When to go · Brussels
Brussels in January
Mixed month. Cold and grey; museums quiet.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Temperature
- 6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C) / 1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 18
- Crowds
- Low
- Belgium overall
- Prices
- Low
- Belgium overall
Verdict
Cold and grey; museums quiet.
All twelve months in one grid — weather, crowds and prices, with gaps left as unknown.
Is another month better than January?
January is rated mixed. These months rate higher:
Weather in January
- BrusselsHighs around 6 °C (43 °F), lows around 1 °C (34 °F), rain on about 18 daysHighs around 43 °F (6 °C), lows around 34 °F (1 °C), rain on about 18 days
- Flanders, Brussels and the coast, Belgium · Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Brussels, Ostendcool
Mild, cloudy and damp; summers around 22–25 °C (72–77 °F) with occasional heatwaves. December Christmas markets offset dark afternoons.Mild, cloudy and damp; summers around 72–77 °F (22–25 °C) with occasional heatwaves. December Christmas markets offset dark afternoons.
Winter season
The Christmas markets and light show on the Grand-Place.
Watch: Short, grey days; book beds early for December.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Belgium overall
- Low
- Prices · Belgium overall
- Low
Belgium overall: Cold and grey; cheap hotels and quiet museums.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Brussels, side by side.
Verdict
Jan: Mixed
May: Great (better)
Daytime high
Jan: 6 °C (43 °F)43 °F (6 °C)
May: 18 °C (64 °F)64 °F (18 °C)
Night low
Jan: 1 °C (34 °F)34 °F (1 °C)
May: 9 °C (48 °F)48 °F (9 °C)
Rain days
Jan: 18
May: 13 (better)
Crowds
Jan: Low
May: Medium
Prices
Jan: Low
May: Medium
Festivals listed
Jan: 0
May: 2
January: Cold and grey; museums quiet.
May: Mild and green; good month.
Brussels: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat and gloves for mornings and evenings
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast
- Layers: a fleece or light jacket