (64°F), while the average low temperature at night is around 10°C (50°F). Although the chance of rain increases towards the end of the month, there are still plenty of sunny days to enjoy. Be sure to pack layers and a raincoat, just in case.

Must-see events include the Brussels Beer Weekend, which takes place in early September, and the Ghent Festival, which is one of the largest cultural festivals in Europe and runs for ten days.

CityAverage Daytime Highest Temperature (C°/°F)Average Nighttime Lowest Temperature (C°/°F)Average Sunrise Time (HH:MM)Average Sunset Time (HH:MM)Sunny Days Chance Early Month (%)Sunny Days Chance Late Month (%)
Brussels20°C / 68°F11°C / 52°F06:5620:1641%30%
Bruges20°C / 68°F11°C / 52°F06:5120:1441%30%
Antwerp21°C / 70°F11°C / 52°F06:5020:1342%31%
Ghent21°C / 70°F11°C / 52°F06:5020:1342%31%
Liege21°C / 70°F10°C / 50°F06:5020:1342%31%

October

October in Belgium marks the arrival of autumn, with cooler temperatures and more frequent rain. While it may not be the most popular time to visit, there are still plenty of attractions worth seeing, such as the Brussels Light Festival and Ghent Film Festival. It’s also a great time to try seasonal dishes like game and pumpkin soup. Visitors should bring layers to stay warm and waterproof jackets or umbrellas for the rain.

CityAverage Daytime Highest Temperature (C°/°F)Average Nighttime Lowest Temperature (C°/°F)Average Sunrise Time (HH:MM)Average Sunset Time (HH:MM)Sunny Days Chance Early Month (%)Sunny Days Chance Late Month (%)
Brussels15°C / 59°F7°C / 45°F07:3818:3230%22%
Bruges15°C / 59°F7°C / 45°F07:3418:2930%22%
Antwerp16°C / 61°F7°C / 45°F07:3418:2831%22%
Ghent16°C / 61°F7°C / 45°F07:3418:2831%22%
Liege16°C / 61°F6°C / 43°F07:3418:2831%22%

November

November in Belgium can be chilly, with temperatures gradually dropping and occasional bouts of rain and wind. Visitors should plan for cold weather and bring warm clothes, including a coat, scarf, and gloves. Despite the cooler temperatures, there are still plenty of activities to enjoy in November, such as visiting the many museums and galleries in Brussels, Bruges, and Antwerp, and exploring the beautiful parks and forests across the country.

In Brussels, the Winter Wonders festival takes place in November, featuring a Christmas market, ice skating rink, and other festive activities. In Bruges, visitors can attend the Bruges Beer Festival, which showcases the best of Belgian beer.

CityAvg. Daytime High (C° / °F)Avg. Nighttime Low (C° / °F)Avg. Sunrise Time (HH:MM)Avg. Sunset Time (HH:MM)Chance of Sunny Days Early Month (%)Chance of Sunny Days Late Month (%)
Brussels9 / 484 / 3907:3216:522520
Bruges9 / 484 / 3907:3516:512520
Antwerp9 / 484 / 3907:3116:522520
Ghent9 / 484 / 3907:3316:522520
Liege9 / 483 / 3707:2716:472520

December

December marks the start of winter in Belgium, and temperatures drop significantly throughout the month. Daytime highs average around 6°C (43°F) while nighttime lows can reach -1°C (30°F) or lower. It’s also the month with the highest chance of snowfall, especially in the eastern regions of Liege and the Ardennes.

Visitors should pack warm winter clothes, including a coat, gloves, and a hat. Despite the cold weather, there are plenty of festive events in December, including Christmas markets, ice-skating rinks, and light displays. In Brussels, don’t miss the Winter Wonders festival, while in Bruges, the Ice Sculpture Festival is a must-see.

CityAvg. Daytime High (C° / °F)Avg. Nighttime Low (C° / °F)Avg. Sunrise Time (HH:MM)Avg. Sunset Time (HH:MM)Chance of Sunny Days Early Month (%)Chance of Sunny Days Late Month (%)
Brussels6 / 421 / 3308:2916:292020
Bruges6 / 421 / 3308:3216:282020
Antwerp6 / 421 / 3308:2816:292020
Ghent6 / 421 / 3308:3016:292020
Liege6 / 420 / 3208:2416:232020

References

  1. The official website of the Belgian Royal Meteorological Institute (https://www.meteo.be/en)
  2. AccuWeather (https://www.accuweather.com/en/be/belgium-weather)
  3. The Weather Channel (https://weather.com/en-GB/weather/today/l/BELX0004:1:BE)