Best time to visit Belgium
Best time of year to visit Belgium
Mild weather and several famous festivals, like Tomorrowland, make April through October the best time to visit Belgium. Even though the skies are usually clear, rain can happen anytime.
June through August is peak season in Belgium with invasive chords of tourists and higher rates on accommodation. However, this is also a great time to go horseback fishing in West Flanders, to hike in Ardennes, or to chill on the coast.
Autumn brings in lively festivities to the country, such as the Ghent Festival of Flanders. Going to Ardennes is a good idea if you are an adherent of hunting.
In the winter, try cross-country skiing. Bruges and Ghent are considered to be the best ski resorts in Belgium, so there is an excellent reason to adore the cold season.
19 THINGS TO DO IN BELGIUM (JULY 09 - JULY 18)
Gent Jazz Festival
Every year, Ghent brings together jazz artists and fans
Horseback Shrimp Fishing
A unique fishing tradition is still preserved in Oostduinkerke
Caving
Belgium boasts several cave systems and underground waterways
Ostend Beach Festival
The biggest beach party in Belgium
The Labyrinth of Durbuy
Find your way out of a giant maze
Sonian Forest (Zoniënwoud)
“Brussels’ Lungs” is a habitat for hundreds of species
Belgian Waffles
One of the most famous Belgian products in the world
Atomium
A landmark of Brussels, once called Europe's most bizzare building
Cuberdon
A cone-shaped candy is a specialty of Belgium
Moules Frites (Mosselen met Friet)
Mussels and fries is one of the most popular dishes in Belgian cuisine
Jenever
A typical liquor for Christmas celebrations
Dour Festival
The biggest and most popular music event in the French-speaking part of Belgium
Les Ardentes
Rap, rock and hip-hop flows above the Meuse River
Speculoos (Speculaas)
Thin and crispy Belgian cookies for St. Nickolas’ Day
Hiking
Deep forests, picturesque valleys, mountain rivers and heaths in blossom await hikers in Belgium
Kayaking & Canoeing
Discover Wallonia from the water. The whole region is crisscrossed by smaller rivers
Sea Lavender (Lamsoor) in the Zwin
This plant makes the North Sea coastline and salt marshes of Belgium look alive
Shrimp Season
One of the key specialties of Belgium and a favourite among locals
Marches of Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse
A series of traditional marches take place in the small towns of Wallonia
60 THINGS TO DO OUT OF SELECTED DATE RANGE
Tomorrowland
On the eve of the first-time Tomorrowland, its organisers handed out tickets for free to ensure that people would come. A few years later the tickets were sold out in a second!
Pukkelpop
The second biggest music festival in Belgium offers four days of trendy beats
Kattenstoet
The Cat Parade takes place in Ypres every three years
Rock Werchter
One of the oldest rock festivals in the world is listed in European top five and boasts incredible crowds
Brussels Jazz Weekend
For one weekend, the heart of Brussels beats to the rhythm of jazz, which is played in every nook of the city
Dinant International Bathtub Regatta
The unusual Belgian water race attracts participants from all over the world
Royal Greenhouses of Laeken
The private garden of the King welcomes visitors for three weeks only
Hallerbos
Every spring, millions of bluebells bloom in the Blue Forest
Carnaval de Binche
One of the oldest and merriest shrove traditions of Wallonie
Aalst Carnaval
Satirical and colourful celebrations for Mardi Gras
Ommegang
The city gets occupied by thousands of medieval characters
Belgian National Day
Free museums entry, a parade and fireworks are part of the celebration
Rampage
The biggest drum&bass and dubstep party in the world
Ghent Light Festival
When the sun goes down, thousands of lights illuminate Ghent
Beer Festivals
Autumn is the best time to discover the beer culture of Belgium
Flower Carpet & Flowertime
Every year, the centre of Brussels gets covered with flowers
Owl Breeding Season
Birdwatchers flock to Belgium every spring to observe Tengmalm’s Owl and the Eagle Owl
Endive & Ham Gratin
A traditional dish from the rural regions of Belgium
Lambic Beer
A unique type of beer is being brewed in a small region southwest of Brussels
Medieval Festival of Bouillon
Visitors plunge into the atmosphere of the Middle Ages
Brussels Chocolate Fair (Salon du Chocolat)
A three-day event for chocolate lovers
Winter / Christmas Beers
Seasonal beers are brewed for the cold winters of Belgium
Zythos Beer Festival
Over one hundred beer producers come to the city of Leuven every April
Cherry Blossoms in Hasselt
Over two hundred cherry trees bloom in Europe's largest Japanese garden
Ducasse de Mons (Doudou)
The traditional village fair celebrates the victory of Saint George over the dragon
Gentse Waterzooi
A soup-like stew will warm you during the coldest of days
Giant Omelette in Malmedy
Every year, the citizens of Malmedy gather to cook a huge omelette
Jazzuary
In January, jazz music sets the rhythm of life in Brussels
Floralia Brussels
Over one million flowers bloom in the park and greenhouses of the 12th-century castle
Procession of the Holy Blood (Bruges)
The colourful pageant unites the city through its history and beliefs
Pageant of the Golden Tree
Every five years, a colourful festival takes over the streets of Bruges
AG Antwerp 10 Miles & Marathon
Every year, sportsmen and enthusiasts gather to run 5, 16 or 42 kilometres
Beer Lovers' Marathon
Run and sip Belgium's finest brews
Ghent Festival of Flanders
From organ music to jazz, this festival is all about diversity and creativity
Krakelingen & Tonnekensbrand
This fire and bread feast marks the end of winter
Birdwatching
In winter, parts of Belgium serve as a shelter for flocks of migratory birds
White Asparagus
The “white gold” of Belgium is a favorite spring vegetable
Heather Blooming
Observe the vast Belgian moorlands covered with a violet carpet of Calluna vulgaris
Barrio Cantina
A Belgian Food Truck Festival travels across the Flanders region
Houtem Jaarmarkt
One of the biggest and oldest open-air livestock fairs in Europe
Hanswijk Procession
One of the oldest religious processions in Belgium
Deep in the Woods
A one-weekend party to escape from city life and daily routines
Meyboom
Every year, a tree is erected in the city to commemorate the victory of Brussels over the city of Leuven
Horst Arts & Music Festival
A three-day art and music festival in a former military site
Fire is Gold
One of the biggest electronic music events in Belgium
BRAFA Art Fair
One of the oldest and most prestigious fairs in Europe
Bruges Beer Festival
For the first weekend of February, Bruges becomes a pilgrimage site for beer-lovers
Ducasse d'Ath
For more than 500 years, seven giants have walked through the town of Ath on the fourth Sunday of August
Game Season
Belgian cuisine offers plenty of dishes featuring game
Couleur Café Festival
The most exotic and colourful festival of Belgium is a mixture of urban music and contemporary art
Stoemp
A typical Belgian dish made of mashed vegetables
Magnolias in Botanic Garden Meise
Dozens of magnolia trees burst into blossoms and mark the beginning of spring
Brussels Summer Festival
Discover Belgian music with dozens of artists playing rock, pop, hip-hop and jazz
European Circus Festival
World-class artists show us what the real circus is
Village de Noël de Liège
Liege's Christmas Village is the biggest and oldest Christmas market in Belgium
Blossom Season in Haspengouw
Pear, apple, and cherry orchards burst into blossoms for one month
Esperanzah! World Music Festival
Three days of dancing at the abbey on the picturesque banks of the Sambre River
Brussels Comic Strip Festival
Cartoons come to life on the streets of the city
Meakusma Festival
A festival of electronic music and video installations
Skiing and Snowboarding
Belgium satisfies both experienced riders and beginners
