Brussels, Belgium: What to pack, what to wear, and when to go [2022]

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Traveling to Brussels, Belgium for the great food and extensive history? If you're planning to go to Brussels, this article contains some important information about when to go, what to wear, and what to pack.

Contents

About your travel guide

Hi! I'm Dev. I've traveled all over the world and in my travels, I have made many packing lists. In this series, my team and I have compiled the most useful information, as well as things we couldn't live without, to help you plan your trip.

When to go to Brussels, Belgium

Brussels is excellent over the summer -- August in particular -- although it tends to be crowded at that time. If you can brave the cold, December offers a lot for you to see and do as well.

The crowds aren't as busy and you get to see the Christmas markets and festivities. See below for details.

Important essentials for Brussels, Belgium

Here are some general tips on what to wear in Brussels, as well as several items to remember to pack when traveling there.

COVID-19 ESSENTIALS FOR 2022


  • N95 masks

    These N95 masks provide the best level of COVID-19 protection available.


  • Kids' KN95 masks

    N95 masks are not available for kids. These are a good alternative (and can also be used by adults if N95 masks are not available).


  • Travel disinfecting wipes

    Use these to sanitize plane and hotel surfaces.


  • Hand sanitizer

    This hand sanitizer is an excellent plane-friendly option.

  • (U.S. Residents) Telehealth COVID-19 test for entry to U.S.

    U.S. residents still need a certified COVID-19 test to return home, but it can now be via Zoom. Learn more


  • Touchless thermometer

    A touchless thermometer is important to have.


  • A vaccine card protector

    Vaccine cards may become worn. An unreadable vaccine card can cause severe consequences. This vaccine card protector helps avoid that.

General health necessities


  • Emergency water purifier

    Some areas of this country may have potentially unsafe tap water, so it's useful to take an emergency water purifier like this one.


  • Travel first aid kit

    This one is a great one.


  • Emergency motion sickness relief

Don't forget these

 

What to wear/what to pack for Brussels, Belgium by month

Already know when you're traveling?

January

January in Brussels is pretty cool. The average overnight temperatures in the area are in the 30s F (single digits C). But the colder weather doesn't bring low humidity, which is in the 80% to 90% range on average.

What to do in January in Brussels:

There is a lot to see and do if you are visiting the city of Brussels in January. One event that you can attend is the Brussels Ancient Art Fair. This is a five day event where you can see and buy Classical, Egyptian and Near Eastern antiquities. This a fun if you are an art fan.

For music lovers, you might want to take a visit to the Musical Instruments Museum (aka MIM). This is a museum and restaurant where you can eat and see the view of the city. The museum houses 2000+ instruments in its halls.

If you want to see more of the city, take a Hop-on and Hop-off bus tour. There are both 24 or 48 hour passes available and you get easy acces to all of the top landmarks and interesting places, saving you time and taxi money.

What to wear/what to pack:

February

February here is brisk. Temperatures average in the low 40s F (single digits C) during the day. It rains or snows about half of the time.

What to do in February in Brussels:

If you go to Brussels in February, visit the Musée Royaux Des Beaux Arts (the Royal Museum of Fine Arts). It includes both modern and ancient art. The gallery contains over 20,000 works of art from artists around the world and more.

If you are into food and have kids, book a tour to see the Choco-Story: The Chocolate Museum. You get to learn more about the history of chocolate and cocoa and how it's made. There are also tons of exhibitions rooms to look at too.

And don't forget to warm up and eat Brussel's famous waffles. The best place to get Waffles is from Maison Dandoy. This shop has been baking treats for as long as 1829. Waffles are served with ice-cream, chocolate sauce and more.

What to wear/what to pack:

March

If you go to Brussels in March, you will notice that it can be very chilly. Expect it to rain about two thirds of the time. Daytime temperatures are in the high 40s F (single digits C).

What to do in March in Brussels:

If you are into books, March hosts an event called the 'Foire du Livre de Bruxelles (FR)'. This is basically a Brussels book fair that is attended by French speakers. There's authors that attend the event and you can read and buy many books at this fair.

Food and drink fans should not miss a beer and chocolate tour. As the name suggests, here you can eat specialty chocolates and visit many bars with traditional beers. You can see some of the city's top sights.

Another interesting location that you can visit is the Atomium. This structure was built for the 1958 Brussels World's Fair and it's still standing. You can go inside it and take the lift to to see the city below.

What to wear/what to pack:

April

April in Brussels is cold. Temperatures average in the 50s F (low 10s C) during the day. It rains about half of the time.

What to do in April in Brussels:

In April, a greaty way to enjoy the evening is a culinary evening tour. You can discover the cultural highlights and delectable bites in the city. You will also visit some of the city's most popular food places and restaurants.

Another event you might want to attend in April is the 'Les Comédies Musicales - Le Grand Show'. Here you can experience some French and International music shows performed by original artists. A fun event for people that like stage shows.

If you're up for some shopping, head to Marolles Flea Market in the morning. This is located at 'Place du Jeu de Balle' and it offers a ton of different things for buyers. Many tourists like to visit it and it's open every day.

What to wear/what to pack:

May

May here is cool. Temperatures average in the low 60s F (high 10s C) during the day. It rains about half of the time.

What to do in Brussels in May

For adults and beer lovers, enjoy a pub crawl tour. This is a fun tour where you can visit the city's best pubs, clubs, and bars. You also get some discounts for drinks and you will meet a lot of new friends.

Also check out the Iris Festival. This is to celebrate Iris Day which is the day of the victory against Nazi Germany during World War II. There's street theatre, lots of food and other fun things to do in the city on this day.

Another fun event to do in May in Brussels is attend the Zinneke Parade. This is a colorful multicultural parade through the centre of Brussels. Thousands of people attend the parade to see people in costumes, fancy art and more.

What to wear/what to pack:

June

If you visit Brussels during June, you are likely to notice that it is balmy. Temperatures tend to hover around the 60s F (high 10s C) during the day, while at night they can dip into the low 50s F (low 10s C). Humidity is generally between 60 and 70% during the day. In terms of precipitation, you can expect it to rain about half of the time.

What to do in Brussels in June

In June there is no shortage of things you can do. One event that you must check out is the Couleur Café Music Festival. This is a world Music Festival celebrating urban contemporary music and more. Great food is also available here.

Another great event you can attend is Fête De La Musique. This is an event to celebrate World Music Day and there are tons of concerts that you can go to. Some concerts are also free for you to attend. It's great to go if you love live music.

For those looking for a more relaxing activity, book a walking food tour. This tour takes you to landmarks such as Grand Place, Mont des Arts and more. You can also get Belgian food like fries and waffles on this tour too.

What to wear/what to pack:

July

If you are traveling to Brussels in July, you will notice that it is balmy. Expect it to rain about half of the time. Daytime temperatures are in the low 70s F (low 20s C).

What to do in Brussels in July

July is also full of things to do in Brussels, but the crowds can get tiring. Food lovers should check out a chocolate making workshop. You can learn to make Belgian pralines and mendiants and taste hot chocolate. You can also take home a chocolate box once you are done learning too!

Music lovers should consider going to the Brosella Folk & Jazz. This is an open-air jazz and folk concert held at the Théâtre de Verdure. The best thing about this event is that it is free to attend. There are 3 stages, lots of bands as well as food and drink available.

Summer is also a great time to go to the beach and the Bruxelles les Bains event is perfect to go to. This is a beach along Brussels canal and there are tons of Summer activities to attend. This event has Sport, music, dance and events for both young and old.

What to wear/what to pack:

August

August in Brussels is balmy. The rain can amount to several inches/centimeters. During this time, temperatures average in the low 60s F (high 10s C) to low 70s F (low 20s C).

What to do in Brussels in August

If you're lucky enough to be in Brussels at the right time, check out the Carpet of Flowers on Grand-Place. This takes place every two years and it's where people decorate Grand-Place with a carpet of lovely looking flowers. The flowers are begonias and different themes are used.

Food lovers shouldn't miss the popular chocolate tasting tour. The country of Belgium is renown for its tasty chocolate, and in this tour you can visit Brussel's best chocolate shops. You will also learn more about how the chocolate is made and taste hot chocolate too.

One great event that you should see is the Brussels Summer Festival. This is a series of concerts taking place in the city usually for a total of five days. Music of all genres are welcome and it's a fun place to be for music fans.

What to wear/what to pack:

September

September here can be chilly. Temperatures average in the 60s F (high 10s C) during the day. It rains about half of the time.

What to do in Brussels in September

One of the best things that you can do in September -- if you're here at the right time -- is attend the annual Belgian Beer Weekend. This event happens in the first weekend of September at the Grand-Place. Thousands of people attend to basically have lots of beer and have fun at the same time.

For a more solemn historical perspective on the city, take a Remembrance tour. In this tour you will experience a full-day tour to the Flanders battlefields from Brussels. You will also hear more of the history of the events that unfolded over 100 years ago.

Another great thing you can do is attend the Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert. This place is an ensemble of glazed shopping arcades in central Brussels. The place is under a fancy looking glass roof and many stores are there for you to shop at.

What to wear/what to pack:

October

In October, Brussels is chilly. Temperatures routinely are in the high 50s F (mid 10s C) and about a third of the time jump into the low 60s F (mid 10s C) range. At night, lows are in the 40s F (single digits C). This is also a rainy time for Brussels, with more than half of the days of the month having rain. In October, humidity reaches as high as 80%.

What to do in Brussels in October

In October, check out the Comic Strip Festival in Brussels. This is an annual event that celebrates comic books of all kinds. More than 100,000 visitors visit each year as many unique activities are planned during this festival event.

Another October event that happens in Brussels is Nuit Blanche. This is a series of after dark events in the city. Some of the things you can do is attend concerts, enjoy performances from DJs, and more fun activities.

For a fun, outdoors adventure, take a Brussels Hoppy Tour. You get a guided tour of the city of Brussels, and you will also solve puzzles in a treasure hunt. You also get to taste some beer along the way.

What to wear/what to pack:

November

November in Brussels can be very chilly. Temperatures average in the 40s F (single digits C) during the day. It rains about two thirds of the time.

What to do in Brussels in November

One thing you can do in November is attend the Midi Market that happens every Sunday. This is the biggest market in Brussels and it's open from 7am to 1pm. You can buy loads of food, clothing, exotic products, plants and more at this famous market.

If you have kids, a great option is a Brussels for kids & toddlers tour. In this tour kids get to visit a petting zoo, go to local parks and do fun art activities. You can also grab some lunch along the way too.

For something different for adults, visit the famous Fashion & Lace Museum. This place has over 10,000 pieces of clothing that spans as far back as the 19th century. It's a great to place to be for fashion fanatics.

What to wear/what to pack:

December

If you vacation in Brussels during December, you might notice that it can be brisk. Temperatures tend to hover around the low 40s F (single digits C) during the day, while at night they can dip into the 30s F (single digits C). Humidity is generally between 80 and 90% during the day. In terms of precipitation, you can expect it to rain about two thirds of the time.

What to do in Brussels in December

Since December is in the full swing of the holiday season, don't miss the Christmas Tour. Your guide will show you where the best places are to be during Christmas. This includes looking at Christmas lights, Christmas market stalls, and getting great food.

One annual Christmas event is the Plaisirs d'Hiver. This is a Christmas market as well as ice-skating rink held at Grand-Place and Place Sainte-Catherine. The event also has a sound and light show as well as a big Christmas tree for you to look at.

For something different, try an architecture tour. A guide will lead you through over 500 years of architectural styles, history, art, and legends. This is a fun tour for those that like art and want to know the history of the city of Brussels.

What to wear/what to pack:

Activities for Brussels, Belgium

Here are some activity and tour recommendations for Brussels.


  • Culinary Evening Tour

    Are you a fan of all things food? If so, this is a can't miss tour. You get to visit the city's most popular food shops and eat a lot of cuisine.

    Check out the tour options


  • Yummy Chocolate Tasting Tour

    Dessert food lovers will not want to miss out on the Chocolate Tasting Tour. You will visit the city's most famous chocolate shops, and you get to eats lots of it too.

    Check out the tour options


  • Christmas Tour

    Christmas is a special time of year in Brussels and this tour is great to book. Here you'll get to visit Christmas market stalls, eat food and see the Christmas tree and lights.

    Check out the tour options

 

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