Belgium in winter is very magical. If you can travel there during that season, I'd definitely recommend doing that! The country has adorable cities that turn into a fairy tale in winter.
I traveled to Belgium many times. And Belgium is great every season. For example, Belgium in autumn is wonderful with all leaves falling. And the country is great in summer and spring too. But winter is very different from the other seasons.
There are so many amazing things to do in Belgium in winter! Especially when it's Christmas, it's incredible to spend time in this country. But when it isn't Christmas, it's still amazing to be there in winter.
I made this guide with all information you should know about winter in Belgium!
First, I will tell you why you should go to Belgium this season. After that, I'll give you information about the weather and how to get there. Then, you can find all the amazing things to do there!
Table of Contents
Why Visit Belgium in Winter
Visiting Belgium when it's winter is one of the best things you can do. The country has so much to offer! Especially in this season, it's so magical.
One of the reasons why you should go there is because there are many wonderful cities. You can find a lot of old architecture in Belgium.
For example, Bruges is one of the most adorable cities in Europe. It's one of the most photogenic cities in Belgium. This city has a historic center that's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There, you can find canals, cute bridges, old buildings, and more! Visiting this city is always great. But in winter it looks like a fairy tale!
Wandering around the city when it's cold outside is incredible. And if it's also snowing, you're very lucky.
Speaking of snow, that's another reason to visit Belgium in winter! Even though it's not snowing very often, it's magical when it does.
Furthermore, Belgium is famous for its delicious chocolate. There are many chocolate shops and hot chocolate in the country is incredible.
And, of course, drinking hot chocolate is always great. But drinking the most delicious hot chocolate in winter adds value to the experience!
Imagine sitting at a Belgian cafe when it’s cold outside with a delicious hot chocolate. At the same time, you can enjoy the wonderful architecture of an old Belgian city. It’s so romantic!
Moreover, Christmas and New Year’s Eve in Belgium are amazing.
There are many pretty decorations in the country when it’s Christmas.
During New Year’s Eve, there are fireworks everywhere! In some parts of the country, locals can even set it off themselves.
Also, there are so many amazing winter activities in Belgium!
Weather in Belgium in Winter
Belgium is a country with a mild climate. The average low in winter is 34 °F (1 °C). And the average high in winter in Belgium is 41 °F (5 °C).
This means it's cold in winter, but not very cold. In Belgium, it isn't always freezing in winter. Furthermore, there can be snow in Belgium, but it doesn't happen very often.
Besides that, you can expect a lot of rain when you're traveling to Belgium in winter.
So if you’re going to visit Belgium during the winter months, bringing warm clothes with you is a good idea!
Besides that, it can be convenient to bring an umbrella with you as well. But you can also buy that in the cities in the country. And if you’re very lucky, you’ll also need your snow boots!
Where to Stay When It’s Winter in Belgium
If you're going to visit Belgium in winter, there are many cities where you can stay. Which city is most convenient depends on which places in the country you want to visit.
Some of the best cities to stay in are Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges.
If you like to stay in a city with lots of old architecture, you should definitely choose Bruges. Staying there is a unique experience for sure.
But Ghent and Brussels are more central, which can be convenient as well.
And you can also choose to stay in a small village if you prefer that. But keep in mind, it’s easier to travel between places in the country by public transport if you stay in a larger city.
Things to Do in Belgium in Winter
If you're traveling to Belgium, there are so many amazing winter activities! Here's a list of the most amazing things to do during winter.
1. Visit a Christmas Market
In December, you can find incredible Christmas markets in Belgium. Visiting the markets is one of the best things to do in Belgium in winter. It will give you the ultimate Christmas feeling.
As there are many cities that have a Christmas market, I made a list of the best ones!
Antwerp Christmas Market
One of the best Christmas markets in Belgium is the one in Antwerp. The location of this market is the historic center of the city. There are lots of stalls where you can buy something, have something to drink or eat a waffle!
Furthermore, there's also an ice rink. Ice skating is the perfect activity at the market if you want to do something active. It’s also very fun to go ice skating if you’re here with your friends or partner!
One of the things I love most about this place is the Ferris wheel in the city. This makes the market feel even more like Christmas. So I'd definitely recommend going here in winter in Belgium.
Bruges Christmas Market
Bruges is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the country. It's a medieval town with many old buildings that are amazing to see.
Furthermore, you can find there adorable bridges and canals. For that reason, it's a very popular town for tourists. And Bruges also has a Christmas market!
If you like cozy Christmas markets, this is definitely the one you're looking for. This one is smaller than the one in Antwerp, but it isn't less fun to go there. There are lots of cute stalls and the decorations here are amazing.
Furthermore, it’s so much fun to explore Bruges as well if you’re going to this market! Walk along the canals and bridges with a cup of hot chocolate you bought at the market!
2. Go ice skating in Winter in Belgium
Ice skating is one of the most fun winter activities. And you can do that at many places in Belgium in winter!
If you're very lucky, it's freezing in Belgium and you can go ice skating on natural ice.
But if that's not the case, no worries! There are many incredible ice rinks in Belgium.
For example, Poseidon is a great ice rink in Brussels.
3. Visit several cities and see all decorations
In winter, especially in December, the cities in Belgium have beautiful decorations. Visiting several cities in a day is such a fun thing to do! You can compare all decorations and decide which city you like the most.
Furthermore, it's very nice to see all architecture in the cities. Belgium has many cities that are very different from each other which is great!
The train network in the country is excellent. This means it's easy to travel to several places in a short amount of time.
For example, you can visit Brussels, Bruges, and Antwerp in one day!
Brussels is the capital of Belgium. It's a city with interesting sights, such as the Palace of Justice. And there are pretty decorations in winter!
I already mentioned Bruges in this article. Bruges is a beautiful town with medieval architecture. Seeing this in winter is amazing! It will make you feel as if you're going back in time.
Besides that, the decorations in the city are wonderful. It's so magical to see this town turn into a Christmas movie! If it's snowing, the city is even more magical.
The decorations in Antwerp are very beautiful too. And there’s a lot to do in the city! For example, there's a zoo and there are many museums.
Furthermore, the central station of the city looks very beautiful. Many people go there to take photos. And you can also rent a bike in Antwerp.
This is very convenient if you want to explore the city and its decorations in a short amount of time.
But these are only three examples of cities with beautiful decorations. There are many more! Almost all cities in the country have these decorations. So choose the cities you want to see and enjoy!
4. Eat Belgian Waffles
Belgium is also famous for its delicious waffles. Waffles are very popular for breakfast. And there are so many toppings for your waffle.
For example, ice cream, fruit, chocolate, or butter. There are many options. But the best thing to do in Belgium in winter is to have a waffle with Belgian chocolate on it. It's so delicious!
And I'd also recommend ordering hot chocolate as well. It's lovely to have hot chocolate and a waffle in a Belgian cafe when it's cold outside. Furthermore, there are many places where you can order this.
5. Visit a museum in Belgium in Winter
If it’s cold outside, it’s a great idea to visit a museum. There, you can warm up a bit. And there are so many great museums in Belgium!
For example, the museums in Brussels are incredible. There's a museum for everyone's liking in that city.
One of the museums is the Musical Instruments Museum. This is all about musical instruments. So if you like music and you want to learn more about it, it's very interesting! You can also learn about the history of Belgian musicals there.
The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium are great as well. You can find thousands of objects there. There are sculptures, paintings, and more. It's perfect to learn about history and you can find artworks by famous artists. For example, there are artworks from Rubens.
Another museum is the Museum of Natural Sciences. There are very impressive things to see here. For example, there’s a large dinosaur hall. And there are other things such as moon rock!
All these museums are in Brussels. But Belgium has many cities with great museums.
For example, a great museum in Antwerp is DIVA. This is a place where you can see diamonds, goldsmithing, and jewelry! Since the Golden Age, people know Antwerp as the diamond capital.
Another museum you will definitely love is Chocolate Nation. This is a huge Belgian chocolate museum! Those who love chocolate should definitely visit this museum in winter.
The first chocolate factory in the country opened in 1831. And that factory was in Antwerp! It's amazing to learn about Belgian chocolate at the museum. Furthermore, there are workshops as well.
And after visiting the museum, you can discover all the chocolate shops in Antwerp. There are so many in the city!
6. Go to a Park in Belgium in Winter
When it’s winter in Belgium, it’s great to go to a park. Belgium has so many wonderful parks! At the parks, you can enjoy the winter weather in the country. And if it’s snowing, the parks look incredible. Furthermore, you can do many fun things in the Belgian parks. For example, you can go jogging.
For example, a beautiful park is the Citadelpark in Ghent. This park looks lovely, and besides that, there are interesting things to see. For example, there's the statue of Emile Claus. He was a painter and at the statue, you can learn about him.
This is only one example of a nice park in the country because there are many more. So if you’re staying in another city in Belgium, there’s definitely a beautiful park near you.
7. Sound and Light Show at Grand Place
Every year in December, there's a beautiful sound and light show in Belgium. You can find it in the capital of the country, Brussels.
Buildings light up which looks incredible. And there's also amazing music! The show lasts for 10 minutes and happens one or two times per hour in the evening. Seeing it is a wonderful experience for sure.
8. Thermae Boetfort
Thermae Boetfort is an amazing place to go to in Belgium in winter. It is a wellness center in the domain of a castle.
There's everything you need for a very relaxing day in winter! There are amazing saunas, swimming pools, wellness baths, and jacuzzis.
Furthermore, you can get a massage or facial treatment as well.
So if you'd like to warm up a bit in winter and have a lovely day, visiting Thermae Boetfort is the best thing to do!
9. Winter Garden in Leuven
Another one of the best things to do when it's winter in Belgium is going to the winter garden in Leuven.
Every year in December you can find a large winter garden at the Grote Markt in the city.
There, you can see wonderful decorations. You can admire here wonderful trees, plants and more. And the cobblestone streets in Leuven make the experience even better.
10. Tubing Track in Antwerp
During the Christmas season, there's a tubing track in Antwerp. You can slide down for the top. This is definitely one of the most fun things to do in Belgium in winter!
It's a great activity to do with friends. That's because there are several tracks next to each other. But it's also a fun activity for families.
Christmas in Belgium
Christmas in Belgium is fantastic! Belgium has many Christmas markets. For that reason, it’s amazing to travel to the country in December if you want to get in the Christmas mood.
You can find these markets throughout the whole country, making all parts great to visit. For example, Bruges, Antwerp, and Brussels are amazing places with a Christmas market.
Furthermore, the decorations in the large cities are impressive to see. So if you’re looking for a country to spend the holidays in, Belgium is definitely a great one!
New Year’s Eve
Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Belgium is awesome. There are so many things to do. In the country, you can find many parties. For example, there are incredible parties in Brussels on New Year’s Eve. So if you like partying, going here is amazing.
Also, you can see beautiful fireworks in Belgium! There are firework shows. For example, fireworks at the Atomium in Brussels are very pretty.
But in the Walloon Region of Belgium, everyone can set off fireworks themselves as well! If you want to do that, it’s possible too. There are many shops where you can buy fireworks. But keep in mind to do it save!
How to Get There
Belgium has several airports where you can go to. For example, some airports are Brussels Airport, Ostend Bruges Airport, and Liege Airport.
For that reason, traveling to the country by airplane is very convenient.
Besides that, international trains arrive in the country as well. For example, you can get to Brussels from France by Thalys.
And there are also trains from other countries. Another way to travel to the country is by bus. International buses from companies such as Flixbus arrive in the country.
Save this post to Pinterest if you like it!
Blog comments (0)