Why September Is The Best Time To Visit Belgium

September (and fall in general) is all around a pretty solid month to travel around Europe, and Belgium in September is no exception.

September is hands down the best time to visit Belgium and more importantly, Brussels. On average, September brings fewer tourists and more moderate weather.

What sets Brussels apart from the rest of Belgium and Europe in September are the festivals that happen throughout the month. Every weekend throughout September in Brussels hosts, there’s a different (and usually free) festival to enjoy.

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Why Is September The Best Time To Visit Belgium?

September Belgium Weather Is Unbeatable

The temperature in Belgium in September definitely starts to cool off. Brussels has very mild weather to begin with where highs in the summer average 23°C (47°F). It mildly cools down to an average of 12°C-20°C (54°F-68°F) in September. 

But! That doesn’t mean you can’t be surprised with the odd day above 25°C (77°F). We had quite a few of those throughout the month!

So if there’s one downside to travelling to Belgium in the fall, it’s that although the weather is milder, it’s also less predictable. We had some mornings where it started out at 7°C (45°F) but then went all the way up to 27°C (81°F) in the afternoon. Come on, how do you dress for weather like that!?

So What To Pack For Brussels In September?

So how do you pack for weather that is unpredictable? 

I quickly realized that the answer is to always dress in layers, and always be prepared for any type of weather at any moment! So on a trip to Belgium in the fall, it’s important to pack a variety of options for hotter and colder weather. For example, I packed two jackets: a thinner windbreaker jacket and a thicker sherpa lined jean jacket. 

Also, along with packing pants, I also brought a pair of shorts just in case we had one of those hot streaks (which we did). 

Travelling to Belgium in the fall, you’ll also never want to forget your umbrella. We noticed the weather forecast couldn’t really be trusted. Many times the forecast had 0% chance of rain… while it was raining. The moral of the story, never leave for the day without an umbrella.

Thankfully, Belgium (and Brussels specifically) works for any weather that comes at it. It has so many indoor attractions to explore that you’re never fully dependent on good weather.

Fewer Tourists In Brussels In The Fall But Never Empty

As with the rest of Europe, Belgium sees less tourism in September, but by no means does it ever feel dead (unlike travelling to the South of France in the fall). 

Where some countries in the fall you’ll want to stick to visiting the main cities, you don’t have to in Belgium. The bars and restaurants remain lively, even in the smaller Belgian towns.

Most of the smaller towns in Belgium are home to universities so instead of dying down in September, the city livens up with all the students returning to school.

This is the case at least for smaller cities like Ghent, Leuven, and Namur that might be at risk for feeling empty. 

Brussels is the perfect host city in September, being very central with two train stations in the city centre. See the amazing day trips you can take from Brussels. 

Belgium In September Is Festival Season (Especially In Brussels!)

But, now for the real reason, why September is the best time to visit Belgium: the (what seems like) unlimited festivals.

I swear, from beer, comic books, and art, there’s no shortage of festivals in Brussels in September.

Belgian Beer Weekend

The beginning of the month is the Belgian Beer Weekend. As you may know, Belgium = Beer (if you didn’t, read my post all about Belgian Beer!). So there isn’t a more iconic festival to attend than the Belgian Beer Weekend in Brussels.

Imagine, all the Belgian beer your heart desires in one convenient location. It’s a bit hectic, but it’s worth it!

See when the festival is happening this year.

P.S. Be prepared for tasting all the beers with the ultimate beer lovers bundle on Etsy. It’s digital so you can easily bring it with you and rate, and remember all the beers your going to try throughout the weekend…

Comic Strip Festival & Balloon’s Day Parade

Aside from beer, Belgium also loves comic books. In fact, the creators of two world-famous comics came from Belgium: Tin Tin and The Smurfs.

This festival is a huge (and completely free) weekend centred around everything comic-related. It’s perfect for families, comic book lovers, or anyone interested in Belgian culture.

The best part of this festival is hands down the balloons day parade. It’s where they inflate giant comic book characters and parade them around town!

See when this years festival is taking place.

Read The Most Popular Belgian Comics

Brussels Nocturnes

This was one of my favourite Brussels festivals because it lasts a few months. It starts halfway through September and continues until December. Every Thursday night, select museums stay open late and sell tickets at half price.

The museums change every week so you can always visit a new one. Just a heads up though, the museums are usually packed! You might have to register in advance for a tour to be able to visit. 

But why I really love this festival is that it gives you something to do on a random Thursday night!

Find the dates and schedule for Brussels Nocturnes here.

Other Notable Festivals In Brussels In The Fall

As if you thought three festivals in one month was already a lot, there’s way more! For design lovers the entire month is the Brussels Design Market.

For foodies, there’s Eat! BRUSSELS, drink! BORDEAUX and Brussels Cocktail Week! There’s also the free electronic music festival at Atomium that you can attend, and the Brussels Grand Prix.

Brussels also takes part in Car-Free Sunday where they hold Bike Brussels. It’s a day where cars aren’t allowed in the city, they promote biking and walking instead. Just make sure you don’t arrive on this day, it might be a bit hard to make your way into the city!

Wallonia’s Festival (in Namur)

Brussels isn’t the only city with festivals in September. An hour away from Brussels is Namur (it’s a really easy day trip, read all about it yourself!).

Namur is part of the Wallonia region and every year hosts the Les Fêtes de Wallonie. Wallonia’s Festival celebrates Wallonia’s independence day on September 27.

Where To Stay In Belgium In The Fall?

I stayed in an Airbnb while in Brussels Belgium, but here are some hotels I found in popular cities in Belgium.

Cozy up in Brussels in the fall at the quaint Art de Séjour Bed & Breakfast. You’ll get a delicious homemade breakfast included with your stay every morning. See room rates and availability. For more accommodation options in Brussels, click here.

Visit Dinant in the fall for the gorgeous view but with autumn colours and stay at the budget-friendly apartment, Autrefois chez Lina. It’s a vacation home just outside the tourist area of Dinant so it offers more of a quieter and relaxing stay. See availability and room rates. Or, find more accommodation options in Dinant by clicking here.

Or why not go on a romantic fall getaway to Bruge Belgium while you’re visiting. We stayed at B&B Huyze Weyne and would highly recommend it. It was centrally located and the owner was very helpful and friendly. She gave us tips for what to see and suggestions for restaurants. See room rates & availability here. For more accommodation options Brugge Belgium, click here.

Booking.com

More Belgium Guides To Read

So are you ready to book your next trip to Belgium in September!? If you need some more guides for your trip, read all about Belgium here. 

I also have individual guides for Brussels (along with some hidden gems in the city) and Bruges.

• The Complete Guide to Belgium
•  Travel Guide: The Belgian Coast
•  The Perfect Belgian Souvenir
• The Ultimate Guide To Belgian Beer
• Guide To Brussels Comic Book Walls

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Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API